It may feel alien to MJD for the first couple days or weeks, but in the time that he’s been holding out there have been some changes around the Jaguars.

• There’s a new owner, Shahid Khan
• There’s a new head coach, Mike Mularkey
• There’s a new offensive coordinator, Bob Bratkowski

But besides the immediate changes, there is also an intangible that has changed: leadership.

When Jones-Drew left, he was the king of the Jaguars.  He was the face of the franchise, the man everyone looked to.  His name was practically synonymous with Jaguars football.  In his absence, Blaine Gabbert stepped up.

It’s tough coming into a new organization.  It’s even tougher to be called on to be a starting quarterback when you were third on the depth chart three weeks prior.  It becomes even harder to lead an offense – as a rookie, as the initial third stringer – when someone like MJD is in the huddle.

Jones-Drew was the leader before he held out for the offseason.  Now it’s Gabbert’s team.

ESPN’s Paul Kuharsky put it brilliantly when he said, “[MJD] needs to show he’s part of it and not thinking he’s some sort of savior walking through the door.”  It isn’t that MJD isn’t going to be an important part of the offense (though Rashad Jennings will still get the week one start), it’s that he needs to realize he is no longer what he once was for the team.

Jones-Drew is still a top five back, he’s still a threat in the running and passing games, but he is no longer the leader of this team.  It’s not MJD’s team anymore.

This team has left the station, and as important as Jones-Drew is, he’s no longer the engine.

- Luke N. Sims

Here’s what we’ve learned:

• Rashad Jennings is starting-caliber running back
• Montell Owens is more than just a special teamer
• The O-line is very good at run blocking
• The running back stable is much deeper than previously thought
• Keith Toston could develop into a very good change of pace when needed
• The front office is very smart (or MJD’s agent isn’t very bright)

While the last point could be questionable, we did learn some pretty good things.  Call it good blocking or say the defenses the Jags faced weren’t up to snuff, but the running backs did work during the preseason.  There were small moments of concern, like Jalen Parmele’s first outing, but on the whole the backs looked like they knew what they were doing…and did it.  Even if it was good blocking, I’ll take an offensive line that knows what it’s doing.

We also learned something about Jones-Drew:

• He knows when to swallow his pride

It takes a lot of balls to hold out against your employer.  It takes a lot of pride to say, “I’m worth more than what we agreed I was a bit ago.”  Yet when those fines start to pile up and the team obviously isn’t going to budge, it takes a lot more balls to swallow your pride and realize that maybe it’s best to go back.

I’m happy to have Jones-Drew back and I’m happy to know that someone in the fantasy leagues may be enticed enough to use a 1st round pick on him (Dave?????).  It’s good to have the team feel “complete” again.

- Luke N. Sims

Well the hypothetical season record without MJD will have to remain hypothetical.  The 38-day Jones-Drew holdout has ended.  Reporting to camp Sunday morning, MJD will be getting back to work for the Jags as the ball carrier they may just need (want?) if they have potential to make a playoff push (optimism here, we’re 0-0 after all!).

Instead of being fined $30,000 more per day missed (potentially), MJD can get right back to earning his respectable $4.45 million for the season.

Glad you’re getting on board the Blaine Train, Maurice!

- Luke N. Sims