Maurice Jones Drew takes a pay cut in Oakland

Dec 22, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) runs the ball past Tennessee Titans safety Bernard Pollard (31) during the game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Maurice Jones Drew signed with the Oakland Raiders last week and it seemed to be a great fit for both sides. MJD is a great counter punch to opposing defenses behind teammate Darren McFadden and the veteran back gets a chance to rejuvenate his declining career. But, recent reports from ProFootballTalk.com are coming out that Jones Drew is making nearly a million dollars less in Oakland than he would have made if he stayed in Jacksonville. Jones Drew is set to make $2.5 million over the next three years, while his replacement in Jacksonville, Toby Gerhart, is making $3.5 million over three years.

This comes as a surprise that MJD would sign that deal knowing he would have made more with the team who drafted him. This is because he made nearly $5 million in 2013 with the Jags, but was openly unhappy about the deal. And Oakland is no playoff ready team, yet. They are arguably better off than Jacksonville, but still, not great. Usually when big name free agents take a pay cut to go to a team, it is because they are going to win games, this is not the case.

What ever the reason was for Jones Drew to sign with the Raiders, maybe it was the California sun or the fact they were the only ones to bite on the 29-year old back, he still cannot be happy with the deal he got. And now the Raiders actually have something to celebrate: they didn’t overpay someone for once.