If foot is issue Maurice Jones-Drew should look out for himself

Heard Bill Polian on the radio this morning and almost puked.

Great general manager, total management shill. Polian was talking about Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jacksonville runner is nursing a foot injury that could keep him out at least a few weeks. I'm told the injury might keep him out possibly a little longer. This means MJD might not be back until sometime in November. If not longer.

(I'm also not totally convinced that Jones-Drew does not have a Lisfranc injury.)

Remember, Jones-Drew held out this summer, wanting a new deal, and after this season, he will have one year left on his contract. This is where Polian chimed in. Polian believes Jones-Drew, if possible, should play again this season. So in a Polian world, Jones-Drew should risk further injury to his foot, for a team that didn't look out for him, and is going nowhere this season, and risk damaging an already limited earnings potential. Sure, Bill.

A question. Why is a team allowed to look out for its interests, but an individual player cannot do the same?

When the Jaguars declined to give Jones-Drew an extension, it was a business decision. They didn't believe it was worth it either financially or strategically since MJD had several years left on his contract. Fine. They were looking out for their interests. Can't blame them.

So if Jones-Drew has a shaky foot, and one year left on his deal, and he comes back sometime in November, and the Jaguars are, say, 2-8, and headed to top draft pick status, why shouldn't Jones-Drew look out for his interests the way the Jaguars looked out for theirs?

If the Jaguars are selfish, why shouldn't MJD be the same?

We've seen players trust teams before and get nowhere. Wes Welker wanted a new deal, trusted the Patriots, and they franchised him. Sure, he'll earn a nice payday for the year, but he'll be a year older after this season going out on the free agent market.

The Bears' situation with Matt Forte did work out. He got his deal. But Forte smartly sat out the last few games of the year even though it's possible he could have played.

This is what you'll hear: MJD would be letting his team down if he could play but didn't. No player in that Jaguars locker room would be angry with Jones-Drew if he sat but could play because almost every player in that locker room would do the same.

Jones-Drew isn't an ordinary runner. He might be the best back in football. He's a star. The talent plus his star status is extremely valuable, and if the Jaguars can't see that, other teams will. They'll spend for him because he's worth it and the healthier Jones-Drew is, the more money he'll get.

So if the foot is even a little tender, or if there is even a tiny risk of further damage, he should do what the Jaguars did. He should look out for his own interests.

And sit.