Maurice Jones-Drew has played eight NFL seasons and has three more on a contract he recently signed with the Raiders. The veteran running back wouldn’t completely rule out playing beyond that, but the Oakland native said he doesn’t plan on changing uniforms again.
The longtime Jacksonville Jaguar joined his hometown Raiders last month and would like to finish his career in silver and black.
“I signed a three-year deal. I’m 29 and if I play until I’m 32, I feel that would be a great NFL career for me,” Jones-Drew said during an interview with Sirius XM radio. “If there is an opportunity to extend it, we’ll wait until that time comes. But, as of now, I'm working out and I feel great. I want to end my career here. I don’t want to go anywhere else.”
Jones-Drew surely wanted a chance to play in the East Bay, where he grew up and starred for Concord De La Salle High, but he also wanted a chance to earn the lion’s share of Raiders rushes. Veteran Darren McFadden was retained and a strong camp from Latavius Murray could elevate him into the mix, but Jones-Drew wants to prove he can still be a feature back.
“I feel like I have a lot of football left, and I feel like Oakland is going to give me that chance to compete for a starting job,” Jones-Drew said. “That’s all I ask. I know they want Darren and I to split carries, which is perfectly fine. But we’ll get a chance to compete. I know (former Jaguars and current Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson) well, and he’s all about production. If you can go out and produce, the more he’s going to let you touch the ball.”
The last time Jones-Drew was on Sirius XM radio, he said recently acquired quarterback Matt Schaub could take them deep into the playoffs. Jones-Drew took flak for what some considered an outlandish comment in the wake of a difficult 2013 season, but the rusher stood by his guy.
“I’ve seen him play at a high level,” Jones-Drew said. “I know he had a bad year and he’s hungry to have a better. I got some grief for saying you can win a Super Bowl with Schaub, but I believe it was last year at this time where everyone was saying that the Houston Texans were going to the Super Bowl. I can’t be the only one people can call crazy, because last year a lot of people were saying the same things. Schaub is going to have a great year. It’s going to be exciting.”
