Report: Raiders sign veteran Maurice Jones-Drew

Originally published on Silver & Black Report on March 28, 2014
Veteran running back Maurice Jones-Drew visited the Oakland Raiders on Thursday and it didn’t take long for him and general manager Reggie McKenzie to agree to terms.

Scott Bair of Comcast Sports Net has now reported that both sides have come to an agreement, though the terms of the contract have not been released yet.

The signing brings Jones-Drew back to the Bay Area, where he grew up and attended local football powerhouse De La Salle High School. Jones-Drew never lost a game during his three-year stint playing varsity football at De La Salle, part of the school’s high-school record 151-game win streak.

The 29-year-old running back seemed to lack the explosiveness last season that he once possessed as he rushed for just 803 rushing yards on only 3.4 yards per carry, and five rushing touchdowns.

In 70 games started in the NFL, Jones-Drew has 8,071 rushing yards (4.5 yards per carry) and 68 touchdowns. He also possesses great ability to catch the ball out of the backfield as he has recorded 335 receptions for 2873 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

Adding Jones-Drew gives the Raiders much-needed competition at the running back position after they re-signed Darren McFadden to a cheap one-year deal hoping he can remain healthy and give the team solid production.

The Raiders now have McFadden, Jones-Drew, second-year player Latavius Murray, Jeremy Stewart and CFL star Kory Sheets on the roster at running back.

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