Should the Falcons trade with Jax/London Jags for MJD?
Falcons running back Michael Turner emerges from the smoke and fire to take on the Ravens in Atlanta. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH – It’s admission time.
Those recent tweets have been ignored because they don’t make good football sense.
But with the Maurice Jones-Drew and Shad Khan standoff boiling over in Jacksonville, posing the question is in order.
Turner doesn’t want a drastic cut in his carries.
Should the Falcons and the Jaguars swap out running backs? To some of you all, a Michael Turner-for- Jones-Drew trade makes some sense.
I received this tweet to @AJCFalcons from @Andrewtuce:
“@AJCFalcons don’t u have to try and get Mjd if u r the falcons? We aren’t winning anything with broken m turner”
I received this tweet to @DorlandoLed from @EliotLehrman:
@DOrlandoLED Do YOU think we should trade for MJD? Let’s make some noise! MJD to ATL! #WWMJD We want MJD! #Falcons “
Jones-Drew has two years remaining on his contract with the Jacksonville-London Jaguars. (They have agreed to play one game for four years in London. Wonder if that’s a prelude to becoming the Los Angeles Jaguars. Google: Covered seats.)
The holdout is getting a little messy. Jones-Drew’s agent Adisa Bakari of Washington, D.C. is a standup guy and works with the media when teams are making concerted efforts to stop agents from talking to the press. But Jones-Drew received $21.8 million in the first year of the five year deal. He’s set to make $9.4 million over the next two years.
The shelf life for running backs is not very long and Jones-Drew has been heavily used in Jacksonville.
The trade would reunite the running backs with the coordinators that they have enjoyed a great deal of success with.
Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew practicing against the Falcons in Flowery Branch in 2010. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
Mike Mularkey called the plays in Atlanta that helped Turner rise from a backup to LaDainian Tomlinson to a Pro Bowler. As you all know, he’s the head coach for Jacksonville/London now.
Jones-Drew led the league in rushing last season and turned into a Pro Bowler with Dirk Koetter calling the plays for him. Of course, Koetter is now the offensive coordinator for the Falcons.
110801 Flowery Branch - Former Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey signals to the offense while players ran through the first padded practice at training camp in Flowery Branch on Monday, August 1, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
Jones-Drew is 27. Turner turned 30 in February.
The case for keeping Turner is that the Falcons are 22-3 when he runs for more than 100 yards.
Turner has accounted for more than 1,450 yards in offense in three of the past four seasons. He’s gone to two Pro Bowls and made the All-Pro team after his mega-2008 season. Turner is still a weapon in a passing league.
With Koetter at the controls in Jacksonville, Jones-Drew led the league in carries with 343 in 2011. He was eighth in the league with 299 carries in 2010 and fifth with 312 carries in 2009.
Turner turned 30 on Feb. 13. Traditionally, turning 30 signals the end of the road for running backs.
However, Turner may be a little different because he was used sparingly as a reserve in San Diego. He had just 228 carries in four seasons with the Chargers.
Another reason why this trade doesn’t make sense is because in addition to Turner, the Falcons already have Jacquizz Rodgers, who will share the position with Turner and based on coach Mike Smith’s comments, will get a shot to win the fulltime job down the road.
Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/DLedbetter@ajc.com)
Smith has repeatedly called Rodgers a three-down back.
Basically, the Falcons don’t have a need for a running back they already drafted.
Look for Jones-Drew to head back to Jacksonville soon, perhaps with the promise that the Jags will look more closely at an extension before next season.
That would be the win-win-win move for the Jags, MJD and the Falcons.
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104 comments Add your comment
D man
August 23rd, 2012
12:13 pm
I was thinking last night about a swap. How would that work money wise and would we have to give up a draft pick like they were talking about on nfl network.
Breeswillgethurtthisyear
August 23rd, 2012
12:20 pm
Just bc Jax is playing 1 game the next 4 years in London doesn’t make them the London Jags. Calling them that is almost as ridiculous as DOL’s bowtie with shorts and dress shoes. And don’t bring in MJD. Just use Turner as the change of pace back like Giants used Jacobs. Quizz(Bradshaw) and Turner(Jacobs) formula.
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
August 23rd, 2012
1:04 pm
If we swapped we would get a back that wont come to play because of his contract and they would get our back that will at least do well for them no way we make this trade atl has faith in quizz and turner
Falcon James
August 23rd, 2012
1:05 pm
Interesting Article Mr. DOL.
I am with you that the Falcon will not persue a trade or anything else with Turner this year. I think that Rogers is our future starter. Turner will either be traded or lost to FA; either way , I think he is gone after this season. I know preseason is just practice games, but he has been less than impressive. I know his stat say something different, but even last season, he seem to fall down at the line alot. The bulk of his yards came in the 4th quarter where he would break one, the get caught from behind.
Nique
August 23rd, 2012
1:16 pm
Interesting ? if we got Jones Drew I believe we become a top 4 offense in football in question & the most versitale of those tope 5, bc G.B N.E.& Det. can’t run the ball & Jones Drew adds a toughness, with a break away speed, & reciever out the backfield element to our team that we honestly just don’t have! Jones Drew is no ? a top 5 rb in the NFL, if we could get him for something like sending them Turner, along with Franks or Owens, maybe one of our O-Linemen like Hawley, & a # 3rd draft pick in next years draf at the mostt, but i’d prefer a 4th, I’d be ok with the trade. It does make a ton of sense for both teams & MJD is not a me first guy, the Jax are just aweful & have used him up without wanting to compensate him for his usage!
John Brown
August 23rd, 2012
1:20 pm
Yes make the trade. Turner was good a couple of years ago but now he needs a new start.
Nique
August 23rd, 2012
1:20 pm
& as much as i like Rodgers & I do like Rodgers, you can look back when we drafted him I was one of the main ones praising the pick, Rodgers is not the type of feature back that one win a S.B. with, he’s a great # 2 option, but going forward I don’t quite see him as a good enough back to be a starter for a S.B. team & that’s what we’re after now & going forward so…
Mr. Hankey
August 23rd, 2012
1:23 pm
I say the trade is your standard run of the mill no-brainer. There’s a pic of Turner and Snelling talking in one of the blogs I just read and he is a fatass. Plain and simple. Dude done been to DQ too many times. If I were Jax I wouldn’t budge on his contract either. They paid him 21 million on first year and he’s still getting 9 this year and next and he thinks he ain’t getting paid? Check my world out, pal. given that revelation he may be a pain in the tuckus and we don’t know what we have in Rogers, but we do know he’s got a cool name. Where do those names come from.
Mr. Hankey
August 23rd, 2012
1:24 pm
Jaquizz.
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
August 23rd, 2012
1:33 pm
I think turner would be successfull if our line could make holes but if he doesnt have a chance to get his legs churning fast then he cant be affective and we need a back that can break tackles and move the ball down field without much help from the line which ive seen rodgers be affective when turner cant i agree turner will be let go simply put when his contract is up and atl will move on now whether they let rodgers start or draft a new feature back remains to be seen i for one like wat rodgers can do
Should the Falcons trade with Jax/London Jags for MJD? | football-feed.com
August 23rd, 2012
1:34 pm
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Ken
August 23rd, 2012
1:42 pm
D-led This trade will never happen!! The Falcons have Turner, Snelling, JaQizz and A Smith all can catch and run just have to use them my DIRTY BIRDS don’t need MJD!!!!!!
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
August 23rd, 2012
1:48 pm
Dude mjd has been paid hell i live pay check to pay check id be happy to come down and throw my full 145 pounds around for around 70k a year and id be content my point is this guy makes millions and he shouldnt be doing any type of holding out till hes finished the contract that he and his agent agreed to this team owes him no more than wat was agreed and even less if he doesnt follow through on it
First time Season Tix Holder
August 23rd, 2012
1:54 pm
Not sure
Nique
August 23rd, 2012
1:55 pm
Roddy held out & we paid him…I mean I agree with u in principle, I also agree that atheletes today get a boat load of $, but players hold out all the time & based on the reality of the NFL & how players hold out, this isn’t an unreasonable one.
Nique
August 23rd, 2012
2:03 pm
We might not need MJD, but the trade makes sense & MJD’s versitility & ability to make plays would show up against the top notch teams & in the playoffs. He’s the type of player that has a motor & heart that won’t be denied, I can’t say the same for Turner & as much as we like Rodgers, we can’t quite sign off on him at that level either. To me, this trade would be less about the stats that MJD would produce, while i think they’d be better anyway, but it’s more about what we do in the second season. If we made this trade, i’d have much less fear about us in a one & out bc even if we ran into a G-Men D like last year, we could do more with MJD that just repeatedly try to run him up the miiddle bc he’s more versitile & him heart & drive are on a different level than Turner’s. Now i admit that some of that would be different anyway because of the new OC, but I’m just saying, there’s a significant different between the two backs & if we are really loading up with the 2cnd season in mind & not just the 1st, this is something that we at least have to reasonably explore
WS
August 23rd, 2012
2:11 pm
Would be a good trade for falcons. Jags getting and over the hill back in Turner, One than is a running back that can not catch. I am sure the Jags would make that trade. If you beieve that, You need too have your head checked!
JSin
August 23rd, 2012
2:32 pm
Grimes and Quizz for MJD according to sources. We’ll see if this goes down!!
Show me your TDs
August 23rd, 2012
2:46 pm
Similiar running styles…dont see added benefit for the addition, when there are higher priorities on board. Oline, LB, and Secondary!! MJD has been a great NFL back, and fantasy player. But doesnt seem a long term fit for ATL. No more rental projects for any Atlanta based teams please!! Acquire and develop!!
old man
August 23rd, 2012
4:33 pm
MJD is a huge upgrade over Turner. Here are next two years’ salary, and cap# for each:
Maurice Jones-Drew $4,450,000 $4,950,000 $8,310,000
Michael Turner $5,000,000 $5,500,000 $7,500,000
MJD catches the ball, MT does not. He’s faster. He’s a harder runner. He can evade tackles. MT cannot. MJD hits the hole much faster.
If JAX is stuck on principle, ATL does not have that problem. MJD never agreed to anything with us. Would he accept a face-saving deal where we re-negotiate the last two years of his deal to maybe 5.5M and 6.0M?
We may be one of only a couple of teams who are willing to part with someone who, on paper, is an elite back, a rough equivalent of MJD, so our competition for such a deal might be pretty thin. In reality, it would be a steal for us. If anything close to a straight up deal was available, we would be idiots not to jump all over it.
We could reduce MJD’s carries just like we plan to do with MT right now. So we would see a lot of Quizz. With either back in, the potential for a pass/screen to the RB is on the table. Right now, with MT in, those options are just not there.
I doubt it could be done, but if it can, the Falcons need to make it happen.
MaxxFalcon
August 23rd, 2012
4:35 pm
Are we talking about Turner for MJD straight-up? The answer is a resounding, YES!!
old man
August 23rd, 2012
4:55 pm
MaxxFalcon:
I’m guessing we have to sweeten that deal just a bit, but if it’s close to straight up, you have to do it.
We are a perfect match to solve Khan’s problem. Both MJD and Khan won’t budge on principle. Khan needs a “star” RB to replace MJD if he trades him. We have one. MJD needs to save face with some kind of increase in pay. We can do that without altering our position that we don’t renegotiate salaries with players we signed. MJD might take a fairly modest increase, with no extension beyond the two years, just to show Khan that he got a better deal.
Anyone hear anything else on where this is? I would rather move MT than Quizz to get this done.
DePlane
August 23rd, 2012
5:09 pm
This ain’t never gonna happen. It’s got the windbags going though!
Th
August 23rd, 2012
6:19 pm
Ontheotherhand; thanks for pointing out the obvious: Turner runs for 100 yards when we are sitting on a lead. Stupidest stat ever. Tell me about first half yards and winning. How about yards per carry on first down or number of times stuffed for no gain? In his defense, throw him the ball. His yards after catch are really good.
JoFo
August 23rd, 2012
7:09 pm
Yes! I LOVE MJD! Look what he does on a consistent basis with such poor support!
old man
August 23rd, 2012
7:31 pm
I seeing all the experts say MJD for MT makes no sense for ATL. What?
Anything closely resembling a straight up deal would down in the annals of ATL sports history as one of the best deals ever. It would make the Babe Ruth deal from Boston to NY look like chump change.
Good grief! What are people smoking?
Brian Hunt
August 23rd, 2012
8:58 pm
I’d do it in a heart beat. It would be good for both backs and both teams. I’d even throw in John Parker Wilson to sweeten the pot.
El Snipero
August 23rd, 2012
9:43 pm
In a word – NO.
GT GRAD
August 23rd, 2012
9:46 pm
All NFL teams win a huge percentage of the time when they have a RB that gets >100 yards………..because the team has a big lead and runs the ball much more to close the game out. Stupid stat!!!!
MJD will not play for Jacksonville right now…..they are much better off trading for MT (because he will show up to practice and play). It will probably take MT and an additional player (maybe Redman or John Parker Wilson) or maybe a late round draft pick. No brainer as long as MJD is willing to play in Atlanta for close to his current salary…….I would not agree if he requires a significant increase in salary.
How sweet would it be if they agreed to trade MJD and a solid LT straight up for MT and Sam Baker…….I realize I am simply dreaming (fun to think about though!!!).
Talk Real
August 23rd, 2012
9:53 pm
If anyone has been paying any attention to the progress of our team, everyone would realize that our running game is not there and quizz is not what everyone wants him to be just yet. And continuing in my evaluation, a jones drew and quizz backfield with the help of snelling would be deadly for a team with an emerging pass attack to come. It would be wise to trade turner and a few scrubs just to clear space for our new falcon jones drew. Pay attention folks
Talk Real
August 23rd, 2012
9:57 pm
Jones drew is a team player and upgrade while turner cant even catch or be a little effective in the screen game. He isnt a good fit for the team and smith needs to hop off for a year and let the big boys make the decisions.
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
August 23rd, 2012
10:22 pm
Theres a differense in holding out for a new contract when ur contract is up and holding out for a new one when u havs yet to finish the one u already signed, the fact of the matter is u signed a contract and u are obligated to play out that contract or not get paid and sitting out a year and not taking his five mil for the year which is 90 percent more than most americans make a year (5 mil is an estimate) is gonna be worse on him and his career they already said they wont pay him more till he plays out his contract and i doubt they will resign him afterhis contract is up now just because he has no integrity, cmon dude get off ur butt and get to ur job that u are obligated to because no team wants a me first player and thats wat he is wait till ur contract is up and then hold out or go elsewhere not to the atl because he will be burnt out just like turner is now and we’ll be stuck with it draft a rookie next year if u have so little faith in quizz
Loyalfalconfrmthemississippi
August 23rd, 2012
10:28 pm
Oh and so u all get off this train before it starts no team in their right mind besides atl of course wants a a quarterback in jpw that cant jump ahead of a 35 year old washed up quarterback in the depth chart not to mention jpw still looks as crappy this preseason as he always has quit dreaming ppl if another team wanted him they would have pulled him from atls practice squad a long time ago
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JarvasH.
August 24th, 2012
9:40 am
That would be a good move, getting MJD but I think we’re fine with turner & Rodgers, now if they want to make a splash trade to get another pass rusher or Linebacker. “heck” sign Channing Crowder
cdog
August 24th, 2012
12:28 pm
yes, because turner is not in shape and dissappears in the second half of the season maurice-drew will run rings around turner.only thing, with him missing camp, is it going to hurt him?
cdog
August 24th, 2012
12:31 pm
please, don”t mess around with chris redman.he”s a waste. dominique davis should get his reps and be the no. 2 qb.maybe redman will bring you a 6th or 7th round pick in a trade. try arizona cardinals.
John Brown
August 24th, 2012
12:41 pm
Hell yea right now pull the trigger..
rick
August 24th, 2012
1:10 pm
trading who for mjd???? this is crazy…..Turner can adequately produce when the line opens up the lane….He will do an okay job this year….Atlanta fans kill me when a big name pops up……everyone wants to jump on a band wagon
The focus should be on making sure the line is solid and picking up some quality offensive line back ups when and if they become available….
Enkinan
August 24th, 2012
1:18 pm
Maybe if he played O-Line
St Simons
August 24th, 2012
1:30 pm
from almost Jacksonville – the Jags won’t even consider this.
Snelling & Jaquizz are better than both Turner & MJD.
Trade Grimes for a real CB? now there’s a deal.
My granny is still wide open, runnin loose in that secondary
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Tommy Maddox
August 24th, 2012
4:15 pm
The front office should be more worried about finding folks to occupy the offensive line rather than folks who have to shuck and jive to get around the opposing defensive folks who regularly perforate our offensive line.
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PlanB
August 24th, 2012
9:11 pm
Straight up trade is good for Atlanta. Anything else with decent non expendable players involved, no deal. Probably not going to happen.
PlanB
August 24th, 2012
9:14 pm
I still want to see more of Quizz and especially Snelling more. I just don’t understand why whoever does not give Snelling more of a chance!!!
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Just saying..
August 25th, 2012
11:41 am
Yes.