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The Raiders and free agent running back, Maurice Jones-Drew have agreed to terms on a contract according CSN Bay Area. No word yet on any contract details. Jones-Drew flew in Thursday to meet with the team where a deal was expected to be reached quickly and would push into Friday. The deal is expected to be made official pending a physical on Friday.
The two sides had been speaking since early in free agency. It was reported that Jones-Drew had been asking for something in the range of $3 million per season and had yet to find a taker. The Raiders likely made an initial offer and that offer turned out to be the best out there for the 29-year-old running back.
It is a return home for Jones-Drew who grew up in the East Bay and was a star tailback at De LaSalle High School in Concord. He also was a Raiders fans growing up. He went on to play at UCLA and was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2006 draft.
The 8-year pro is looking to rebound from two down seasons. He missed ten games in 2012 with a Lisfranc foot injury. Then, depite starting 15 games last season, he was hobbled by injury that caused him to have by far his lowest yards per carry average of his career (3.4).
The three-time Pro Bowler and one time All Pro still has a 4.5 career yards per carry average and steadily performed at that level prior to last season. He returned to that form over the final five games of last season which would suggest he still has good football left.
He adds to a deep backfield that includes the recently re-signed Darren McFadden, last year's sixth round pick Latavius Murray, former CFL star Kory Sheets, and third-year reserve back, Jeremy Stewart. Fullback Marcel Reece can also play tailback when needed.
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