With Taylor Gone, MJD's Getting Paid

For the glass-half-full-types: one beneficiary of the Jaguars' decision to part ways with 11-year veteran Fred Taylor: Maurice Jones-Drew. The diminutive third-year player led the team in rushing last season, and, now that he appears to be the feature back, is in line for a raise.

Head coach Jack Del Rio did indicate that fullback Greg Jones can also expect five-to-10 carries a game, but the bulk of the work will fall to the 5-foot-7, 210-pound Jones-Drew, who also answers to Pocket Hercules. As to what he can expect in terms of compensation, the Florida Times-Union's Vito Stellino commences with the speculation:

When it's all said and done, Jones-Drew figures to receive a deal in the $8-million-a-year range with more than $20 million in guaranteed money, although the Jaguars might balk at topping the $18 million in guaranteed money they gave quarterback David Garrard.

Jones-Drew seems worth at least $18 million guaranteed -- he is huge part of Jacksonville's offense -- but that's easy for me to say because it's not my money.

As for the guy he's replacing -- the 33-year-old Taylor -- he probably won't be unemployed long. Unlike, say, Shaun Alexander, Taylor is still a punishing back with big-play capabilities. Sports Illustrated's Peter King, bouncing back nicely from losing a loved one, thinks that the Colts, Patriots and Steelers could all be interested. To varying degrees, those three teams make sense, primarily because Taylor provides insurance against injuries (whether it's, respectively, Joseph Addai, Laurence Maroney or Willie Parker).

As is usually the case, Taylor's eventual destination will likely come down to money. But a chance to win a Super Bowl -- and Indy, New England and Pittsburgh all offer legit opportunities -- could influence his decision, particularly at this point in his career.