With Fred Taylor gone to New England, the Jaguars’ top running back spot belongs to Maurice Jones-Drew. The question is, does MJD want to be paid like a No. 1 back?

The Florida Times-Union reports that Jones-Drew, set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, was absent from the first day of the Jaguars’ voluntary offseason conditioning program.

While it’s unclear why Jones-Drew didn’t participate, his absence appears to clash with coach Jack Del Rio‘s new stance on offseason conditioning. In the past, Del Rio allowed some players to train off site on their own, instead of with the team. But in the aftermath of a disastrous 5-11 campaign in 2008, Del Rio took a decidedly different position.

“Everybody who wants to be a Jaguar will be in Jacksonville working out with the team,” Del Rio said in a Dec. 30 news conference.

The Times-Union goes on to say that Jones-Drew is looking for a deal in the range of $8 million per year with $20 million guaranteed, similar to the $49.3 million contract signed by Rams RB Steven Jackson last year.

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