JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Branden Albert's decision to not participate in the Jacksonville Jaguars' voluntary offseason program was about more than just his desire for a new contract. It had a lot to do with the past three seasons.

Albert said the time he spent with the Miami Dolphins from 2014 to 2016 left him battered and in need of a complete recharge. And he was able to do that over the past two months.

“My body is pretty beat up after the last three years being in Miami -- mentally, spiritually and physically,” Albert said Tuesday after the first day of the Jaguars’ three-day mandatory minicamp. “The last three years took a toll on me. I found myself as a man, a man of the Lord.

“I’m just happy to be -- to be honest with you, it’s hard, but where would you rather be? You could be somewhere, there’s people worse off somewhere. It’s a challenge, but it’s a blessing at the same time. Not everybody is blessed to play this game. I’m just really happy to be here.”

Albert signed a five-year, $47 million contract with $26 million guaranteed with Miami in 2014 after spending six seasons with Kansas City. He was playing at a Pro Bowl level in 2014 but missed the final seven games of the season after suffering a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee.

Albert returned in time for the 2015 season opener but missed games in Weeks 3 and 4 because of a hamstring injury. He still played at a high level and made the Pro Bowl at the end of the season for the second time in his career (he also made it in 2013).

The Dolphins drafted Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil 13th overall in 2016 and turned to Albert to mentor a young player that would be taking his job. Albert missed four games with wrist and ankle injuries.

The Dolphins were planning on moving Tunsil to left tackle in 2017 and nearly cut Albert in February, but the Jaguars inquired about Albert while also conducting trade talks with the Dolphins regarding tight end Julius Thomas. The Jaguars agreed to send a seventh-round pick in 2018 to Miami for Albert, and the deal was completed in March.

“It was a long three years in Miami,” Albert said. “I took a beating. I think I needed to take a break for myself and get myself together.”

But his absence from the Jaguars’ voluntary offseason program was also about his contract, too. Albert is due base salaries of $8.875 million in 2017 and $9.575 million in 2018, though neither salary is guaranteed.

Albert said he didn’t discuss a potential new contract with the Jaguars when he visited the facility for his introductory news conference in March, but in talking with his advisors after he left Jacksonville they decided to see if the team would be willing to re-do or modify his deal.

The Jaguars were not, and GM Dave Caldwell reiterated that on April 28.

Yet Albert says now that he doesn’t feel he’s underpaid but was trying to take advantage of the free-agent market. Four left tackles signed free-agent contracts in March that included at least $15 million guaranteed: Andrew Whitworth ($15 million), Russell Okung ($25 million), Riley Reif ($26.3 million) and Matt Kalil ($31 million).

“When you see this situation and the market came out, you try to do what’s best business-wise,” Albert said. “It didn’t work that way. It’s time to move on. I don’t think I’m underpaid, but when you look at the market at that time and in that situation and you’re being moved around how I was, it’s just a business move.

“Now that’s over with. It’s time to play football.”