04/23/24
September 06, 2011
Jaguars Releasing David Garrard: The Jacksonville Jaguars are releasing quarterback David Garrard and will reportedly start Luke McCown in the season opener. McCown hasn't started an NFL game since 2007 and is 1-6 career with 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Two days ago, Florida Times-Union Jaguars beat reporter Vito Stellino had no idea this was coming. "In the best of all possible worlds for the Jaguars, rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert will not start any games this season," he wrote. Garrard started 76 games for the team, peaking with a wild-card playoff victory in 2007.
Jacksonville sports radio is dumbfounded by the move. My cynical guess is that Del Rio thinks the team's going to suck anyway and the switch buys him more time. He should've been fired in the offseason.
posted by rcade at 03:58 PM on September 06, 2011
Yeah, in a way I get cutting Garrard as he's a permanent injury risk, but why not waive him when making the actual roster cuts? How did they come up with this a couple of days later? It seems half-assed or based on Garrard's (lack of?) recovery from a knock in the final pre-season game.
I'm rooting for Garrard to catch on with a team that needs a QB and have a couple more good years. Always liked him since the Jaguars' Hard Knocks. A smarter cut here would have been to lose their head coach.
On edit: Jinx.
posted by yerfatma at 03:58 PM on September 06, 2011
Garrard's a great guy, from all accounts here. I was hoping he'd continue as the starter until the inevitable ascenion of Blaine Gabbert this season or next.
posted by rcade at 04:06 PM on September 06, 2011
Former Jaguar Tony Boselli, who runs the team's season ticket drive, said that McCown was the best quarterback in camp two years in a row. "We all knew he was playing better in the preseasons," one 1010XL host said.
posted by rcade at 04:16 PM on September 06, 2011
He'll get picked up quickly. I've never thought he was that bad a quarterback. And yes, Jacksonville is going to suck, so let McCown take the beating.
posted by dyams at 04:19 PM on September 06, 2011
My cynical guess is that Del Rio thinks the team's going to suck anyway and the switch buys him more time. He should've been fired in the offseason.
I always got the impression that he was doing his best with the talent that he has. The team isn't exactly full of Pro Bowlers. Even Belichick couldn't win with that bunch.
posted by bperk at 04:21 PM on September 06, 2011
I always got the impression that he was doing his best with the talent that he has.
Really? I always got the impression he was dead from the neck up. To me, he's essentially an East Coast Mike Singletary who made it as far as he did based on inspirational speeches and a great career.
posted by yerfatma at 04:35 PM on September 06, 2011
I always got the impression that he was doing his best with the talent that he has.
The Jaguars were good enough to be 7-5 after 12 games in 2009 and still had the 6-6 Miami Dolphins and 1-11 Cleveland Browns on the schedule. They lost the last four games. A 9-7 team made the playoffs.
The Jaguars were good enough to be 8-5 after 13 games in 2010 and had the 7-6 Indianapolis Colts, the 5-8 Washington Redskins and the 5-8 Houston Texans on the schedule. They lost the last three games. Beating the Colts would have clinched the AFC South with two weeks to play.
They could have been a playoff team three out of the past four seasons. Del Rio just isn't getting it done.
posted by rcade at 05:02 PM on September 06, 2011
Black quarterbacks: the Red Shirts of the NFL.
posted by googly at 07:22 PM on September 06, 2011
He couldn't be better than Tarvaris Jackson or Clipboard Jesus, could he?
posted by beaverboard at 09:16 AM on September 07, 2011
The Washington D.C. is starting Rex Grossman. I know Garrard is better than him.
posted by bperk at 10:51 AM on September 07, 2011
The Jaguars braintrust gave McCown 18 passes in the preseason. What could possibly go wrong?
posted by rcade at 12:25 PM on September 07, 2011
Do you really think firing Del Rio would change things, rcade. Presumably, this decision was made by the GM, and it is so stupid that I have trouble believing he is up to the job.
posted by bperk at 01:01 PM on September 07, 2011
I'm surprised to encounter resistance to the idea of firing an NFL coach whose team has reached the playoffs twice in nine years, had a winning record three times in nine years and won a single playoff game.
Del Rio had his shot. He's not up to the job. Surely he controlled the decision about how much playing time to give McCown in the preseason. If the team had any inkling at all Garrard might be dropped, they had to give McCown more time. It didn't happen.
posted by rcade at 01:23 PM on September 07, 2011
I wasn't giving resistance. I was just wondering if you thought replacing him would fix the problem. Del Rio didn't make this decision by himself. There were many times in TB's history when I thought firing the coach was not nearly enough; the GM had to go as well.
posted by bperk at 02:01 PM on September 07, 2011
Former Jaguar Tony Boselli, who runs the team's season ticket drive, said that McCown was the best quarterback in camp two years in a row. "We all knew he was playing better in the preseasons," one 1010XL host said.
It helps you look better when you're facing the second and third string defensive players.
posted by dfleming at 02:21 PM on September 07, 2011
The Jags will have a new coach next year and a new city to call home very soon. Luke McCown will definately drum up interest.
Ridiculous cost-cutting move. Boselli sounds like a corporate stooge.
posted by dyams at 04:24 PM on September 07, 2011
The Jaguars braintrust gave McCown 18 passes in the preseason.
Wow. So, yeah, that's rather damning of the coach/GM/both.
He couldn't be better than Tarvaris Jackson or Clipboard Jesus, could he?
I was sure Clipboard Jesus was going to be Tim Tebow but a Google search tells me it's Charlie Whitehurst? Speaking of Tebow, would Florida like him back?
posted by tron7 at 05:25 PM on September 07, 2011
Is this a money saving move? The timing is baffling otherwise.