Post by scorpion42 on Feb 16, 2009 12:08:04 GMT -7
Jaguars release long-time RB Fred Taylor
55 minutes ago
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA (TICKER) —Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, who has been the face of the franchise, was released on Monday.
The Florida-Times Union, citing a team source, reported that the 11-year veteran’s tenure in Jacksonville is over. The Jaguars plan to announce the move at a 1:30 p.m. EST press conference.
The move does not come as much of a surprise. Taylor has three years left on a four-year, $23 million contract extension he signed after the 2007 season and is due a $5 million roster bonus in June.
Taylor, who ranks 16th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list (11,271 yards), has been slowly phased out of the Jaguars’ offense thanks to the continued emergence of Maurice Jones-Drew.
Taylor was the first draft pick by the Jaguars (ninth overall), who entered the league as an expansion team in 1998. He ran for 1,223 yards and 14 touchdowns as a rookie.
Taylor was injury-prone early in his career, but began to shake the label of “Fragile Fred” over the last three seasons by playing in 43 games.
But in 13 contests last season, Taylor registered career-lows in carries (143), yards (556) and touchdowns (one). They were the lowest totals he accumulated in a season in which he played at least 10 games.
Taylor also did not endear himself to the front office during a radio interview this past November, when he criticized the team after the underachieving Jaguars fell to 4-7 with a loss to Minnesota.
On November 26, Taylor told Sirius NFL radio it was, “probably the worst team, emphasize the word ‘team,’ that I’ve been on.”
He also said the loss to the Vikings, “reminded me of the Bad News Bears.”
A former star at the University of Florida, Taylor has racked up 11,271 yards and 62 touchdowns in 140 games with Jacksonville. He made his lone Pro Bowl appearance last season.
Taylor has become expendable thanks to Jones-Drew, who ran for 824 yards on 197 carries and was third in the AFC with 12 touchdowns.
Jones-Drew is eligible to become a free agent after the 2009 season, and the Jaguars have said they will make re-signing him a top priority.
55 minutes ago
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA (TICKER) —Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, who has been the face of the franchise, was released on Monday.
The Florida-Times Union, citing a team source, reported that the 11-year veteran’s tenure in Jacksonville is over. The Jaguars plan to announce the move at a 1:30 p.m. EST press conference.
The move does not come as much of a surprise. Taylor has three years left on a four-year, $23 million contract extension he signed after the 2007 season and is due a $5 million roster bonus in June.
Taylor, who ranks 16th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list (11,271 yards), has been slowly phased out of the Jaguars’ offense thanks to the continued emergence of Maurice Jones-Drew.
Taylor was the first draft pick by the Jaguars (ninth overall), who entered the league as an expansion team in 1998. He ran for 1,223 yards and 14 touchdowns as a rookie.
Taylor was injury-prone early in his career, but began to shake the label of “Fragile Fred” over the last three seasons by playing in 43 games.
But in 13 contests last season, Taylor registered career-lows in carries (143), yards (556) and touchdowns (one). They were the lowest totals he accumulated in a season in which he played at least 10 games.
Taylor also did not endear himself to the front office during a radio interview this past November, when he criticized the team after the underachieving Jaguars fell to 4-7 with a loss to Minnesota.
On November 26, Taylor told Sirius NFL radio it was, “probably the worst team, emphasize the word ‘team,’ that I’ve been on.”
He also said the loss to the Vikings, “reminded me of the Bad News Bears.”
A former star at the University of Florida, Taylor has racked up 11,271 yards and 62 touchdowns in 140 games with Jacksonville. He made his lone Pro Bowl appearance last season.
Taylor has become expendable thanks to Jones-Drew, who ran for 824 yards on 197 carries and was third in the AFC with 12 touchdowns.
Jones-Drew is eligible to become a free agent after the 2009 season, and the Jaguars have said they will make re-signing him a top priority.