Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon has been suspended four games after he violated the league’s substance abuse policy, according to Adam Schefter. And with that, the Jaguars are already a little less irrelevant in 2013. And it’s April 30th.
This is the place where the great Geno Smith question will begin. And if we all get the answer that we’re sort of beginning to expect, then the great Geno Smith fall will also begin here.
Earlier on as the draft was mocked and called all kinds of names, it was common to see Smith slotted in to become the next Jaguars (Jag-Wires?) quarterback. Now, that feeling has shifted dramatically, and not because new general manager David Caldwell is especially high on Blaine Gabbert, or especially low on Smith.
No, passing on Smith will likely be the result of simple priorities, and draft value. By nature since they were the second worst team in the league during the 2012 season, the Jags have multiple holes, but one especially glaring deficiency lies on the defensive line with its inability to pressure the opposing quarterback. The Jaguars had a league low 20 sacks this past season, and they’re in a position to select Dion Jordan with their second overall pick, the highly versatile edge rusher who recorded 23.5 sacks over his final two years at Oregon.
Or maybe even more importantly, they could choose to ensure Gabbert doesn’t break again by fortifying the offensive line with either Eric Fisher or Luke Joeckel, a move that’s looking increasingly possible. Indeed, there are multiple directions for the Jaguars, but Smith doesn’t appear to be one of them.
As the conclusion of our draft previews nears, I talked to Adam Stites from Big Cat Country about Smith, Jordan, and the Jaguars’ early draft focus.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders have shown interest in Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Matt Flynn.
Flynn signed a free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks in the last off season with the expectations that he would be the Seahawks’ starting QB, only to lose his job to rookie Russell Wilson.
Flynn only appeared in 3 games with the Seahawks last season, completing 5 passes on 9 attempts for 68 yards.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have released wide receiver Laurent Robinson. Robinson has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, including concussion issues, but passed his physical and the Jaguars can release him without any injury settlement. Robinson, however, questions his health claiming he felt light headed during practices.
#Jaguars have waived WR Laurent Robinson. Passed his physical so no injury settlement.
— Ryan O’Halloran (@ryanohalloran) March 13, 2013
Cut Jaguars WR Laurent Robinson says he told team trainers that he didn’t feel 100 percent during workout yesterday
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) March 13, 2013
Robinson signed a 5-year deal with the Jags worth $32.5 million in March of 2012. Robinson appeared in only seven games for the Jaguars this season and finished with 24 receptions for a total of 252 yards and no touchdowns.
After releasing safety Dawan Landry earlier on Friday, the Jaguars continued their house cleaning in the secondary by cutting cornerback Aaron Ross in a move that was first reported by Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
Jags are releasing S Dawan Landry today.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 8, 2013
The Jacksonville Jaguars will release Safety Dawan Landry today, according to a tweet from USA Today’s Mike Garafolo.
The former Baltimore Raven signed a five year, $27.5 million deal with the Jags on July 29th, 2011. He started 16 games last season, recording one interception and 81 tackles. Overall, the veteran was a disappointment and the Jags are willing to eat $3.9 million in dead money.
Dawan is the older brother of Jets Safety LaRon Landry.
Remember when San Francisco 49ers’ QB Alex Smith got injured earlier last season and a young and mobile upstart named Colin Kaepernick stepped in to lead them to the Super Bowl?
You don’t remember that? Really? It was a pretty big story…well anyway, it looks like we’re about to see the end of the 49ers’ quarterback saga.
