The biggest free-agent pickup of the offseason for the Jaguars is going to miss the entire preseason due to hamstring tendon surgery. Jacksonville announced today that WR Jerry Porter will miss six-to-eight weeks, but hope is he will be able to take the field opening day for his new team. “Jerry had a successful surgical repair to a hamstring tendon that had continued to bother him,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “We expect a complete recovery in time for the regular season.”

The 30-year-old Porter signed a six-year, $30 million dollar deal with the club in March. He first hurt the hamstring during a practice in May, and it was called at that time a strain. Coming from the Raiders, Porter is expected to be a huge part of the Jags offense. He has 284 catches for 3,939 yards and 59 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons. With Porter gone for up to two months, the team will likely move Reggie Williams back to the #1 role, and Dennis Northcutt to the teams #2 WR spot.

By Andy Benoit, www.NFLTouchdown.com

AFC South Predictions

1. Indianapolis Colts

Hard to pick against five consecutive division titles – especially if the defense continues to perform so well.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

If they were in the NFC, they would maybe be the Super Bowl favorite.

3. Houston Texans

Capable of winning 10 games if everyone stays healthy, but they’re in an unfortunately tough division.

4. Tennessee Titans

The offensive and defensive lines have both taken a step back. Thus, this team gets doubted for another year.

Best Offseason Move

The Titans franchising defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, ensuring another contract-year effort from the star and forcing him to prove his long-term value.

Worst Offseason Move

The Titans allowing guard Jacob Bell to get away in free agency.

Biggest Question

What force is needed to disrupt the status quo that has come to define this division?

Read more

By Andy Benoit, www.NFLTouchdown.com

Predicted: 2^nd

2007 Record: 11-5 (2^nd AFC South)

Head Coach: Jack Del Rio (6^th year)

Roster Quick View

*rookie

**new veteran

Offense

QB: David Garrard Became far and away the highest-paid Jaguar in history over the offseason. Deserving of the fortune, but what he is, really, is a superstar caretaker.

RB: Fred Taylor Who would have ever believed that “Fragile Freddy” would still be gaining over 1,200 yards well into his thirties?

FB: Greg Jones More athletic than a traditional fullback––which figures considering he was drafted as a tailback.

WR: Jerry Porter** Few realize he’s never had 1,000 yards in a season. That could change this year.

WR: Troy Williamson** If he couldn’t catch in Minnesota, why would he be able to catch here?

TE: Marcedes Lewis Jacksonville overestimated his raw talent when they drafted him in Round One, but he’s still a very solid starter.

LT: Khalif Barnes If football were only about talent, he’d be fine. But football’s also about character, endurance and leadership. That’s why he’s fending off Richard Collier for his job.

LG: Maurice Williams Former OT who is clearly a better fit at G. Must avoid mental letdown after signing a new 4-year contract.

C: Brad Meester Awareness and technique make this aggressive veteran a cog in the middle.

RG: Vince Manuwai Moving over from the left side; the hope is he’ll boost the right side’s run-blocking power.

RT: Tony Pashos Uses size to his advantage, and approaches one-on-one matchups well. Not a standout, but above average.

—————

QB: Cleo Lemon** Great name, so-so game. A mild upgrade over Quinn Gray.

RB: Maurice Jones-Drew A de facto starter. One of the game’s best playmakers. Stubborn on contact and absolutely lethal in the open field.

WR: Dennis Northcutt The football equivalent of a Benihana chef who shows nifty utensil tricks but makes mediocre food.

WR: Matt Jones God gave him great size, great speed and absolutely nothing else.

TE: George Wrighster A receiving TE who caught only 17 passes in 2007 before tearing his ACL in November.

OL: Dennis Norman The consummate utility backup inside. Can start at G or C when needed. Won’t invigorate your front five, but will help keep it functioning.

Defense

LDE: Derrick Harvey* They took out a small mortgage to get this guy. Simply put, they need him to record lots of sacks.

DT: John Henderson Playing without sidekick Marcus Stroud won’t be a problem. A dominant run defender at his best.

DT: Rob Meier Starting opportunity came about two years too late. Still, can be effective at the front-end of a rotation.

RDE: Reggie Hayward Faces very long odds at holding onto his starting job in the long haul now that Quentin Groves is behind him.

LOLB: Justin Durant Tremendous athlete who has only okay speed. Football instincts are almost otherworldly; he’ll be a good starter for many years.

MLB: Mike Peterson Elite veteran player when healthy. Closing quickness is superb, and instincts are impressive.

ROLB: Daryl Smith Quintessential role player who can be good at all 3 linebacker spots. Won’t make you win, but you need guys like him in order to win.

CB: Rashean Mathis Take tackling out of the equation and he’s for sure a top-10 CB. He’s probably top-10 anyway. But goodness, he sure is a wuss against the run.

SS: Reggie Nelson Questionable idea to move him from FS to SS, but he can still thrive. Must continue development. Good progress to date, far from done.

FS: Brian Williams Moves from CB to centerfield, where he’s a slightly better fit.

CB: Drayton Florence** Doesn’t get burned all that often but doesn’t discourage quarterbacks from challenging him either.

—————

DL: Quentin Groves* Fast player who was thought to perhaps be a better fit as an OLB in a 3-4. This tells you what kind of pass-rusher he can be.

LB: Clint Ingram Good tackler who could start for a lot of teams––including this one.

NB: Scott Starks The one key defensive contributor who might make Jaguar coaches and fans a little nervous.

Players Acquired

QB Todd Bouman (FA)

CB Drayton Florence (SD)

DT Jimmy Kennedy (Chi)

QB Cleo Lemon (Mia)

WR Jerry Porter (Oak)

S Pierson Prioleau (Was)

WR Craphonso Thorpe (Ind)

WR Troy Williamson (Min)

Players Lost

CB Terry Cousin (Cle)

CB Aaron Glenn (NO)

QB Quinn Gray (Hou)

S Sammy Knight (NYG)

DE Bobby McCray (NO)

G Chris Naeole

LB Shantee Orr (Cle)

DT Marcus Stroud (Buf)

S Lamont Thompson

RB LaBrandon Toefield (Car)

WR Earnest Wilford (Mia)

The Jaguars made good use of the $30-plus million they had in cap space. They spent a lot of that money on locking up David Garrard. Then, they bought Garrard some receivers. Porter is an alright addition. His attitude is questionable, but he’s better than anyone they’ve had here since Jimmy Smith. Trading for Williamson shows wishful thinking, though Jacksonville only gave up a sixth-round pick to get him. Lemon is an upgrade over Gray, and Florence is an improvement over Cousin. It was a big move to trade Stroud––symbolic if nothing else. Naeole was let go because of injury. Knight hasn’t slowed down as much as they think, but they can live without him.

Read more

Jags WR Matt Jones has yet to speak after being arrested on felony cocaine charges on Thursday, but his dad is speaking on his behalf, stating that the cocaine was (of course), not his. His father, Steve Jones, gave a statement to a Arkansas TV station which reads as follows:

“Matt is anxious to make a statement and wants to make a statement,” Steve Jones said. “His attorney has advised him to not say anything until they have had a chance to speak together. They will release a statement at the appropriate time. We want to make it clear that Matt was not in possession of any drugs, but that there were drugs in the vehicle and were located in the closest proximity to Matt. He does not claim any responsibility for the drugs.”

One thing that dad Jones didn’t say is what his son, who is not expected to even make it on the Jags roster this year and is expected to be traded or released straight out, is what his darling was doing in a car with coke. The Jaguars have not commented on Jones’ arrest, but the rumor all along was that he is going to be hard pressed to even make the team this year anway.

Looks like there are two pieces of Jaguars news that need to be reported on

1. The Jaguars are rumored to be for sale.

2. WR Matt Jones was arrested on drug charges.

My take on each story………….

1. It’s hard to know what the real story is here. The Jaguars have been a “likely” candidate ever since Los Angeles and the NFL decided that a team needed to be back in the second-largest market in the league. The irony is that historically Los Angeles does a poor job of supporting their teams (which is why both the Rams and Raiders moved). It’s no secret that Wayne Weaver has done everything possible to get the fans to come to the stadium, from free ticket giveaways through a local grocery store in 2002 to covering about 10,000 seats with tarps to shrink the stadium capacity and create demand. It’s one of the most affordable tickets in the league, and the Jaguars are being built into complete team top to bottom. Why is it July and tickets are still for sale? With no naming rights sponsor for the stadium either, revenue is at a minimum. Is Weaver’s good nature and patience finally reaching the end? We will find out really soon.

2. I think the Matt Jones Experiment is officially over. The Jaguars continued having to justify keeping Jones on the team because of his 1st round draft pick status. But this is the end of the road for Jones in my opinion. Look for the Jaguars to swiftly release him.

In a quick follow-up, Wayne Weaver has issued a statement saying that he is not selling the team. Here is the statement in its entirety:

“In light of news reports from last night, I must once again reiterate the fact that I am not selling the Jaguars. The team is not for sale, and I cannot say it any more clearly than that. I’m not going to speculate about the future - whatever happens in the future, the Jaguars will be the Jacksonville Jaguars. The situation is the same as it was last year when I explained that we were looking into refinancing some debt and the possibility of adding investors. We chose not to, but that has always been an option. That is the situation now, as it was then.

“The clearest example I can offer which demonstrates my commitment to this team and this city is our offseason activity this year. We extended lucrative contracts to our head coach, our quarterback, and several veteran players. And we spent aggressively in free agency as well. Those are not moves that are made if a team is going to be sold. I don’t know how I can be any stronger in reconfirming my commitment to bringing a championship to Jacksonville.

“We’re excited and energized about the upcoming season and we want our fans to be as excited as we are.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars seem like a confident bunch as they embark on the 2008 season, with just one major stumbling block standing in their way - the Indianapolis Colts.  Again this season the Colts will stand in the way of the Jags winning the AFC South, but the Jags are ready to put up quite a fight for that title.  They made some solid offseason moves, and also feel that QB David Garrard is ready to take a big step to being an elite NFL QB.

The team upgraded their WR core to go along with Reggie Williams.  They grabbed WR Jerry Porter from the Raiders, in hopes of him finding his potential as a big-play guy.  They also added Troy Williamson, a former first-round pick, in a deal with the Vikings for a low draft pick.  So far they have been impressed with what he’s shown.  They likely will either dump or try to trade Matt Jones, who has worn out his welcome with the Jags as a first round bust.

The running game will be very good again, as long as they can stay healthy.  Fred Taylor is getting long in the tooth, but he had a Pro Bowl season a year ago, and combined with game-breaker Maurice Jones-Drew, these two are a handful for any team to handle.  Last season the Jags were ranked second in the leadue in rushing yardage.  Again, if Taylor, who has had a history of injuries, can stay healthy, this is a great unit.

They dumped DT Marcus Stroud as they moved him to the Bills.  They felt he was injury-prone, and was not the impact player he once was.  The defense will be solid again, as they will look to improve on their 12th ranking in defensive yardage allowed.  DE Derrick Harvey from Florida was their first-round pick, and he’s a pass rusher who they think will add an impact to the line.  DE Quentin Groves was their second-pick, and can make big plays, but has been known to be inconsistent.

The big issue will be can the offense hang with the big two in the AFC - the Colts and Patriots.  If they can get Garrard and the passing game to take it up one more notch, and the defense to get a bit better when it counts, there is no doubt that once again the Jags will be a force in the AFC, and this year very well may be the year they reach that next level.

The Jags have come to terms on a contract extension for DE Paul Spicer reports ProFootballTalk.com.  The site claims the deal is a two-year extension worth $8 mil, and will keep Spicer a Jag through the 2010 season.  The 32-year-old is a nine-year vet, and last season played in 15 games, starting 12.  Spicer was due to make $2.5 mil in 08, which would have been the last year of his deal.

He is a durable veteran leader for Jacksonville, and coming to the team undrafted, had made quite a career for himself, playing in 99 career games, making 225 career tackles, and 25 sacks.  He will be counted on to develop rookies like Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves, as well as continue to play at a high level for a Jags team that is expected to give the Colts a run for their money in the AFC South.

By Andy Benoit - www.NFLTouchdown.com

God bless ‘em, they’re trying. The Jaguars have continually brought in solid, talented players to fill the abyss that formed at the wide out position after Jimmy Smith retired. Anticipating the abyss, Jacksonville drafted Reggie Williams with their first-round back in 2004, then Matt Jones with their first-rounder in 05. They also used another first-round on a pass-catching tight end in 2006, drafting UCLA’s Marcedes Lewis.

What’s more, before Smith’s retirement in 2005, the team was routinely searching for a replacement for Keenan McCardell. In ’03, Jacksonville traded for Cleveland’s Kevin Johnson, a former 33rd-overall draft pick. That year, they also brought in Troy Edwards, a former first-round pick of the Steelers. Both Johnson and Edwards were out of the league before the end of 2005.

Of the names already mentioned, the only one who has truly had success in Jacksonville the past five years is, well, Smith. Williams and Jones are still on the roster, as is Lewis. But none has ever reached 650 yards receiving on a season.

Naturally, the Jaguars’ response this year was to bring in yet more under-producing talent. They traded a sixth-round selection to Minnesota in exchange for former seventh-overall pick Troy Williamson, a swift downfield threat if not for the fact that he practically plays with his hands in his pockets. The Jags also ponied up big doe for Oakland’s proverbial malcontent, Jerry Porter. The uniquely gifted Porter has been a potential breakout prospect for seemingly all nine years of his career.

But since amassing more than 1,400 combined yards receiving in ’04 and ’05, Porter has made headlines more for his attitude than production (neither of which have been very good).

Jack Del Rio declared Porter to be the team’s best receiver even before the veteran set foot on the field. The hope is that a chance to play for a winning club – and in Dirk Koetter’s system – will rejuvenate the wideout. If it does, Porter will be the club’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Jimmy Smith. If it doesn’t, then he will have proven himself as a true Jaguar wideout.

Franchise Player: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

• CB Terry Cousin is looking for long-term deal that may not match what the Jaguars want. He may be looking for a four- or five-year year deal which the Jaguars may not be willing to pay someone who will be 33 in April and was nothing more than a nickel back a year ago.

• DT Grady Jackson was brought in to fill a need when Marcus Stroud was suspended for four games. Jackson will probably be back, and is more likely with Marcus Stroud having been traded.

• OT Stockar McDougle showed a lot of promise and the coaching staff liked him, but injuries have held him back. It would be a surprise if the Jaguars kept him around another season.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

• CB Chris Roberson (not tendered as RFA) spent the 2007 season on injured reserve after being waived injured on July 27.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

• DE Kenneth Pettway.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

• QB Todd Bouman: FA; terms unknown.

• CB Drayton Florence: UFA Chargers; $36M/6 yrs, $12M SB.

• DT Jimmy Kennedy: UFA Bears (Bears had individually negotiated right of first refusal and did not match); $655,000/1 yr, $50,000 SB.

• QB Cleo Lemon: UFA Dolphins; $8.1M/3 yrs, $2.95M SB.

• WR Jerry Porter: UFA Raiders; $30M/6 yrs, $3M SB/$3.6M RB, $2M RB ‘09.

• S Pierson Prioleau: UFA Redskins; terms unknown.

• WR Troy Williamson (trade Vikings).

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

• TE Richard Angulo: Potential UFA; terms unknown.

• TE Greg Estandia; ERFA; terms unknown.

• S Jamaal Fudge; ERFA; terms unknown.

• LB Tony Gilbert: Potential UFA; terms unknown.

• DE Jeremy Mincey; ERFA; terms unknown.

• RB Montell Owens: ERFA; terms unknown.

• OL Tutan Reyes: Potential UFA; terms unknown.

• S Gerald Sensabaugh: RFA; $1.47M/1 yr.

• T/G Maurice Williams: UFA; $16M/4 yrs, $4M guaranteed.

• DE James Wyche: ERFA; terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST

• CB Aaron Glenn: UFA Saints; terms unknown.

• QB Quinn Gray: UFA Texans; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.

• S Sammy Knight: UFA Giants; $5.15M/3 yrs, $1.25M SB.

• DE Bobby McCray: UFA Saints; 5 yrs, terms unknown.

• OG Chris Naeole (released/failed physical).

• DE Shantee Orr: UFA Browns; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• DT Marcus Stroud (traded Bills).

• S Lamont Thompson (released).

• RB LaBrandon Toefield: UFA Panthers; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• WR Ernest Wilford: UFA Dolphins; $13M/4 yrs, $6M guaranteed.

The Jaguars seem to be a team poised to take another step in the AFC, but the problem remains they have the Colts and Patriots in their way. Indy has owned the AFC South the past few seasons, always forcing the Jags to be on the road in the playoffs. The Pats last season took a few shots from the Jags early, but recovered in their AFC Divisional Playoff matchup in time to recover for a victory to move on. So this offseason, it was more about re-tooling then re-shaping the roster for the Jags, as they made tweaks with pickups and draft picks.

The team also resigned QB David Garrard to a big deal, making it known he will be the player to take them to the next level. They also looked to upgrade the WR spot, with grabbing Jerry Porter the first day of free agency, and trading for underachieving Vikings WR Troy Williamson. Cleo Lemon comes over from Miami to backup Garrard, and first-round draft pick Derrick Harvey and second-round pick Quintin Groves should help put pressure on the QB. Bottom line is this team needs to beat the Colts to take that next step - but they are closer than ever.

Offseason Grade to Date: B