Okay, this happened a couple days ago. But I didn't really check any further into it: The Jacksonville Jaguars signed QB David Garrard to a long-term contract. Seven years, $60 million.
And the lead on the ESPN.com story? "Quarterback David Garrard probably could have gotten the Jacksonville Jaguars to pay him more money. But he was tired of negotiating."
More money? Seriously?
Now, I'm not certain how much of that is guaranteed. $25 to $30 million, likely. But that is a HUGE investment for the team to make. In fact, it's the hugest(!) investment the Jags have ever made.
But is David Garrard worth that?
I'm going to take a look back at my Jaguars fandom right now, and at the players that I have liked, and why:
The Jags are my favorite team for a simple, silly reason: When I was 10 or 11, I first really started to like football. The Jaguars were the new team, along with the Panthers, and I liked their uniforms. That's it. That's why I like the Jaguars.
Since then, I've been about as ardent of a supporter of the team as anyone who lives in Ohio can be.
I immediately thought Mark Brunell was great, and thought of him when I thought of the Jaguars. Jimmy Smith emerged, as well, especially during the first Conference Championship run. I also liked James Stewart, though in retrospect, he never really had a great season with the team until an average 1999.
I still remember Fred Taylor's debut in 1998, and his 50-yard jaunt for his first touchdown (at least that I remember). Instantly, I was over James Stewart.
2000-2003 were tough years to be a Jags fan. Tom Coughlin was fired, and some unknown guy named Jack Del Rio was hired. Somewhere in there, David Garrard was drafted, with plans for him to be the successor to Mark Brunell.
I also remember when they chose Byron Leftwich with the seventh pick in the 2003 draft. I hated it. Why do you need a new quarterback when Mark Brunell is still great? Again, looking back, I realize that Brunell was never a great QB: But he was a winner, right? I heavily resented Byron Leftwich.
During his senior year, I watched one of Marshall's football games. It was the one in which Leftwich hurt his ankle. I think it was heavily sprained. But he stayed in the game. He was tough, and would do anything to help his team win. I was easily won over by Byron, and for a couple years, was happy with him. But he was just too injury-prone.
Now, fast-forward to the 2006 season. The Jaguars are 8-5, and sitting pretty for a playoff berth. This is after Leftwich has been injured, yet again, and Garrard is starting to prove himself. I was even sold on him as the future of the franchise when my mom and I went to the Jacksonville at Tennessee game in December.
Maybe it's slightly unfair, but I blamed Garrard for the Jaguars missing the playoffs. He played horribly that game, and made a bone-headed flip play that lost the team the ball late in the game. He blew it.
Fast forward a bit: Leftwich, in the offseason, is named the starter. Fast forward, again, to 9 days before the season: Leftwich is released and Garrard is named starter. What is Del Rio thinking?
Then, David has a great season, and, behind a strong running game and a weakening defense, leads the team to an 11-5 record and a playoff victory against the Steelers, during which he won the game with his great scramble late in the fourth quarter. The loss to the Patriots was the result of a Jaguars team collapse in the third quarter.
Back to the question: Is David Garrard worth it? Is he worthy of being the highest-paid player in franchise history?
I'll answer that question at the end of this season. Jacksonville has many of the same tools it had last year, plus better receivers, hopefully. The team also needs to improve on the defensive line. The other top teams in the AFC are getting older, namely Indy and New England. This next year is Jacksonville's best shot at a championship since 1999.
But to do that, David Garrard needs to be what the team is paying him to be: The quarterback of the future. A superstar.
0 comments:
Post a Comment