Leftwich Getting the Boot?

[HoosierCat]

Per local Jax media, relayed by PFT...

POSTED 4:57 p.m. EDT, August 31, 2007

EXIT STAGE LEFTWICH

1010XL Radio in Jacksonville was the first to report (as far as we can tell) that the Jaguars will be cutting or trading quarterback Byron Leftwich.

A league source tells us that the talk among the players is that Leftwich has already been cut.

The team has scheduled a 5:30 p.m. EDT press conference to discuss the situation.

Leftwich was named the 2007 starter way back in February, despite a disappointing 2006 season during which he was either injured or benched or both.

Taking Leftwich's place will be David Garrard. Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that former Jags starter Mark Brunell, currently a reserve in Washington, could be acquired to serve as Garrard's understudy.

And this despite his amazing ability to drop a football into a trash barrel from 100 yards away...

EDIT: Looks like it's for real, per Jax's official site...they are trying to trade him...

http://www.jaguars.com/news/article.aspx?id=6273

[HairOnFire]

And this despite his amazing ability to drop a football into a trash barrel from 100 yards away...

[[[CLANG!!!]]]

In defense of dumbasses everywhere, who knew that tossing balls into a trashcan from extreme distance [Leftwich] or throwing the balls threw the uprights from 70 yards away...while on your knees [boller], wouldn't guarantee success in the NFL?

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

In defense of dumbasses everywhere, who knew that tossing balls into a trashcan from extreme distance [Leftwich] or throwing the balls threw the uprights from 70 yards away...while on your knees [boller], wouldn't guarantee success in the NFL?

In fairness...I don't think Leftwich is all that bad - he just isn't great. But I could easily name 10 teams that would benefit from having Leftwich as a starter, possibly more.

The way this has been handled for the last two years reflects more on Jacksonville's incompetence - and particularly Del Rio panicking as he heads into a hot-seat year - than on Leftwich's ability.

[HoosierCat]

The way this has been handled for the last two years reflects more on Jacksonville's incompetence - and particularly Del Rio panicking as he heads into a hot-seat year - than on Leftwich's ability.

Under the heading of "incompetence, Jacksonville" I would add: making this move now. Leftwich's trade value is practically nil this close to the season; all you've done is to announce you'll release him. Has they done this while teams like Oakland, Miami and KC were hunting for QBs -- or even a few weeks ago when the Vick mess hit Atlanta -- they might have gotten something for him. Now they'll likely get zip.

[HairOnFire]

Under the heading of "incompetence, Jacksonville" I would add: making this move now. Leftwich's trade value is practically nil this close to the season; all you've done is to announce you'll release him. Has they done this while teams like Oakland, Miami and KC were hunting for QBs -- or even a few weeks ago when the Vick mess hit Atlanta -- they might have gotten something for him. Now they'll likely get zip.

Too true, and I'll even take it a step further. Buried somewhere deep in the archives of Huddles is a post I wrote making the argument for starting Garrard and trading Leftwich. Knowing how long it's been since I was banned from Huddles...we've got to be talking at least two years ago.

What would Leftwich's trade value been then...when the first rumblings about him were starting to be heard?

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Under the heading of "incompetence, Jacksonville" I would add: making this move now. Leftwich's trade value is practically nil this close to the season; all you've done is to announce you'll release him. Has they done this while teams like Oakland, Miami and KC were hunting for QBs -- or even a few weeks ago when the Vick mess hit Atlanta -- they might have gotten something for him. Now they'll likely get zip.

Oh yeah. One one hand you think, wow, that's really low class dumping a guy who was your starter this close to the season. But then you figure they didn't do it to be jerks about it, they're just retarded. PFT claims it's basically a power struggle between the GM and Del Rio, which would make sense.

You're right about the Vick thing - that should have been like a Christmas present for them, and they screwed it up. No way ATL wanted to go into the regular season with Jokey Harrington as their starter. Of course, they feel better about him since he saw our secondary/schemes, but still. Even now, I wouldn't be surprised to see ATL pick him up.

Another reason they won't get anything for him - Del Rio's spent the last year tossing him under the bus in the media.

[Kazkal]

I think the jaguars are making a mistake leftwich is a good QB just needs a Oline better at pass protecting,

If he was starting for bengals,colts or rams he'd be putting up numbers up there with rest of the elite QB's.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I think the jaguars are making a mistake leftwich is a good QB just needs a Oline better at pass protecting,

If he was starting for bengals,colts or rams he'd be putting up numbers up there with rest of the elite QB's.

IMHO, no he wouldn't.

[Kazkal]

Ok not carson or manning numbers but I still would say 24+ td's less 12 ints,He's better then alot starting qb's out there and some taken in this years draft.

PS,He kinda reminds me of Joey Harrington when he was in Detroit they tryed surrounding him with weapons but they all turned out to be busts,How many Pass catchers have jaguars taken in rnd 1 for past 6 years ? 4? 5?

[BengalszoneBilly]

I think the jaguars are making a mistake leftwich is a good QB just needs a Oline better at pass protecting,

If he was starting for bengals,colts or rams he'd be putting up numbers up there with rest of the elite QB's.

It's a done deal now. They released him.

[chrishcovga]

They didn't put any real threats around him !! There isn't a receiver on that team that runs faster than a 4.6

R. Williams - looks the part, SLOW and big.

M. Jones - Ran an incredible combine 40, and where'd that speed go in 2 years ??? Sounds to me like somebody started the stop watch too late !!

He's got a decent running game, average offensive line though.

* The real knock on Leftwich is his delivery. He doesn't have a quick delivery or set up. He's very robotic in his throwing motion almost like every time he passes he hears his quarterback coach in his ear saying , " Ok, Not too much elbow, ball up high, strong back, throw through the hips and follow through. "

But this just in !!

- Sign his ass as our backup to Carson Palmer.

* We've got the offensive line to protect that slow ass delivery of his. We have real speed on offense. If something was to happen to Carson, I'd feel much better about Leftwich as our backup because he's got heart. He's a competitor. Sign him for a year, and then push Rowe into the 2nd spot for next year. He's got the arm and he's savvy. Just Needs seasoning.

[The PatternMaster]

Jax just ruined their season by doing something unprofessional and stupid like cutting your starting qb days before the season opener. I would say the biggest problem would be how this will be received in the locker room, Leftwich has been the guy for 4 years now and surely their are players who believe that is the best qb on the team. The way in which the effectively ended his season if just foul, there no way Leftwich can start for another team with the season starting in 2 days.

Regardless of the fact that they never gave him a decent receiving threat, their oline could can't pass protect worth a damn, and their running game is inconsistant, Leftwich deserved to get cut right before the start of the season.

The rift between Del Rio and Leftwich is well documented, but I don't think that Garrard can do much better with the weapons the Jags have in place. Good luck Jack in what will probably be your last season as HC in Jax, maybe he can follow Coughlin to NYC to be the Giants HC after next season.

[HairOnFire]

Those fine folks at ESPN reported Sunday that Ozzie Newsome has already contacted Leftwich.