Rumor spreading fast...Leftwich to be cut

[Wild Card]

According to Peter King on SI.com:

Jacksonville to cut ties with Leftwich
Jags to release or trade incumbent QB, start Garrard
Updated: Friday August 31, 2007 5:41PM

In a stunning move nine days before the start of the NFL season, the Jacksonville Jaguars have decided to release or trade incumbent starting quarterback Byron Leftwich.

The team has scheduled a 5:30 p.m. announcement today to say it is severing ties with Leftwich.

Jacksonville, which passed on selecting Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in the 2007 draft to the consternation of many fans, will start veteran David Garrard when it opens the season against Tennessee Sept. 9.

The move was prompted by Leftwich's poor play in the preseason, and, one club source said, the thought that he was lackadaisical and placed little importance in how he practiced or played this summer once coach Jack Del Rio named him the starting quarterback in the offseason. Particularly disturbing was his play in an exhibition game at Green Bay two weeks ago, the source said. For the summer, Leftwich completed 19 of 38 passes.

The move will shave Leftwich's $5.6-million salary off the Jacksonville books and put the disappointing quarterback in limbo. This was a contract year for him, and he got into great shape to prove he could be one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

It's not known how many teams would be interested in acquiring Leftwich, because the move comes as such a shock. But Kansas City and coach Herman Edwards would surely be intrigued. The Chiefs have grown wary of placing their quarterbacking future in the hands of second-year passer Brodie Croyle, who has had a poor camp this summer.​

Wow. Leftwich would immediately upgrade the QB corps of at least a half-dozen teams. It'll be interesting to see where he ends up.

WC

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

I would trade them both for Suggs as well.

And no way is Kasper better than Johnson.

you had me all the way until that part

Didn't mean to make it sound like I thought Kasper was better than Johnson, just that he could have put up the same numbers, and made the same impact.

BJ has not lived up to expectations in my mind, and has yet to show that he deserved a 17th (or was it 18th) overall draft position.



edit: Interesting comment from April 22nd, 2003

He'll get hurt again, in my opinion, and again, and again...I see Leftwich becoming to best one-legged QB in the NFL...

 

[BigRedRage]

leftwich is good and will be picked up right away.

 

[Card Trader]

leftwich is good and will be picked up right away.

Leftwich is, has and always will be average. And yes, I'm sure he will be picked up....I wouldn't mind him for our 3rd QB.

 

[BigRedRage]

Leftwich is, has and always will be average. And yes, I'm sure he will be picked up....I wouldn't mind him for our 3rd QB.

I conside3r him above average and would put him ahead of at least 15 starting QB's within the league.

 

[jefftheshark]

I think there is a better than 50/50 chance that he is better than Boyd, so I say:

JTS

 

[Wild Card]

I consider him above average and would put him ahead of at least 15 starting QB's within the league.

BRR:

I think Byron Leftwich is an above-average quarterback too. Better, for sure, than the following (likely) game 1 starters this season:

Damon Huard/Chiefs
Charlie Frye/Browns
J.P. Losman/Bills
Joey Harrington/Falcons
Tarvaris Jackson/Vikings
Jason Campbell/Redskins

I'm not sure who the other 9+ starters are that you'd rank behind Leftwich, but I don't think there'll be any shortage of interest around the league. (Not including the Cards, of course, for whom QB is one of their few positions of strength.) The most-intriguing possibility I see is with the Ravens, where Steve McNair is nearing the end and Kyle Boller is playing out his contract as a backup.

I wonder what the Jags fans think of this bombshell?

WC

 

[HooverDam]

Isn't Dirk Koetter their OC now? He just loves QB controversies, naming one guy the starter and then changing his mind.

 

[Sandan]

Too bad we didn't draft him.(kidding )

Our scouts at the time were not impressed with him . Good yes great no

 

[Stout]

I'll be the first to step up and say I was wrong about the kid. I wanted to draft him so bad I almost cried when they announced our trade.

Then, after I heard about the trade, I really did cry

 

[CtCardinals78]

Awesome bring him in and have him play LB

 

[cardsfanmd]

Suggs would have sucked here. He went to a place with a role built for him...he's honestly not that special. He would have struggled mightily here without the defense around him to allow him to rush the passer free.

Smartest post of the day. Thank you.

 

[Assface]

Leftwich is average at best. He has good accuracy and arm strength but has way too long of a throwing motion. He needs to get the ball out quicker but at this stage of his career it's not likely that's going to change.

 

[daves]

Garrard had a much better preseason looking at the stats.

Actually Garrard had a bad preseason. Word was if Garrard proved he could handle the team for the year, they would cut Leftwich. Word is, they werent satisfied with his progress, thus I dont think Lefty will be cut.

Really??? What was bad about it? What "Word" did you hear???

Garrard finished the preseason completing 36-of-47 for 456 yards and a touchdown and no interceptions. He had a 113.4 passer rating. By contrast, Leftwich completed 19 of 38 for 226 yards in three preseason games with a touchdown and no interceptions. He had a 77.3 passer rating

...dave

 

[moklerman]

The big question to me, for the Jaguars, is who is their backup now? Gray(I think) is the third qb on their roster but is he really a backup? I just don't get how Jacksonville continually farts around with the qb position. They have a really good defense and a good running game. They could be a good team if they had anything resembling a true #1 qb.

 

[nurnay]

BJ has not lived up to expectations in my mind, and has yet to show that he deserved a 17th (or was it 18th) overall draft position.

Agreed, but it sure looks like he's going to have a great year. I've been impressed with him so far this year.

 

[nurnay]

I think there is a better than 50/50 chance that he is better than Boyd, so I say:

JTS

That's all??? Boyd has looked AWFUL at times. I'd be scared s%*tless if we actually had to use him in anything but a cleanup role during a Cardinals blowout.

 

[moklerman]

Total Access was talking about the Leftwich situation and said that the OC in Jacksonville was the head coach at Arizona (state?) when Andrew Walter was there and that the Jag's might be going after Walter if/when he's cut. I'd like to see Walter get a shot in Jacksonville. The guy's got all the physical tools but hasn't played for a real offense yet.

 

[40yearfan]

Total Access was talking about the Leftwich situation and said that the OC in Jacksonville was the head coach at Arizona (state?) when Andrew Walter was there and that the Jag's might be going after Walter if/when he's cut. I'd like to see Walter get a shot in Jacksonville. The guy's got all the physical tools but hasn't played for a real offense yet.

 

[ItsInTheCards]

Total Access was talking about the Leftwich situation and said that the OC in Jacksonville was the head coach at Arizona (state?) when Andrew Walter was there and that the Jag's might be going after Walter if/when he's cut. I'd like to see Walter get a shot in Jacksonville. The guy's got all the physical tools but hasn't played for a real offense yet.

Walter would have to make it down that far in waivers

I bet he'd be claimed before he fell that far

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I loved Leftwich coming out of college. I think this has more to do with the acrimonious relationship the Jags had with Condon over Leftwich. They tried to sign him to an extension last year and Condon, as always, asked for everything in the world. When that happened, Jax put BL on the injured list even though Lefty said he was healthy enough to play. Now they cut him. Garrard pretty much showed last year that he is a back-up QB at best. Jax better hope their defense is as good as advertised because they now have the worst passing game talent in the NFL. Dennis Northcutt may be starting at WR for them.That's how bad it is. Garrard to Northcutt has DC's all over the NFL up at night worrying how to stop that combo.