The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Jaguars cut Douglas
8/30/04
By Vic Ketchman, jaguars.com senior editor

They moved on when they cut Tony Brackens last week. Today, the Jaguars cut their losses by releasing Hugh Douglas.

Quarterback Doug Johnson, wide receiver Jimmy Redmond and running back Frank Moreau were also waived and rookie linebacker Jorge Cordova will be placed on the injured reserve list. Those moves leave the Jaguars at 69 players on their roster, including four NFL Europe League roster exemptions. Teams must have cut their rosters to 65 players, plus exemptions, by four p.m. on Tuesday.

Douglas' release comes as a shock, since the Jaguars were considered to have a desperate situation at defensive end. Brackens and Douglas were the Jaguars' starting defensive ends last season. Now, both are gone, having been cut on consecutive Mondays.

Douglas was signed to a rich free-agent contract in 2003, but suffered through the worst season of his distinguished nine-year career. He contributed only 3.5 sacks in '03 and, this summer, described himself as having been in a “funk” all year.

"I got into a funk and I never got out of it until the end of the season,” Douglas told reporters during the first week of training camp. He vowed to make amends and appeared to be in better physical condition and possessing greater energy in this year's camp than he had last season.

But it didn't translate into an improved performance on the field. Through three preseason games, Douglas had one solo tackle, four total tackles and four quarterback pressures. He registered no sacks.

Suspicion began to swirl that Douglas was in danger of being cut, but the move still must be regarded as a shock, considering the Jaguars' personnel at the defensive end position. Paul Spicer is dug in as Brackens' replacement at left defensive end, but right defensive end would seem wide open. Rob Meier, Brandon Green, rookie Bobby McCray and journeyman Courtland Bullard are the candidates on the current roster to replace Douglas. Meier made seven starts at right defensive end in 2002, after Brackens was placed on the injured reserve list.

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The release of Douglas will save the Jaguars considerable money. Douglas would've earned a $3.345 million salary this season. His salary cap hit would've been $4.545 million but is now reduced to $1.2 million of prorated bonus amortization. The remainder of Douglas' bonus amortization following this season, $3.6 million, will be charged to the Jaguars' 2005 salary cap.

Johnson was signed by the Jaguars last spring, when the effects of Crohn's Disease threatened backup quarterback David Garrard's future. Garrard has recovered fully from June surgery, however, and Quinn Grey clearly out-played Johnson in the preseason to claim the third quarterback job.

Redmond was a special teams coverage star for the Jaguars last year, but he had not developed as a wide receiver and the Jaguars have a glut of “gunners” among players who also provide depth at their respective positions.

Moreau was signed last week to help ease the Jaguars' injury situation at running back. It was understood then that signing Moreau was a stop-gap move.

Cordova suffered a major knee injury in training camp two weeks ago and was lost for the season. He was selected in the third round of this year's draft and was expected to be a pass-rush specialist. The release of Douglas would've clearly provided a lot of playing time for Cordova

Justice Hog wrote:Douglas was good back in the day; however, like Trotter, his best days might have been while he was playing for the Eagles.

I'm not confident that spending a ton a money on him is the best thing for the Redskins.

Justice Hog wrote:Douglas was good back in the day; however, like Trotter, his best days might have been while he was playing for the Eagles.

I'm not confident that spending a ton a money on him is the best thing for the Redskins.

General Failure wrote: He'd be perfect in a rotation, but not as the guy.