UFA safety Sharper is likely to stay with Saints

According to latest reports, the New Orleans Saints unrestricted free agent Darren Sharper has finished his visit with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the most important point was, he left without receiving a contract offer. So there is still good chance for the veteran safety to wear back the Saints jersey.


With nine interception during the 2009 season, Sharper helped build up one of the most fierce secondaries in the league for the Saints and is highly expected to return with the team for more seasons. Actually, both the player and the team are hoping for a long-term relationship, but the problem is the 34-year-old veteran is asking for a high way while the Saints are not willing to overpay. While contract negotiation is still going on between the two sides, Sharper takes his actions to visit other teams that hold interests in him. Still, there is money issue. It’s hard to believe there would be any team willing to pay higher than the Saints.

On the other side, the Saints are not staying still waiting for Sharper’s decision. On the same day when Sharper made his visit to Jaguars, the Saints welcomed free agent linebacker Clint Ingram from the Jaguars. Reportedly, Ingram is highly expected to join the Saints and solve the problem with outside linebacker. Does that have anything with Sharper’s return? Well, with the outside linebacker being no more big issue, the Saints now have much room to make moves with positions like cornerback and safety. What’s very likely to happen is that rookie cornerback Patrick Robinson’s arrival will allow the Saints to move veteran Malcolm Jenkins to safety as replacement for Sharper if the latter chooses not to return. Then the advantage is not really laying the Sharper’s side. He is now old and replaceable, if there is an offer, he’d better sign it soon.

Leaving Jaguars, DT Henderson could find right spot with Saints

With addition of younger and cheaper talented rookies, quite a few teams began to get rid of old and expensive veterans. That a good explanation to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ recent release of nine-year veteran defensive tackle John Henderson. However being released could also offer Henderson a good chance to work for a better team, like the New Orleans Saints.


To be honestly, the former two-time Pro Bowler did not live up to expectation in recent years with his production declining from an average of 4 or more sacks and 60 or more tackles to 2 sacks and 40 tackles. Staying with the Jaguars for eight years since being drafted in 2002 as a first-round pick, Henderson finished last season with 36 tackles and 3 sacks. But with a height of 6-7 and weight of 335 pounds, he could still fit in Saints’ depth at defensive tackle well as his big frame will help the Saints a lot in improving the run defense that ranked low in last season.

What makes it more likely for Henderson to put on Saints jersey, the team’s current defensive coordinator Gregg Williams used to work for the Jaguars as defensive coordinator during the 2008 season and knew well how to utilize Henderson to the most. So if Henderson could co-word with Williams again, he is very likely to be much more productive than he was with the Jaguars.

Jaguars TE Lewis went on IR with broken bone

The Jacksonville Jaguars will finish the season without tight end Marcedes Lewis, who got a bone in his face broken in Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots after taking on a crushing hit from a safety in Patriots jersey.


The Jaguars may also have to play this Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns without cornerback Rashean Mathis and defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison as Mathis is still hampered by an injury suffered in November and Ellison was still walking on crutches Monday after suffering a knee injury.

The hit on Lewis came on an off-target throw from QB David Garrard. The throw symbolized Garrard’s struggles to deliver pinpoint passes in clutch situations. Despite Coach Jack Del’s support and GM Gene Smith’s confidence, Garrard may still have to give up his starting job because his production hasn’t matched the salary the team promise to offer.

LB Williams found job in Patriots’ practice squad

Thomas Williams, a linebacker picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars in last year’ fifth-round draft out of USC, is not one of the eight players on the roster of the New England Patriots’ practice squad.


The Patriots announce Tuesday that they signed Williams to the practice squad to fill in the spot left by cornerback Kyle Arrington, who was promoted to the 53-man roster over the weekend.

Staying in a team’s practice squad may not be so exciting, but at least it offers chance. Chance is what Williams needs. The 6-foot-1, 237 pounds linebacker did not play much since being picked by the Jaguars, appearing in six games in Jaguars jersey as a rookie and spending much time on the practice squads of Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans after being waived by Jacksonville before the season began.

Jaguars CB Mathis won’t play Sunday against Titans

Breaking a bone in his left index finger, the Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis has been ruled out by Coach Jack Del Rio from playing against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.


The news was not beyond expectation as Mathis had not practiced for all week after suffering the injury while playing against the St. Louis Rams on Oct. 18. He had surgery last week to insert a screw in his finger and never sounded optimistic he would wear back his NFL jersey and return against the Titans.

As Mathis, who holds the franchise record with 27 interceptions, is still wearing a cast, the Jaguars will choose a replacement from Scott Starks and Tyrone Brackenridge to start at the position.

Jaguars have plan of expanding market to Orlando

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Jacksonville Jaguars relieve their financial pain by expanding market to Orlando as the NFL might add two more games to its schedule in the next few years.


The team plans to play some of the team’s games in Orlando, so that there will be a lot more people to sell the jaguars jerseys and tickets in Jacksonville will become slightly more valuable. I have to say it is really a good plan, especially when the team finds it hard to sell tickets in Jacksonville. It is natural for them to seek bigger market, but they should also remember that the performance on field talks much more.

"In the past, we have reached out to try and cultivate that market and haven't had as much success as we would have liked," the Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver said. "We probably need to do a better job. That's a given. We are looking at a long-term strategy and thinking out of the box on how we can build a fan base in Orlando."

Jaguars are happy with Bouman, not pursuing another quarterback

After the Jacksonville Jaguars waive their third quarterback Paul Smith on July 31, there had been reports saying that the Jaguars were pursuing another quarterback to fill the spot. However, Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said on Sunday that the team was satisfied with its own backup quarterback Todd Bouman.

Bouman, a 37-year-old veteran, played briefly with the Jaguars in both 2007 and 2008 and was resigned on May 12. He got the job to back up David Garrard after the other competitor Cleo Lemon was released on June 17, the same day when the Jaguars re-signed Todd Boeckman, who was originally to fill Smith’s spot on the roster but was waived on July 31.


“You hear things but in all honesty I’m no different than I was in my first and second year,” Bouman said. “I go out each day to practice and try to get better and help the team win. You do anything you possibly can to help the team and after that, whatever happens, happens.”

Bouman has started six games during his career and used to play for the Vikings, the Saints, the Packers and the Ravens. This year, he completed 27 of 58 passes for 309 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the three preseason games for the Jaguars.