Symbolic Symbolism: Should the Jaguars release Jerry Porter?
by River City Rage on Feb 9, 2009 1:51 PM EST
in Meta-Jacksonville Jaguars
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Jerry Porter: Banking Big Bucks while Bumming on the Bench
The importance of symbols:
The 2008 Jacksonville Jaguars are a difficult beast to wrap your mind around. They failed at every possible level, whether it be from injuries, slow burn draft picks, failure to reconcile off the field hype with on the field performance and in the acquisition of new players. Resolving these myriad issues requires bold action and disipline, particularly in not throwing good money after bad. The 2009 Jaguars need to open their offseason with a bang, a shot across the bow, a mea culpa where the team announces to the world that they are not the 2008 Jaguars, they recognize their mistakes, and they will move on knowing that the worst is behind them.
The Jacksonville Jaguars must release Jerry Porter, regardless of the cap hit, positional issues, or potential performance in 2009. Jerry Porter, like no other player, symbolizes the failure of the team to fulfill performance promises. Seven games, 11 receptions, 181 yards and one touchdown. Or about a million dollars a catch, depending on how you slice it. He also represents the locker room chemistry issue that devastated the Jaguars. Of course, much of what is accused of Porter is unsubstantiated, but for our purposes, rumor is as good as fact. The simple fact that there is a whisper campaign against porter at all is an indictment of his role on the team.
Whether he really did come to the Stadium in a new car each and every week and brag about it to his teammates or if he was actually the last person to get to the locker room and the first one to leave is factual, players who are seen as positive factors do not get this stigma attached to them. His failure to fulfill one iota of his contract after receiving an enormous signing bonus combined with the rumors and whispers adds to my strong belief that any upside to Porter in 2009 is not worth the price of admission.
To bastardize the Brothers Karamazov, if the price of a sucessful year of Wide Receivers is keeping Jerry Porter, I respectfully return my ticket.
Releasing Jerry Porter is a cleansing move. It sends a message that no player is secure on the team no matter how big the financial obligation. It says that contributions to the team are the driving force behind decisions, not individuals, and it marks a significant break point from the previous administration. Drayton Florence, despite sub par performance, at least demonstrated effort on the field. Porter contributed nothing and drew the ire of Jack Del Rio because of it. Make the move, move on, and clean the plate for 2009.
As I say all the time, Big Cat Country is not a reactionary place. Sure, I'm quick to pass judgement, but you'll rarely have me call for a player or coaches head on a platter. Not this time. Jerry Porter needs to be released as quickly as possible. Now would be as good of a time as any. Unless, of course, the team wants to truly punish Porter by holding on to him until the last possible moment in August, but I'd rather see the Jaguars have a spot on the roster open for a player who can contribute, rather than a guy who's made his money, torn up two locker rooms, and needs to get out of Jacksonville on the first flight out.
Goodbye, good riddance, don't let the door hit you, etc.
-Chris
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I had heard about him being a disruptive influence in the locker rooms
But arriving with a new car every week!? I don’t think I’ve even heard of TO of Chad Ocho Cinco pulling a move like that.
"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks
by Jonathan Loesche on Feb 9, 2009 2:03 PM EST reply actions
Like I said, I can't substanciate it. It's merely something I've heard through the grapevine.
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
by River City Rage on Feb 9, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
This situation reminds me somewhat of the Hugh Douglas situation
Just cut him and be done with it. He can take Dreyton Florence with him.
"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks
by Jonathan Loesche on Feb 9, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
wait a second
Hold up now everybody. I don’t know the whole story about if Porter was one of the ones that led to the bad locker room situation, but lets wait and see what he can do during mini camps and training camp. Lets not forget that he did get injured and that’s one of the reasons why he was slowed down a bit. I remember that last year at training camp, the coaches were saying how awesome Porter was looking, but after he got injured they said that he didn’t look the same. So, lets wait to see if he has fully recovered and if he can get back to that speed and intensity he had before his injury.
This is a strong counter-arguement
My disagreement comes from the fact that the Jaguars need a break with the past. They need to send a supporting message to the locker room that the mistakes of 2008 are behind them. The first point was the extension of Montell Owens, the consummate team player. Shedding Jerry Porter fulfills the responsibility to correct last years financial mistakes.
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
by River City Rage on Feb 9, 2009 3:28 PM EST up reply actions
Hmmm
Good points to both sides. I’m torn because I remember being excited when Vic K. was saying the Porter was by far the best receiver in OTA’s, but I also know what he did, or didn’t do all year long. Maybe his lack of production was due to an injury, I don’t know. He’s a hard one to figure out. I guess we’ll have to hope the JDR and Gene Smith know best and do with Porter what is best for this team.
Soooo long before football season… I don’t know if I can stand it!!!
This is a great article
In that it makes you think about the future of the Jaguars. It will be interesting to follow the Gene era and how it unfolds. Gene is thinking about this, we should too.
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
seriously why would you pass judgement on the man this early. i mean he has proven to be a very talented receiver in oakland, he got put in a bad situation there and he wanted out. so we get him, promise him the #1 receiver spot, he has to have surgery before preseason starts, so he misses all of preseason, training camp, OTAs, pretty much all chances to practice our system and get on the same page as the QB. now that is very improtant. now if your not used to the system and the routes, and especially the QB how can you succeed, plus bye the time he came back were already what 1-3 with no offensive line. hes a deep threat not a possession receiver which means hes running deap, if the QB doesnt have enought time in the pocket to allow him to get seperation then the ball isnt going to be thrown to him, especially if the QB hasnt developed a trust and friendship with him……………………just sayin not hist fault, plus with his locker room issues, he comes in to rejuvinate his carreer. promised #1 spot, comes back, he is no longer in the game plan due to injuries they know they cant get it deep. and he sits at #3 or 4 receiver, i would be upset to, but even then i still think he handled himself really well.
Brown Kid
You've nailed the other side of the arguement
This is a serious debate. Weaver talked about addressing the locker room issues while talking about the last round of free agents, so it’s hard to not see the writing on the wall.
But I’ll admit, I thought Matt Jones was a goner too and see how that turned out.
-Chris
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
by River City Rage on Feb 9, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions
Jerry Porter is not the reason the Jags lost 11 games last year
And neither is chemistry. I don’t buy it for a moment.
The Jags lost 11 games because David Garrard spent more time on the ground than looking for receivers. The Jags lost 11 games because the D-line couldn’t bring a sack lunch to the other QBs. The Jags lost 11 games because Will James couldn’t cover his plants outside for a freeze warning, let alone cover Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison.
The fact that so many players will be coming back from IR, the fact that Jack is in essence taking over the defense, the fact that all indications from the front office are that this will be a smarter team: all of those things represent enough of a break from the past. There is no need to kick a talented player to the curb before he has a training camp and any uninjured chance to do what he was paid to do here.
Not Yet
I remember it was about the time of OTAs last year when I read that Vic thinks that Jerry Porter was looking great in mini camp. I even went as far to think that maybe the Jags will finish in the top 10 in passing yards, as crazy as that sounds now. I even went on to think maybe Jerry Porter could have a Pro Bowl season. All I am saying is give the guy another chance. Esierra had a great point about how frustrated he had to have been.
On Jerry Porters attitude, while in no way am I defending his behaviour, that really is how some Wide Outs, especially the talented ones, act some times. Maybe if he gets some more time and production, he will learn to care more about the team and be more of a good team leader.
If the O-line situation gets resolved, then maybe the things I was dreaming of before last season will come true, and the Jags will have a great, powerful, balanced offense.
That would be dumb
Let’s give the guy a full healthy year before we say he’s a bust. I don’t care who you are or how excited about a season you get. You’re not just gonna explode on the scene after hammy surgery. Give him a break. Everybody’s looking for a scape goat. The fact is, talent wise, he’s one of the best receivers we have. If we get rid of him, who are we throwing the ball to? You can’ t really say any other Jags receiver because all the other receivers are really the reason Jerry’s here. Please don’t say Matt Jones is our best receiver because he only catches slants and hooks, plus his butt was on the line this season. Otherwise he doesn’t care. Are we gonna draft an immediate starter? Probably not with our draft needs. Free agency? You already know what Gene thinks about free agency. A healthy Jerry Porter is by far our best receiving option.
I really like the thought of making a big statement
I’ve never thought of it in a symbolic manner and I think this is something I could definitely see Jack doing to make a statement. I just don’t think Jerry Porter should be the one to go. I can’t think of a better candidate to receive the big boot out the door, but I really don’t want to see Jerry Porter gone. With the amount of money already gone to the Jerry Porter weekly car fund, it’s unreasonable to cut him now. He already has most of the money and it’s a much cheaper year for the Jaguars.
Performance wise, he didn’t get a full healthy season last year and this year we’ll see if we can get a 16 game season out of him. He’s the most talented guy of the bunch and even in this really bad season he showed small glimpses of potential on a few of his catches. If he is at all smart he must know that he is worth a whole lot less than he once was and if the Jaguars choose to cut him he wont be getting much elsewhere. It’s not unreasonable to think he’s going to come out and play this year like it’s a contract year so he can buy a few more cars.
A lot of what I've wanted to say has been said
but have we thought about maybe this team can afford one malcontent that’s not even getting in trouble. Bad mojo can spread, but so can good mojo. If we have enough good players around him maybe those good players can rub some of their good mojo off on him. Besides winning has a way of reparing wounds/chemistry. Jerry Porter came in thinking he was going to help this team and before the season even starts he gets hurt and reporters with nothing better to do badger him about when he was going to come back week after week, and probably at the coaches’ discretion he kept his mouth shut. He didn’t rant saying I should be playing right now or whatever. He worked hard to come back from a crazy injury that no one had any historical example of to see its effects on a player. When he was healthy enough to play he did a lot of blocking, granted that’s not what he was paid for, but he worked hard doing it. How many true prima modonnas do you know that block? There were no on field antics where he would yell at a normally quiet David Garrard. He went about his buisness in a professional manor.
Ironically because we are a small market team with little coverage we can avoid being picked apart by the media. And I think after a year of humility, a scare from our new GM for motivation, some more competition being brought in, and a year to build some comradery, an offseason to work with Garrard (Keep in mind Garrard needs to work with his receivers to be effecient. Just look at what happened with Garrard and Northcutt when they started working together more exclusively at years end. Also look at how unsynched/unproductive Garrard was with Matt Jones when Jones was out for a while after the Lions game.) I think Porter can have a real breakout season. Also thinking about the future, who can we replace Porter with? Matt Jones is in his last year of his contract and as of now is a one year wonder, Reggie Williams will most likely be gone this off season, Northcutt is at the end of his career, Mike Walker hasn’t been able to stay healthy and neither has Troy Williamson. We gotta give him a chance like we did with Matt Jones and maybe things will workout.
Thank you
to everybody who responded to this article in regards to keeping Porter. It’s like what I said in my previous message. Give Porter a chance to show you what he still has to offer when he finally gets healthy. He has too much of good potential to get rid of him, especially this early.
I agree
totally to what Ewdtrey said. He’s exactly right. I give you props for saying what needed to be said.
He did Training Camp reports over the summer
And has his own blog Jaguars Journal, though I’m sure he’ll have a more proper intro soon
"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks
by Jonathan Loesche on Feb 9, 2009 9:36 PM EST up reply actions
I can't buy this...
The only thing that will seperate this year from last year is a ‘year’. Release Porter if he can’t make the cut, a better replacement is found, or it is the financially smart thing to do.
Don’t get emotional when rebuilding this team! “It just business Sonny”. He got one over on the Jags last year. Move on.
oh and theres a reason he drives a nice car
whats that? oh ya hes been to the superbowl, duh. how bout that as a lil motivation to our recievers, hard work dedication gets u to the show and the show is what earns you the $$$
Brown Kid
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