Jacksonville Jaguars Release Reggie Hayward, Surprising?
by Alfie Crow on Jul 7, 2010 5:13 PM EDT
in Jacksonville Jaguars News
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PrintThe initial reaction I'm getting on the release of Jacksonville Jaguars veteran defensive end Reggie Hayward is shock and surprise.
It really shouldn't be all that surprising.
Hayward was always a good soldier for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but his career was set back by season ending injuries, both of which occurred at the start of the season. Not to mention he was in a battle with a high priced free agent and a plethora of young players on a team looking to rebuild.
The Jaguars signed Reggie Hayward in free agency in the 2005 off-season. He was considered an under the radar type signing that could pay off for the Jaguars, and initially it did. Hayward produced in 2005 with 8.5 sacks and 57 quarterback pressures, both of which led the team. In 2006 however, his career seemingly took a turn for the worse. He tore his Achilles tendon in the first regular season game of 2006 vs. the Dallas Cowboys.
An Achilles tendon tear for a defensive end is brutal. It severely limits a players ability to get off the ball, and quickness off the snap for a defensive end is critical.
Hayward returned in 2007, but was clearly not himself. He only played in 12 games and wound up with only 3.5 sacks. It looked like in 2008 Hayward was making his come back as he got better each week and ended the season with a team high 4.5 sacks.
Then 2009 struck. Again, in the opening game against the Indianapolis Colts, Hayward suffered a broken left leg on the final defensive play of the fourth quarter.
The release of Reggie Hayward, while sad because he is a very likable character and a good player, should be seen as a positive for the Jaguars. If the Jaguars were comfortable enough to release Hayward before the pads even went on, it means good things.
It likely means that free agent signing Aaron Kampman is ahead of schedule recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season with the Green Bay Packers. It also likely means that much maligned and scrutinized former 8th overall pick Derrick Harvey is progressing how the coaching staff and front office would like.
It also means the Jaguars are confident in the young talent they've brought onto the roster in Austen Lane and Larry Hart. Hart specifically has drawn lots of praise, albeit without pads, but praise none the less.
So, take the shocking release of Reggie Hayward as a good sign. Besides, I'm pretty sure Hayward has a nice career in broadcasting ahead of him.
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I knew
I knew they would, but I didn’t think he’d play much and wouldn’t be a lock.
It was insurance, and they feel they don’t need it anymore. Mostly because of Kampman’s progress.
Can you give us some information on Kampman's progress?
What are the coaches / Kampman saying? Any timetables yet?
He’s set tonne ready for training camp. My guess would be 1 practice a day for the first week.
by Alfie Crow on Jul 7, 2010 7:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
kampman v/s tony brackens
Alfie,
Are able to compare style and technique of Aron K. with Tony B.
Tony was and is Jaguars best DE bar none,
by JAGS4SUPERBOWL on Jul 8, 2010 3:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Hayward's Release
Those are all great points on your part, and all of it might be 100% accurate.
It could also be that he was the player that went to the NFLPA, and said it was too intense. Vito and the local media reported it was a player that went and complained.
It could be he wasn’t thrilled with making just the vet min, and than having to go through a very intense OTA’s. Complained and the team thought it best to part ways.
Just seems a little odd to cut a guy now when there is no risk to bringing him into camp.
It might be just like you say that the young guys are playing real well. But this is just OTA’s with no pads, so it seems way too early to tell.
We are talking about a team that was one of the worse of all time with just 14 sacks.
Be interesting to see if another team picks him up. That will be a good indication of whether Hayward has anything left in the tank.
Out of all the players that I’ve heard tosses out there that were the “rat”, Reggie was never it. He was cut because the coaches were impressed enough with the rookies that he became expendable.
Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net
by Jonathan Loesche on Jul 7, 2010 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
If you like Alfie you can delete my posts about Hayward. It was just a guess on my part. It seems you guys are very sure it was not him.
I don’t want people to think Hayward was the rat, if you guys are so sure it was not.
I understand what you're saying
but saying something like that multiple times tends to stick in people’s minds. A question can turn into “fact” very quickly in football news media.
True
For instance the Tebow will go to the Jaguars rhetoric. It was said so many times, people believed it would be so and were disappointed that it did not occur.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
Real fans don’t need a reason.
Gamertag: xXTealNinjaXx
"Just seems a little odd to cut a guy now when there is no risk to bringing him into camp."
Once they start signing the draft picks they were going to have to release guys anyway. You can only bring 80 players into camp and with these cuts I believe the Jaguars are at 80, assuming they sign everyone.
By letting him go now they give him a better chance to sign on with someone else.
I think it's because
he can get a chance to sign somewhere else he got cut this go around. There is a rumor that he asked to be cut for this very reason.
As for nothing to lose: If he gets hurt in camp, which is very likely in his case, they have to pay his full salary. If they cut him now, they lose a guy they might likely cut anyhow.
at any rate
He would be wise to stay in football ready shape. You never know how injuries will impact a team.
I've been watching the Hard Knocks: Jaguars Edition
back from the training camp of 05’. It reminds me of how it was when Hugh Douglas was released. I’m not shocked and to honest I’m happy about it. It gives Larry Hart and all the other DE’s more reps.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
Real fans don’t need a reason.
Gamertag: xXTealNinjaXx
It is
I miss the old days and all the great guys we had back then. Then theres all the hindsight I have now and when they say, oh we hope we can get to the super bowl, I say with some sadness, you didn’t get to it.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
Real fans don’t need a reason.
Gamertag: xXTealNinjaXx
Like Vic always says!
It’s a young mans game! It’s all about rebuilding the team and you do that with young players!
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