Jaguars Free Agency Top Priority: Their Own

by Alfie Crow on Jul 18, 2011 7:22 AM EDT in Jacksonville Jaguars News

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 13: NFL player Marcedes Lewis arrives at The 2011 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

With actual free agency on the horizon, likely within the week, we'll begin looking at free agency (for reals, y'all) and where the Jacksonville Jaguars will focus the some-$20-30 million they'll need to spend. First and foremost, the Jaguars will look to lock up their own in the 72-hour window that will allow teams to negotiate with their own free agents. According the Jaguars general manager Gene Smith, their top priority is Pro-Bowl tight end Marcedes Lewis.

"Our own players will always be our first priority," Gene Smith told Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union. "I've said this before that it is our objective to get a long-term deal done with Marcedes."

As most of us have said, Lewis is one of the most vital players on the Jaguars offense. He's a key cog in the running game, pass blocking, and has emerged to be the weapon we all thought he would be when he was drafted in the passing game. Lewis wants a long-term deal as well, and as I've mentioned before he may not show up to "work" until he gets one.

"All I can do is be optimistic about it," Lewis told Ganguli in a phone interview from Los Angeles. "I think both sides have an idea of where we want to go. I'm just going to continue to handle my side and let them take care of that. I'm hoping we can get it done and get me in camp."

Outside of Lewis, the Jaguars will be looking to bring back punter Adam Podlesh, who in my opinion had an exceptional season in 2010. Podlesh was the only restricted free agent the Jaguars tendered, but under the new CBA he's not expected to be a restricted free agent.

Linebacker Kirk Morrison is also likely to be re-signed, as the lockout made him a more viable option at linebacker. Morrison knows the Jaguars defensive system and would make an easy one or two year patch player at the middle linebacker position. While Morrison struggled early in the season, he began to get more comfortable in the Jaguars scheme and played a bit better as the season wound down.

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Lewis, Podlesh and Morrison

I can’t really disagree with anything that was said above.

I think they will reach a long term deal with Lewis. He will probably end up being right up there with Vernon Davis and Antonio Gates as one of the league’s highest paid tight ends.

by Fivus Viener on Jul 18, 2011 8:42 AM EDT reply actions

They have to bring all 3 of them back..

by FgallosJAGS on Jul 18, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Podlesh

What does one base his opinion of him having an “exceptional season”?

by mrgomez on Jul 18, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

a punter or kicker in the zone is like a top flight reliever

ride that SOB til he can’t do it anymore then bring in a new guy.

by Joe Fisher on Jul 18, 2011 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Since Morrison will be a cheaper option at MLB

one would assume we’d open up the checkbook for an OLB and Weddle, right? If we can get a gamechanger like Weddle in the secondary and then a very good OLB, our defense will be much improved from last year.

by Dwalk1217 on Jul 18, 2011 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

I would hope so

Only time will tell if we actually commit.

If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik

by Bestjagfan on Jul 18, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

The rest of those guys are "yeah, whatever"

But the Jaguars absolutely must keep Marcedes Lewis. He’s been a significant part of the offense and is a great all-around TE.

Twitter: BLByline Youtube: BLByline
I'm willing to drink the Kool-ade, but I'm hungry for the truth.

by Brian Levenson on Jul 18, 2011 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

Unless he's completely unreasonable

I don’t see anyway this deal doesn’t get done rather quickly. Especially since they appear to have a good bit of money they’ll have to spend under the new CBA – based on the reported information.

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 18, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

PAY DA MAN

by FgallosJAGS on Jul 18, 2011 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Eric weddle

Must come to jax!!! Only other option is landry from baltimore, huff is way overrated…. They have to go hard in free agency

by amujic32 on Jul 18, 2011 11:02 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

it honestly doesn't matter who they get at S

I think GM Gene is going to go all out to get Weddle, but think about it, could anyone be worse than Carey? We still have Greene who showed some promise and we have Prosinski now.

by Dwalk1217 on Jul 18, 2011 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

We also need to understand

that most fans only know the big names but Gene Smith and his staff have researched every available player and may very well sign someone who’s not a household name. That doesn’t mean it won’t be an good signing.

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 18, 2011 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe he convinces

Sammy Knight to come out of retirement :)

by duuuvaaalll on Jul 18, 2011 11:59 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I agree with all that but

They have almost 30 million to spend and they HAVE to spend it so why not go all out on weddle, hes a proven 4 year player, and yea its true he might noy sign a big household name but at the end of the day 2-4 free agents should make a huge difference and at one point we were 5-3 so the sky is the limit

by amujic32 on Jul 18, 2011 1:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

i agree. weddle is my number 1 preference

and then a solid OLB that can make plays. After that, if we still have money left, I would like to see us get a solid WR, DE, or an interior O-lineman. I dont know who we could get left, but this would be my preferred signings after resigning Lewis, Morrison, and Podlesh.
Weddle, Ruud, and James Jones
idk what the money would be to sign all three of them, but I think that would be a good FA class, not including UDFA.

by Dwalk1217 on Jul 18, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

who can be worse that Don Carey?

every guy behind him on the depth chart last year. I think it is extremely premature to think Carey is as good as he’s going to be. He was essentially a rookie last year.

by Joe Fisher on Jul 18, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I really couldn't care less about Podlesh.

And I guess Morrison will suffice as a stop gap, since he knows the system, but if those 2 were replaced I wouldn’t lose a minutes sleep.

Fidelis Ad Mortem

by JPQ! on Jul 18, 2011 3:43 PM EDT reply actions

I used

To feel the same way about Podlesh, but he quietly had a very solid season last year. I’d want to keep him. A good punter can only help your defense.

If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik

by Bestjagfan on Jul 18, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Podlesh

15th in average. 15th inside the 20.

by mrgomez on Jul 18, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Tied for 4th

in NET average. Which is far more important that actual average.

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 18, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I just can't get excited about a punter...

I understand they are part of the game, strategy-wise, but I just feel like they are almost all interchangeable for the most part.

Fidelis Ad Mortem

by JPQ! on Jul 18, 2011 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I use the usual answer when talking about Special Teams players

Just ask San Diego. Their punter had 4 punts blocked last year and his net average was 30.8 yards.

The Jaguars won games because of special teams last year and not just the 59 yard FG. And all the credit doesn’t belong with the two pro-bowl coverage guys either.

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 18, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Hahaha...good point.

Still though, I personally just can’t work up enthusiasm for a punter. I watch Podlesh during camp while the “real players” are doing drills and stuff, and he and Scobee are just bouncing footballs, tossing them around, and basically just doing a whole lot of nothing.

Fidelis Ad Mortem

by JPQ! on Jul 18, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

funny we got better in special teams and SD got worse

Was Osgood really that good? (rhetorical question)

Special teams probably bought us 4 to 6 victories last year.

by Joe Fisher on Jul 18, 2011 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

He should thank

the coverage team.

by mrgomez on Jul 18, 2011 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

It's a team sport.

If they had a lousy coverage team, he’d kick the ball farther and try for the corners more. Instead he’s able to kick the ball higher and allow the coverage guys to get down field and do their job.

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 18, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions

The numbers

from previous seasons, do not support that belief.

by mrgomez on Jul 18, 2011 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Everytime i think about Podlesh i think about the 4th rd pick used to het him.

If he isnt resigned I wont weep about it. Lewis and Morrison are more important by far. What OLBs are out there year?

by JagSoldier on Jul 18, 2011 5:02 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Where he was drafted wasn’t as big a deal as alot of Jaguar fans made it out to be. That was a bad draft overall. Look at the first two rounds. It is literred with guys who were total busts. There were actually two third round picks that year that were released in training camp by the teams that drafted them. The only players taken after Podlesh to have made a Pro Bowl are a fullback, long snapper and kicker.

Now the Brian Smith pick…that’s a different story.

by Fivus Viener on Jul 19, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Someone please answer this

With FA starting the jags have 89 million already in the books so they got 20-30 mil to spend but I was wondering for example the cowboys, they are tied up for 137 mil next year plus their rookie signings and stuff, what happens to them if they dont get it to $120 mil? Are they fined, penalized? I’m wondering bc they have an article about them cutting and restructuring alot of contracts.

by amujic32 on Jul 18, 2011 8:35 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

It’s a good thing that jaguars give first priority to their players; after all, they are the ones who have made the club so successfully. Someone like Lewis is undoubtedly one of the best offensive players.

Halloween World

by patoncath on Jul 18, 2011 9:58 PM EDT reply actions