2012 NFL Free Agency: Rashean Mathis

by Adam Stites on Jan 13, 2012 9:10 PM EST

Over the course of the next few weeks I'm going to look at the Jaguars with contracts expiring at the end of the 2011 league year in March.

Rashean Mathis is one of, if not, the most underrated player on the Jaguars. He was, in my opinion, the best player in the Jaguars secondary in 2011 and has been for several seasons. Lack of safety help in recent years made the veteran look as though he gave up much more than his former self did, but with a significant improvement in the back of the secondary in 2011 the difference was evident.

However, the 31-year-old's contract has run its course and his time in Jacksonville, where he has spent his entire NFL career, may have ended when he tore his ACL against the Colts in November.

While the Jaguars may have some difficulty finding a CB capable of stepping into Mathis's place for 2012 without a significant drop off in quality of play it may be the way the team leans considering his age and the injury in which he is currently rehabbing for.

The Jaguars did, though, sign a 30-year-old Aaron Kampman to a relatively large contract during the 2010 summer after he suffered the same injury with the Packers. The deal didn't work out too well for the Jaguars as he tore his other ACL mid-way through the 2010 season and was entirely ineffective during the few times he was on the field in 2011, but it did show that the Jaguars are willing to take risks with those recovering from injuries.

Mathis also may be willing to take a hometown discount to finish his career with the Jaguars as he has said several times that he wishes to do so.

Regardless whether the Jaguars re-sign Mathis or not, they need to be on the hunt for a replacement at the position. That doesn't necessarily mean that they need to find a replacement this year and force them in as a rookie, though. If they re-sign Mathis it would give them the luxury of bringing up a young cornerback slowly and avoiding the rookie mistakes that can prove very costly at the cornerback position.

Poll

Should the Jaguars re-sign CB Rashean Mathis?

Yes

636 votes

No

249 votes

885 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 38 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Shean was the whipping boy for many disgruntled fans.

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by JPQ! on Jan 13, 2012 9:22 PM EST reply actions

For no reason

"The Jaguars need Jacksonville, and Jacksonville needs the Jaguars"
-Shahid Khan

by tiquanunderwear on Jan 13, 2012 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

All the frustration was taken out on Shean...so unfair.

Guy had ZERO help.

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by JPQ! on Jan 13, 2012 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

Many fans are idiots.

by asharp12587 on Jan 13, 2012 9:32 PM EST up reply actions

His hair, mostly.

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by Jagtastic on Jan 14, 2012 6:22 AM EST up reply actions

I dont see how you can't bring him back.

Prior to the injury he was the top corner on the team. Now that he finally had some safety help he was able to actually play his game. You can make the argument that you can let him go and just resign Middleton to fill the void. Middleton played amazingly in Mathis’ absence. But if you elevate Middleton then he will no longer play on special teams, thus making that area of the team weaker. So just keep Mathis, as long as his demands are relatively reasonable for a top-tier CB coming off a torn ACL. Then either in this draft or the next get his replacement.

by asharp12587 on Jan 13, 2012 9:31 PM EST reply actions

+1

by kjones407 on Jan 13, 2012 10:06 PM EST up reply actions

Middleton has earned his way onto the starting roster

Rashean should be signed but used in special situations.

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by Tkopa on Jan 13, 2012 10:20 PM EST up reply actions

interesting

that you say middleton has earned a spot in the starting line-up because i agree, just hadnt crossed my mind. If his asking price is reasonable, i want him. He will still start though. We could be deep at corner one day.

by crash904 on Jan 14, 2012 12:40 AM EST up reply actions

Middleton

Stepped in as an effective back-up—and did a mostly admirable job… but he was clearly a drastic drop-off from Mathis. That’s not a bash on Middleton, but he’s no where near true starting caliber when you have Mathis and Cox… maybe next year, after Mathis’ injury, that will be different… but all things equal, Middleton certainly would not take the spot from Mathis. I’d rather draft a player than start Middleton.

by jagfanb88 on Jan 14, 2012 8:51 AM EST up reply actions

You dont sign a player like Mathis to be used in special situations.

He’d be wayy to much money for that. Plus he would never agree to it.

by asharp12587 on Jan 14, 2012 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

Keep Mathis

I like Shean and hope he can recover from the knee injury. Keep him around and see what he has. Move him around if need be,

by DLWert on Jan 13, 2012 10:10 PM EST reply actions

The only issue is "Jaguar Disease"

Once they cash in on a contract – we never see them again

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by Tkopa on Jan 13, 2012 10:18 PM EST reply actions

he's been around a while...

I’m sure we’ve paid him before and he’s continued to play well…

also, we’ll be required to pay less because he ended the season on IR… So, we’ll probably get him for less than what he’s worth

by jagzfan4life on Jan 13, 2012 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

+1

by Sean Bowen on Jan 14, 2012 2:54 AM EST up reply actions

going to be 32 and coming off of acl surgery, I think I’ll pass

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by theMAGICman on Jan 13, 2012 10:29 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

He was

Having the best season he’s had
In years this season. Keep him, let him retire a jaguar. Hes a good guy, he deserves it.

by Jdodd51208 on Jan 13, 2012 11:33 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Most difficult survey

It all depends on how much he wants and whether or not we pursue Claiborne/Kirkpatrick.

by CheapSeat on Jan 13, 2012 11:50 PM EST reply actions

I hope we resign Rashean, I I will understand if we dont. He is a good player, but sometimes we need to learn to just move on. He is coming off of a torn ACL, and might not be the same. Hopefully we can address it in the draft/FA period.

by Demetrius82 on Jan 13, 2012 11:53 PM EST reply actions

you cant sign him

I like him but knee injuries with veteran CBs usually spells disaster. I cant think of any major names to come back from such an injury past 30 years of age….

by UnconqueredJag904 on Jan 14, 2012 1:03 AM EST reply actions

I think we resign him.

And it will be pretty reasonable. Tearing his ACL is going to scare a lot of teams away, so I don’t think he’ll attract much attention in free agency. The only thing that scares me is he’ll become Aaron Kampman, an overpaid cheerleader who can’t stay on the field.

Drink beer, live longer.

by Charles Monsoon on Jan 14, 2012 1:12 AM EST reply actions

Claiborne or Kirkpatrick would make him expendable.

I kind of expect one of those guys to be the pick, so I don’t imagine Mathis will be on the team when the season starts one way or the other.

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by Brian Levenson on Jan 14, 2012 2:59 AM EST reply actions

They too would need a veteran mentor

and Mathis could be that guy.

"it's good to know the truth and speak tha truth, it's even better to know the truth and speak about palm trees"

by NikolaWB on Jan 14, 2012 7:48 AM EST up reply actions

The “mentor” thing is totally overblown. It’s a media invention. I mean, they’re professional athletes. they shouldn’t need someone to hold their hand.

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by Brian Levenson on Jan 14, 2012 10:37 AM EST up reply actions

Don’t treat Mathis the same way we treated Fred Taylor, even we draft Kirkpatrick or sign someone like C. Finnegan we should keep him around for security

by orecic76 on Jan 14, 2012 3:51 AM EST via mobile reply actions

...Taylor got a ring then retired as a Jag.

I don’t think he’s got much to complain about. Also, Middleton and Coleman are enough backup.

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by Brian Levenson on Jan 14, 2012 4:38 AM EST up reply actions

What ring?

Follow @Jagman85

by Jagtastic on Jan 14, 2012 6:22 AM EST up reply actions

No ring

by DLWert on Jan 14, 2012 7:45 AM EST up reply actions

Check yourself,

What ring?

by amujic32 on Jan 14, 2012 9:52 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

derp. No ring.

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by Brian Levenson on Jan 14, 2012 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

You can’t just assume that about anyone who’s played for the Pats anymore… in the early 2000’s you could

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by Brian Levenson on Jan 14, 2012 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

I voted yes

But what if we drafted Dre Kirkpatrick in the first round?

by jagsfan17 on Jan 14, 2012 10:13 AM EST reply actions

These types of polls are intellectually dishonest

It’s not a “Yes” or “No” question really.

How is his rehab coming along? How long of a deal does he want? What type of bonus money is he asking for? What type of base salary does he want? Would he accept roster bonuses and workout bonuses which would help protect the team in case of setbacks? What FAs will be available and what types of $ are they asking for and where are they in their career trajectory? How have you addressed your other needs in FA and how does that impact your direction in the draft? How do the draft prospects you might be targeting project as far as being potential starters?

These are the types of questions you have to factor in. It’s rarely just dollars and cents. This is why being a GM isn’t as easy as people like to think. There is a ton more research that goes into it, lots of conversations, and a little luck.

by mporta on Jan 14, 2012 10:50 AM EST reply actions

with another pass rusher

rutland youboty, middleton and cox could be adequate. It looks like the Jags can draft the best pass rusher available in the draft. If no DE are taken until pick 7 the Jags should take Coples, or Ingram, or Branch. Ingram looks like he could be Dwight Freeney, Branch looks like Robert Mathis and Coples looks like Umenyoira. All could bust though is the problem.

by childintime12 on Jan 14, 2012 11:03 AM EST reply actions

it all depends

if we can find a capable replacement in the draft or in FA then let him go if not then we might have to bight the bullet and pay him

by jesusjagfan2009 on Jan 14, 2012 11:23 AM EST reply actions

I voted no.

I am in the same camp as those that think it is hard to come back at his age from a serious knee injury. If he were in his late twenties I would be for resigning him. He will lose. Some speed, agility and is too small to play safety. He is also allergic to hitting anyone over the middle which is necessary for a safety.

Waiting for Relevancy...

by Bombnuke on Jan 14, 2012 11:25 AM EST reply actions

It all depends on the injury,

If he’s healthy resign him. His skill and tenure here deserve it. If his knee isn’t healed then don’t. It’s all about the injury, not his age or play.

by JagSoldier on Jan 14, 2012 11:54 AM EST reply actions