Cutting Fred Taylor would be unforgivable
by socaljagsfan on Nov 27, 2008 12:23 AM EST
According to several sources including our own Vic Ketchman, Fred Taylor is concerned about his future as a Jaguar. He said Wednesday that he definitely wants to play another season in the NFL, but he isn’t positive that it would be in Jacksonville. “If you were on the outside looking in, you would think a change is coming,” were the words Taylor used to describe the situation at hand. Next season Fred is due to make $6 million and the only choice for the Jaguars is to pay him or cut him. As we all know this is a league of constant replacement, but there are certain players that just don’t get cut for the value that they bring with experience and leadership.
Fred said only a few days ago, “We’re not a good team. T-E-A-M.” If team chemistry is what Jack Del Rio hopes to find, than the worst thing he could do is cut the player who has the longest tenure with the team and is a highly respected player, if not the most respected player, in the locker room. In his 11 seasons with the Jaguars, Taylor has amassed 11,151 rushing yards and is 18th on the all-time and has poured his heart and soul into this team. Fred has said that he wishes to reach 12,000 yards on his career whether that is with the Jaguars or not, so retirement is out of the question.
“This is where my heart is,” Taylor said, “Jacksonville is all I know.”
In the last few weeks, Jaguar fans have discussed what needs to be done to get the organization back to the winning ways of just a year ago. Many have suggested that Shack Harris deserves to be shown the door, while others believe that Jack Del Rio needs to be fired. I have been a strong supporter of both and I believe neither deserve to lose their positions and they will effectively rebuild the team. However, if Fred Taylor is cut I will instantly lose my faith in the current staff and I will be 100% behind the firing of Del Rio. The removal of such a respected veteran would be an unforgivable move and those responsible should no longer be a part of the organization.