JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars have released two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle John Henderson, opening up a starting spot for first-round draft pick Tyson Alualu.
The team also released linebacker Brian Iwuh, defensive tackle Montavious Stanley and linebacker Tank Daniels, and withdrew its qualifying offer to linebacker Clint Ingram.
The Jaguars tried to trade Henderson during the draft, got no takers and decided to part with the eight-year veteran whose production dipped in recent years.
A first-round pick in 2002 out of Tennessee, the 6-foot-7, 335-pound Henderson averaged 84 tackles and 4½ sacks during his first four seasons. He averaged 56½ tackles and 2½ sacks the last four years.
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Comments » 39
chrisw2967 writes:
Titans could use him
BigOrangeHustler writes:
Heard Arron Sears was let go today by the Bucs as well. Also, it's my understanding that McCoy, Richard, and Rogan signed FA deals today.
ncvol17 writes:
NFL careers are so very limited, hopefully these guys save some green so they can play golf the next 50 yrs..
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
Joey Kent, Albert Haynesworth, Travis Henry, 3 former Vols/Titans that come to mind (may be others, just can't think of them off the top of my head).
Jacksonville was going to owe $11M to Baby Shaq (that's what we called him in HS) over the next 2 years, and considering that he's going into his 10th year (I think), it's probably not a bad idea for the Jags.
And Go Titans!! :)
straightshooter writes:
Big John didn't last very long at the productive level he started out at. But then the Jags never resigned the big tackle next to him when he had such a good year. Wonder if he was getting double teams, etc. Like one poster stated, the Jags and Titans have something in common. They don't spend money on resigns. Someone will pick him up for sure.
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
The man SHOULD be set for life....right John????
Tell you what, though; seems like it just happened that I was thinking "what a great matchup, two outland trophy winners".
That was in reference to John vs that big offensive tackle from Miami.
Didn't happen, of course. Battle drops a sure touchdown, we get surprised by Mauck and Davis, and I'm so damned mad I stay up till 2 in the morning changing a starter (with one hand, mind you).
Just yesterday....
straightshooter writes:
Lol,lol. They rarely show an interest in any Vols period! Fisher seemingly doesn't see value in UT players. Name one guy other than Haynesworth who was a no brainer top 10 pick, they drafted and signed since being in Nashville. I think they signed a back that never got any playing time. Otherwise, I can't remember anyone!
VOLinATL writes:
Pick him up, Falcons!
RoadTrip writes:
Fisher - make the call. You need Big John to plug up the middle.
lomas98 writes:
Man, I really enjoyed watching him play in college. What a dominant defensive lineman! The best was when Chavis broke out his prowler package. Can you imagine being an offensive lineman and Big John pacing side to side and not knowing if he was coming right at you? Has had a pretty solid NFL career. It is not uncommon for an interior lineman with 8 years of service to get picked over by a young rookie. Big John should get picked up by somebody. I'm sure that big body of his has been beaten up over the last 8 years though.
straightshooter writes:
Some teams like the Steelers get away with that because they are so good in picking up talent in the late rounds to compensate. Fisher was the best at one time for that but IMO, he hasn't done as well lately. Joey Kent and the other 2 former UT players named as Titans. How long has the Titans been in Nashville, like 15 years! And a fan can only name 3 Vols,only 1 having any real time with the Titans. Need there be more said!
hueypilot writes:
Jacksonville has fallen victim to the "draft the Gators" syndrome and it has helped (Fred Taylor) but mostly it has hurt (Derrick Harvey and Reggie Nelson). Sometimes you're blinded by love when you'd be better off picking the best player and not the best player from a nearby college.
alwaysVol writes:
easy to say when your not paying the bills. Titans wanted to redo his contract and McNair didn't want to. in a salary cap league there was no way they could pay that and keep anyone on the team. thats why the titans were so bad those few years. huge salary cap problems.
Titan writes:
Titans drafted Troy Fleming a few years ago and kept him on roster a couple years - mainly special teams as I recall. Also picked up Carl Pickens I believe for a while but never got anything out of him.
alwaysVol writes:
I remembered Fleming, but had forgot about Pickens. Titans also drafted Jesse Mahelona
Huttdawg100 writes:
I'd love to see John Henderson as a Titan. I thought they should have picked him over Haynesworth anyway.... I've never heard Henderson's work ethic or desire questioned like Haynesworth. I remember when Fat Albert stomped out one of the Cowboy's OL's eye... Goodell would've shut him down for a year.
Jeff Fisher is one of the classiest guys in the league. He has always been a better coach than Bill Cowher... He'll get his Super Bowl sooner or later
Colliervol writes:
Given the incompetence that the Jacksonville management shows, there isn't much surprise here they are dumping Big John due to salary. Take a gander at the list of draftees from the weekend and that will tell you all you need to know about the Jags' football accumen.
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
Dang, sounds like we got some Titans haters... Buffal-0-0-0-0 fans, maybe? LOL
Titan writes:
Can you say MUSIC CITY MIRACLE?
All Vol - good catch on Jesse.
jzt writes:
Come on home Big John, Go Titans.
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
seemed like the foul-coons down in atlanta rarely showed interest in SEC guys for a long, long time. Used t0 baffle the hell out of me.
kman29 writes:
Had nothing to do with being tight with money. Had to do with production. Last year the Jags Dline could not get to the QB and had issues stopping the run. Henderson while good in years past just isnt the same any more and was clearly outplayed by rookie Terrance Knighton. And now after the draft where the Jags took Tyson Alualu they look at it as having their DT combo set for many years leaving no place for big john.
kman29 writes:
While you have a point some what, going into those drafts when the Jags picked based on their needs and best player available it just happened to be a Gator player. Honestly, who out there didnt think Reggie Nelson wouldnt be a stud in the NFL? Unfortunatly we just didnt realize he would struggle so much making reads at safety. Same with Derrick Harvey. Was projected as the best DE in that draft. Jags needed a DE and took him. While he hasnt had the production in sacks many were hoping for he has been very solid at run stopping, so at least in his case he is contributing in a positive way.
gnm53108 writes:
Come back home Big John.
arkyvol writes:
the titans are a n.f.l. franchise, not the nashville division of the vol letterman club. if a former vol can produce, they'll take him, if not, it will be somebody who can, say from pigknuckle u. or tarleton state.
kman29 writes:
Jacksonville's managment "incompetence" brought them what many consider last year to have the best draft in the NFL with solid rookie contribution from Eugene Monroe, Eben Britton, Terrance Knighton and Derek Cox all players who after the season draft experts said should have been 1st round picks based off of their play. Knighton in particular out played Henderson at DT add in the pick of Alualu and there just isnt a spot for a 10 year vet on the dline looking to take $11 million this season. What I find funny is you bashing this past draft the Jags had. Sorry didn't know you were a scout. Yes I know Kiper said it was bad. Kiper also said the Jags drafting Cox and Knighton last year were bad picks. Then again, we could go on and on with these draft guys on ESPN who have been critical of picks and been completely wrong (i.e Kiper on the Colts drafting Freeny..bad pick) Based off the 2009 draft where all 7 drafted players contributed despite most like this years draft never being heard of I think their GM gets a pass until we see them on the field. But then again, I guess you already know how they are going to perform right? lol!
kman29 writes:
That has to be one of the most ridiculous posts I have read. The University of Florida is not known for its college success translating into any pro success? LOL! Might want to check current and past NFL rosters buddy.
givehim6 writes:
Yea it's Fishers call but who else better to take up fill the whole big Al left then big John. The Titan D just didn't look the same without a big man last season.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Surely some team could find a spot for Outland Trophy winning JH. Just think if the 2010 Vols had John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth on the line like the 2001 team did.
How the talent level has changed.........
77VolFS writes:
Titans hopefully will give Nashville native Big John a chance to add some needed depth during camp. Backup DT Vickerson went with Lendale to Seattle - we have a late round draft pick coming in but Big John could sure help. I think he would look good in Titan Blue playing in front of his homeys and he might just be open to a reduced salary to end his playing career where he started it.
DuvalVol writes:
Being a Titans fan that lives in Jax, I hope the fish will pick him up just to stick it to the Jags. The Titans have a pretty decent d line rotation, Big John wouldnt hurt
Mobbdeep4life writes:
I was thinking the same thing. I would be surprised if they did though. I hope I'm wrong. I think he can still be productive.
huntined#565710 writes:
With their ticket sales so low you would think maybe they would have gone after Tebow to help them out in his home town..and a GATOR also..
JMP_Vols writes:
Hope the Titans get him, but they probably won't because they'll get outbid by another team.
Tony Brown and Jovan Haye are being paid like starters. SenDerrick Marks and Jason Jones are young guys that are ready for more playing time.
We just don't have a true need for another tackle.
If Henderson was a pure edge rusher, different story.
TLepage writes:
this is another opportunity for Dan Snyder to pay an old man $100 million....
jesusvol4 writes:
Big John has had a problem getting fired-up for the Jaguars the last few years.......so if he can get with an organization that can light that fire inside him once again......they will have a beast on the inside of their defense! Question is....WHO will light his fire once again????
hueypilot writes:
Jacksonville doesn't have 3 or 4 years to put fannies in the seats. Goddell and the other owners will not allow the "brand" to be tarnished with a franchise not selling enough tix to be on TV. Now there are two competing factions in LA trying to get a stadium deal, which has just increased the urgency orf doing a deal. There will be no expansion team, so where do you think the franchise for LA will come from?
This franchise is on life support, and their drafting of these unknown players from non-BCS conference teams, has done zippo to make the fans here want to buy tix. They should have drafted Tebow as a last ditch all or nothing ploy to save the franchise. Otherwise it's gone.
As for Reggie Nelson, he's got scorch marks all over him because he gets caught peeking in the backfield. Manning toasted him last year, as did others. Nelson didn't have NFL receivers blowing by him at Florida. He does now.
You can toot your horn all you want about the Gator defense, but college ain't pro where every receiver runs a 4.5 or better.
jimr07 writes:
To a man, nearly every pick (save maybe Alex Brown of the Bears) since 2001 out of Gainesville has been disappointing, up until Percy Harvin stopped the bleeding this season. The list of first and second round picks that amounted to nothing has been pretty staggering:
Gerard Warren, Kenyatta Walker, Lito Sheppard, Jabar Gaffney, Mike Pearson, Reche Caldwell, Rex Grossman, Taylor Jacobs, Ben Troupe, Keiwan Ratliff, Chad Jackson, Jarvis Moss, Reggie Nelson, Derrick Harvey, and Percy Harvin.
Other than Harvin, only Lito Sheppard has appeared in the Pro Bowl, and his play could be characterized as up and down. Everyone else on that list has underperformed. That's not exactly the best track record when talking about important draft picks from one school.
As guys like Joe Haden and Carlos Dunlap project to be taken in the first round -- even with major question marks surrounding both -- you've got to wonder if NFL scouts will take a look at the track record of the Gators that came before them
kman29 writes:
Yes God help the Jags that last year after having a 5-11 season in 2008 their attandance fell, yet even with that the Jags ranked 20th out of 32 franchises in tickets sold for the entire season. Reason you do not hear about that is because when the Jags have 60,000 in the stadium its still blacked out because the size of the stadium, while many other franchises are sold out at 60,000. The NFL knows this, the NFL owners know this. But the national media likes to target Jax and ignore those facts. Additionally the Jags made a $217 million profit last year alone and are worth a net of $866 million according to Forbes. Sorry, but thats hardly "tarnishing the brand".
And as a Gator fan, yes it would have been nice for the Jags to get Tebow, but lets be honest, the Jags can draft the second coming of Emmitt Smith and if they do not win fans dont show (which is any franchise..check out Oaklands attendance which the media never mentions). If the Jags win and make the playoffs like in 2007 then the fans will show up. And I'll give GM Gene Smith the benifit of the doubt with his draft picks based off of his 2009 draft which is rated as one of the best in the NFL (Check out all those unknown players that became known).
So while the national media likes to focus on who is going to LA, lets not forget that is the same city that lost two franchises because they could not support it. LA residents have better things to do in their minds than go to a NFL game. Secondly, there is no majority owner looking to buy a team for LA. The only person who has talked about getting a team there is Ed Roski who is a real estate developer. He isnt looking to be an owner, just looking to build a stadium to get a team there. Oh yeah and California is bankrupt....good luck on getting that stadium built.
10 years from now there will still be the same conversation.
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