aREDSKIN
02-08-2004, 04:41 AM
Jacksonville's perspective on the Brunnell situation:
4 teams seek Brunell
Jaguars may get draft pick for veteran quarterback
By BART HUBBUCH
The Times-Union
Mark Brunell suddenly is a very popular man around the NFL.
So popular, in fact, that the Jaguars now think they can get a second-round draft pick -- or perhaps higher -- for their veteran quarterback instead of releasing him later this month.
ESPN.com reported Saturday that the Jaguars are close to dealing Brunell to the Washington Redskins, perhaps for the Redskins' second-round pick (41st overall) in the April 24-25 NFL Draft. New Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is expected to travel to Florida to meet with Brunell on Monday, the Times-Union has learned.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, however, said Saturday that the Redskins are just one of several teams that called recently about trading for Brunell instead of waiting for Jacksonville to release the 33-year-old former starter next month.
San Diego, Miami and Dallas have joined Washington in discussing a first-day pick with the Jaguars for Brunell, according to a league source who did not want to be named because of NFL tampering rules.
The Chargers have the third pick in the second round (35th overall), six spots higher than the Redskins. The Jaguars already have the seventh choice in the second round (39th overall).
"There are a lot of teams that are serious about acquiring [Brunell] and not waiting for him to be released,'' Del Rio said Saturday. "From what I understand, our phone has been pretty busy. There's a lot of interest.''
Del Rio said the Jaguars also have fielded a handful of recent trade offers for backup quarterback David Garrard, including one for a second-round pick. But Del Rio said the team has no plans to deal Garrard, a third-year pro who he said provides vital insurance for starter Byron Leftwich.
"Garrard is going to be a Jaguar next season,'' Del Rio said.
Brunell was out of town on Saturday, and his agent, Leigh Steinberg, was not available for comment.
Brunell started 117 regular-season games in nine years as the Jaguars' starter, twice leading them to the AFC Championship Game, before injuring his left (throwing) elbow last September and being replaced by Leftwich for the rest of the season.
The Jaguars' plan since December was to release Brunell before March 1, when he was due a $2 million bonus. By cutting or trading Brunell, the team will clear $8.5 million under the 2004 salary cap, with the only Brunell-related cap charge being the $2 million prorated portion of his signing bonus.
Del Rio said the Jaguars have been heartened by the recent interest in Brunell, and hold out some hope of a landing a first-round pick for him.
Brunell is the ninth-highest rated passer in NFL history. But he's 19-30 as a starter the past four seasons, and has suffered two serious concussions since September 2001.
NFL scouts and general managers still consider Brunell one of the top available quarterbacks in this year's market, especially by teams unhappy with their current starters.
Brunell, who said he intends to retire in Jacksonville, has said he wants to continue his playing career in Florida but is interested most of all in being a starter again. Steinberg said this week that Brunell's first choice as an unrestricted free agent would be the Dolphins.
Asked if the team was now confident it could trade Brunell instead of releasing him with nothing in return, Del Rio said, "We're not confident of anything at this point.''
But, Del Rio added, "It's an encouraging situation.''
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/020804/jag_14760852.shtml
4 teams seek Brunell
Jaguars may get draft pick for veteran quarterback
By BART HUBBUCH
The Times-Union
Mark Brunell suddenly is a very popular man around the NFL.
So popular, in fact, that the Jaguars now think they can get a second-round draft pick -- or perhaps higher -- for their veteran quarterback instead of releasing him later this month.
ESPN.com reported Saturday that the Jaguars are close to dealing Brunell to the Washington Redskins, perhaps for the Redskins' second-round pick (41st overall) in the April 24-25 NFL Draft. New Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is expected to travel to Florida to meet with Brunell on Monday, the Times-Union has learned.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, however, said Saturday that the Redskins are just one of several teams that called recently about trading for Brunell instead of waiting for Jacksonville to release the 33-year-old former starter next month.
San Diego, Miami and Dallas have joined Washington in discussing a first-day pick with the Jaguars for Brunell, according to a league source who did not want to be named because of NFL tampering rules.
The Chargers have the third pick in the second round (35th overall), six spots higher than the Redskins. The Jaguars already have the seventh choice in the second round (39th overall).
"There are a lot of teams that are serious about acquiring [Brunell] and not waiting for him to be released,'' Del Rio said Saturday. "From what I understand, our phone has been pretty busy. There's a lot of interest.''
Del Rio said the Jaguars also have fielded a handful of recent trade offers for backup quarterback David Garrard, including one for a second-round pick. But Del Rio said the team has no plans to deal Garrard, a third-year pro who he said provides vital insurance for starter Byron Leftwich.
"Garrard is going to be a Jaguar next season,'' Del Rio said.
Brunell was out of town on Saturday, and his agent, Leigh Steinberg, was not available for comment.
Brunell started 117 regular-season games in nine years as the Jaguars' starter, twice leading them to the AFC Championship Game, before injuring his left (throwing) elbow last September and being replaced by Leftwich for the rest of the season.
The Jaguars' plan since December was to release Brunell before March 1, when he was due a $2 million bonus. By cutting or trading Brunell, the team will clear $8.5 million under the 2004 salary cap, with the only Brunell-related cap charge being the $2 million prorated portion of his signing bonus.
Del Rio said the Jaguars have been heartened by the recent interest in Brunell, and hold out some hope of a landing a first-round pick for him.
Brunell is the ninth-highest rated passer in NFL history. But he's 19-30 as a starter the past four seasons, and has suffered two serious concussions since September 2001.
NFL scouts and general managers still consider Brunell one of the top available quarterbacks in this year's market, especially by teams unhappy with their current starters.
Brunell, who said he intends to retire in Jacksonville, has said he wants to continue his playing career in Florida but is interested most of all in being a starter again. Steinberg said this week that Brunell's first choice as an unrestricted free agent would be the Dolphins.
Asked if the team was now confident it could trade Brunell instead of releasing him with nothing in return, Del Rio said, "We're not confident of anything at this point.''
But, Del Rio added, "It's an encouraging situation.''
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/020804/jag_14760852.shtml