From Bad to Worse: Jacksonville's Backup QB Situation Is a Joke

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Earlier this month, I wrote a B/R article about the fact that Jacksonville didn't have a real backup plan if David Garrard was hurt.

(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/176703-garrards-heir-apparent-nowhere-to-be-found)

Jacksonville's solution to the problem? Cut Cleo Lemon and sign Todd Boeckman.

Did I miss something?

Lemon, a sixth-year NFL veteran, was coming into his second year with the Jaguars. He signed a three-year, $8.1 million contract last year.

Boeckman, a rookie free agent out of Ohio State, was signed, but not to replace Lemon.

Instead, he will compete with Paul Smith for the final quarterback spot on the roster. That means Todd Bouman will enter the season as the No. 2 QB.

This is the same Tood Boeckman that couldn't beat out freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor for a starting job.

I might be going out on a limb here, but it seems like Jacksonville is moving backwards, not forwards.

At least Lemon possessed SOME tangible NFL experience as a starting quarterback during his days in Miami.

The last time Bouman even took a snap in a regular season game was 2005.

And THIS is the guy who is backing up David Garrard?

I also wrote an article not too long ago about how Rex Grossman would fit in Jacksonville.

(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/186120-would-rex-grossman-be-a-good-fit-in-jacksonville)

He recently signed with Houston for the veteran minimum, $620,000.

Wouldn't that have made more sense than signing a guy who literally has no chance of becoming the backup in Jacksonville?

Wow.

I mean, cutting Lemon is not the thing that really bothers me. It's the fact that Jacksonville made no attempt to bring in another quarterback to compete for the job.

Was Cleo Lemon really that bad?

Or is Jacksonville's front office that inept?

The Jaguars just signed the guy to a three-year contract. That would seem to indicate they felt comfortable making a commitment to Lemon.

All of a sudden, they kick him to the curb.

I would like to think that he did something (or didn't do something) behind the scenes to warrant this kind of knee-jerk reaction.

But the history of the Jacksonville front office seems to indicate that this was just the latest in a long line of egregious personnel snafus.

Jag fans better pray, cross their fingers, or rub their lucky rabbit's foot, hoping that David Garrard stays healthy this season.

Because if he misses any significant time, this season is OVER.

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