NFL Roster Cuts: David Garrard's Release Biggest Shock of Wild Cut Week

FoxSports.com NFL insider Jay Glazer tweeted moments ago that Jaguars quarterback David Garrard is going to be cut. Glazer’s exact tweet reads:

“I'm reporting the Jaguars today have informed starting QB David Garrard they are releasing him! Luke McKown will start opener! Shocker!!!”

This is definitely a “shocker” as Garrard made the 53-man roster and was widely expected to be the starter for the Jaguars’ opening game against the Tennessee Titans.

Evan Silva rationalized the decision by tweeting:

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“Garrard wasn't going to last 5 games as the#Jaguars starter, so it wouldn't have made sense to keep him on the roster for $7.975 million.”

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While this makes sense, what doesn’t add up is why the Jags didn't inform Garrard of this earlier and allow their rookie, Blaine Gabbert, and backup Luke McCown to get more reps in preseason and with the first-team offenses.

It is also hard to fathom that McCown (wrongly spelled by Glazer as McKown) will be the No. 1 QB in Jacksonville for very long. 

McCown has been bouncing around the league since 2004 and has been with the Jaguars since 2009. While he does understand Jack Del Rio’s system, you don’t draft a kid like Gabbert with the 10th overall pick to sit behind a scrub like McCown.

I don’t think that McCown lasts for more than a game as the starting QB in Jacksonville and it will be the Blaine Gabbert era sooner than we expected for the Jaguars.

As for David Garrard’s future, I feel he will be a hot commodity on the waiver wire and a number of teams who need a veteran backup or even potential starter might put a claim in for him.

The Indianapolis Colts are one team that could use their division rival’s former QB against them. With Peyton Manning potentially out for a while and Kerry Collins looking old and ineffective, Garrard could be a starter until Manning is healthy.

Another smart option for Garrard would be San Francisco, who is currently employing Alex Smith as the only veteran QB on the roster. The team has second-round pick Colin Kaepernick as the backup and undrafted rookie Scott Tolzien as the third-stringer. If Smith goes down the team has no experience on the bench whatsoever.

Look for Garrard to find a new team rather quickly and look for the Jacksonville Jaguars to struggle mightily this season without their veteran QB. This is quite a crazy decision by Jack Del Rio and GM Gene Smith. 

This cut caps off a wild week in which we saw former Pro Bowlers Andre Gurode and Brandon Meriweather shockingly cut by their teams as well.