Free agency awaits former Jacksonville Jaguars QB due to return from back injury in April-NFL News
David Garrard, the former Jacksonville Jaguars’ quarterback, is tipped to recover from his back injury fully by April this year.
On the return to the league, the player is set to become free agency.
Garrard had a surgery to rectify a back problem that he had suffered during Jaguars’ training camp in the fall last year (2011) and has been in the recovery phase since then.
He was cut loose by the Jacksonville Jaguars just before the start of the 2011 National Football League (NFL) regular season.
After missing the entire season, the player is expected to be healthy and fit again by March or April this year, his agent, Albert Irby, said.
The player has expressed similar hopes, saying that he has already progressed to 90-95 per cent recovery and will become fully fit over the next couple of months.
Further, he spoke about the excitement of becoming an unrestricted free agent after the looming date of March 13. It will be the first time that the he will be available on the free agency.
Garrard said:
"This is going to be a fun time. I've never been a free agent before. It's almost like you're being recruited again."
Despite the fast progress of recovery, no team has, so far, been tipped to be the potential suitor for Garrard.
It may not be difficult for him to attract a team for his potential signing as he has shown willingness to play at any position. He is not just looking for the starting role.
He said:
"I don't have a big ego. I love starting, I love being the guy that everybody looks up to. If that’s not quite the situation. I don't have any harsh feelings toward that."
Last season was the only season that Garrard did not start for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The player was at the position during all the games since joining the team in 2002 as a fourth-round pick.
There is no indication from the team if they will be willing to take him back off the free agency. Apparently, Jaguars, who have the new owner and new head coach in place, are looking to groom their last year’s draft pick, Blaine Gabbert.
Jaguars’ new head coach, Chuck Pagano, who has recently joined the rookie quarterback, is optimistic about improvement in Blaine’s form and performance, reflecting on the team’s focus on training the rookie as the future quarterback.
A number of teams, such as the Houston Texans, are in need of quarterbacks especially for the backup positions and Garrard’s situation will become certainly clearer when he becomes a free agent.
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