Jacksonville Jaguars sign punter Bryan Anger off draft, move surprises many-NFL News
Jacksonville Jaguars’ general manager, Gene Smith, has great hopes that punter, Bryan Anger, will have a major impact on the team.
Anger’s signing has come as a rather surprise for many of the game analysts. Some of them are critical of the fact that he has been picked up in the third round.
He is the highest punter picked up by a team since 1995, when the Chicago Bears had taken aboard Todd Sauerbrun, in the second round.
Some of the commentators are not appreciative of Jaguars’ choice, but the team management has refused to let consideration of the criticism downgrade the move.
The GM said:
"(He) clearly will make an impact on our football team."
Anger becomes a significant hiring by Jaguars on the second day of the draft, which is going to close on April 28, 2012, and it is not clear if the management is weighing its options at some other positions.
Jaguars are going to begin a new era following change of the ownership hands last year. The team’s new coach, Mike Mularkey, is helping out the general manager on strengthening of the squad at certain positions.
The management has opted against exploring an opportunity of signing a quarterback, as they have rested their choice with relying on rookie, Blaine Gabbert, who is going to be in second year of his career next season.
Gabbert was the highlight of Jaguars’ last year’s poor run. They finished the 2011 NFL regular season after winning only five games and losing 11 and Gabbert failed in a majority of starts he made. He is lucky to be retained for another year, due to
the backing of Mularkey.
The new coach spoke to the player soon after his arrival in Jacksonville and asked him to come out into the next season with an improved form or else think of alternative options.
Both the coach and the owner, Shahid Khan, are hopeful about Gabbert improving his performance next season, which is going to be crucial to the owner’s ambitions of making his team consistent winners on the field.
It will be seen if the QB comes up to the expectations of the team.
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