Fournette cut, part of Jaguars’ offensive shift
The Jacksonville Jaguars moved another step closer to purging Tom Coughlin’s tumultuous tenure as the team’s top personnel executive.
The team waived running back Leonard Fournette on Monday, a decision many view as the latest in a series of head-scratchers that could help the franchise get the No. 1 draft pick in April.
The Jaguars have made it clear they’re trying to revamp what had become a fractured locker room, a setting partly blamed on Coughlin’s tyrannical ways and paying the wrong players (Blake Bortles, Marqise Lee, Nick Foles).
Still, no one expected the Jags to part ways with Fournette less than two weeks before the opener. They did so partly because new coordinator Jay Gruden wants to use a multitude of backs in his West Coast system, so there was no need to pay Fournette.
He is due $4.17 million this season, a figure that was initially guaranteed. Any team that claims him would take on that salary. If he clears waivers
— an unlikely scenario — he would become a free agent.
Jacksonville voided all the remaining guarantees in his rookie deal in December 2018, so Fournette would need to file a grievance to get any money from the Jags in 2020.
Fournette’s time in Jacksonville took a downward turn in 2018. He was injured, suspended and on the bench in crunch time. He was fined, criticized and admittedly not in ideal shape late in the year.
Adding to Fournette’s issues was his arrest in April 2019 for driving with a suspended license.
He bounced back last year with his best season. He topped 1,600 yards from scrimmage in 15 games with 265 carries for 1,152 yards and 76 receptions for 522 yards.
■ Patriots: New England began its final week of training camp Monday, but Bill Belichick still isn’t sure when he’ll be ready to announce his starting quarterback.
“I don’t know,” Belichick said when asked how close he was to revealing who would be on the field the opener against Miami on Sept. 13. “When we’re ready to do it, we’ll do it.”
Cam Newton, who has been the front-runner, was absent from the field Monday morning during the limited portion of practice open to reporters.
■ Bills: Buffalo acquired linebacker Andre Smith for a conditional pick in the 2023 draft in completing a trade with Carolina. Smith mainly played on special teams during his two seasons with Carolina.
■ Saints: Running back Alvin Kamara has been an unexcused absence from training camp since Friday. The absence is believed to be contract-related. Coach Sean Payton has not provided a specific reason.
■ Giants: New York reached an agreement on a one-year contract with cornerback Logan Ryan. In other team news, three people filed a lawsuit against cornerback Deandre Baker, claiming that he robbed them at gunpoint during a May cookout in Florida, court records show. The civil lawsuit filed in Broward County court seeks $100,000 in damages.
■ Jets: New York signed veteran Donte Moncrief to help its banged-up wide receiver group. The team also announced Monday it released Brett Maher, meaning incumbent Sam Ficken won the kicker competition. The Jets also claimed defensive back Zane Lewis off waivers from Arizona.
■ Dolphins: Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick returned to practice Monday after missing a scrimmage following his mother’s death.
■ 49ers: Starting middle linebacker Fred Warner was placed on the reserve/covid-19 list Monday.
■ Washington: The NFL has taken over the independent investigation into workplace conduct within the franchise, team owner Dan Snyder confirmed.
■ Social justice: NFL end zones will be inscribed this season with two slogans: “It Takes All Of Us” in one and “End Racism” in the other. As part of its social justice awareness initiatives, the league also will allow similar visuals on helmets and caps.