Jacksonville Jaguars Release David Garrard

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- For the second time in the last four years, the Jacksonville Jaguars have made a stunning roster move right before the season begins.

Starting quarterback David Garrard has been released.

"He just wasn't able to get it going this pre-season...for whatever reason," said Head Coach Jack Del Rio in a news conference this afternoon.

Garrard posted the following to his Twitter account about an hour after the news conference:

"Thank you jaguar fans for an awesome ride! You are the best fans ever. You'll always have a special place in my heart and my family's heart!"

Del Rio said it was a football decision, and he had nothing but nice things to say about Garrard as a person.

"We were joined at the hip," Del Rio said.

Luke McCown will start against the Tennessee Titans Sunday to open the season. Rookie first-round pick Blaine Gabbert is the backup.

"Luke gives us the best chance," Del Rio insisted. "He had the best camp...he's earned this opportunity."

Garrard has led the NFL in rushing by a quarterback since 2007, so there will be an obvious change in style with McCown under center.

"The offense will operate a little differently," Del Rio admitted, but he added that McCown has his own skill set.

Del Rio said Gabbert isn't ready yet. "He's coming, he's talented."

General Manager Gene Smith said the Jaguars have no plans to add a third quarterback to the roster.

Garrard found out right after a luncheon today.

"He handled it like a man, like he's handled everything else," Smith said.

As recently as a couple of weeks ago, according to Del Rio, it was still Garrard's job.

The first tangible sign of trouble was Monday, when Garrard was not named a captain. Instead, representing the offense are running back Maurice Jones-Drew and tight end Marcedes Lewis.

Garrard had a rough pre-season. He injured his back Aug. 5, before the first pre-season game.

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft out of East Carolina, Garrard, now 33, has been the team's starting quarterback since 2007, when the Jaguars pulled a similar roster move.

In the pre-season that year, the Jaguars released Byron Leftwich, thrusting Garrard into the starting role.

In 2007, Garrard led the Jaguars to their most recent playoff appearance, securing a victory over Pittsburgh with a memorable run.

Before the following season, Garrard signed a six-year, $60 million contract. This is the fourth year of that deal.

Last season, Garrard set a franchise record by passing for 23 touchdowns, giving him 89 for his career and 16,003 yards passing.

Known for his ability to run, Garrard has added 1,746 yards on the ground and has rushed for 17 touchdowns.

He has consistently earned praise for his work in the community, and earlier this year teamed up with Rep. Ander Crenshaw to battle Crohn's Disease, with which Garrard was diagnosed in 2004.

The team, however, has hovered around .500 since the 2007 playoffs, missing out on a potential division championship in 2010 by losing the last three games.