THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSONVILLE - The Jacksonville Jaguars essentially acknowledged two failed free-agent acquisitions Wednesday by releasing receiver Jerry Porter and cornerback Drayton Florence.
The Jaguars paid more than $23 million for Porter and Florence to step into starting roles last year, but both failed to make an impact on the field and may have been even less impressive in the locker room.
Teammates privately blamed them for the chemistry issues that plagued Jacksonville (5-11) all season.
"In going through our personnel evaluations and roster analysis we are making decisions that we believe will help improve our team for the 2009 season and beyond," Jaguars general manager Gene Smith said.
Porter signed a six-year, $30-million contract that included $10 million guaranteed. He also earned $1 million in salary last season, but caught just 11 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.
He started the season on the physically unable to perform list following hamstring surgery and ended the year on injured reserve (groin). Teammates singled him out as a main culprit for the chemistry problems - a label Porter first earned in Oakland.
