Jacksonville Jaguars to void Leonard Fournette's guarantees
Tuesday 1 January 2019 18:55, UK
The Jacksonville Jaguars intend to void the remaining guarantees running back Leonard Fournette signed in his rookie contract.
The move will potentially save the team $7.1m and will allow them to move on from the No.4 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Head coach Doug Marrone confirmed the step on Monday morning.
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The Jaguars had the right to take the decision after the NFL suspended Fournette for one game for violating unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness rules when he took part in an altercation in a game against the Buffalo Bills in late November.
Fournette can challenge the team's ruling, but if it is upheld, the Jaguars can walk away from the contract and owe him no more money.
They also could try to trade Fournette, and a team could find value in a 23-year-old, former first-round selection with a cap-friendly contract.
Fournette and fellow running back T.J. Yeldon drew the ire of team vice president Tom Coughlin on Sunday, who issued a terse statement after the loss to Houston.
The 23-year-old was inactive because of injuries, and Yeldon was in uniform, however, cameras caught them sitting on the bench looking disinterested to what was happening on the field.
"I am disappointed in the behaviour today from T.J. Yeldon and Leonard Fournette," Coughlin said. "They were disrespectful, selfish and their behaviour was unbecoming that of a professional football player."
Yeldon did not play on Sunday. His contract expires in March, and he is not expected to be back with the Jaguars.
Fournette missed the equivalent of seven full games with a hamstring injury, and team officials were said to be frustrated over the length of his rehabilitation as well as his lack of conditioning.
He yelled at a fan in the stands in Tennessee in addition to his suspension following the Buffalo game.
Fournette rushed for 439 yards and five touchdowns on 133 carries [3.3-yard average] in eight games this season after racking up 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns on 268 carries [3.9-yard average] as a rookie.
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