Jaguars sign Laurent Robinson to 5-year, $32M deal
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| Jacksonville lands a WR in free agency but is Robinson worth the price? (Getty Images) |
Laurent Robinson headed into the 2011 season as a part-timer who had 20 career starts in four seasons with the Falcons and Rams. But he didn't waste an opportunity in Dallas when Miles Austin went down with an injury.
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Jacksonville sported the worst passing game in the league last season (and if not for running back Maurice Jones-Drew, we might be talking about all-time anemic offenses). As expected, rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert went through his fair share of growing pains, but he got absolutely no help from his wideouts. Mike Thomas led the team in receptions with 44. The second-leading receiver? Jones-Drew (43) followed by tight end Marcedes Lewis (39). No one had more than three receiving touchdowns (that honor went to Jason Hill).
But here's the $32 million question: is Robinson the answer? Yes, he had a nice year in Dallas but he was also cut by the Chargers last September after a disappointing preseason. This came a season after the Rams released him and three years after the Falcons traded him.
For some perspective, here are what other wideouts have received in free agency in the last 26 hours or so:
-Pierre Garcon, Redskins (five years, $42 million)
- Josh Morgan, Redskins (two years, $12 million)
- Robert Meachem, Chargers (four years, $25.9 million)
- Reggie Wayne, Colts (three years, $17.5 million)
- Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers (five years, $55.5 million)
So, yes, $32 million seems like a lot. But as Sports Illustrated's Peter King tweeted Wednesday afternoon: "In the first 30 hours of free agency a lot of guys get overpaid." Hey, don't blame the guy cashing the check, blame the guy writing it.
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