EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)Giants linebacker Jonathan Goff(notes) will miss theseason with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.Goff, in his fourth season with the Giants out of Vanderbilt, suffered theinjury during Monday's practice. He had 80 tackles and one sack last season, asthe Giants finished 10-6. Last week, the Giants lost backup linebacker Clint Sintim(notes) to a season-endingknee injury, and all told, they've lost five key members of the defense for theseason since training camp opened.New York opens the season against the Washington Redskins on Sunday.
Jaguars release Garrard, plan to start McCown
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)David Garrard(notes) lost his starting job the same wayhe got Chicago Bears Jersey Authentic it: Just days before the season opener and in stunning fashion.The Jacksonville Jaguars released Garrard on Tuesday, making a "purefootball decision" that will save the franchise $9 million in 2011.Whether it saves coach Jack Del Rio's job remains to be seen. Team ownerWayne Weaver has said Jacksonville needs to make the playoffs for Del Rio tostick around for a 10th season. Del Rio made it clear late last season that he had grown tired of Garrard'sinconsistent ways, but the coach remained steadfast through training camp andthe preseason that Garrard was his starter. That changed Tuesday, when theJaguars parted ways with Garrard after nine up-and-down seasons."He just couldn't get it going," said Del Rio, who added that the teamdidn't try to trade Garrard. "I had met with him a couple of weeks ago andbrought him in and said, Hey, listen, you're my guy. I need you to get itgoing.' He was given every opportunity. He was somewhat apologetic Authentic Vikings Jersey that hewasn't able to deliver."Del Rio turned the starting job over to Luke McCown(notes), who outplayed Garrardand rookie Blaine Gabbert(notes) in the preseason. Playing mostly with and againstsecond- and third-teamers, McCown completed 12 of 18 passes for 133 yards, withtwo touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks."I was shocked by nfl jerseys cheap the decision," tight end Marcedes Lewis(notes) said. "Theyobviously felt it was time to go in a different direction. Luke had a greatcamp, everyone knows that, and now he's the guy. There's no drop-off. We believein Luke and we're going to rally around him."Garrard missed the preseason opener because of a sore back, but started thefinal three games. He completed 50 percent of his passes for 216 nfl jerseys from china yards, with notouchdowns and an interception. He was sacked three times.Garrard didn't return phone or text messages seeking comment, but he thankedfans on his Twitter feed."Thank you jaguar fans for an awesome ride! You are the best fans ever,"he wrote. "You'll always have a special place in my heart and my family'sheart!"The move was similar to what Del Rio did in 2007, when he released ByronLeftwich(notes) in favor of Garrard after the preseason finale. Garrard played wellthat season, throwing 18 touchdown passes and just three interceptions.He's official sports shop been average since, with 53 TDs and 38 INTs over the last threeseasons. He also has been sacked 117 times in that span.His performance late last season nfl jerseys wholesale was one of the final straws.With running back Maurice Jones-Drew(notes) sitting out against Washington, theJaguars put the game on Garrard's shoulders and he struggled to handle the load.He failed to read Washington's cloaked defensive schemes and nearly ended theday with five turnovers.The Jaguars responded by drafting Gabbert with the 10th pick in April'sdraft. Gabbert would have been given a chance to win the starting job in camp,but the NFL lockout denied him a a summer filled with meetings, film work andorganized team activities.Gabbert dropped to third on the depth chart last week. McCown moved up tosecond, although no one knew he was actually auditioning for the starting job."Our starter is our starter until he's not our starter," Del Rio said."That's the way it works. To do it any other way creates a circus atmosphere.We have not had that. We've had a very purposeful camp, we've had a veryworkmanlike, businesslike training camp. A decision was made in the bestinterest of the football team, and now we go forward."Garrard ends his Jacksonville career with 16,003 yards passing, 89touchdowns, 54 interceptions and a 39-37 record. He also ran for 1,746 yards and17 scores.Garrard's final game was one of his worst. He was hit repeatedly in lastweek's preseason finale against St. Louis and misfired on four of five passes.He ended the night with an animated exchange with his offensive line on thesideline.That, too, had become an issue inside the facility, with Official New York Jets Jersey Garrard pointingthe finger more often than taking the blame.Del Authentic Minnesota Vikings Jerseys Rio called Garrard a middle-tier quarterback after the 2009 season, andWeaver challenged him to do more with teammates that offseason.Garrard did. He responded by setting the franchise record for touchdownpasses in a season (23), enjoyed five of the best eight games of his career, andled the Jaguars to several late wins. But he struggled down the stretch.It became clear Monday how teammates felt about Garrard. They declined tovote Garrard a team captain, instead choosing Jones-Drew and Lewis as offensivecaptains.Garrard was released the next day."I think he's handled it like a man, like he's handled everything else,"general manager Gene Smith said. "I think he's been a tremendous example how tohandle adversity since he's been here. At some point, you have to go throughthis as an NFL player."
Chargers need to sell 1,800 tickets to avoid blackout
Chargers need to sell 1,800 tickets to avoid blackout The Chargers announced Tuesday that 1,800 tickets are still on sale for Sunday's season opener against the Vikings. The team has until 4:15 p.m. ET Thursday to sell the remaining general Official Reebok NFL Cincinnati Bengals Jersey tickets to avoid being blacked out on local television.The Chargers also have 1,500 club seats available.Tickets are available for all eight of the team's regular-season home games. The Chargers struggled to sell out preseason games as well.Last season, the Chargers were often at-risk of having home games blacked out. They missed the playoffs last season but are a preseason favorite to win the AFC West. The Vikings are expected to finish at the bottom of the NFC North.