Rookies Reign in Jacksonville: Costly Veterans Among Jaguars' Final Cuts

The Jaguars released 21 players Saturday, trimming their roster to the NFL's 53-man maximum and wrapping up an offseason dedicated to retooling last year's 5-11 team. Among the players cut, few were long-tenured members of the team, but three former Jaguars starters stood out: offensive lineman Tony Pashos, cornerback Brian Williams, and long snapper Joe Zelenka. None of the three—all of whom started all 16 games in 2008—were considered at-risk for release entering training camp. In each case, a younger, less-expensive player won the starting job and made the veteran expendable. Judging from the roster after this last round of cuts, Jacksonville's latest crop of rookies has shown well. Eight of the Jaguars' nine picks in the 2009 draft earned roster spots, with seventh-round receiver Tiquan Underwood the only cut. Two undrafted rookie free agents, defensive end Julius Williams and linebacker Russell Allen, also made the team. Of those eight drafted rookie...