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A20 SPORTS
Tuesday 3 March 2020

Pass-rusher Ngakoue no longer wants to re-sign with Jaguars

By MARK LONG and made the Pro Bowl as es Jack remain. But there
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) an alternate. are no guarantees Camp-
— Standout defensive end Jacksonville is expected bell and Bouye will stick
Yannick Ngakoue no lon- to place the franchise tag around since they would
ger wants to sign a long- on Ngakoue, a move that count nearly $33 million
term deal with the Jack- would guarantee him more combined against the sal-
sonville Jaguars. than $19 million in 2020. But ary cap next season.
Ngakoue announced his he also could refuse to sign Cornerback Jalen Ramsey
desire to play elsewhere the tender, essentially forc- and defensive end Dante
via social media Mon- ing a trade. Fowler were traded in sep-
day, a move that could "There's still a process that arate deals to the Los An-
force Jacksonville to place needs to be played, but I geles Rams. Safety Tashaun
the franchise tag on the think you guys know how Gipson and defensive
24-year-old disgruntled de- we feel about him and we tackle Malik Jackson were
fender and trade him. want him here," Jaguars released before the 2019
"The Jaguars are aware I no In this Oct. 27, 2019, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive general manager Dave season in a cost-saving
longer have interest in sign- end Yannick Ngakoue (91) rushes New York Jets offensive tack- Caldwell said at the NFL move.
le Chuma Edoga during the first half of an NFL football game in
ing a long term contract Jacksonville, Fla. combine last week. "We're Linebacker Telvin Smith
in Jacksonville," Ngakoue Associated Press going to try to get him here abruptly quit the team last
posted on Twitter and Ins- and keep him here one May to "get my world in
tagram. "Duval, I love you two seasons. the Jaguars don't seem to way or another. So I think I'll order" and eventually filed
and gave you guys every- A third-round draft pick consider him a complete leave it at that." retirement paperwork to
thing I got. I'm thankful for from Maryland in 2016, or elite defensive end wor- If the Jaguars end up trad- avoid mounting fines.
the journey and look for- Ngakoue clearly outplayed thy of that much annually. ing Ngakoue, they would And Jacksonville recently
ward to continuing my ca- his $3.84 million rookie con- Jacksonville also selected be left with few pieces from declined to pick up a team
reer elsewhere." tract. He made $2.025 mil- Ngakoue's potential re- their dynamic defense that option in defensive tackle
Ngakoue has 37 1/2 sacks lion in 2019 — far less than placement, Josh Allen from carried the team to the Marcell Dareus' contract,
and 14 forced fumbles in other top playmakers at his Kentucky, with the seventh AFC championship game saving $19.5 million against
four seasons. The speedy position. overall pick in the 2019 NFL in January 2018. the cap in 2020. Dareus
strip-sack specialist made He had been seeking draft. Allen had 44 tack- Defensive end Calais will still count $2.5 million
the Pro Bowl in 2017 and around $22 million a year to les, 10 1/2 sacks and two Campbell, cornerback A.J. against the cap in dead
was an alternate the last remain in Jacksonville, but forced fumbles as a rookie Bouye and linebacker Myl- money.q