David Garrard Quits, Leaves New York Jets Due To Knee Injury
The battle for the starting quarterback position just got a little easier for Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith. David Garrard announced today that he was quitting the team due to a lingering knee injury.
Garrard,who had a chance at winning the starting position from Mark Sanchez, said today that his knee continued to swell up after practices and that he would not be able to continue his time with the Jets.
Garrard wrote in a text message to NFL.com’s Adam Schein: “Having to call it quits … My knee is not holding up. Continuing to swell after practices.”
An official announcement hasn’t been made yet by the New York Jets or David Garrard but the quarterback told NFL.com’s Jeff Darlington that announcement would come “tomorrow or the next day.”
The Jets have been looking for a way to rectify their abysmal quarterback situation. The team drafted Geno Smith and signed Garrard to a 1-year deal back on March 12. The Jets, who discarded Tim Tebow shortly after last season, also have Greg McElroy and Matt Simms on the bench for 2013.
Yahoo Sports notes that Garrard entered the NFL in 2002 and spent most of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He took over the starting position in 2006 and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2009. He played nine seasons with Jacksonville, passing for more than 16,000 yards and 89 touchdowns.
Garrard did not say if he would be retiring due to his injury.
hey @davidgarrard9 sorry to see it end this way.Tough guy.Good man.Best to you and your family.
— Mike Dempsey (@md_1010xl) May 15, 2013
