With business the theme of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce quarterly lunch meetings, some of the members attending Tuesday’s Jacksonville Jaguars Kickoff Luncheon put the release of quarterback David Garrard in that perspective.
“Business is business and there’s a reason for everything,” said Dylan Rumrell with Infinity Global Solutions LLC.
“Obviously that is a Jaguar decision,” he said.
Rumrell was one of the 1,540 people attending the Osborn Center event. The annual kickoff lunch features Jaguars owners, coaches, players and cheerleaders and all are introduced to the crowd.
Garrard, introduced as quarterback, learned after the lunch that he was being released.
“Nothing surprises me in the NFL. I saw a lot in my 16 years,” said former Jaguars punter Bryan Barker, a member of the inaugural team in 1995 and now coordinator of the Jaguars Alumni Group Ambassadors.
“It is a new opportunity for David and a fresh start for the Jaguars,” he said.
Jeff Evans, an industrial specialist with Colliers International, attended and said he was surprised at the move in light of the Jaguars’ previous stand that Garrard was the starter. “Then wow, he’s gone,” he said.
Evans echoed Rumrell about the move. “In the final evaluation, the team has to look out for what’s best for the team,” he said.
District 14 City Council member Jim Love said he was “shocked” when he heard Garrard was cut, saying he had no idea it would happen.
“Everybody likes David. David is a good guy,” he said.
Love called it sad, but said Garrard had more opportunities.
“It’s not the end of the world for David,” he said.
The event featured Jaguars Chairman Wayne Weaver, head coach Jack Del Rio, chamber Chair Hugh Greene and Mayor Alvin Brown, among others.
Brown implored the crowd to buy tickets to avoid blackouts. While no Jaguars home game was blacked out during the 2010 season, the team still must sell about 7,200 tickets to avoid a blackout of the season opener Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
The deadline to sell the tickets is 1 p.m. Thursday, although the Jaguars can request a 24-hour extension from the National Football League, according to the team.
“We want to sell every game out,” Brown said, asking business leaders to help make sure the tickets were sold.
Weaver followed Brown and told the crowd that “we do have a great thing going here.”
The quarterly lunch is hosted by the chamber’s JAXUSA Partnership for Regional Economic Development, formerly known as Cornerstone.
JAXUSA Chair Scott Keith opened the event by recognizing it is the Jaguars’ 17th season.
Keith also announced that more than 2,000 jobs and more than $200 million in capital investments have been announced for the region this year.
The next quarterly JAXUSA lunch is scheduled for Nov. 29, featuring PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.
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