Fred Taylor
Fred Taylor After finishing the 2008 season with just 556 rushing yards, long-time Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor was released on Monday. The 33 year-old tailback had spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Jaguars, rushing for 11,271 yards. He leaves the Jags as the NFL's 16th all-time leading rusher.

During his time in Jacksonville, Taylor produced seven 1000-yard seasons, including a career-best 1,572 yards in 2003.

Taylor had hoped to play out his entire NFL career with the team that drafted him ninth overall out of the University of Florida in the 1998 draft. However, the team wanted to go in a different direction.

"I love Jacksonville, that’s where my heart is. That’s where I
want to be," said Taylor. "But this wasn’t my call."

Taylor even reportedly offered to take a pay-cut to stay in the city he loves, but he was told that the team wanted to go young.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio to turn the offense over running back Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew has scored 40 touchdowns over the past three seasons. The Jaguars expect to have former second-round pick Greg Jones to get more carries going forward.

"This was a difficult decision to come to, but a decision that had to be made despite how we all feel about Fred," new Jaguars general manager Gene Smith said. "We all respect and appreciate what Fred has done, and we feel that he can still play in the NFL, but in our current situation, we believe this is the right move at this time."