Leonard Fournette writes heartfelt farewell to Jacksonville teammates, community
On the day his NFL career hit a crossroads, former LSU star Leonard Fournette has penned a heartfelt note to the Jacksonville community and his teammates after he was released by the Jaguars.
“We have had some ups and downs, but y’all have had my back through it all,” he wrote. “You have my deepest respect and admiration.”
He thanked the Jacksonville organization for helping him reach a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL.
“To all my brothers in the locker room from 2017 until today, y’all are family for life,” he wrote.
For 3 years at LSU, Fournette was arguably the top player in the country. He rushed for 3,830 yards and 40 touchdowns from 2014-16. His best season came in 2015 when he rushed for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns.
The New Orleans’ native was the No. 1 ranked recruit in the 2014 recruiting class.
The Florida Times-Union reported how coach Doug Marrone explained the decision.
“It strictly has to do on the field,” Marrone said. “At the end of the day, we feel like the skill sets of the guys we have and really that led to the decision. It’s something we’ve done with every position that we’ve been looking at. We’ve done cut-ups, tapes, we’ve gone back and looked at everything that we’ve tried to get done. It’s not just the running back position. It’s all positions.”
Fournette collected 1,600 yards from scrimmage in 15 games in 2019, with 265 carries for 1,152 yards and he caught 76 passes for 522 yards, but scored a career-low 3 rushing touchdowns.
Thank you, Jacksonville 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/LcckBRao4k
— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) August 31, 2020
Marrone is full of it. There isn’t another RB on the roster as good as Fournette. This was about tanking and them just being tired of Fournette going back and forth from being a good teammate to throwing his teammates under the bus. This should humble him a bit, so hopefully he can get his career on a better track.
Yeah the remaining backs are laughable. I’d love to see Fournette go to ATL. It be interesting to see him and Gurley as a duo. Especially since they will probably be limiting Gurley’s carries.
I think the Steelers would be a dynamic fit for him. He can be that every down back like Bell was for them.
Maybe. Connor did pretty well and I think Benny Snell will be much improved. The also have Samuels and Smallwood. No real stand out star but overall a good group.
Absolutely wrong. Kahn wants to take the jags to London. Marrone isn’t that good of a coach. The off field distractions are many. Too many to list here. Jacksonville is a football town but the relationship with the owner is pathetic. Fournette is a good but not great player.
@Marshgator………Did he get hurt or something? Because he was a great player when he came out of LSU!!!
King Negan
You’re clueless. Everything I said was correct. Kahn has done a ton for the city and has put millions into it. He’s just not a great owner. The London thing is nothing but a guess.
Name 1 thing Kahn did for Jax that the taxpayers aren’t paying for.
Oh my. You really are clueless. Look it up.
It looks like jags shopped him around before release. No takers but with the jags gm involved who knows what happened. Everyone I know that’s been a jags fan from day one is wanting the gm just thrown out the backdoor. One stupid decision after another
I kinda hope he lands with Atlanta. But either way. Watch him go to say the cowboys. And become one of the premiere backs in the NFL!!!
King Negan
If he was better, they could probably deal with his locker room, effort, and on-field temper issues. But despite his 76 catches last year – he’s clearly a capable pass catcher – he’s not much of a weapon as a receiver only gaining 522 yards on that many receptions. And he’s a good runner, but not great as he finished 2019 32nd in football in attempts per broken tackle – it took him 16.6 carries every time to break one last season. Power is supposed to be his thing but he’s not even using that to his advantage outside of the goal line. I wouldn’t say this is merely an attitude dump, but his play didn’t put them in a position to ignore some of the issues.
@Booches………What I read was that he got 1600 yards!!! How is that bad? Maybe it’s the offensive scheme that doesn’t work in Jacksonville??? Like teams used to use Herschel Walker on every play. Herschel left, Herschel right. Herschel up the middle or Herschel out for a short pass or a long pass. And for a while it was okay.
But an NFL defense is going to eventually stop anyone, once they can key on them!!!
You can use a guy in college like that sometimes. Although not in the SEC anymore!!! But when it comes to the NFL. Heck, those are the best of the best!!! I didn’t follow the Jacksonville games. But based on what I read. It sounds like he got a huge workload thrown on him. And that he did okay. But maybe nearing the goal. And inside the red zone. Everyone started keying on him. Because they weren’t creative enough?
PS. I still say 1,600 yards in the NFL is a lot!!! Maybe their o line even sucks. Ever think of that? I don’t know about his attitude. But maybe he just hates losing? I LOVE PLAYERS WHO HATE TO LOSE. MORE THAN THE REST!!!! Enough to get mad!!!!
King Negan
Well put it this way. Fournette has broken 97 tackles his entire career, Josh Jacobs broke 70 his rookie season. I don’t think you can blame that on scheme. Perhaps it’s the other way around and the fact Fournette isn’t very good after contact makes the scheme look bad. It’s also probably why he only averaged 6 yds per pass catch, which is awful.
Fournette ran for 562 yards after contact last season, which was fifth in the nfl. Not sure what you are trying to say, other than you don’t like fournette.
If the article was correct. It sounds like to me. That there is something wrong with the GOAL LINE OFFENSIVE SCHEME!!! How do you get all those yards both rushing and receiving. And score only 3 tds??????
PS. Atlanta falcons I know y’all have Gurley but why not guarantee a great backfield? PICK HIM UP NOW!!!
Also very classy letter considering what happened!!!!
King Negan