In early May, the agent for Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee said that there hadn’t been any constructive talks about a long-term contract with the team.
The Jaguars slapped the franchise tag on Scobee in February and both sides have said quite frequently that they are interested in making a deal that runs beyond 2012. Despite that interest, there was no movement toward a deal in May and there’s still no movement less than a month before the deadline to sign a franchised player to a multi-year deal.
Jaguars General Manager Gene Smith confirmed that there have been no talks while repeating the party line that there’s interest in signing an extension on Jacksonville’s end. Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union reports that Smith said he made an offer that he thinks is fair and pointed to other deals signed this offseason as a possible framework.
“There’s been a couple recent deals done this out of season, and we’re hopeful we’ll get his done,” Smith said. “Certainly the team and the player and the agent, when you’re in negotiation, you look at deals that are done recently.”
Ganguli points to Connor Barth’s deal with the Buccaneers as one that the Jaguars might have in mind. Barth signed a four-year deal worth $3.3 million per year with $4 million guaranteed after being tagged by Tampa at the start of the offseason. If Scobee plays under the franchise tender, he will make $2.88 million this season.
