JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Running back Fred Taylor is retiring from the NFL after 13 seasons and nearly 12,000 yards.
Taylor will sign a one-day contract with the Jaguars today so he can formally retire with the team that drafted him ninth overall in 1998.
The former Florida star spent 11 seasons in Jacksonville and remains the franchise’s leading rusher with 11,271 yards. He ranks third with 286 catches and fourth with 2,361 receiving yards.
Taylor spent the last two seasons playing sparingly in New England, where he ran 106 times for 424 yards and four touchdowns.
He ranks 15th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 11,695 yards. He is 379 yards behind Thurman Thomas and 343 ahead of John Riggins — both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Taylor’s induction might not be a guarantee. He missed chunks of time because of injuries early in his career, never made the Super Bowl — not even with the Patriots — and played in just one Pro Bowl.
NFL to salute America
NEW YORK — The NFL will salute “the American spirit” during its games on the first full day of the season, Sept. 11.
Pregame tributes will be synchronized on CBS and Fox telecasts and shown on videoboards in each stadium hosting games. Coaches, players and local first responders will hold field-length American flags for the playing of the national anthem.
The league said it hopes to “unite fans to recognize those who lost their lives, honor the families who lost loved ones, and salute the American spirit, the early responders on 9/11, and other heroes that contributed to the nation’s recovery.”
Footnotes.
The Panthers waived Kentwan Balmer a week after claiming the defensive tackle off waivers from the Seahawks and claimed fullback Jerome Felton off waivers from the Lions.
• The Rams re-signed receiver Mark Clayton, who caught 22 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns the first four games last season before injuring his knee.
The Associated Press
