The Jacksonville Jaguars today signed center Brad Meester and cornerback Scott Starks to new contracts. Both players were unrestricted free agents as of today. Length and terms of the contracts are undisclosed. The team also released veteran defensive end Paul Spicer.
Meester, 6-3, 295, ranks third in team history with 129 games started since being selected in the second round of the 2000 draft. Now entering his 10th season, Meester is one of only 10 players in franchise history to see action in 100 games. He opened his career by starting a team-record 92 consecutive games with 48 at left guard and 44 at center.
“This is definitely where we want to stay, my wife and I, and we’re just so thankful to get the opportunity to be able to come back here,” Meester said. “I’m thankful to Mr. Weaver and Jack (Del Rio) and Gene (Smith) for giving us a chance. I’m excited about being back here and about this upcoming season. I know they’ve let go of some guys but I was always optimistic that I’d be able to get the chance to come back here and luckily I’ve been given that chance and I’m just very thankful for that.”
Meester missed all of the 2008 preseason and the first six games of the regular season after suffering a biceps injury in training camp. He returned to start the final 10 games. In 2007, he returned from an ankle injury to play a major role in the club’s second-ranked rushing offense (2,391 yards, 149.4 avg.), the second-most yards in team history. He was selected as the team’s 2008 recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award as well as the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Meester led a Jaguars effort in the 2008 offseason to raise more than $90,000 for tornado relief in his hometown of Parkersburg, Iowa. The club sold A-P (Aplington-Parkersburg High School) Falcons Tornado Relief hats at the 2008 minicamp and on jaguars.com.
Starks, 5-9, 176, was originally selected by the Jaguars in the third round of the 2005 draft. Starks has played in 49 games with one start in four seasons and has been a standout on special teams. He has career totals of 48 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 44 special teams tackles.
In 2008, Starks played in only game after suffering a torn ACL in week three at Indianapolis. He was placed on injured reserve because of the knee injury on Sept. 24. He played in all 16 games for the third consecutive season in 2007 and ranked third on the team with a career-high 20 special teams tackles and added one interception. He had the best game of his career on Nov. 5, 2006 against Tennessee as he intercepted Vince Young in the third quarter and raced 55 yards for his first career touchdown.