Cleveland Browns wide receiver Keenan McCardell signed a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars today. Length and terms of the contract are not disclosed.
McCardell was the Browns' leading receiver among wideouts in 1995, catching 56 passes for 709 yards, both career highs. Thirty-three of his catches resulted in first downs, and he equalled his season-high with four TD receptions. He also returned 13 punts for a 7.2-yard average. In his last game with the Browns, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound McCardell caught seven passes for 75 yards against the Jaguars. For the season, he played in all 16 games, starting five times.
A 12th-round draft pick of the Washington Redskins in 1991, the 26-year-old McCardell beat long odds to make it in the NFL. He spent all of 1991 on injured reserve with a knee injury, and he played in only two games in '92. In 1993, he started three of four games played, catching two touchdowns passes in each of the final two games. His NFL totals are 80 receptions for 1,133 yards (14.2 average) and eight TD's.
The all-time leading receiver at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, McCardell had a career total of 141 catches for 2,189 yards and 15 touchdowns. As a senior, he caught 68 passes for 1,046 yards and eight TDs. He was a three-sport letterman at Waltrip High School in Houston.
McCardell is the third player to sign a contract with the Jaguars since the free agency period began two weeks ago. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Leon Searcy signed with the Jaguars on February 18 and Houston Oilers linebacker Eddie Robinson signed yesterday.
