Just over a year ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars made the surprising decision to waive running back Leonard Fournette, who eventually found a new home with the Tampa Bay Bucs where he won a Super Bowl title. To make matters even worse, he was a player who the Jags initially hoped would be a part of their nucleus after taking him fourth overall in 2017, but after enduring a rocky relationship, it seems as though a split was overdue.
Of course, with Fournette being a key player, some fans couldn’t get over the move immediately and they weren’t the only ones. In an interview on ESPN’s “Jalen and Jacoby” show, Fournette said the sting of being waived by the Jags lingered into his move to the Bucs, which didn’t help the early stages of his transition.
“I think when I got cut, it kind of just set me back to what I used to do,” Fournette said, via a transcription from JoeBucsFan.com. “You know, I had to get my rhythm back. It was bothering me all through the season when I got signed by the Buccaneers. Every day, I’m like, ‘Damn, I got cut.’ So it was bothering me, too. So I had to just get my mind right, get adjusted. I was still new here, too.”
For those who watched the playoffs last season, it was clear that Fournette found his footing and was a key contributor to the Bucs playoff success. He totaled 300 rushing yards in the postseason and had three rushing touchdowns while averaging over four yards per carry.
Ultimately, it appears both parties won in their breakup. The Jags found out they had an undrafted gem on their hands in James Robinson, who set many rookie records. Meanwhile, Fournette joined a coaching staff and roster that was more suitable to get the best out of him and finally get him back into the winning ways he witnessed in 2017 and before.