JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- David Garrard lost his starting job the same way he got it: Just days before the season opener and in stunning fashion. The Jacksonville Jaguars released Garrard on Tuesday, making a "pure football decision" that will save the franchise US$9 million in 2011. Whether it saves coach Jack Del Rios job remains to be seen. Team owner Wayne Weaver has said Jacksonville needs to make the playoffs for Del Rio to stick around for a 10th season. Del Rio made it clear late last season that he had grown tired of Garrards inconsistent ways, but the coach remained steadfast through training camp and the pre-season that Garrard was his starter. That changed Tuesday, when the Jaguars parted ways with Garrard after nine up-and-down seasons. If the timing of the move wasnt strange enough -- five days before Jacksonvilles opener against Tennessee -- it came two hours after the team introduced Garrard as its starting quarterback at a kickoff luncheon at the chamber of commerce. "He just couldnt get it going," said Del Rio, who added that the team didnt try to trade Garrard. "I had met with him a couple of weeks ago and brought him in and said, Hey, listen, youre my guy. I need you to get it going. He was given every opportunity. He was somewhat apologetic that he wasnt able to deliver." Del Rio turned the starting job over to Luke McCown, who outplayed Garrard and rookie Blaine Gabbert in the pre-season. Playing mostly with and against second- and third-teamers, McCown completed 12 of 18 passes for 133 yards, with two touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks. "I was shocked by the decision," tight end Marcedes Lewis said. "They obviously felt it was time to go in a different direction. Luke had a great camp, everyone knows that, and now hes the guy. Theres no drop-off. We believe in Luke and were going to rally around him." Garrard missed the pre-season opener because of a sore back, but started the final three games. He completed 50 per cent of his passes for 216 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. He was sacked three times. Garrard didnt return phone or text messages seeking comment, but he thanked fans on his Twitter feed. "Thank you jaguar fans for an awesome ride! You are the best fans ever," he wrote. "Youll always have a special place in my heart and my familys heart!" The move was similar to what Del Rio did in 2007, when he released Byron Leftwich in favour of Garrard after the pre-season finale. Garrard played well that season, throwing 18 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. Hes been average since, with 53 TDs and 38 INTs over the last three seasons. He also has been sacked 117 times in that span. His performance late last season was one of the final straws. With running back Maurice Jones-Drew sitting out against Washington, the Jaguars put the game on Garrards shoulders and he struggled to handle the load. He failed to read Washingtons cloaked defensive schemes and nearly ended the day with five turnovers. The Jaguars responded by drafting Gabbert with the 10th pick in Aprils draft. Gabbert would have been given a chance to win the starting job in camp, but the NFL lockout denied him a a summer filled with meetings, film work and organized team activities. Gabbert dropped to third on the depth chart last week. McCown moved up to second, although no one knew he was actually auditioning for the starting job. "Our starter is our starter until hes not our starter," Del Rio said. "Thats the way it works. To do it any other way creates a circus atmosphere. We have not had that. Weve had a very purposeful camp, weve had a very workmanlike, businesslike training camp. A decision was made in the best interest of the football team, and now we go forward." Garrard ends his Jacksonville career with 16,003 yards passing, 89 touchdowns, 54 interceptions and a 39-37 record. He also ran for 1,746 yards and 17 scores. Garrards final game was one of his worst. He was hit repeatedly in last weeks pre-season finale against St. Louis and misfired on four of five passes. He ended the night with an animated exchange with his offensive line on the sideline. That, too, had become an issue inside the facility, with Garrard pointing the finger more often than taking the blame. Del Rio called Garrard a middle-tier quarterback after the 2009 season, and Weaver challenged him to do more with teammates that off-season. Garrard did. He responded by setting the franchise record for touchdown passes in a season (23), enjoyed five of the best eight games of his career, and led the Jaguars to several late wins. But he struggled down the stretch. It became clear Monday how teammates felt about Garrard. They declined to vote Garrard a team captain, instead choosing Jones-Drew and Lewis as offensive captains. Garrard was released the next day. 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