Jaguars giving up on former 1st-round draft pick and Florida standout Derrick Harvey

Jaguars giving up on former 1st-round pick Harvey

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It looks like Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Derrick Harvey has gone from championship game MVP to first-round bust.

Coach Jack Del Rio indicated Monday that Harvey will see less playing time when the Jaguars (2-2) play at winless Buffalo on Sunday, a move predicated on Harvey’s lack of production this season.

Harvey, the defensive MVP of the Bowl Championship Series title game in January 2007 and the eighth overall pick in 2008, was credited with just one tackle last week against Philadelphia and didn’t even do that much Sunday against Indianapolis.

Del Rio said another former Florida player, Jeremy Mincey, will get more work at the position. Mincey recorded the lone sack of Peyton Manning.

“We increased Jeremy Mincey’s time (Sunday) and he responded and played well in that time,” Del Rio said. “We’ll look to continue to get Jeremy involved over there at that spot. It’s not for a lack of effort (on Harvey’s part). It’s just that we need production. Jeremy gave us a little boost and we’ll continue to play him.”

Harvey, meanwhile, could be on the way out. His snaps have dropped steadily this season, going from 49 in the opener to 28 against the Colts. He could have even fewer against the Bills.

Harvey has played in all 36 games, with 29 starts, during his three seasons. But he has just 5.5 sacks and no forced fumbles. That’s far from the production the Jaguars expected when they gave Harvey a five-year, $23.8 million contract that included $17 million guaranteed.

Harvey missed most of training camp and the preseason as a rookie because of a 33-day holdout. He fell way behind and seemingly never caught up.

Harvey appears to be the latest in a long line of first-round busts for Jacksonville. The list includes receiver R. Jay Soward (2000), quarterback Byron Leftwich (2003), receiver Reggie Williams (2004), receiver Matt Jones (2005) and safety Reggie Nelson (2007).