JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard signed a $60 million, seven-year contract Monday that is the richest in franchise history. Garrard and his agent, Albert Irby, had been seeking something similar to the $67.5 million, six-year contract Dallas quarterback Tony Romo signed last season. But Garrard, 30, and his family were weary of the negotiating process.
"I pretty much had to say, 'Let's go ahead and wrap it up. I'm done,' " Garrard said. "It's too much stress on me and my family."
A career backup who beat out Byron Leftwich last exhibition season, Garrard was entering the final season of a four-year deal that paid about $2 million annually.
The Jaguars were eager to get him under contract after his first season as a starter.
Garrard completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,509 yards and 18 touchdowns despite missing three games in the middle of the season because of an ankle injury.
Garrard was intercepted three times and finished with the league's third-highest passer rating (102.2).
Notes
• Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher might skip the team's voluntary offseason workouts while he seeks a contract extension.
The Chicago Tribune reported Urlacher planned to miss Monday's first day and perhaps the rest of the workouts. The Bears declined to disclose whether Urlacher participated Monday.
The 29-year-old Urlacher, who was born in Pasco, has a contract that runs through 2011. He made $3.95 million last season and is to make the same amount this season.
• New England signed linebacker Victor Hobson, 28, previously with the New York Jets.
• New Orleans signed cornerback Aaron Glenn, 35, who played for Jacksonville last season.
• Safety Clinton Hart, 30, got a five-year deal that will keep him in San Diego through 2012.
• Running back Quincy Wilson, 26, was waived by the Cincinnati Bengals.
He was arrested June 17 in Huntington, W.Va., and charged with disorderly conduct for failing to disperse after a wedding party. Wilson was among 10 Bengals arrested in a 14-month span.
The Bengals on Thursday released receiver Chris Henry, 24, who was arrested five times while he was with the team.
• Suspended Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick, 27, is playing football in federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., Falcons owner Arthur Blank told the New York Daily News. Vick is serving a 23-month term after pleading guilty to a dogfighting conspiracy and is to be released in July 2009.
