Jaguars re-sign Reggie Hayward

The Jacksonville Jaguars have re-signed veteran defensive end Reggie Hayward, the team announced.

Hayward visited with the St. Louis Rams before ultimately agreeing to terms with his old team.

“I went big business,” Hayward told the Jaguars' official Web site. “It was all right. I met with the St. Louis Rams. I flew around, met with a few organizations. There were definitely some looks out there. I favor Jacksonville.

"Do you really want to pick up and move? Do you really want to try to join another team and spark a new fire with another team or stay where you’re established? I’ve got some things I haven’t gotten done here, especially coming off that injury."

Hayward was sidelined last season with a broken ankle.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder has started 59  career games since entering the league as a third-round draft pick with the Denver Broncos in 2001.

He joined the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in 2005 and has played in 45 games with 40 starts for the club. He has registered 39 1/2 career sacks including 17 1/2  with the Jaguars, and added eight forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

He played in all 16 games in 2008 and led the Jaguars with 4 1/2 sacks and ranked second with 22 quarterback pressures. From 2004 to 2005, Hayward ranked among the NFL’s best with 19.5 sacks including a career-high 10 1/2 with the Broncos in 2004.

With Hayward’s signing the Jaguars have 66 players on the current roster.

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