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Laurent Robinson Signs With Jaguars; Henne Does Too
The Jaguars came to terms with their first unrestricted free agent from another team in this free agency period. Receiver Laurent Robinson agreed to a five-year deal worth $32.5 million with about $2.5 million more in incentives. His guarantees are in the $14 million range.

According to Florida Times-Union staffer Vito Stellino, the deal is similar to the five-year, $34 million deal that tight end Marcedes Lewis signed last season. That had $17 million in guarantees.

After four years of unimpressive statistics compiled during stints with the Falcons and Rams, Robinson blew up in Dallas last season when injuries paved the way for a spot in the starting rotation. In 14 games, the former Illinois State standout hauled in 54 passes for 858 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Jaguars struggled mightily to throw the football last season, so the addition of Robinson should help to take some of the load off of running back Maurice Jones-Drew’s shoulders.

As National Football Post staffer Joe Fortenbaugh notes, in Jacksonville, Robinson will have the opportunity to become the No. 1 target for second-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Assuming Gabbert is up to the task of getting him the ball. And assuming Robinson can stay health -- and assuming Robinson is also up to the task.

As Scout Inc. insider Matt Williamson recently noted, durability has been a gigantic problem for Robinson, but he's difficult to cover and looks like a fine No. 2 wideout who can exploit single coverage. His career totals prior to his arrival in Dallas bear out Williamson's assessment.

Indeed, Robinson's best season prior to last year was his rookie campaign with Atlanta in 2007, when he pulled in 37 passes for 437 yards (with one touchdown). He also appeared in a career-high 15 games that season. His most prolific scoring season before last year came with the Rams in 2010 -- a two-TD effort (in 14 games).

He was only on the field for a combined nine games over the course of the 2008 and 2009 seasons as a Falcon. He totaled 18 catches and scored once over that span.

So the history of productive play is short. And it came primarily as the second (and in some cases third) wideout with the Cowboys.

He won't have a lot of help from the receiving corps in Jacksonville.

Mike Thomas led the team in receiving with just 44 catches last season and was the only wideout with over 30 receptions. Thomas served as the team's No. 1 receiver for much of the season, but is more fit as a third choice.

Last year's rookie, fourth-round pick Cecil Shorts, looked promising in camp and practices, but it never transferred to game-action. He finished with just two catches for 30 yards.

Lewis, a Pro Bowl player in 2010, was a disappointment in 2011 after getting a big contract. He didn't have a touchdown catch after having 10 in 2010.

And Gabbert?

He was drafted with the 10th pick last year to be the team's franchise quarterback of the future but was rushed into the lineup too soon after Luke McCown was benched for throwing four picks in the second game against the Jets.

The jury is still out on whether Gabbert is going to make it.

Which brings us to today' second signing: According to Times-Union staffer Tania Ganguli, Chad Henne inked a two-year deal with the Jaguars.

A second-round pick in the 2008 draft out of Michigan, Henne separated his non-throwing shoulder Oct. 2 and missed the remainder of the season. The 6-3, 230-pound quarterback has thrown for 7,114 yards in his career with 31 touchdowns and 37 interceptions and a career passer rating of 75.7.

His rating through four games last season was a career-best 79.0.

If nothing else, Henne has starting experience. It could come in handy in Jacksonville.