CAMDEN — JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Sen’Derrick Marks slipped by Andy Levitre, grabbed Charlie Whitehurst around the legs and dragged him to the ground.
It was the most rewarding sack of Marks’ six-year career — literally.
Forget that it came against his former team. Forget that it came on the final play of the game. Forget that it helped Jacksonville beat the Tennessee Titans 21-13 on Thursday night.
It was the ultimate money move. Marks earned a $600,000 bonus for the takedown, which triggered a provision in his contract that rewards him for recording at least eight sacks this season. He now has 8 1/2.
It also was arguably the most compelling aspect of a relatively meaningless game between two of the AFC’s worst teams.
“Whoever wants to come out, we’re just going to go out and enjoy the night,” Marks said, inviting anyone and everyone to join what’s sure to be a late-night party in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars (3-12) won for the second time in four weeks and avoided getting swept by AFC South rival Tennessee (2-13) for the second time in 11 years. The Titans lost their ninth consecutive game.
Although Jacksonville probably erased any chance of landing the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, players and coaches didn’t care. They held a raucous locker room celebration that included coach Gus Bradley praising rookie quarterback Blake Bortles (a touchdown pass and 50 yards rushing on a sprained right foot), backup running back Jordan Todman (a 62-yard TD run in the fourth quarter), rookie linebacker Telvin Smith (15 tackles) and, of course, Marks.
“Sen’Derrick Marks just became a little richer,” Bradley said.