New York Jets cut quarterback Tajh Boyd
By Phil Watson
The New York Jets made a second high-profile cut on Saturday, releasing rookie quarterback Tajh Boyd on Saturday after waiving wide receiver Stephen Hill.
Boyd only played in two of the Jets’ four preseason games, going 8-for-17 for 98 yards and a touchdown while also running for 15 yards on four carries.
Boyd was taken in the sixth round by the Jets in May’s draft after a standout career at Clemson.
The Jets confirmed Boyd’s release on Twitter:
"We’re confirming the release of QB Tajh Boyd. — New York Jets (@nyjets) August 30, 2012"
Boyd led the Tigers to an 11-2 record and the school’s first (and only) BCS victory last season, a 40-35 win over Ohio State in the Orange Bowl.
Boyd passes for 3,851 yards last season, completing 68.5 percent of his passes for 34 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He also rushed 154 times for 400 yards and 10 scores.
His 44 total touchdowns were tops in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season.
In four years at Clemson, three as a starter, Boyd threw for 11,904 yards and 107 touchdowns with 39 interceptions and ran for 1,165 yards and 26 scores.
Boyd is Clemson’s career leader in yardage and is second in ACC history behind only Philip Rivers, who threw for 13,484 yards at North Carolina State from 2000-03. Boyd does hold the ACC record for touchdown passes with 107, 12 more than Rivers.
He was the ACC Player of the Year as a junior in 2012.
The Jets had four quarterbacks in camp–incumbent starter Geno Smith, veteran backup Michael Vick and Matt Simms, a third-year pro from Tennessee.