Jack Del Rio, fired by the Jaguars after eight-plus seasons, says he never lost control of the team. "I never gave into that," Del Rio said when asked if his firing was inevitable. "There was certainly plenty of that kind of speculation," he added. "Any time an owner makes a statement like, 'You better be in the playoffs or else,' and then you end up starting the year the way we started, the reality is it was tough. "But we never gave in to that, the players never gave in to that. I think when you look at the way the team is fighting, competing, you really should be proud of that. No one likes to lose." Even as the Jaguars continued to lose, Del Rio said it "was not even close" that he lost the locker room. He said he addressed the team after finding out about his firing Tuesday morning. "I told them they need to continue to do the right things," he said. "That even when it didn't feel good, even it when it doesn't go the way you like, fight for what's right, there's something worthwhile there. "Having the courage to stay strong when things are tough, it speaks to your character. I encouraged them to continue, because they've been doing that for me."

Brian Billick, who is rumored to be a candidate to coach the Jaguars, doesn't sound like he's interested in the job. "They're looking for young and cheap, and I'm neither," Billick told NFL Network on Tuesday.

Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver has agreed to sell the Jaguars to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan. The team will remain in Jacksonville. "It's the right thing at the right time and for the right reasons," Weaver said. Forbes reported the sale to be worth $760 million. Weaver, 77, had been looking for an "exit strategy" for years, wanting to find someone to buy the team and keep it in Jacksonville. He had tears in his eyes several times as he announced his impending departure.

After firing head coach Jack Del Rio, the Jaguars have named defensive coordinator Mel Tucker their interim head coach, according to a source. Del Rio replaced Tom Coughlin as Jacksonville's head coach back in 2003.

The Jaguars have fired head coach Jack Del Rio. Jacksonville, losers of two straight, is 3-8 this season. Del Rio had been the team's head coach since 2003.

The Jaguars have placed linebacker Clint Session on injured reserve following his second concussion this season. Session sustained a concussion in the preseason and in Sunday's loss at Cleveland. He also dealt with hand and elbow injuries during the season.

Rashean Mathis will be a free agent after the season and hopes to re-sign with the Jaguars. "I definitely would rather play here than anywhere else," Mathis told The Florida Times-Union. "... If it's meant to be, it will be. The things that I can control, I will control, and that's my rehab, that's getting back stronger, getting back healthy." Mathis already has started his rehab from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is scheduled for surgery on Nov. 28. "Whatever it's going to be, I'm going to beat the curve," Mathis said. "Whatever month they say I should be running, I'll be ahead of it."

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has said that rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert has done difficult things well this season, but he has to master some of the basics. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Gabbert has gone just 60-for-120 on throws that have traveled less than 10 yards in the air. On those throws, he has one touchdown and an interception. His passer rating (60.9) in such circumstances are the worst numbers in the league among 34 quarterbacks that have logged substantial playing time. Gabbert is 10-for-10 on screens for 92 yards with a 105.0 passer rating.

Jaguars wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker has gone on injured reserve due to a knee problem. Sims-Walker said on Twitter that he will have knee surgery on Tuesday. It will not be the first time he has gone under the knife. "Knee surgery on tuesday, seems like everything that could've went wrong dis year went wrong, but gotta play the cards I was dealt......," he wrote.

Jaguars GM Gene Smith revealed to The Florida Times-Union on Wednesday that he turned down a contract extension from the team this offseason. Smith's contract expires after this season. Coach Jack Del Rio is the only coach or member of the front office with a contract that runs beyond this season. His deal runs through 2012 and pays him $5M this season and next. "A contract was extended to me and I declined it," Smith told the newspaper. "I did not think I deserved an extension based on the conditions. Our scouts and other employees weren't being extended. I didn't think I deserved it. However, I do appreciate that (owner) Wayne (Weaver) offered me one."