NFL teams
Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Jags DT's dramatic sack nets bonus

NFL, Jacksonville Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks chased down quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, dropped him for a 9-yard loss, popped up and did the money sign with both hands as the final seconds in the Jacksonville Jaguars' 21-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans elapsed.

He wasn't mocking Johnny Manziel, though.

Marks' sack of Whitehurst on the game's final play gave him 8.5 for the season and activated a $600,000 bonus in his contract, so Marks was actually in the money.

"I had to do the Manziel," Marks said. "I pointed to the press box to [Jaguars GM] Dave [Caldwell] and threw out the Manziel, so I thought that was pretty fun."

It's a check Caldwell has joked he'll be glad to write. Getting more than eight sacks out of an interior defensive lineman isn't something that happens often, and Caldwell will gladly reward Marks because he's playing at a Pro Bowl level in 2014.

Lest you think Marks was being selfish with that gesture, consider this: He was taking any teammate who wanted to go out on the town following the Jaguars' third victory of the season. Defensive linemen, quarterbacks, receivers. Anyone and everyone was welcome, he said.

"We're just going to go out and enjoy the night," he said.

Marks' defensive line teammates enjoyed his celebration and mobbed him on the field. Then they piled on top of him. Marks, however, didn't enjoy that part.

"No, that wasn't fun," he said. "I was under the crowd. I didn't know they were going to do that 'til it happened.

"It was pretty awesome. Just the excitement of all the guys. Everybody's excited about somebody else accomplishing something for them. It just shows the character of our team and the guys that we have. Nobody gets that check but me, but everybody's excited for me."

Marks is having a career season with a team-high 8.5 sacks -- second among defensive tackles in the league (Buffalo's Marcell Dareus has 10) -- to go along with 42 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and one pass breakup. More than half of his 16.5 career sacks have come this season.

Marks reached 8.0 sacks two weeks ago when he was credited with a half-sack on Houston quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. However, it was taken away in a scoring change. There was no doubt about this one, though.

"The way it came couldn't have been better," said defensive end Ryan Davis, one of four players to sack Whitehurst. "Thursday night, 2-minute drive, they're driving and we need the stop for the win. That was perfect timing."

That's right. Marks was money.

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