Dec. 19--Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks sacked Titans quarterback Charlie Whitehurst to end Thursday night's victory for Jacksonville over Tennessee, 21-13. It also earned Marks a hearty $600,000 bonus.
In dramatic fashion, as a desperate Whitehurst looked for an open receiver with what would be the Titans' final play, he was grabbed by Jaguars defensive end Chris Clemons, but the 6-foot-3, 254-pounder couldn't hold on.
Marks, breaking through the middle of the Titans' offensive line, jumped Whitehurst, bringing him down as the final seconds of the game ticked off the clock. The tackle gave him 8.5 sacks and triggered a $600,000 contract escalator for recording eight sacks in a season.
"Last night it was special," Marks told ESPN on Friday. "The thing that was more humbling for me was how much everybody was excited for my accomplishment more than I was. The team was more excited. The fans were super excited."
In Week 14, the sixth-year pro was initially credited with half a sack on Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, bringing him to 8.0 for the season, though Marks said he knew it would later change.
He was right. A scoring change later gave him a tackle for loss instead of the sack.
Marks said he was asked all week about reaching the bonus.
"I honestly feel that if I go out and continue to do what I am supposed to do, it's gotten me to seven and a half, I shouldn't try to do anything extra to get the extra half a sack," Marks said.
He was right again.
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