Jaguars fire pro personnel director

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars fired pro personnel director Charles Bailey on Saturday and promoted college scouting director Gene Smith.

Smith's new title is executive director of college and pro personnel.

"This reflects another step in Gene's development and the regard with which he is held by the Jaguars and the rest of the NFL," Jaguars vice president of player personnel James Harris said.

Smith recently interviewed for Atlanta's general manager position, but didn't get the job. Smith has been with the Jaguars since their inception. He was a scout for six years before being promoted to college scouting director in 2000.

The changes come as the club prepares for a potentially active free-agent period in March. The Jaguars will have more than $30 million in salary cap room, and hope to make some key additions to a team that finished 11-5 and lost to New England in the AFC playoffs.

Bailey had been with Jacksonville since 2003. Before that, he worked in Pittsburgh and New Orleans.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press