Jacksonsville Jaguars: Once regarded as a promising prospect with the Jaguars, safety James Boyd is now unemployed after being surprisingly released by the team Tuesday after two seasons.

Boyd, 25, was a third-round choice in the 2001 draft, and some observers thought that it was just a matter of time before he gained starter's status. That time, however, never came and, having failed to impress the team's new coaching staff, Boyd is looking for work.

The personnel staffs of three teams reached by ESPN.com on Tuesday were already looking at videotape of the former Penn State star. He could be claimed off waivers within the next 10 days. Boyd is a solid hitter and, while he doesn't run that well, he has some coverage skills.

In two seasons, Boyd played in just 26 games, with no starts. He had only eight tackles from scrimmage but did post 14 special teams tackles. He also had a fumble recovery.

Jacksonville also released cornerback Steve Smith, a former seventh-round choice who played in four games in 2002, and wide receiver Francis St. Paul, a onetime sixth-round pick of the Rams who was signed as a free agent in January.

San Francisco 49ers: Second-year defensive end Dwayne Missouri, who failed to report for a 49ers minicamp over the weekend, has informed the team he is retiring.

The club had signed him as a free agent earlier in the offseason.

Missouri, 24, was a seventh-round choice of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2001 draft. He split time between the Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in '01 and appeared in two games. He was not in the league in 2002 but played in the NFL Europe League.