Jeremy Mincey is still fresh off of one of the best seasons from a defensive end for a Jaguars player in several years and, according to a source, the team wants to make sure he stays in Jacksonville.

While the two sides have not yet sat down to negotiate and have not talked contract figures at all to this point, the Jaguars were also set back by a head coaching search and the filling of the coaching staff that followed shortly thereafter. Now they will turn their attention to their own free agents, beginning with Mincey, whom they will likely begin negotiations with in the coming days.

The possibility remains that the Jaguars could use the franchise tag on Mincey, although there is a stronger likelihood that Josh Scobee would receive the tag if the team is unable to agree to a long-term deal with the kicker.

There have been reports, namely one from Vito Stellino last month, that Mincey isn’t willing to take a hometown discount to stay in Jacksonville, but that may be a gross exaggeration of a postgame quote from Mincey following the Jaguars’ 19-13 victory against the Colts in week 17 in which he finished with 2.5 sacks.

The Jaguars have until Tuesday, March 13 to come to a deal with free agents before the 2012 NFL Free Agency period officially begins. The period in which teams can use the franchise tag runs from Feb. 20 until March 5.