I have listened to the various arguements on the site about whether or not we should be looking at drafting a QB in the draft next year. Some say yes, some say no. If we don't go rookie, and don't go with an experienced FA, then maybe we can go TEBOW. Yes, I laughed at the thought as well. Many of us have witnessed Tebow absolutely suck at qb for 2, 3, sometimes 3.5 quarters. But in the 4th quarter there is this unquestionable spark he gives coaches, fans and even his own teammates. I'm not saying pick Tebow up with the silly idea of making him an immediate starter....I'm saying who better to plug in to relieve a struggling Gabbert late in the 2nd half (like our former coach JDR recently did) and provide that "spark" better than Tebow? Laughable, I know. But I would rather have his win-loss record right now than the one we currently have under BG. And the world knows Elway wants to unload the kid, anyway....Laugh, but our Jags are the same team who got mocked and made a laughing stock in previous seasons for dragging a guy off his farm/riding lawnmower and plugging him in as a "starting" qb....Remember him? Solid job by the guy for a few quarters, but any chance the national media got to mock us on it, believe they took it. Anyway, we could do worse than having Tebow as our backup qb...think of the names of some of our recent backups....ugggh...makes me shudder. Just a thought, guys.

I've been tough on our team over our performance this preseason (forget wins and losses - looking at execution and production)...

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How the track record of our team seems to be lacking in the area of PLAYER DEVELOPMENT?

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Disgusted by any Jaguar fan who is leaving the 2011 Preseason feeling content and confident in our team...Please explain to me how (if you do) in a respectful, non-vindictive, non-sacastic way...I know that will be hard for some of you..especially the sarcastic part.

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Had a chance this past weekend to watch the Jaguar exhibiton game this weekend...then I had a chance to watch the Denver Bronco game as well, including the whole Tebow saga. It amazes me how NFL-caliber QBs have a certain "look" to them, and how different our guy looks (Gabbert) compared to thier guy (Tebow). I know its early, and making predictions after one exhibition game is crazy, but I am SO RELIEVED that we did not draft Tebow now. And this is coming from a huge Gator fan, and Gainesville native. Tebow is maybe the greatest college QB UF has ever seen in terms of accomplishments, and we respect him for that. He doesn't have the mechanics, skill set and decision making abilities of even a career backup, and his future looks pretty bleak in my opinion in terms of NFL. Even though scorewise, we were outmatched against NE, I took a huge sigh of relief in knowing we made the right decision in passing up on Tebow (I wanted us to draft him). Watching Gabbert calmly make his reads (when given time) and deliver the ball like a young nfl qb should look, really makes me excited about our future IN JACKSONVILLE. To be honest, I wouldn't even want Tebow as Gabbert's backup in the years to come, due to the tremendous distractions his presence would create (like you can see in Denver). Losing to a 3 time SB champ diddn't hurt at all the other night, and getting a glimpse of our future starting QB was well worth the view. Getting Gabbert on the field was a win-win, even though the scorebord said otherwise....anyone else out there as relieved as I am? Ahh....feels good.

IMO, mock drafts are the biggest waste of time ever...

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As for me, i'm just happy the subject of debate in the Jaguar world is if we are contenders / pretenders, what our draft moves will be, and what our future rosters will look like....instead of the doomsday talk of moving our team 3,432 miles away to the other end of the freaking country...

 

Last season, I saw more Jaguar games on cable TV and neighborhood bars than I have in 5-6 years...Jet fans or Cowboy fans would smirk at this and call it laughable..but I see it as a small victory for my team, with hopefully many more to come!

Call me crazy, Jag fans, but I say we draft or pickup in free agency WHOMEVER the heck the New England Patriots are looking at, lol.  Its no secret that the NFL is a copycat league, and if you look at the past, current and future successes of this NE franchise with Kraft writing the checks, and Coach finding em, copying these guys may not be a bad idea after all.  And finding small school gems, free agent gems, and just good old plain HUNGRY guys who perform above their abilities is nothing new to the New England crew.Draft our most important holes to fill in the first 4-5 rounds, then after that, turn to 'Patriot Games' mode and just peep whomever the Pats are eyeing, lol.  Don't take me too serious here, just a fleeting crazy thought, lol.

I Spotted Houston sitting behing the Knicks bench at a game in Dec in Orlando.  Why is Allan Houston sill traveling with the team?  I know i'm a dufus for not knowing this, but what is his official role with the organization now? I know it has to be a good reason other than wanting to catch the latest Knick game.  Not sure if he is still on the Knick payroll, or is he trying to become some kind of assistant coach.  Can someone fill me in please? 

On one hand, i was damn proud to see my RB MJD running the ball in the Pro Bowl last season.  And watching David toss a couple of passes against a soft rush and pass defense was lightly entertaining.  But hearing the comments from passers by about how it was a fluke that Jax landed a couple of players in a Pro Bowl nobody wanted to play in irritated me, but pissed me off because i knew they were right.

I felt kind of embarrased for the league when the stories hit the public about this player and that player 'opting out' of playing in a game that the league embraces so much.  I'm sure you have heard a few. Lots of guys really did not seem to be very eager to play in the game, point blank.  If you remember it differently, please enlighten me. 

And listening to half a dozen mic'd up players on the field talk about how "he's just here to get his CHECK"  was pretty darn entertaining, hearing what the guys on the field really care about.  I'm not mad, i'm glad to be able to hear how the guys on the field talk in the midst of a Pro Bowl. 

Then, while i was surely happy for Jones-Drew to be rewarded for his hard work, i can't honestly say i thought David had a Pro Bowl Caliber season last year.  Not entirely all his fault, mind you...let me see YOU throw an accurate pass with both Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis with a firm grip on your shoulder pads. Kinda tough, huh? 

And i KNOW what David can do when given enough time in the pocket...land in the top 10 in the NFL in terms of passing accuracy, that's all. So he has the talent.  But even he will admit that last season was not the best of him.

 

So guys, how did it make you feel seeing our guys in the Pro Bowl?  Last season was a letdown of a season for me as a Jaguar fan, but we showed flashes of strength and toughness i'm sure we will build on.

Ever run into an athlete, celebrity or semi-celebrity?  We all have our "claim to fame" stories to tell, and i thought i'd get the ball rolling with my own.  Silly post, but what the hey, we live in an Age of Celebrity anyway!

 

As you know, New York Knick Numero Uno Pat Ewing is here in Orlando coaching up Dwight Howard.  Every Magic game i attend, i make it a point to give Pat a shout before the game during the warmups.  Sucks how after 6 or 7 years Dwight stil hasan't developed a solid midrange or post jumpshot (which Pat was lethal with), but hey, it is what it is.

Before every game, Dwight and Pat are usually the only ones on the court, with Dwight goofing around and playing with fans, and Pat is usually trying to lasso Dwight down to toss him passes into the post and work on his game.  This particular game, before the NY vs ORL game this season, I yelled a hello at Pat, and he heard me and glanced.  He searched for a second in the crowd, found me, and lofted the ball to me in the stands.  After i caught it, he motioned for  me to shoot it (i looked like what?! how?!) and then he motioned for me to pass it to Dwight.  So i 1-armed it to Dwight who did his litte silly fake turnaround jumper routine and banked it off the glass...it was too funny, yo. 

So, my claim to fame is i received a pass from Patrick Ewing!  The NBA ball feels freaking great, man. Most happy about my pass from Pat, but my assist to Dwight was kind of an add-on, haha.  Dwight is cool, but Pat's game still commands my respect, yo.

It's so funny to me how bad Kobe Bryant wants to be Michael Jordan.  When he opted out of his contract with Addidas (about as hideous as the Master P sneakers) he wore only Jordan's shoe if you remember before Nike picked him up.  Also, there was the number change (ala MJ) in the middle of his career. 

 

Now, in Kobe's first 7 or 8 years of his career, i precisely remember him being listed and announced before EVERY game as being 6' 8" tall, and from Lower Merion high school...remember that, right? 

 

Now, on every basketball card and every pre-game announcement, Kobe is having himself being introduced as a SIX-FOOT SIX inch shooting guard from Lower Merion high school (exact same height as MJ).

 

WHAT, DID THIS GUY SHRINK 2 INCHES AFTER HE BROUGHT HIS WIFE A $4 MILLION DOLLAR RING?!

Just a fleeting thought....

 

I truly believe that Gene Smith is taking the right route to build our team into a winner. And as Joe Fisher mentioned in a earlier post here, if Bill Polian signs off on Alualu, then i’m sold on the guy.

Alas, the major issue that many of you don’t argue is TIME. Our Jags will surely become a winner and a division contender in time, but will the team be in California by then? Only Mr. Weaver knows the answer.

The fact that a major portion of our current, former & probaly future roster all have a direct connection to California gives me an uneasy feeling, i tell you. Maybe i’m just a paranoid Jaguar fan who dosen’t want his valued team handed way like an ipod in a pawn shop.

Jack Del Rio, Mike Williams, M. Jones-Drew, Tyson Alualu, newly acquired LB Kirk Morrison, TE Marcedes Lewis, WR Joey Porter, LB Allen Russell, Freddy Keiaho, Torry Holt, and many others in the organization all have or had MAJOR direct ties to California. Now, how opposed do YOU think these California dudes will be to ‘going back home’ and playing in front of the people they love and have families with?

I know many of you will cast me as a ‘paranoid fan’ but we all know that the Jag Front Office looks at location when acquiring players. Just see the post on the immense numbers of Gator players alone the Jaguars have given a chance to wear Black n’ Teal. Nothing wrong with hoping that fans of a college football player will follow him to the Jags and become Jag fans. I see the reasoning there. But that formula has not equated to filling the stadium, so i’m glad Gene Smith is working his a$$ off to keep MY damn team in Jax. God love him.

I’m still not sold (even after 8 seasons) on Jack Del Rio. My loyalty is to the Jaguars, will always be that way, and JDR is our coach. That’s as deep as my emotional ties to our head coach goes. My heart still grimaces at the fact that Tom Coughlin made the history books as a Super Bowl winning coach in New York. As a former football player myself, i can tell Coughlin is an absolute pain in the a$$ as a coach. But i will put up with him and give my right arm to be immoralized as a NFL champion.

Hopefully our current players feel the same way.

Just think about it…even when you die, at your funeral the Pasor will announce you as “Super Bowl-winning John So-and-So”. Once you earn it, it’s your title FOR LIFE.

I see Mr. Weaver’s public comments about never moving this team, and Heaven knows, i want to believe him. But Mr. Weaver diddn’t become Mr. Weaver by sticking with bad financial deals…he would be bankrupt by now if he had.

You know it and i know it.

I watch these little sports short segments on the Jaguars, and the very mention of my favorite team in the world gets me excited and i turn the volume on the tv louder…

Then i find out its one of those dammed “pity” stories where they describe the financial problems with my team, they zoom in on the empty seats, and talk about our franchise like its a sad, floppy-earred puppy in need of adoption (or neutering, or to be put to sleep – what have you). Very rarely do i use bad language on a website, but seeing that fucking pisses me off. Why MY team? Why MY team? I ask over and over again.

Just the mention of my team moving 3000+ miles away makes me sick. I can’t imagine what the fans in other cities that lost NFL franchises felt, and God help it, i don’t wanna know.

Ever run into an athlete, celebrity or semi-celebrity?  We all have our "claim to fame" stories to tell, and i thought i'd get the ball rolling with my own in relation to our Jacksonville Jaguars.  Silly post, but what the hey, we live in an Age of Celebrity anyway!

Ran into a Jaguar whom enjoyed a very HEALTHY and productive season this past year, Mike Sims-Walker.  Diddn't know it, but running back Chris Johnson of the Titans and Mike are very good friends and hang out all the time.  If you ever been out clubbing in Orlando, then you've probaly heard of a spot called Tabu.  Very cool club some nights.  This particular night, Chris and Mike and their respective entourages pretty much took over the stage and joined the packed crowd in the party.  The DJ took time out to introduce the two Orlando natives and inform those who diddn't already know of just who these guys were.  CJ got the biggest response out the crowd, but like any true Jaguar fan, i went out my way to make sure i gave my favorite WR right now Mike Sims-Walker some 'dap' and a show of respect.  Not a huge guy, not the least bit arrogant,  but very cool.  Seemed very humbled i knew about his brief history in the NFL, and how i congratulated him on having a breakout season after his previous injury struggles.

 

Oh yeah, the NFL's record breaking rusher Chris Johnson was cool too, but partying with a Jaguar is what i was more amped about.  Go Jags!

Ever run into an athlete, celebrity or semi-celebrity?  We all have our "claim to fame" stories to tell, and i thought i'd get the ball rolling with a couple of my own in relation to our Orlando Magic.  Silly post, but what the hey, we live in an Age of Celebrity anyway!

An ex-girlfriend of mine told me a funny story about her run-in with Nick Anderson at a local club here in Orlando.  Her story is pretty fuzzy (she was drunk, surprise!) but from her description, it was a few weeks after Nick missed the HUGE free throws in the playoff series that pretty much left him in tears for the rest of his career.

So, my ex was entering a club downtown, and glanced up to notice Nick and another guy kind of 'posting up' near the entrance.  No security present, so my ex decided to trot up to Mr. Anderson and giddily say something to the effect of, "Oh, Mr Anderson, Mr Anderson, imma huge fan and can you please sign my Orlando Magic checkbook cover? Silly req, but Nick took her sharpee and began a chat, asking for her name.  In total bliss from having a conversation with someone famous, she abruptly blurted out something to the effect of, 'oh yea, you were so cute when i saw you crying on tv the other day...'  Not the kinda statement that keeps a smile going, and in seconds Nick's smile faded and my ex's pen was dropped and checkbook cover left unsigned...in front of about 700 drunken clubhoppers...yo, i couldn't smile on the outside in front of her, but on the inside i was buckled on the floor in laughter.  The look her face was absoulutely priceless, lol.

I've ran into Magic players alot coming and going to the RDV Sports complex, but as far as in the streets, i've seen Steve Francis riding in a sweet silver Ferrari Spyper with a black soft top on it.  I was on my way to Daytona Beach for the annual spring break crazyness.  Kinda cool to know Stevie Franchise was on the strip in Daytona hanging out too.

At work, i have to answer to my co-workers for every action of my Knicks, Orlando Magic, Florida Gators and Jacksonville Jaguars (hence my screen name) on a weekly basis.  Every negative newspaper article (good news is rarely brought up around the watercooler, you know)  Win, lose or draw.  My watercooler reputaion is pretty important to me (lol), so having to defend my Orlando Magic and the Gators is pretty easy sometimes...My Knickerbockers & Jaguars are another story though, haha.  But i stand by my teams, and loyalty is paramount. So, when you are in the breakroom or around the watercooler at work, which teams/players do YOU have to defend against 'smack' talk?

At work, i have to answer to my co-workers for every action of the Orlando Magic, Florida Gators and Jacksonville Jaguars (hence my screen name) on a weekly basis.  Every negative newspaper article (good news is rarely brought up around the watercooler, you know)  Win, lose or draw.  My watercooler reputaion is pretty important to me (lol), so having to defend my Orlando Magic and the Gators is pretty easy sometimes...My Jaguars are another story though, haha.  But i stand by my teams, and loyalty is paramount. So, when you are in the breakroom or around the watercooler at work, which teams/players do YOU have to defend against 'smack' talk?

At work, i have to answer to my co-workers for every action of the Orlando Magic, Florida Gators and Jacksonville Jaguars (hence my screen name) on a weekly basis.  Every negative newspaper article (good news is rarely brought up around the watercooler, you know)  Win, lose or draw.  My watercooler reputaion is pretty important to me (lol), so having to defend my Orlando Magic and the Gators is pretty easy sometimes...My Jaguars are another story though, haha.  But i stand by my teams, and loyalty is paramount. So, when you are in the breakroom or around the watercooler at work, which teams/players do YOU have to defend against 'smack' talk?

Am i the only Orlando Magic fan that is amazed at THE NERVE of Boston Celtic fans are trying to wrap their arms around us and pat us on the back...all the while asking us to join them in cheering on the Celtics in hopes of toppling the Lakers?!?  Are you frigging serious?!  I would rather be on the receiveing end of a trademarked Dwight Howard 'Bow to the head. 

First of all, you guys are winning hardware (street slang for championship rings)  with a coach who we felt was unworthy of coaching on the NBA level (Coach Doc Rivers).  Yes, he used to coach the Magic!!  Much respect for Coach Rivers, and i was even a fan of his when he played with the Atlanta Hawks with  'Nique, Spud Webb and Co...Coach Rivers turned the Celtics from the laughing stock in the league (5-6 years ago, they had less than 20 wins a season, i believe..Google it!)  into a force in the Eastern Conference.  Yes, having good players helps, but throwing together good players alone does not equal success in basketball. For an example of this, see the United States Olympic team from years back who lost games to Puerto Rico, Spain, ect...

And if any of you so-called Magic fans agree to now cheer on Boston, then please remove yourself from this post, because you and i know that you're no fan of ours.  As far as i'm concerned, the NBA season ended after that Game 6 loss in Boston...point blank.  Basketball is done for me until the Magic begin preseason conditioning.  See you then.

 

Very old news here, but i have to be honest.  Have to be real and admit how much it hurt to hear the man who served as the face of the franchise for me (Fred Taylor) have pretty unflattering things to say about his former team.  I know they are professionals, and their loyalties lie with the name on the BACK of the jersey (theirs) and not the FRONT of the jerseys (like in College)...but wow, that hurt, Fred.  If i were any less passionate of a Jaguar fan, im sure i would have been over that as soon as he said it, but i can' t say i know all the facts behind his statements, so i eventually hope to move on.  Love seeing Tony Boselli everywhere he goes and bringing up the morale of Jaguar fans around the country, so that helps...but we even let Tony go..first guy on earth to be listed as an official Jacksonville Jaguar NFL football player..and we shipped him off to the Texans, nonetheless.  So Big Up to Tony Bos for helping a team sell tickets even after they turned their backs on him. Much respect, Tony.

Ok, am i the ONLY Magic fan that think Dwight Howard SMILES way too much on the court?!

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