It seems like after the initial detox of not having free agency and off season talk wore off, and the anger that went along with it, I found myself feeling indifferent about football.  I self admittedly lost that lovin feelin for a good long while.  I have been enjoying the family a lot more, more involved with work and living a different life.  I feel like a different man, but I long for the feeling of the excitement of the tailgate, of being in the stadium and of the possibilities of a new season.  Last off season I was chomping at the bit all summer, but it seems this labor struggle has been like a political campaign and I've been waiting for it to just be over.  I hope I regain my joy in full, and I'm almost sure I will, but it will probably take awhile for me.  I feel like I need to kick myself in the ass and get it goin.  Since I've been gone a lot from the site, resolution is around the bend and we will have free agency and training camp coming up quick, I feel the need to reconnect with Jag Nation.  So what have you guys been up to?

In the aftermath of Wayne Weaver's press conference announcing he will keep his coaching staff in tact, the out pouring of "fan" anger is once again upon us.  From Tebowmania to Fire-Jack-a-palooza, the outpouring of anger has been prevalent this season.  In reflection of the Jags 2010 season, after the incredible end of game dramas, emotional swings and fan anger is what I remember the most.  The highs and the lows.  Let's explore this after the jump and why I think the misguided sense of fan entitlement is the root cause of a lot of this anger.

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"Sims-Walker (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the Titans, Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union reports."  That sucks... I really wanted Mike out there and to have a great rebound game after last week's roller coaster.  Early reports are that it's the ankle still giving him trouble and that it shouldn't be a long term injury.  Get better soon Mike and see if the docs can soften up those hands a little while they're workin on the ankle.

If anyone saw the Mayor Payton press conference on jaguars.com, can someone tell me who the D BAG was asking the questions initially?  I thought the Mayor was honest, realistic and answered the questions very well about developing the Jaguars as a long term Jacksonville business.  There was a guy looking for angles, calling him out for the city council not taking 25% of the naming rights deal and then saying that "yes, but some of the biggest events here aren't Jaguars games" really got to me.  Would there be a naming rights deal without the Jaguars?  Nope.  Would there even be a new, state of the art stadium to even put a name on without the Jaguars being here?  Nope.  Further illustrating that there are still WAY too many people that just don't get it. 

Now we get to find out how long it will really take to get #93 into camp.  WIth McClain signing at #8, it definitely helps set the ceiling and could mean we are now very close to having him signed.  HOWEVER... this is the Raiders we're talking about.  It will be very interesting to see just how much ridiculous kaysh they threw around this time.  Did the Raiders do yet another ridiculous Raiders move and throw all signings out of whack, skewing the slotting system and thus sending agents into high gear?  We all know Gene and the Jags negotiating team isn't going to break on negotiations, but what precedent did the Raiders set and how long will it now take to get agent and team on the same page and Tyson into practice?  Time will tell, but I hope this signing does more good than harm to negotiations.

I have been chomping at the bit for awhile, but it's official folks... 4 weeks until the first pre season game!  WHAT?!?!  The gnashing of teeth and the agony that is the dead zone is finally coming to an end.  August 13, 2010 we are at Philly and then the following week, just five weeks away, we have our first pre season home game against the Dolphins at the Jack.  I know most everybody on here is aware of the dates and all... but FOUR FREAKING WEEKS PEOPLE!  Let's get it fired up, talk up the season tickets to everyone who doesn't have them and let's get the stadium filled up and ready to go for what is looking like a great year.  Let the official countdown begin...

An interesting report posted on PFT here states that the reason that TE extraordinaire Aaron Hernandez fell so far in the draft was due to numerous failed drug tests while at UF and that he copped to them at the combine.  Obviously not a Gator guy, but I'm not going to get into Urban Meyer and his guys.  God forbid anybody say anything about one of his guys... I might get yelled at.  OOOOOOOOOOOO scary.  I just found it really interesting that for all the calls for the Jags to go for the big name school guys, the BCS guys, the local name recognition guys, no one wants Gene to go for football players.  The negative talk in the media has all been about name recognition and from our "fan base" (insert sarcasm here) that Gene is running the team into the ground, that JDR doesn't like Florida guys, we need another QB, etc, etc, etc.  And yet... he pulls out team captain after team captain (leadership) who is involved in the community and produces on the field.  To GM Gene:  I don't care if you find guys in the grocery store, on a hike in the Himalayas or you got a call about a guy from your boy back in the day who didn't have your email address anymore, so he hit you up on facebook.  You find us the right guys to build a perennial contender and you do what you gotta do. 

Would the fan reaction be better if we had taken Hernandez late in the draft?  "He's not a bad kid. He just has an issue," one executive said.  That's not an issue Mr. Executive, that's an obligation to the UF experience.  It's the Gainesville cash crop for a reason. 

Seems trendy to offer up the "Hey that guy is available, do we want him?" scenario, so here's mine.  Does Deon Grant have anything left?  And if he does, do the Jags look at bringing him back at the right price?  I honestly haven't seen much of him the last couple years with Seattle, but I think he is worth taking a look at .  I wouldn't be looking to shell out 4 million a year like he was getting, but I gotta believe that he has SOME sort of value.  Especially at the safety position which seems to be open for competition.  I get that he is longer in the tooth than most in the youth movement, but competition is competition if he can still bring it.  Everything seems dependent on the draft at this point, but if we don't get a safety high in the draft, is Grant an option to bring back in your mind?