As your friends retire and move onto another phase in their lives, you’re libel to feel a full gamut of emotions. For Peter Bragan, Jr., I’m nothing but happy. “Pedro” (or “Pee-dro” as his Dad used to say) sold the Suns franchise to baseball entrepreneur Ken Babby after 31 years running the team as a […]
“We said we were going to build this team,” Gus Bradley said last week, “And now it’s built.” And with that statement, Bradley raised expectations for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015. Building the franchise has been no easy task, winning just seven games in the first two years. While he wasn’t given a chance to […]
It won’t take long to see where the battles for roster spots are taking place when the Jaguars take on Washington Thursday night. With 75 players on the roster and cuts to just 53 due by Saturday at 4pm, coaches want to take one last, long look at several positions to determine who will be […]
In his fourth year as the Jaguars owner, Shad Khan can look around the stadium and see what has changed. Scoreboards, pools, chalets, suites and a host of other changes have been put into effect since the ownership change. Apparently other NFL owners have noticed as well. “When the other franchises visit, they can’t believe […]
It’s pretty easy to focus on the good things in preseason. For the Jaguars, the good has been obvious and the not-so-good has been a little hidden. Quarterback Blake Bortles has be a big part of the good, again against the Lions producing points with the first team offense. “I think it was a good […]
Of all the preseason games, the third one is the most critical for most teams. It’s the game where the starters play the most and given a chance, players who want to make the team throughout the rest of the roster have to show something in this game. “From the players I think the first […]
It didn’t take long for Gus Bradley to start lauding his team after practice today. He was barely in front of the microphone when he said, “I really like what’s going on with this team.” Look over there, Linder is working after practice, Parnell is working after practice. Cyp is working on open field tackling,” […]
In the second week of the Jaguars training camp, the team has engaged in some of the “traditional” football drills more than we’ve seen in the past. One-on-one offensive lineman vs. defensive lineman skirmishes, the tip drill for linebackers and defensive backs, and kickoff and punt returns that give the receiver a “look” at the […]
Plenty hot for the 5th Jaguars practice of training camp, the first one in full pads. Working out on the far field, fans in attendance didn’t have much of a view of what was going on with the offense and defense. The team did do some one-on-one offensive line vs. defensive line drills. A straight-ahead, […]
Bad weather forced the Jaguars to cancel tonight’s planned “road” practice at Mandarin High School. With the parking lots filling starting at 3pm and the gates about to open at 5, it continued to rain and some of the most dramatic lightning strikes forced everybody to seek shelter. Shortly thereafter, on-site Jaguars officials inspected the […]
For a team that’s 7-25 in the last two years under a new head coach and general manager, the Jaguars are full of optimism as they begin camp for the 2015 season. Is there reason for that? “We’ve put a lot of pressure on the player in the offseason,” Head Coach Gus Bradley said right […]
Sometimes it’s called “American Exceptionalism.” In other words, we think we’re good at everything. And generally, we are. With a population of 330 million, a diverse culture, landscape and heritage, there’s usually somebody in America who’s good at whatever you can think of. Which is why we get disappointed when we don’t win. The World […]
Last week’s unsubstantiated, wacky report out of one of the London newspapers about Shad Khan buying Tottenham and moving the Jaguars to London literally made me laugh. Partially because I know just enough about the London papers to know they’re willing to print just about anything, true or not, and partially because the sum total […]
There are perks to being a starting quarterback in the NFL. Despite calling himself a “bad” golfer, Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is playing in the annual American Century Championship Golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. ‘ “Played by best round ever yesterday during practice,” Bortles told me from lakeside via satellite on Thursday. “Shot 80, […]
In its heyday, the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament would attract 1000 boats, mainly from Jacksonville, North Florida and South Georgia, for two days of fishing off our coast. Over the years, the focus of the tournament got away from the “local” aspect and concentrated more on the competition. As the rules changed and fewer and […]
“There’s a fine line between the artistry of golf and the advancements in technology,” Sea Island Golf Performance Center Manger Craig Allan said this week. “We walk very carefully along that fence.” As the age of technology has made it’s way into golf, spin rates and launch angles are as much of the conversation regarding […]
Working on “neutral-site” college football games has been a long-standing tradition in Jacksonville and in 2016 the list of those games will grow by at least one. Notre Dame and Navy will play in Jacksonville the week after Florida/Georgia next year as a Navy home game, Joining the Florida/Georgia game s the only neutral site […]
“There’s a fine line between the artistry of golf and the advancements in technology,” Sea Island Golf Performance Center Manger Craig Allan said this week. “We walk very carefully along that fence.” As the age of technology has made it’s way into golf, spin rates and launch angles are as much of the conversation regarding […]
Over the next three weeks the Jaguars will have their On-field Team activities. Three for this week and next, and four the final week leading up to the summer mandatory mini-camp in mid-June. As of now, none are open to the public but the Jaguars have said they’re working up a schedule for the mini-camp […]
It took a finish of historic proportions to crown a winner at the 2015 Players Championship. To start, Rickie Fowler played the last four holes in 5 under par, lower than any player in the history of the tournament at the Stadium Course to finish at -12. There were still plenty of players on the […]
“Not really. As long as I’m one of them, the other can be whoever it is. I don’t mind.” That was World Number One Rory McElroy’s answer to a question about his budding rivalry with the number two-ranked player and Masters champion Jordan Speith. Does golf need that kind of rivalry? Arnold vs. Jack. Jack […]
From the 2nd through the 7th round you could call it the “scouts draft” as teams mine for players who have what Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell calls “tremendous upside.” Alternating between the 3rd and the 4th pick for the rest of the draft, the Jaguars need more hits than misses and with only 7 picks […]
Day One of the NFL Draft is all about the hype and the hoopla, the guessing and the second-guessing. Fans are engaged, bright lights capture every prospect and the now-traditional hug between a draftee and Commissioner Roger Goodell has taken on a life of it’s own. Now the real work starts. From the 2nd through […]
For the first time in their tenure running the Jaguars, General Manager Dave Caldwell and Head Coach Gus Bradley opened themselves up to some criticism and questions regarding the pick of Dante Fowler with the third selection in 2015. Caldwell said he knew whom the best player in the draft was and if he were […]
It didn’t take long for Dave Caldwell to establish himself as the General Manager of the Jaguars. With his now famous “Not even if he’s released” comment regarding Tim Tebow’s availability, he let everybody know he’s going to do things his own way. During that same press conference Caldwell was asked about his philosophy in […]
A couple of weeks ago FSU Head Coach Jimbo Fisher said he feels like he’s stocked “three NFL teams with guys off our squads” in the last few years. While he’s allowed a bit of hyperbole, he’s not far off. The Seminoles have consistently been a top feeder school for the NFL draft since Fisher […]
“And in Jacksonville the Tar Heels are going to advance to the Sweet 16.” Words most long-time residents and sports fans thought they’d never hear. But for the third time in 9 years the NCAA returned to the Arena for the second and third round of the basketball tournament known as “March Madness.” “They won’t […]
Despite their 81-77 loss in the first round of the NCAA’s to Robert Morris, the UNF Osprey’s are already looking toward next year. “I’m looking forward for us to do the next right thing,” Head Coach Matthew Driscoll said in his post-game press conference. Driscoll is in his 6th year as the UNF Head Coach […]
It’s a well told story but worth repeating. When American running legend Bill Rodgers won the first Gate River Run, he went out and ran the course a second time: to get in some more training. Rodgers helped put the “run” on the map as a “race.” In the time since, it’s gone from a […]
And now we wait. With a big push in free agency, the Jaguars have stocked their team with new talent, potentially adding six new starters for their 2015 roster. Although General Manager Dave Caldwell said he hasn’t spend as much money as he expected, the Jaguars have committed $175 million to free agents so far, […]
Many an afternoon I sat in the stands at Wolfson Park or in the upper deck at the Baseball Grounds with “Senior” and “Pedro” listening to common wisdom, getting life lessons, hearing fantastic stories (that were all true) and enjoying a cigar (when it was legal). I knew those moments were special and I savored […]
Last week Tiger Woods’ golf swing was almost unrecognizable. He working with a new “swing consultant” on some different positions and swing thoughts but whatever it is, it doesn’t look like the Tiger Woods I know. And to compound his problems, Woods’ back tightened up during a weather delay in San Diego and because his […]
As the new assistant coaches filed into the “Media Lobby” each one exuded the high energy, “Lets get this done” attitude that Gus Bradley is famous for. Bradley often talks about things being a “good fit” and reiterated that today when talking about hiring different offensive assistants in the last couple of weeks. “Can you […]
At Florida State, Jimbo Fisher has gotten to the point where he’s filling spots to keep the Seminoles at a championship level, not rebuilding. FSU is among the top five schools this year when it comes to the quality of athlete they’ve signed. “Very unique group as far as character. I think there’s a lot […]
About a month ago it seemed as if Florida was getting pity from every corner of the college football nation. The hiring of Jim McElwain had put Florida behind in the whole process. But slowly and surely, McElwain hired a staff that knew the state and could get places where Florida hadn’t been in a […]
Plenty of things have changed when it comes to National Signing Day. First of all, there wasn’t even a National Signing Day and nobody knew anything about recruiting except for a couple of reporters and every college coach in the country. Most fans didn’t know and didn’t much care either. Up until about 50 years […]
I believe Tom Brady. When he stood up there and said, “I had no knowledge of this at all,” I think he’s telling the truth. And when he said he goes over the footballs “Five hours before halftime and doesn’t want anybody touching them after that,” I think he’s also telling the truth. And his […]
I think he wanted to stay in school. After his father let everybody know that Jameis Winston would let his decision be known after the National Championship game next week, less than 24 hours later, word got out that Winston had made up his mind to turn professional. Winston’s statement, published by his agent, had […]
For a game on New Year’s Day, the Rose Bowl is at least tied for the top spot to play a college football game. This one between FSU and Oregon was somewhat historic since it was the first semi-final in the new system to determine a National Champion. Since FSU was here just last year […]
Cleaning out lockers, going through exit interviews and physicals, and saying good-bye to teammates is all part of the process of ending the season in the NFL. Only one of the thirty-two teams finishes happy, the rest lament “what could have been.” Most teams finish when the regular season is over. Now known as “Black […]
