The NFL Draft is less than a week away and similarly the world’s finest delicacies, all of the prospects have been picked, prodded, interviewed, and overanalyzed as much as possible (yes, people talk to their food). But this draft presents can prove to be an opportunistic time for our Jaguars.

Since the season ended we have heard all-knowing know-nothings say that the team will pick Justin Blackmon, Melvin Ingram, Quinton Coples or Michael Floyd. I however agree with those that feel the Jaguars will trade back and acquire more draft picks.

As of right now the team does need to upgrade the defensive line and the wide receiver corps. Honestly, I have not been blown away by any particular wide receiver in this draft and think that equal value for that position (should the Jaguars choose to pull the trigger on a receiver) can be found later in the first round. That was my suggestion of Jacksonville thinking about Reuben Randle or Stephen Hill.

So what would make me happy this draft? Us finding and coaxing this year’s version of the Atlanta Falcons to give up numerous picks for our seventh. It might not be as much as the Falcons relinquish last year to get Julio Jones, unless Tannehill is still available, but a nice version of a First Coast Stimulus Package would be quite nice. No, I’m not a politician by any stretch of the word.

But, these are my thoughts. And whether we agree to disagree on the issue or are on the same page, it is certain that a few new rookies will be coming to an NFL franchise near you.

Oh, and let’s try to allow the rookies to get their team gear and lockers before we rip to shreds this season. Much obliged readers, much obliged.

So glad that this guy is our #1...

The deal sending Tim Tebow to the Jets has been made Jaguars fans. Personally, I find this to be really good news after being scared into believing that Tebow would be a Jaguar. Now don’t get me wrong, I like Tebow the person and all of that, but he does not fit this team.

We all know how the Jaguars struggled in the passing game throughout much of last season. In an attempt to alleviate those problems the Jaguars have a completely rebuilt coaching staff that will be implementing a new, updated, pass-centric style of offense. Now in order to make that work, you need to either have or be grooming a quarterback that is going to throw the ball around consistently on a game to game basis.

Tebow is not that quarterback, not yet anyways. And that is beside the point. We drafted Blaine Gabbert (early in the first round) last year for the sole purpose of making this his team. What sense would it make to bring in another first round quarterback not even a year later?

Then factor in the mayhem that would ensue every time Gabbert had an incompletion or an interception. Remember what happened in Miami and Denver last season? Multiply that by 100 to get an idea of what would happen here.

Oh, and let’s not forget when Gabbert threw screen passes into the ground, on purpose, and some fans took that as him not being able to see the field, or not wanting to stay in the pocket and take a hit. News flash; if the quarterback holds on to the ball on the screen play that would more than likely result in a penalty because the linemen go to block downfield. That is illegal if the quarterback has not thrown the ball.

But we need not worry about that now. The Jaguars have their guy, and now Tebow gets to go to New York to battle Mark Sanchez for the starting job. In all honestly, I think he has a good chance to take over up there. But down here, not so much. He would have to beat out Chad Henne for second and then Blaine for first. I’m sorry but that wouldn’t happen.

But of course those Gator fans and whatnot would be screaming for him to play. Would the Jaguars use Tebow in another area of the game to appease that group of fans? Sure. Would it actually appease them? Not a chance.

Hey, maybe Shahid Khan wanted to show that we would at least attempt to get the guy. He’s a crafty businessman, so I’m under the impression that he knew what he was doing. That was still a pretty close call though, for my liking anyway.

But that is all behind us now. Time to go wait on this draft.

Go Jaguars!

For this installment of “Flashback Friday” I want to take a quick look back at “Bottlegate.“

On December 16, 2001 our Jaguars travelled to Cleveland to take on the Browns in the “Dawg Pound.” I can’t remember all of what led up to the incident, but I will never forget the scene that was on my television set as the clock attempted to run out.

To make this short story even shorter, just know that the referees made a major “boo-boo” in this one. The Browns were driving down the field late in the fourth, trying try to keep they’re playoff hopes alive. It had been a cold, fierce game but the Browns were on the verge of capping off a great comeback. So it’s fourth down and their quarterback, Tim Couch, throws for the first down. The Browns quickly get to the line and spike the ball.

So now it’s second down and the Browns are getting ready to try to score. Wait, no. That’s what should have happened. But, instead the referees decided to review the 4th down catch. Yes, after the ball was spiked. The rules clearly state you can only review the previous play, which in this case would be the spike. But that didn’t happen. My only explanation for this was that the United Way wanted to use the teams serve as a public service announcement for kids to stay in school, or they could all become goats like the referees were that day.

But anyways, the ball was awarded to our Jaguars, the Cleveland fans became irate and began throwing plastic beer bottles, chairs, and anything not bolted down to the stadium, and the playoff hopes for Cleveland were ruined. (Sings *It’s a beautiful moooorninnnnn’…. AAAHH…*).

Sorry about that. I love myself some nonsense when it doesn’t affect my team.

I remember going back to James Weldon Johnson Middle School and joking with my friends weeks, even months, later simply saying to each other, “the game is over!” And you better believe that we had the cold, petrified looks on our faces as if our peers were ready to chuck a few plastic beer, I mean…. Pepsi, bottles of their own at us.

Good times, good times.

Ah, I have returned from my hiatus. Scheduling conflicts are such a spoilsport these days.

Now that the formalities, and lack thereof, are out of our way, lets take a trip down memory lane. The date is November 17, 2007.

This was the day that our beloved Fred Taylor eclipsed 10,000 rushing yards for his career. Taylor joined an elite group of backs on this day, and it was against those pesky, awful Titans (at the time there were 20 other players in NFL history to reach 10,000 yards rushing).

The feat did not garner much attention nationally, but here in Jacksonville it was a very big deal. We were given the privilege to see a guy achieve an extremely difficult goal; a goal that required speed, power, vision, and longevity. And make no mistake about it, #28 possessed all of those qualities.

So as I close, just remember the impact that Fred Taylor had on this city, as a football player and as a person. Oh, and yes he does deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Yep, I said it.

Hey there people. I hope you enjoyed the nice showcase of playoff action this past weekend. I must say that I had a fun time watching the games.

While watching the Ravens host the Texans a thought came to; division pride. Similar to when fans of a college team root for another team that is in the same conference if their team is eliminated from relevance.

So I asked myself, “should I root for the Texans? Should I root for the team to win their first ever road playoff game?”

NOT A CHANCE! There is no way that I would ever root for the Texans, Titans, or Colts. No way. Nope. NON! ABSOLUMENT NON!

As far as I’m concerned, those three teams can lose every game they play. Overspend on contracts. Mismanage the clock. Anger your mascots to the point that they result to sabotage during the game. Whatever it takes.

But no, I have no conference pride. And I never will. So I urge you fellow Jaguars fans to just say no. Just say no to this farce of an idea. Ignore the madness people, ignore it.