Bleacher Report - Articles by Dwan Samuel

Why Michael Vick Would Make a Great Jaguar

Dwan Samuel — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:11:09 -0400

During the 2008 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars found a way to go from a predicted Super Bowl appearance to a major disappointment.

Everyone has their theories as to what went wrong with a team that finally seemed to being giving the Colts some real competition in the division.

In my opinion, it was a perfect storm for disaster.

The Jaguars had major injuries on the offensive line before the season began, Mike Smith became head coach for the Falcons, David Garrard did not seem deserving of his new contract, Derrick Harvey (the guy that they believed would have an immediate impact on the pass rush) didn’t join the team until the last preseason game, Marcus Stroud was traded to the Bills, and the team lacked much-needed chemistry.

You could say that the 2007 season was simply the quiet before the storm.

The Jaguars went from a record of 11-5 in 2007 to a record of 5-11 in 2008 during the regular seasons.

It can’t get much worse, so what I am about to suggest may come as a surprise, but keep an open mind, realizing that the Jaguars have tried many other options…

Bring in Michael Vick.

Before you send me to the guillotine, hear me out:

1. Vick needs to be with a team that he knows will not tolerate any of the off–the–field antics. Coach Jack Del Rio is a no-nonsense coach. He is tough, maybe even a little too tough at times (ask Mike Peterson).

The Jaguars had a hard time last year with arrests and then again this year with Matt Jones and Reggie Williams (although they were unlikely to re–sign Williams). The franchise has a bad reputation at this point, but they are letting it be known that they will no longer tolerate it. Because this is Vick’s last chance, he will have no room for error.

2. The Jags are a small market team. Why is this important? Vick is likely to be crucified in a larger market.

I’m sure that Al Davis or Jerry Jones would love another “bad boy” project, but they are in huge markets and the initial backlash could be too much to risk. The other benefit of the Jags being a small market team is the fact that only a small number of fans are die-hard about the Jags.

This is beneficial because those die-hard fans want one thing…to win. They will be much less forgiving if Vick can benefit the team and the fact that there are so few fans means that if the Jags begin to win they can grow that fanbase.

3. David Garrard needs competition at the QB position. As of now, it is still uncertain as to what Garrard really has to offer. He did not start the entire season during 2007 and he had Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones–Drew doing the heavy lifting.

In 2008, he was forced to make the big decisions that QBs must make because Taylor and Jones–Drew did not have the running game that they were expected to have (partially because their offensive line had fallen apart due to injuries). He was unable to step up and make the big passing or running plays that we had hoped to see from him.

4. Vick gives the Jags one more (much needed) offensive weapon. If Garrard is not producing (or even if he is), Vick can be thrown in to throw defenses off. No matter what people have said about his passing game, he is a threat.

His running game is an obvious threat because he can read defenses, find holes, and get the first down. When the Jags were successful in 2007, it was mostly due to their defense and their running game. Add a QB to that equation that has a great arm, but also loves to throw the ball and defensive coordinators have a problem on their hands.

5. He’s cheap. Yes, it is that simple. He is no longer the $130 million QB.

He is a player who will not be offered nearly that much to begin. A six–year NFL veteran’s minimum salary is currently $620,000.

The Jags can offer Vick a one-year contract for a small, but decent amount of money, see what happens, and if he turns out to be absolutely astounding, tag him, and trade Garrard.

6. Vick can fill the stands.

Let’s remember that this is football. Football fans remember what Vick did at Virginia Tech.

We remember watching Vick with the Atlanta Falcons. P.E.T.A. may only know him for the dog fighting charges, but we know him for winning football games and even when loosing we know him for putting teams on his back and fighting until the very last second of the game.

He is still Michael Vick. He can sell jerseys and fill a stadium even if it is only to be able to say that I attended a game and saw Vick shake two defenders and make it into the end zone.

The Jaguars desperately need to sell tickets and Vick may assist in doing so.

Now, with all of that being said, there are three factors to keep in mind: A) Is Vick in shape (or can he at least get back into shape with the proper conditioning)? B) Will he still be the Vick that we all remember (and hopefully better)? C) Will Commissioner Goodell reinstate him?

All of the stars will need to be aligned properly, but if they do, Vick could be a major asset for the Jaguars.

It is a new start for the Jags this year. They have General Manager Gene Smith, Defensive Coordinator Mel Tucker, WR Torry Holt, and several others who are new to their positions or the organization; what’s one more newbie?

They won six fewer games last season than they did the previous season. They can’t do that again because they only won five last year, so six fewer than five is impossible.

Get Vick, win games, fill seats, and begin a new era.

Jaguars Finally Reach Deal To Sign Torry Holt

Dwan Samuel — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:41:03 -0400

Seven-time Pro Bowler, Torry Holt, will be playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009.

The Jaguars have shown an enormous amount of interest in Holt since the talks and negotiations began in late March.

It was reported that the Jaguars and Holt were nearing a deal since late last week and this evening, it was announced that an agreement was made.

The 10-year veteran, formerly of the St. Louis Rams gives the Jaguar offense a much needed boost. Jaguar WR's Dennis Northcutt, Mike Walker, and Troy Williamson were not considered No. 1 receiving options. The six-foot, 190 lb. Holt is definitely No. 1 on the depth chart at the moment.

This is major for the Jaguars. They now have some new options during the draft.

Vic Ketchman reported that the Jags may still be looking to draft another receiver in the first round to finally get the offense going.

The Jaguars also are in dire need of a DT and it would be to their benefit to go ahead and draft an OL.

After releasing Matt Jones and choosing not to re-sign Reggie Williams, the Jaguars' hand was forced to go after a receiver in the first round if they didn't get a deal done.

Now, the Jags can breathe more easily (although they are not out of the proverbial woods yet) knowing that their expensive QB, David Garrard, has someone that should be able to make big plays.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Draft Preview

Dwan Samuel — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:40:12 -0400

With nine total draft picks this year, the Jacksonville Jaguars have their work cut out for them.

The position that appears to be the most needed at the moment is that of wide receiver. With both Matt Jones and Reggie Williams no longer suiting up for the Jaguars, the unpredictable Troy Williamson is currently their best option for a wide receiver.

Mike Walker is also a decent option, but when an organization give a QB the most lucrative contract of any player in the history of the franchise, that QB needs to have a No. 1 receiver to throw to.

At the moment, the best options for the Jaguars at wide receiver in the draft will be Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech or Jeremy Maclin of Missouri.

Crabtree's stock has fallen somewhat after failing to work out at the combine because of his fractured foot and having surgery in early March that will keep him off of the foot for at least six to 10 weeks. Even with the surgery, he is still considered by many draft experts to be the top rated receiver in the draft.

Maclin's draft stock has risen and some experts place him ahead of Crabtree at this point.

The fact is, the Jaguars need a deep threat that they are currently lacking. Another possibility that seems very likely to occur in order for the Jags to obtain a wide out would be a trade.

With the QB catastrophe that has occurred in Denver, the Broncos would love to obtain Mark Sanchez with the Jag's eighth overall pick.

Sanchez's draft stock has risen tremendously after his showing at both the combine and the USC pro-day. It is being predicted that Sanchez may be taken before Georgia QB Matthew Stafford.

The Jaguars have made it known they are very interested in Sanchez. The question seems to be whether they are interested in giving Garrard some competition or if they are considering a trade with the Broncos, who would love to go after a possible future franchise QB like Sanchez.

The trade scenario is more likely if either Stafford or Sanchez is available for the eighth pick. General manager Gene Smith has made it known that the Jags would like as many picks as possible in order to build the future of the team.

Through the reviewing of the draft value chart, the picks eight and 12 (the Broncos first round pick) are only about a 200 point difference, which means the Broncos could give up their 15th pick of the third round (79th overall pick) to the Jags.

The Jags would then move down to pick 12 and gain a third round pick. If this occurs, the Jags could and will likely still go after a receiver. That receiver would be Darrius Heyward-Bey of Maryland.

They can also look at University of Florida receivers Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, but neither seem worthy of an overall 12th pick.

The Jags have acquired OT Tra Thomas, which temporarily patches up their issues at left tackle, but their offensive line (or lack thereof) caused a great deal of issues for the Jags' last season.

Offensive tackle would have been the first position addressed during the draft had it not been for the release of Jones. During the second round, if offensive tackles such as Jamon Meredith of South Carolina or Philip Loadholt of Oklahoma are available, the Jaguars are likely to take one of them. If not, look for the Jags to go after a defensive tackle like Ron Brace of Boston College or Fili Moala of USC.

Because of Thomas, the Jaguars can wait until a later round to take OT Xavier Fulton of Illinois.

Although Vince Mauwai and Maurice Williams will both be back from season ending injuries, the Jags will also be looking to take a guard in the fifth or sixth rounds like Louis Vasquez of Texas Tech, Roger Allen of Missouri Western State, or Andy Kemp of Wisconsin.

The Jaguars have several options for the 2009 draft, but they also have several holes to fill on their team. The needs that must be filled are wide receiver, offensive lineman, defensive lineman, linebacker, and they still need to draft a diamond in the rough quarterback.

If Garrard does not produce this season, they may be looking back and wishing that they took Sanchez when he was available.

Jaguars Draft Picks

Round One, Pick Eight (overall 8)

Round Two, Pick Seven (overall 39)

Round Three, Pick Eight (overall 72)

Round Four, Pick Seven (overall 107)

Round Five, Pick Right (overall 144)

Round Six, Pick Seven (overall 180)

Round Seven, Picks 23, 41, and 44 (overall 232, 250, 253)

The Only Thing That Matt Jones Wants to Catch Is a Case

Dwan Samuel — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:24:02 -0400

Here we go again. We are all numb to the arrests of football players off of the field by now, but the Jaguars finally said goodbye to wide receiver Matt Jones.

The Jaguars had a great deal of work to do through free agency and the draft on offense, but now they may as well admit that they are starting from scratch seeing as how they chose to release Jones.

After a more productive season than the previous two for the Jaguars, Jones "habit" caught up to him again.

Although, the Jags did the best thing for the team as a whole by releasing Jones today, they have a great deal of work to do.

Maybe with a clean slate, the Jaguars can begin to build a program that will allow them to finally get over the hurdle and into a Super Bowl.

Jacksonville-Tennessee: Titans Put Nail in Jaguars' Coffin With 24-10 Win

Dwan Samuel — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:30:24 -0500

The Jacksonville Jaguars accomplished what they set out to do...in the first half of their game against the Tennessee Titans. It was the second half that proved to be a miserable showing for the Jags.

"We played great and terrible and they don't go together," Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said after the game.

Mathis is exactly right.

The Jaguars went into the locker room during halftime with a 14–3 lead, but how quickly the tide can change.

The Titans dominated the second half. They scored 21 unanswered points against the Jags.

David Garrard outplayed Kerry Collins in the first half, but during the second half, it appeared to be two different teams out on the field.

Collins rallied his team to take the lead by connecting with wide receiver Justin Gage on three passes that sealed their fate and put the nail in the coffin of the Jaguars.

Gage caught passes of 47, 56, and 38 yards. The last two were for touchdowns that created a lead for the Titans.

Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth dominated on defense yet again. He recorded seven tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.

The Titans defense held the Jaguars to a total of 257 total yards, while the Titans finished the day with a total of 344 yards.

"People keep counting us out and we like proving the world wrong, I guess," Haynesworth said.

No one will be counting the Titans out any longer. They are the only undefeated team this season at 10–0.

“Hopefully, with this win we can knock Jacksonville out of this. That was the whole key with this game, to put the nail in the coffin with Jacksonville and get them out of the playoffs and for us just to keep moving,” Haynesworth said.

Mission accomplished. The Jaguars have little to no hope of getting into the playoffs now. The Titans put the nail in the coffin and buried it for the Jags.

Man Accused Of Shooting Jaguars' Richard Collier Pleads Not Guilty

Dwan Samuel — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:04:45 -0500

The man accused of shooting Jacksonville Jaguar, Richard Collier, entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment on Monday.

Collier was shot 14 times while he and former teammate Kenny Pettway waited for two women at an apartment in Riverside.

Tyrone Romaro Hartsfield, 32, enter pleas of not guilty on charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Police believe that Hartsfield shot Collier on September 2nd in retaliation for an altercation that occurred in April. Hartsfield filed a police report against Collier stating that Collier had assaulted him while at a nightclub in April.

Collier had his left leg amputated below the knee and is paralyzed below the waist. Collier was in the hospital for over a month and is currently recuperating at an undisclosed location.

The pretrial hearing is set for December 1st.

Jaguars-Lions: Jacksonville Playoff Hopes Reaffirmed

Dwan Samuel — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:07:45 -0500

"Yes, we can," Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said on Sunday, after the Jaguars 38–14 win over the Lions.

Mathis was asked if the Jaguars could reclaim their playoff hopes.

Mathis seems to believe that the Jaguars still have a chance and if they can dominate teams in the same manner for the rest of the season, they can take that chance.

“There’s a great chance. The best team in football is coming to our home. We haven’t played well at home so far so this would be a good time to do so.”

Sunday was a pivotal matchup for the Jaguars and they rose to the occasion.

The Jaguars played the type of football that they are known for. They let Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew run all over the Lions, while the Jag defense sacked two QBs many times over, forcing an interception, and essentially reintroducing the world to the teal curtain.

The Jaguars defense had a total of seven sacks and one interception. Mathis made an early interception to remind Daunte Culpepper that he is no longer coaching his son's Pop Warner team.

Linebacker Clint Ingram had an early sack against Culpepper in the first quarter, but the Jags did not have another sack until the third quarter.

Defensive tackle Rob Meier said, "When you've get a lead like that, you can open it up on the pass rush, which definitely helps out."

If that's the case, the Jags know they had better get off to a quick start. Opening things up for the defense paid dividends on Sunday, as the Jags were all over the Lions offense when the game had practically already been decided.

Taylor finally reached the 11,000 yard mark and Jones–Drew received the game ball for rushing for a career high three touchdowns.

“It’s an honor. I’ve been scrapping my whole career. It’s a tribute to my persistence, my will, my determination. It feels good to have done it in Barry’s house. This is a good place,” Taylor said.

It was a complete effort on all sides of the ball.

Let's just hope that some of Taylor's "persistence, will, and determination" stick with him and the entire organization; they will need it this Sunday when the undefeated Titans come to town.

Coach Jack Del Rio Sends Mike Peterson Home And The Rest Of The Team Packing

Dwan Samuel — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:07:55 -0500

Coach Del Rio seems to have had it with his team.

Wednesday’s practice brought about some changes. The most notable was the absence of Team Captain, MLB Mike Peterson.

Coach Del Rio is not giving the reasons as to why he sent Peterson home for the day, but it has been speculated that the move came about because of Peterson’s celebration of flexing his muscles after making a tackle on Sunday against the Bengals while trailing 21–3.

Peterson is obviously a major force on the defense. He leads the team with 85 tackles, but he was not the only player to be sent packing on Wednesday.

While Peterson was sent home, some of the other players were forced to pack up their lockers. In an effort to regain the team chemistry of the ’07 Jaguars, Coach Del Rio switched locker assignments.

To mix things up, he moved defensive players to the offensive side and offensive players to the defensive side of the locker room.

Running back, Fred Taylor, seems to disagree with the way in which his coach feels about the team chemistry. “We enjoy each other's company from a respect-for-each-other standpoint, the chemistry is fine. Maybe on the field, we're a little out of sync. But that's the chance you take when you release guys and contract opportunities come about for guys and they're moving on because it's such a business," Taylor stated.

The locker room now has a new dynamic. Along with the reassignment of at least six lockers, Coach Del Rio is not allowing the players to watch television, play games, or listen to music in order to rid the team of any unnecessary distractions.

The team chemistry has obviously been missing. John Henderson’s frustration was apparent on Sunday, but this frustration began in the off-season.

The absences of Marcus Stroud and defensive coordinator Mike Smith have been apparent. Peterson has voiced his discontent about not receiving a contract extension. As Taylor’s above statement explains that the Jaguars took that chance.

While Derrick Harvey missed training camp to get a huge contract, the veterans were working. While David Garrard received the largest contract in franchise history after one season as a starter (although he did not start every game), Peterson has been a major component of the defense since 2003.

These decisions made by the Jaguars organization combined with the off–field distractions this season have created an environment that is obviously not conducive for winning.

If it were as simple as locker reassignments, then watch out for the weekly reassignment of lockers by 31 other teams. As the Jaguars prepare to head to Detroit for Sunday’s match-up against the Lions, we will all be watching to see if the team can be a more unified group and walk away with a win.

What If...I Was The Owner Of The Jacksonville Jaguars, Wayne Weaver?

Dwan Samuel — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:00:24 -0500

I have decided to begin a “What If…” column. There seem to be so many “what if” possibilities going on in the NFL, I figured I might as well escape to the fantasy by answering my own questions through writing. This is the very first “What If…” piece, so let me know what you think.

If I was the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars I would…

A) have had very little sleep this entire season while attempting to figure out why my team is inconsistent and barely mediocre after I shelled out tons of cash to improve upon last season.

B) begin to give tickets away (like I use to) because fans have become outraged and have stopped falling for our “Believe In Now” motto.

C) be calling former Pittsburgh Steelers’ Head Coach Bill Cowher to see if he would like a front office position and upon the end of the season he would be my new General Manager. Hey if the other Coach Bill (as in Parcells) can turn the Dolphins around, then surely this isn’t a stretch.

D) call Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, and Jerry Porter into my office to find out exactly what was so funny less than thirty minutes after the lost to the Bengals that they felt the need to laugh hysterically during interviews with the media.

E) be trying to figure out how I own a team that has three coaches with head coaching experience (Mike Tice, Gregg Williams, and Jack Del Rio) and all three are failing miserably.

F) have a long talk with Coach Jack Del Rio and tell him that he is on thin ice and that if things don’t change fast there may still be one more head coach fired before the end of the season.

G) begin to play a more active role in my team (i.e. Al Davis and Jerry Jones). This would be done to frighten players by benching starters and playing rookies and guys who didn’t win the starting spot. It would only be temporary (since it’s not working so well for Davis or Jones), but maybe my aging veterans would realize the gravity of the situation.

H) hold everyone within the organization (who receives a check from me) accountable for our failure.

I) demand 100% from everyone and if anyone does not give that, they would be fired. The time for understanding and patience is over.

If I was Wayne Weaver and we move to 3-7, this list would be drastically different. I would figure the season is over at that point and would begin to restructure and prepare for the ’09 season. During this “recession” I would be making sure that I was spending my money wisely on this team.

Wayne, if you need some help or advice, give me a call.

Run Freddy T., Run: The Jags Should Have A Big Day Running Against the Bengals

Dwan Samuel — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:29:48 -0500

As the Jaguars prepare for a huge game today at Paul Brown Stadium against the Bengals, they are focused on running the ball. If Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones–Drew can put up big numbers today, the team will be provided with a much needed confidence boost.

This is the game that can make a statement to the world that the Jaguars are not out of the picture yet. The 0-8 Bengals are just as desperate to win today as the Jaguars are.

Chad Ocho Cinco stated that, “If you turn on the film, we might be 0-8, but we’re not playing like it.”

I can finally agree with a statement made by Ocho Cinco. This is rare.

The truth is that the Bengals have played some tough teams close. They lost by a touchdown to the Ravens, a field goal to the Super Bowl Champs and they gave the Cowboys a run for their money.

What makes things worse right now is that they have nothing to lose. The Jaguars feel the pressure of winning this game, while the Bengals know that they have almost no hope at a post–season. It can be dangerous to play a team who has nothing left to lose, but the Jaguars are still hoping to have a huge game.

The Bengals are ranked 28th in the league for their run defense. This could mean a big day for Freddy T. and MJD, but the Jaguars have prided themselves on their running game and being ranked at 14th in the league for rushing yards is nothing to brag about.

If the Jaguars are going to salvage their season, this is the game in which they must do it.

Offensive line coach, Andy Heck, was obviously vexed in his line’s performance against the Browns. If the line has found a way to give Freddy T. and MJD some running room, we could finally see Freddy T. reach a career milestone that he has been trying to accomplish for the past few games. He could also break the franchise record for most touchdowns (currently held by Jimmy Smith with 69).

This could and SHOULD be a big day for Taylor.

My prediction is that if Freddy T. reaches his 11,000 career yards mark, the Jaguars will not only win, but they will make a statement and gain some much needed momentum for the remainder of the season…

So run Freddy T., run!

Mike Smith: Please Return to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Dwan Samuel — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:34:06 -0400

Dear Smitty,

Duval County has not been the same since you left. I know that I should probably be the bigger person and congratulate you on your success thus far with the Atlanta Falcons, but it is rather difficult when we have fallen from potential greatness to possible mediocrity.

I don’t blame you at all Smitty. I am happy for you, but while you have taken rookie Matt Ryan and the Falcons team and had one of the best turnaround seasons this year, the Jaguars just can’t seem to find their “swagger” that they possessed when you were here.

While you were the defensive coordinator for Jaguars, the defense was a feared unit in the league. Everyone knew that the Jaguars' plan of attack was to run the ball (which was done quite well last season) to keep the clock on their side and then let the D get on the field to force turnovers and keep the jerseys of QBs filthy by pounding them into the ground time and time again.

The Jaguars' defense is no longer feared. We have now fallen from glory since your departure. We were ranked 12th in overall defense and ninth in sacks just last season with everyone anticipating that we could only get better.

Thus far this season, we are ranked 23rd in overall defense and 30th in sacks.

Yes, Smitty those are the statistical rankings, and yes they are accurate.

Remember when we had a very inconsistent QB in Byron Leftwich in 2006? Our offense still found a way to be ranked 10th overall, but, Smitty, our defense was ranked No. 2 that season.

Last season, the offense, defense, and special teams were finding ways to get the job done. They would start strong and finish strong. They played as a team.

In your absence, the team (the defense especially) seems confused. They seem to be playing for individual stats and are not working toward the common goal.

I have nothing against your replacement, Gregg Williams, but he has yet to show the fans that he has what it takes to reside over the "Teal Curtain."

“It’s not Gregg Williams’ defense. It’s the Jacksonville Jaguars defense. I’m doing 85-90 percent of what they did [last year],” Williams told reporters two weeks ago.

I tell you, Smitty, I have to disagree with his statement. He is not doing 85-90 percent of what you were doing last year, because you were making sure that quarterbacks felt pressure...EVERY GAME. The Jaguars’ D made huge plays when you were here. I miss those days.

They fed us the lines about hiring Williams because he liked to get after the quarterback. I fell for it at first, but I have yet to see any success with that.

I believe that if you would have stuck around, you would have fought to keep our defensive tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson together. When you left and Stroud was soon shipped off to Buffalo, that was all of the foreshadowing that we all needed to know what would happen next.

I guess that I am not surprised, but I am truly disappointed. I think that if you return, you can help turn this thing around.

I know that I am being quite selfish (and acting like a big baby), but please come back. You grew up only 45 minutes away in Daytona, FL, so Jacksonville is like your home.

Duval County, the city of Jacksonville, the Jaguars' organization, and the fans of the Jaguars miss you. I miss you. I miss the dominant defense that you built.

Sincerely,
D.L.S

P.S. If you remain in Atlanta as head coach, I hope that you are happy, and I hope that they appreciate you; but if we ever get to meet up with you in a Super Bowl, I hope that we terrorize your new team. And I mean that with love.

A Halloween Horror Story For The Jacksonville Jaguars

Dwan Samuel — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 05:32:09 -0400

Most scary stories begin with the cliché phrase, “It was a dark and stormy night.” Well, on October 26, 2008 shortly after 4:00 PM in Jacksonville, FL, it was actually an almost perfect afternoon for football.

It appeared as if the Jaguars would be able to pull out a win over the Cleveland Browns.

Brad Meester and Chris Naeole were both going to be big boosts to the offensive line, the team was coming off of a win over the Broncos before their restful bye week, Fred Taylor was expected to reach a career milestone and break a record held by Jimmy Smith, Kellen Winslow would not be playing for the Browns (although jaguars.com Senior Editor Vic Ketchman stated that, “Winslow being inactive for today's game will make the Browns a better football team.”), and they would do it all at home against an underdog.

All of those positive were the quiet before the storm.

During pre–game warm–ups, Naeole broke his hand and will be out for the rest of the season. Bad omen? Maybe, but it was not as bad as the things to come for the Jaguars.

A blocked field goal, a nullified interception, a total of 113 rushing yards (59 of which came from QB David Garrard), and the infamous incomplete pass that had Jaguars fans everywhere holding their breath to see if Matt Jones could somehow hold onto the ball to give the Jags a win in the last nine seconds of the game were all things that made the game a nightmare for the Jaguars and their fans.

While the Jaguars are having nightmares about those misfortunes, I am certain that Shaun Rogers will haunt their thoughts and dreams this entire week. He was a dominant force for the Browns' defense, as well as on special teams.

The Jaguars’ own teammate, Quentin Groves, will also be a frightening thought to them.

Rookies, Derrick Harvey and Groves, were supposed to assist in fixing the pass-rush problems of the Jaguars. They were aggressive during the draft, trading up to get these guys for that reason. It has not helped much (if at all) thus far. Not only are they not helping, but Groves had two offside penalties against him on Sunday.

One of those two penalties was especially devastating because the interception made in the fourth quarter could have changed the entire outcome of the game, but it was nullified because of the penalty on Groves.

Coach Jack Del Rio was obviously upset (to say the very least) during his press conference following the game. He seemed to be most upset with his defense, but during the Monday morning press conference, Del Rio show his discontent with the team as a whole.

When asked if he felt that his team’s back was to the wall, Del Rio responded by stating, “I felt that way last week. I felt that way the week before.”

Del Rio had set a goal for the team during the off–season to win their division. Now, they are hoping for a miracle to somehow slide into the playoffs. They need to forget about a 10-6 record to get in and should be aiming for at least an 11-5 season (although 12-4 would be ideal).

A tiebreaker would be another horror story that the Jags do not want to deal with. They have lost to the Bills, Steelers, and the Browns, so the tiebreaker would go to one of those teams. They are in must-win situations at this point.

No team wants to be in this situation going into November, but if they want to turn this horror story into a fairytale, they have to begin by winning this Sunday in Cincinnati. Maybe after Halloween passes this Friday, their curse (or string of misfortunes) will be lifted and turn into good look.

We have witnessed other Cinderella sports stories; here’s to hoping that the Jaguars will turn into one as well.

Can The Jacksonville Jaguar's Offense Rebound Against The Cleveland Browns?

Dwan Samuel — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:37:48 -0400

During the off-season, the Jacksonville Jaguars were predicted to be the team to contend with the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC South title. Oh, what a difference seven weeks can make.

This entire football season has been full of surprises and jaw dropping events throughout the league.

Several factors have played a major role in the 3-3 record of the Jaguars, but one of the most obvious is the list of injuries that the Jags began to accumulate during training camp.

Of the top seven offensive linemen for the Jags, four have been injured from the beginning. Vince Manuwai is out for the season with a knee injury. Richard Collier was shot several times which has ended his career. Maurice Williams and Brad Meester tore their biceps and were listed to be out indefinitely, but it appears that Meester will return this week against the Cleveland Browns.

The Jaguars offense has looked sub-par at best this season. David Garrard is definitely not looking like the seven–year, $60 million quarterback that the Jaguars organizations had hoped for (seeing as how it was the largest contract in franchise history). Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew have not been the running tandem that they were expected to be thus far this season.

The offensive line is not completely to blame for the failures and struggles of the Jaguars, but the return of Meester could be a big boost to the offense. Taylor is primed to hit the 11,000 career yards mark this Sunday as well as setting the record for most touchdowns in franchise history (passing Jimmy Smith who had 69).

Also keep in mind that this is Taylor’s most productive time of year. Late October is always the time of year that Taylor puts up big numbers. Ninety-two percent of his last twenty-four 100 yard games have come on or after October 24.

The Browns are ranked 26th in the league for rushing defense. The Jaguars are coming off of a bye week while the Browns are coming off of a tough loss to the Redskins.

Combine all of these factors and Sunday’s match–up between the Browns and the Jaguars should produce the Jaguars offense that we all watched intensely last year as they made it into the playoffs. Meester’s return is much needed and on Sunday we should see his return make a huge impact on the Jaguar’s offense.

Breaking News: Jaguar Richard Collier Shot

Dwan Samuel — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:53:59 -0400

Richard Collier, 26, of the Jacksonville Jaguars was shot early Tuesday morning and sustained life threatening injuries.

Jacksonville's Sheriff's Office reports that the motive behind the shooting is unclear. Collier was waiting outside of an apartment along with Kenneth Pettway who was released by the Jaguars. They were waiting for some women to come out when a gunman opened fire on the vehicle.

Collier was shot several times and is now in Shands Jacksonville Medical Center.

Pettway was not injured in the shooting.

Collier had an drunken driving incident last fall, but chose to plead no contest earlier this year to keep from going to trial and putting the team and himself through all of the negative attention. He received six months probation for pleading no contest.

Collier's problems make Fred Taylor arrest early Saturday morning seem minuscule.

Taylor was arrested around 4 am Saturday morning in front of Club Cristal and charged with disorderly conduct.

He was not taken in, but was arrested and released on his own recognizance. Taylor agreed to appear in court at a later date.

The current Jaguars are facing problems, but they are not alone.

Former Jaguar Jimmy Smith was arrested on Friday Night in a separate incident on a drunken driving charge in Jacksonville, FL.

Smith attempted to drive around a DUI checkpoint Friday night. When the officers stopped him to search his vehicle, they smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

After searching the vehicle, they found an open container of beer along with marijuana butts in the console.

Smith failed a field sobriety test. He was also charged with possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and open container. Both are misdemeanors.

Smith was released on Saturday after posting bail at $503.

The Jaguars have some issues to deal with on both sides of the ball on the field, but now they have some very serious issues to handle off of the field as well.

The Jaguars' open their season in Tennessee this Sunday.

The National Football League: My First True Love

Dwan Samuel — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:14:55 -0400

“So, why do you love football so much?” That seems to be a reasonable question to ask. For some reason, I am asked that question all too often. I never have a problem with giving an answer, unless the question is directed to me in a sarcastic, judgmental tone.

Women are usually the orators of this question and usually have follow-up comments and questions such as: “It’s cool to watch, but why do you get so involved?” or “Do you watch it to get closer to guys?” or “It’s stupid. It’s just a bunch of men being violent to one another,” and my all time favorite, “I WATCH IT TOO BECAUSE THOSE GUYS LOOK HOT IN THOSE TIGHT PANTS.”

I do not mind at all if someone asks me about my love of football because they truly want to know. I actually encourage that, in hopes of converting someone into a football fanatic like myself.

For example, my best friend does not love football anywhere near as much as I do (okay, she really could care less about the sport), but she asks questions because she wants to be involved with what is going on in my life.

At times, I find myself going off into an in-depth football conversation with her about defensive schemes, the importance of an offensive line, or why I wish that Al Davis would sell the Raiders to me for a dollar so that they can return to glory.

Then I realize that it is not her favorite topic, but she will always ask questions to gain a better understanding of what I am talking about because she loves me, not because of her love of football.

I have heard a whole gamut of reasons as to why people believe that I take football so seriously. Here is a crazy idea...I just love the sport. No explanation needed. I love every single aspect of the NFL. Some people look forward to Christmas, birthdays, concerts, etc., but I look forward to football. Everyday. It is a constant in my life.

Someone very close to me once told me that my “personality begins to really come out if I am watching a game, playing Madden, or holding a conversation about football.” I get so excited. It is as if a fire is ignited within me and it becomes almost impossible to extinguish it.

Football is that walk along the beach on a beautiful day. It is the feeling that you get when you remember some of the best moments from your childhood. For me, football is now embedded so deeply within my DNA that it is like the engine of a car. It keeps me going. I breathe, eat, sleep, read, and write football. It is my air.

Maybe because I am a female, I see beyond the statistics, scores, schedules, and the win-loss column. I am able to see the humanity and beauty in the sport. Football has taught me so much. It taught me lessons that are not simply learned in a classroom or from your parents nagging you about how the real world would be.

I learned persistence, patience, determination, teamwork, that actions have consequences, accountability, and that life is not always fair. The most important lesson that I have learned is that no matter what the odds may be, you can overcome them.

In my opinion, football takes hard work, talent, preparation, and opportunity, but several times, the determining factor in a game boils down to who wants it the most. If you want something bad enough, you will not stop until you get it.

I can use the example of Super Bowl XLII to prove that point. On Feb. 3, 2008, the New England Patriots were supposed to go down in history as the best team ever. They didn't because the New York Giants chose to allow their naysayers to become their motivation, and although the odds (and most fans) were against them, they brought down Goliath.

This is what makes the sport so spectacular to me. Each team gets one shot. They are not given a system like that of the NBA to battle it out, night after night during the playoffs or championship games. They must seize the moment when it is given to them.

The game that has meant the most to me as a fan was played on Dec. 22, 2003 in Oakland, CA with the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders.

I have been a Raider every since I knew what football was, but I have also remained a loyal fan of Brett Favre because he represents so much of what I believe the NFL should stand for. He is not perfect. He is humble. He is loyal. And like me, he is so passionate about the game that it is unbelievable to people.

Favre’s father passed away on the evening of Dec. 21, 2003, but Favre made it clear that he would be with his “football family.” They beat the Raiders 41-7 that game, and the things that occurred during the game were nothing short of miraculous. I still get tingles and become very emotional about that game, even as I write about it now.

You see, I view football as a representation of life. When people make comments like, “No, you can’t,” “Don’t waste your time,” That’s too difficult,” or “You are bound to fail,” I think of all of the players and teams who have inspired me through the years.

On the gridiron, my skin color, natural hair, and body type would never matter, as long as my performance was great. If I embrace who I am and be the best at whatever I choose to do, then my talent will cause me to find success, no matter how many people would like to see me fail.

It taught me that sometimes in life, you must fight for what you want. You must stay focused and always get up and retain your focus when you fall down. You learn from your previous mishap and anticipate that your opponent will attempt to take advantage of that weakness that was noticed.

If you are a joke to everyone (like the Dolphins were last season), do not give up; continue to fight, as the Dolphins did, because 1-15 is technically better than 0-16. Never stop fighting.

When you reach the top, continue to fight so that no one takes your spot next year. If they do, fight to get it back or fight to achieve even greater success. Never give up and never allow your opponent to see you sweat.

I guess that people feel that because I am a woman, who could have chosen several different paths, it is hard to comprehend why I would choose such a difficult one that is dominated by men.

I do not need people to understand it, but it would be nice if they could accept and respect it. I do not question the paths that people choose to take. I figure that they have their reasons, just as I have mine. Just as each new season gives each team new hope for that Super Bowl ring, each day gives me hope that I can achieve my goals.

So, before you ask me about my love of football, ask yourself what inspires you each day and ask what you are passionate about. If you cannot answer those questions, then I pity you, and I will gladly explain my love of the game, in hopes that it can be your inspiration as well.

I will explain that it was pre-ordained to play a major role in my life, and it has been the best metaphor for life that I could have ever imagined. The world is a football field, when you play, give it all that you have, so that you have no regrets and can leave it all on the field.

Growing Up With EA Sports' Madden Football

Dwan Samuel — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:48:12 -0400

One summer day in South Carolina, Landis went to the gym with his friends. I was left with my Aunt, Uncle, and little sister. Landis usually allowed me to tag along, but for some reason, I did not go to the gym with him.

I was confused, bored, and inquisitive while waiting for my cousin and his friends to return. On the floor below the television stand was his Sega, but Sonic the Hedgehog was not in the system. It was some other game. It was a game that I had watched my cousins play, but I was clueless about the entire concept.

It was Madden.

As I picked up the controller in 1990 and began to play, I had no idea that my life would, at that moment, make a drastic change.

I had to figure the game out on my own and slowly, but surely, I did. I began by simply pushing buttons and quickly figuring out what buttons corresponded to different actions.

When I heard my cousin coming into the house that day, I quickly turned his Sega off so that I wouldn’t get into trouble for playing his Sega without asking. At that point, it was too late. I craved football.

I began to watch football on Sundays and would ask tons of questions to any boy or man that I thought knew anything about the game because I was convinced that it would help me to conquer the Madden game.

Madden became my secret obsession because the few boys that I told would tell me that Madden was for boys. I played in the quiet of the bedroom and slowly turned my attention from Michael Jordan and the NBA to the NFL.

Madden was my place of refuge.

In the early ‘90s, I found myself turning the game on when I saw too many disturbing images of soldiers fighting in the Middle East.

In 1994, I played to drown out the racism in my small town in South Carolina all because of a Confederate flag that flew atop the state capital building.

From 1997-1999, I played as often as possible because my love of football had grown, and because I was sick of hearing about President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky’s dress.

I began college in 2000 and played Madden because I was a freshman at Florida State University, where I knew no one.

The attacks on the World Trade Centers in 2001 were tough, but I found time to play in order to take my mind off of the fear that had overcome the nation.

In 2002, a new era of Madden began for me. I found a Madden partner. My good friend at the time, Robert, played Madden just as much, if not more than, me. He was the first boy (well, man by that time) that ever accepted the fact that I loved Madden, and it was a major part of my life. We played constantly, and he was my most worthy opponent, so I had to raise my skill level.

Because of Rob’s acceptance of my love of football and Madden coupled with his constant encouragement, I have been able to embark on a journey into the world of football that has become soul satisfying.

I once thought that I was using Madden to drown out all of the noise that surrounded me on a daily basis in a world of uncertainty, but looking back, I know that when I turned on Madden, it was my private time of reflection.

I could reflect on all of the major events around the world, while contemplating how my generation could make it better. I was able to put life into perspective and use Madden and football as my analogy to life.

I learned to overcome all the noise around me and instead of drowning it out; I could fight to change it.

I was not running away from the world, I was learning to look at it in a different way.

As I stood in line last night, I couldn’t help looking at all of the men that were awaiting Madden. The youngest appeared to be in his pre-teens and the oldest appeared to be in his 40s. I saw blacks, whites, and Hispanics.

Not to get too “we are the world,” but it was nice to be amongst a diverse group of people who could laugh and share Madden stories with no negativity involved.

The success of Madden over the years is well deserved. I thank EA Sports for 20 great years of Madden and wish them 200 more amazing years of the game.

Top Five Reasons Why the Curse of the Super Bowl Slump Will Be Broken

Dwan Samuel — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:11:14 -0400

Henry Kissinger once said, "Each success only buys an admission ticket to a more difficult problem." Later, Bill Gates made a similar comment stating that, "Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose." These two extremely brilliant and successful men should be waiting in the locker rooms of the losers of the Super Bowl each year to explain the concepts of success.

In the eyes of many, the loser of each Super Bowl has had a very successful regular season. The losers of the Super Bowl make it farther than 30 other teams in the league. That alone can easily be deemed a success, but to the losers, it is still a looming failure. An argument can be made in favor of both Kissinger and Gates’ quotes as to what these losing teams go through.

Maybe because of their regular season and playoff success, they do obtain a "can’t lose" mentality, but even more important than the success of making it to the championship game is what happens the following season.

Although these "losers" were better than 30 other teams, they have now purchased the "admission ticket to a more difficult problem." Not only do they have to make it back to the Super Bowl, but, more importantly, they must win it.

Apparently this is much more difficult than I’m making it sound.

If we take a look back through NFL history beginning with the 1994 season, we can see that every single year there has been a Super Bowl slump. The Buffalo Bills began this "curse," which may be fitting seeing as how they made it to four consecutive Super Bowls (XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII) and lost all four.

After their loss on January 30, 1994, the "curse" began.

None of the losing teams thereafter have made it back to the Super Bowl the following season.

But that will end this season. Remember that I said it here first. The "curse" will cease to exist for the 2009 season.

I can give several reasons as to why the New England Patriots will be the team to ignore the challenge of the Super Bowl slump, but I will only give you five reasons so that I am not still writing when the regular season begins.

5) Jerod Mayo—From the looks of things in training camp, Mayo appears to be learning quickly and could play a major role in the defense. The only major (and I use the term loosely) holes or problems that this team seems to have are with its linebackers and secondary.

Although the secondary still needs more work, Mayo could be the difference maker for the linebackers and possibly this team. Many have voiced their opinions about the decision of the Patriots to take Mayo in the first round, but the Patriots have a history of making unconventional picks; thus far it seems to be working.

Mayo has the speed, explosiveness, and intellect to be a dominant ILB. The linebackers are aging and Mayo may be able to revive them.

4) Motivation through failure—We have seen it before. When the Patriots seem to be down and out, they come back. They rebound from AFC Championship losses, spygate scandals, and they will rebound from a perfect season upset. It is what they are best at doing.

Think of individual games during last season. The Patriots became known as a second half team. They create opportunities and drive the ball down the field quickly when they must in order to win. They rise to pressure.

Tom Brady’s high ankle sprain combined with the offensive line not rising to the occasion played a role in their Super Bowl loss, but the Patriots have learned from it all. They may not be able to prevent a high ankle sprain, but they can prevent a defense from getting Brady’s uniform so dirty again.

They have learned and will prove it.

3) Schedule—It is ironic. It is almost comical. The one team that had a perfect regular season gets the easiest schedule this year. Their most challenging games will be against the Chargers in Week 6, the Colts in Week 9, and the Steelers in Week 13. The rest of their schedule should be a cakewalk.

2) Stacked offense—This is obvious. Their offense is primed and ready.

Tom Brady, well he is Tom Brady. Enough said about the QB position.

Running back Laurence Maroney finished the end of last season strong. In four of the last six games, Maroney had 100-plus yard gains. Kevin Faulk is no small matter and Sammy Morris is a competent back up.

Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Jabar Gaffney, Chad Jackson, and Kelley Washington will be the wide receivers that we expect from the Pats. Moss and Welker bring their undeniable skills back for round two this season. Gaffney and Jackson will compete for the No. 3 spot.

The offensive line is aging a tad, but still appears to be in good shape minus what happened during the Super Bowl. A major missing component during the Super Bowl was guard Stephen Neal. After injuring his knee, he played very little during the game. Neal will be ready to compete this season, which will be a major boost to the offensive line.

1) Bill Belichick—In Belichick, the Patriots not only have a coach, they have a mentor, motivator, and leader.

Belichick has taught the team to retain their one game at a time mentality. Yes, he is tough, but he is fair. Belichick deserves to go down in history as one of the greatest head coaches of all-time. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame on day.

Spygate was a minor blemish on his record. He is a genius when it comes to football. He treats football as if it were an intense game of chess against a grand master. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of his opponents and uses that to his advantage. He attempts to remain a few moves ahead at all times.

Belichick has been the key to this team. During his tenure the Pats have reached exceptional heights.

The Patriots will finally put an end to what is considered the Super Bowl slump. They are in a position to do it and they will prove it in Tampa, FL.

In the words of one of the world’s most popular athletes, Michael Jordan, "I have failed many times, and that’s why I am a success." If the Patriots clench their fourth Super Bowl title in eight years, Jordan’s words will truly resonate with the team.

Is Aaron Rodgers The Guy?

Dwan Samuel — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:05:52 -0400

Aaron Rodgers was “The Guy” just a few weeks ago, but why? Maybe it was because he boasts a record that Brett Favre cannot hold a candle to. No, that does not seem to be the case.

Well, maybe it is because Rodgers has 16 seasons with the Packers of guts and glory left on the field of every NFL team. Oops, that is not it either.

So, what made Aaron Rodgers “The Guy” all of a sudden, while Brett Favre was forced to continue practicing with a high school team in Mississippi as if he were an accountant all of his life, and was suddenly begging the Packers for a walk on spot as the starting QB?

Pride and ego made Rodgers “The Guy.” Ted Thompson seemed to want to move forward because his pride would not allow him to look back, but just a few moments ago, NFL Network reported on the Packers’ new stance. They will now “welcome him back and turn this situation to [their] advantage.” Their statement did not give any specifics to what they plan to do with Favre, but it sounded as if they have opened their minds to new options.

The organization of the Packers is now discussing how they will make the best of the situation, even though only a week ago they were saying that Rodgers was their guy.

John McCain is putting out ads saying that Barack Obama believes that he is “The One,” in an attempt to compare Obama to Moses.

Aaron Rodgers was in the locker room telling the press how the Packers’ organization told him that he was “The Guy.”

The comment made by Rodgers shows his lack of maturity. Although McCain may view Obama as “The One,” Obama takes the "we" approach. He tells people that he cannot change anything without them working with him to make those changes.

If Rodgers were seasoned and mature enough, he would know to take the "we" approach. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisbeger, Dan Marino, Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, John Elway and several of the other great quarterbacks of the present and past all had a "we" approach. They won Championships because they acknowledged and understood that every role within each of their organizations was vital to their success.

Favre always understood that concept of "we" before "I", which is a part of the reason that he is so loved. He sacrificed for the organization. It does not seem as if Rodgers is ready or willing to make the necessary sacrifice to be a great leader and player.

If the Packers are unable to find a new team for Favre, Rodgers may spend some more time learning that being “The Guy” is not as important as being a team player. If Favre is able to return to his starting position in Green Bay, Rodgers will learn the importance of being a stand up guy over being “The Guy.”

Here We Go Again: Matt Jones is the Most Recent NFL Player to Be Arrested

Dwan Samuel — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:33:19 -0400

It’s that time of year again. We have grown to expect that during this time of the year, we will be reading about or watching on sports networks of how some NFL star was arrested. They are on vacation right now. I like to think of it as spring break during the summer for men who play one of the toughest sports in the world and get paid handsomely to do so.

Our latest victim is Matt Jones. In a story posted a few moments ago on firstcoastnews.com, Jones was arrested in Arkansas on cocaine charges. According to reports, Jones was found sitting in a Toyota 4runner with Benjamin Cook and Jared Hicks in a known drug area of Arkansas.

Jones had a white powdery substance on a white card with a credit card in the other hand. Jones was handcuffed after an officer pulled his gun on Jones because he did not immediately comply with the officer to step out of the vehicle.

Jones is charged with a felony possession of a controlled substance while both Cook and Hicks are charged with misdemeanors of possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Jaguars are gearing up for the new season with the "Believe In Now" ads. They were preparing to challenge the Colts for the division title this season. Jones will be a minor distraction, but not much because since he started in the NFL with the Jaguars, he has not produced as anticipated.

He started as a pretty solid wide receiver, but has since succumbed to mediocrity. If Jones is convicted, the Jaguars should be just fine. Jones will probably not be there this season because Roger Goodell will not take it easy on him (and neither will a judge most likely).

Jones is not the first, and unfortunately, probably not the last NFL player who has been arrested during their vacation before training camp. Cedric Benson has been the most talked about this year. His two DWIs have caused him to have an ignition lock installed on his car, but worse yet, he was released by the Bears after the second DWI.

Maybe the NFL should make the veterans attend the rookie symposium each year as well, so that it can be reiterated year in and year out that life as an NFL player does not mean that you are invisible when it comes to negative situations. Your recognition and status only give you more to lose.

I sincerely hope that Jones will be the last negative story that we have to report before the start of the season, but for some reason, I doubt it.