The years of a loose-minded rookie losing his playbook on a road trip appear to be in the rearview mirror, with not even the recently revealed snoop-happy National Security Administration able to get to the NFL’s greatest secrets. That’s because team playbooks, as well as all the statistical information they want to share, are being stored on iPads, and teams are pulling out the stops to ensure their security.

Alex Marvez of FOX Sports is on the case, reporting that many teams “have gone to great lengths to make sure their iPads don’t get hacked — and safety nets put into place in case one gets lost or, dare we say, in the wrong hands.”

Marvez says teams can use the iPads for anything from playbooks to advanced statistical information. He mentions the Chiefs and Jaguars as being the two latest teams to join the fun, while The Associated Press has reported that 14 teams put their playbooks on iPads exclusively in 2012.

“Our security is very strong,” Marvez reports a Chiefs spokesman as saying. “The iPads will be managed by a mobile device management console along with multifactor level security.”

Teams can wipe the iPads clean remotely if they get lost, to keep someone else from getting to the information. They can also set up timers, where information will expire at a deadline, and have passwords set up to destroy information if the correct password isn’t typed in on the first three tries.

Herein lies perhaps a greater conundrum: If the NFL is ridding itself of the problem of players leaving their playbooks where they could be purloined, are teams perhaps creating a new problem by asking large-fingered lineman to correctly type their password in three tries, or poof?

Best of “Jags123!” to you all.

Mike Kafka, one day after getting cut by the Patriots in order to make room at quarterback for Tim Tebow, has been claimed off waivers by the Jaguars. That will make it four former Patriots to join the Jaguars in the last month, as Kafka will follow in the footsteps of Kyle Love, Brandon Deaderick and Jeremy Ebert down south to Jacksonville.

The Cowboys also put in a claim for Kafka, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, but the Jaguars had priority.

It seems that Norris thinks Tebow may be the Superman of the NFL. In a column penned on Newsbusters.org, Norris makes his case for why he thinks Tebow could be a superstar.

“I have been following Tim since he became a QB for the University of Florida Gators,” Norris wrote, “and I never have seen a more determined or inspiring athlete to play the game of football.”

Fair enough, determination and inspirational qualities are admirable traits, but what concrete skills does Tebow possess to prove that he is capable of becoming a legend?

“I’ve heard the critics say Tebow has poor technical skills, but the truth is that Tim is a natural leader, an amazingly gifted football player, an inspiration to his team and the possessor of intense determination and strategy to bring any team to victory — no matter what the odds,” according to Norris.

Oh, okay. So, no real, tangible skills.

Tebow ran for just 102 yards last season, completed 6 of 8 passes for 39 yards and scored zero touchdowns after being acquired by the New York Jets. While with Denver in 2011, Tebow was able to mount multiple fourth-quarter comebacks and tallied four overtime victories, but it wasn’t enough to propel the Broncos past the New England Patriots in the 2012 AFC playoffs.

Tebow’s ability to rise to the occasion in Denver leads Norris to claim Tebow as the NFL’s “ultimate clutch player.” And the team that Norris feels could most benefit from Tebow’s clutch services is the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“To put it simply, it’s because Tim could help turn that mediocre team into a championship one,” Norris said. “Tebow works miracles on the field, and his inclusion would embolden the spirit of the Jaguars’ players and fans.”

Norris goes on to say, ”Shad Khan, who is the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, David Caldwell, who is the team’s general manager, and coach Gus Bradley should give the preceding some serious thought. Whatever you would pay Tebow would be recouped tenfold by the increase in attendance and the fan base. With Tim as the QB for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team would add thousands (if not tens of thousands) of additional fans to the stadium, including me — even though I don’t live in Florida!”

Photo via Facebook/Chuck Norris

Photo of the Night

A mystery climber in the rafters at Safeco Field.

Photo via Reddit/shuttersubversive

Tweet of the Night

Flop, flop, flop.

#Lebron is like a fish out of water when he gets touched...

—
Terez Owens (@TerezOwens) May 23, 2013

Video of the Night

Hulk Hogan does the weather, brother!

Love has since been picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the defensive lineman is expected to manage the disease and keep playing. He talked to the Florida Times-Union this week and said he was never out of shape after being told he had diabetes — but he wasn’t exactly surprised that the diagnosis led to the Patriots letting him go.

“That’s how they run their business up there — veteran guys who have been there for years and put in a lot of work get treated like rookies,” he said.

Love has a point. Belichick’s history with the Patriots is littered with examples of veterans, fan favorites or otherwise replaceable players who were abruptly phased out of the team’s plans when another suitable player was found.

Love didn’t talk much about his old team, saying his focus now is on managing his diabetes and playing well for the Jaguars. He said he’s already developing new habits, and he is looking ahead.

“My wife asked me how I felt after the whole thing went down, and it was bittersweet,” he said. “You’re sad, but then you’re happy at the same time. I’m just trying to move on and not really worry about what happened.”

Love will now do what other former Patriots have tried to do before: prove that cutting him was a mistake.

Click here to see the Top 10 players Bill Belichick has let go >>

One day after being released by the Patriots, Love has already found a new team.

The Jacksonville Jaguars claimed Love off waivers on Thursday, the team announced. Because they finished with one of the worst records in the NFL last season, the Jags have the No. 2 claim on the waiver wire and appear keen on using it to grab any talented player.

Love will be a welcome addition for a Jaguars team that finished dead last in sacks in 2012, even though he’s much more of a natural run stopper than pass rusher. He did record three sacks in 16 games in 2011 and followed that up with 1 1/2 in 11 starts last season.

Love joins former Patriots defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick, who the Jaguars claimed earlier this week, in Jacksonville. In full rebuilding mode, the Jaguars seem set on taking the leftover scraps from arguably the league’s most consistent franchise while trying to build a winner of their own.

The waiver claim means that the Jaguars now own Love’s $1.1 million cap hit.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

One day after the New England Patriots released Deaderick, the three-year veteran was claimed on waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars finished dead last in the NFL in sacks in 2012 and have been searching for help with the pass rush ever since. There were rumors that they were going to select now-Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan at No. 2 overall in the NFL draft to help solve that problem, but they chose offensive tackle Luke Joeckel with the pick instead.

Deaderick isn’t an overwhelmingly talented pass rusher as much as a sound defensive lineman, but he adds some versatility as he’s able to play multiple positions along the line and is at least capable of tracking down a quarterback.

Deaderick will join a group on Jacksonville’s defensive line that includes two-time Pro Bowler Jason Babin and 2010 first-round pick Tyson Alualu.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Blackmon, who has been suspended the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, acknowledged Monday that he’s at a crossroads in his career and his personal life. But the Jacksonville Jaguars receiver insisted he doesn’t have an alcohol or substance-abuse problem.

“Out of this whole thing, one of the main things I would say that I had a problem with was just making a poor decision, making a selfish decision at that and not thinking about the long term of it and just thinking about at the time,” Blackmon said following the team’s first organized team activity. “If you want to ask if I have a problem? I have a problem with making a poor decision.”

Blackmon has a credibility problem, too.

It was just 11 months ago that that Blackmon apologized for getting arrested on a dunken drivingcharge in Stillwater, Okla. — tests showed his blood-alcohol content to be three times the legal limit — and vowed that this is “not who I’m going to be.”

Blackmon eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI, which put him in the league’s substance-abuse program. Although he declined Monday to reveal what triggered his suspension, it’s likely he failed a random test.

The former Oklahoma State star and fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft also was arrested on a misdemeanor DUI charge in Texas in 2010 after officers caught him speeding on a suburban Dallas highway. The charge was later reduced to an underage alcohol possession charge.

Although it sure seems like this is a pattern of behavior, Blackmon said he’s “confident” his latest mistake will be his last.

“I don’t think anybody wants to be in the position that I’m in right now, and I don’t think anybody wants to be in a position that can be any worse,” Blackmon said. “I’m not going to go into it and say I want to be in this position because that’s not where I want to be. All I can do is come out here and work every day and get better each day. Coach Gus [Bradley] says every day, ‘Today is the most important day,’ and that’s all I can do, is come out here every day and try to improve and take care of everything else as it comes.”

Blackmon declined comment when asked whether he plans to enroll in a rehabilitation program.

Blackmon, who caught 64 passes for 865 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, will miss games against Kansas City, Oakland, Seattle and Indianapolis to open the season. He will be eligible to return to practice Monday, Sept. 30. He will be allowed to attend meetings and be inside the facility during the suspension, but he can’t practice or play.

Blackmon apologized to teammates shortly after the suspension was announced April 30.

“He came across well,” veteran center Brad Meester said. “He just apologized for what he did. He knew he was wrong and said it wouldn’t happen again. We all accepted that. … We can’t control what people do what they leave here. We can’t change what happened in the past. We have to be there for him and help him through this and make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, though, said reaction to Blackmon’s suspension has been “out of control.”

“The media just blows it out of proportion,” Jones-Drew said. “A lot of people make several mistakes. If you’re that age and you have that amount of money, how would you act? If you answer that question truthfully, you can go from there.”

If Blackmon gets another suspension while in the program, it would be for a full season.

Joeckel had been the No. 1 prospect on a number of big boards in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, but the Chiefs pulled a mild surprise by deciding to choose Fisher over his Texas A&M counterpart.

The Jaguars quickly snatched up the 6-foot-6 tackle with the No. 2 pick, but Joeckel told Pro Football Talk that he will always remember the Chiefs’ decision to pass on him.

“I wanted that first pick but, you know, it didn’t happen. And that definitely puts a chip on my shoulder,” Joeckel said. “I’m ready to go work, I’m ready to go prove myself.  It kind of hurts even more that another offensive tackle was taken before me, so I’m ready to go.

“I’ll probably wake up every single day thinking that and when I’m in the weight room … when I’m lifting, when I’m out in the field working, you know, that’s my entire goal. I grew up in a very competitive family, always wanted to be the best. And you know, going behind another guy in my same position is definitely going to push me.”

This year marked the first time since the AFL-NFL merger that the top two picks were both used on offensive linemen.

All of the workouts are over, the evaluations are done and now we play the waiting game. Only 29 of the 32 NFL teams currently have first-round picks, but that doesn’t mean just 29 teams will be making picks on Thursday night. In 2012 only 27 teams ended up picking in the first round, but in 2011 31 of the 32 teams selected a player in the first round. So, don’t be surprised if teams trade out of the first or back into the end of the round on Thursday.

As for the actual picks, Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel appears to be the consensus for the Chiefs at No. 1 overall, but Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher is still in contention for the honor. But after those two, predicting the rest of the first round is very much a crapshoot. Defenders like Oregon’s Dion Jordan and Florida’s Sharrif Floyd have piqued the interest of many teams, but either could come off the board anywhere from No. 2 all the way into the mid teens.

The big position of question continues to be the quarterbacks, though. Geno Smith tops most boards, but there have been a lot of rumors about Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib and USC’s Matt Barkley in recent days, making the possibility of multiple quarterbacks going in the first round even more likely.

The Patriots, meanwhile, will sit and wait patiently well into the first night before even taking a stab at their draft board. Wide Receiver, secondary and defensive line are all glaring needs that they will have to address at some point but, with just five picks to their name heading into this weekend, don’t be surprised if they trade out of the first round altogether this year. Sorry, Patriots fans.

With so many prospects to sift through and more uncertainty than in any year before, let’s dive right in and see what the final mock draft of 2013 has in store.

Editor’s Note: Draft order is as follows for the first round of this year’s draft. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Joeckel has been the pick all along. The Chiefs know what they’re doing.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
The Jaguars need some fresh faces to fill out their new uniforms and Jordan will look damn good throwing down quarterbacks while sporting the black and teal.

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Quick, name three players on the Raiders defense… Give up yet? Yeah, they need Floyd.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Lane Johnson is the so-called “perfect fit” for Chip Kelly‘s offense, but Fisher is still the better player.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
If the Lions don’t trade out of here, which has been rumored, then Johnson would make the most sense.
Previous pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Pairing Milliner with Joe Haden will create some excitement for Browns fans, who can forget about Jimmy Haslam‘s problems for at least a few hours.

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
The left tackles are all gone, so getting a defensive playmaker like Ansah should be next up on  Bruce Arians‘ priorities list.
Previous pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Doug Marrone may be inclined to trade back into the back of the first round for Ryan Nassib to find his quarterback, making offensive line the next big need.
Previous pick: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

9. New York Jets (6-10): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
If Milliner falls maybe they snatch up Darrelle Revis‘ replacement. If not, Geno gives them a quarterback to compete with Mark Sanchez.
Previous pick: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
The Titans could use an athletic defensive end, too, but Lotulelei is just too tempting to pass up here.
Previous pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU

11. San Diego Chargers (6-10): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
D.J. Fluker is also an option here, but his Alabama line mate is still the better pure lineman.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Replacing Jake Long is the real concern, but getting a strong right tackle is pretty important too.
Previous pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

13. New York Jets [via Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)]: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
The Jets waited on Mingo at No. 9, but the risk pays off as he lands in New York anyway.

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Shelden Richardson, DT, Missouri
The Panthers couldn’t stop the run in 2012, but Richardson should help change that.

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Trufant’s speed should help the Saints against the pass.
Previous pick: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Austin is the best offensive playmaker in this draft and Sam Bradford can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
The Saints could grab Jones two picks before, but the Steelers won’t let him pass if he’s sitting here at 17.

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
Jerry Jones may be tempted to get Tony Romo a new toy on offense, but in the end he goes with a need over a want.
Previous pick: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

19. New York Giants (9-7): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Osi Umenyiora and Chris Canty left a big hole in the Giants’ defensive line, forcing their hand to address it through the draft.
Previous pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

20. Chicago Bears (10-6): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Jay Cutler is in a contract year, so the Bears will give him all the weapons necessary to prove he is the answer long term.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
The Bengals seem to think they’ll have tackle Andre Smith back on the roster next season, turning their attention to the next biggest need this offseason: the secondary.

22. St. Louis Rams [via Washington Redskins (10-6)]: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
The Rams could use a heavy hitter to set the tone in their secondary. Boom, Elam it is.
Previous pick: Matt Elam, S, Florida

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
The Vikings don’t appear intent on signing Brian Urlacher after all. So, Ogletree could address their need at inside linebacker.
Previous pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Indy is all set passing the football on offense, but they’re still having trouble defending it. Rhodes should provide a big boost in the secondary.
Previous pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

25. Minnesota Vikings [via Seattle Seahawks (11-5)]: Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame
Te’o may be surrounded by controversy, but the Vikings know he still has the talent to be a
Previous pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

26. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
There is no way the Packers trade up into the top-10 to get one of the big three, but Watson is a sturdy tackle with lots of potential. Plus, he can help Aaron Rodgers right now.
Previous pick: Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

27. Houston Texans (12-4): Matt  Barkley, QB, USC
I’m not necessarily saying the Texans will take Barkley — though Matt Schaub may not be the franchise quarterback they once thought — but this is a prime spot for the Bills, Cardinals, Browns or any number of teams to trade back into the first round and get their man.
Previous pick: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State

28. Denver Broncos (13-3): Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Elvis — Dumervil that is — has left the building, and the Broncos need a replacement in the pass rush. Look no further than the talented UCLA end.
Previous pick: Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State

29. New England Patriots (12-4): Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State
There is a good chance the Patriots trade back with a team looking to get a quarterback. If they do stay here, though, Carradine would give them a good complement to Chandler Jones.
Previous pick: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston
Hayden ran in the low 4.4s at his Houston pro day and seems to be fully healthy, making him a steal at this point in the draft.
Previous pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
The 49ers are positioning themselves to move up but, without predicting a trade, Hunt seems like a great fit to replace Justin Smith.
Previous pick: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Keenan Allen, WR, California
They don’t have Anquan Boldin anymore, so why not take the closest thing this draft has to offer.
Previous pick: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

Dropped: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State; Matt Elam, S, Florida; Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State; DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson; Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama;

Newcomers: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina; Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame; Matt  Barkley, QB, USC; D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston; Margus Hunt, DE, SMU;

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Previous Mock Drafts: Mock Draft 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0  | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 12.0 | 13.0

Photo via Facebook/Oregon Ducks Football from B/R

The new jerseys received a visual overhaul but still maintained the black, teal, gold and white color scheme Jacksonville has sported since the team’s inception in 1995 — though the new threads do feature more gold than the previous set. The helmets, however, are like nothing the league has ever seen before.

This season, Jacksonville players will be wearing two-tone headgear that is matte black on the front half and metallic gold on the rear. Multi-colored and matte-finished helmets have made their way into the college ranks over the past few years, but the Jags will be the first to debut this style in the NFL.

Check out some photos from the unveiling below.

via Twitter/@APMarkLong

via Twitter/@YahooSports

via Twitter/@NFLONFOX

via Twitter/@jnsanchez

via Twitter/@jnsanchez

Though the Jaguars’ set is the only one that have been officially released, Uni Watch’s Paul Lukas got an early look at the yet-to-be-announced new uniforms for the Vikings and Dolphins, which can be seen below.

via Twitter/@UniWatch

]]> http://nesn.com/2013/04/jaguars-officially-unveil-new-uniforms-featuring-two-tone-helmet-new-looks-for-vikings-dolphins-also-leaked-photos/feed/ 0 Jaguars helmet nesnzcox Jaguars helmet Jaguars uniforms Jaguars home Jaguars away Jaguars alt Dolphins Jaguars Vikings http://nesn.com/2013/04/tim-tebow-qb-instructor-says-jets-trade-was-politics-to-make-tebow-fail-behind-fragile-minded-mark-sanchez/ http://nesn.com/2013/04/tim-tebow-qb-instructor-says-jets-trade-was-politics-to-make-tebow-fail-behind-fragile-minded-mark-sanchez/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:07:28 +0000 Jen Slothower http://nesn.com/?p=166682 ]]> It would take legions of evil forces to take down Tim Tebow, and apparently that’s exactly what has happened.

Steve Clarkson, Tebow’s personal quarterback instructor, is now suggesting that Tebow’s trade from the Broncos to the Jets last offseason was all part of a grand ploy to limit the popular passer. Clarkson said on a conference call Wednesday that the trade possibilities between the Jets, Broncos and Jaguars were meant to play out in a way that would knock Tebow from his perch.

“I think he was purposefully sent to New York,” Clarkson said, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. “From the standpoint: You send him to a situation where you have instability with your coach — you don’t know if he’s coming or going. You have a fragile-minded Mark Sanchez at quarterback. You stick Tim Tebow in there, and you kill two birds with one stone.

“So if you’re Denver, you’ve got to be thinking, ‘We send him to New York, we basically kill an opponent and, at the same time, Tim Tebow doesn’t come back to bite us in the proverbial butt, if you will, because he’s not going to make it out of there.’ You send him to Jacksonville, all of a sudden he’s got that fan base behind him and all of a sudden he’s doing what he’s done all his life — that’s win games. That would put a lot of ill will towards your organization.

“There is a lot of politics that go on with it. I think Timmy was just unfortunate to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

When Tebow was first traded to New York, Jets coach Rex Ryan talked about using him as an X-factor in the offense, especially in wildcat sets. But Tebow saw less and less playing time once the season began, and he never found his groove when on the field. Even when Sanchez struggled, Tebow was not considered for the starting position, and the season ended with most people thinking that Tebow would need to find a new home if he ever wanted to play — much less at starting quarterback — again.

Reports surfaced near the end of the season that Tebow had been given the option and picked the Jets over the Jaguars because he thought he would get more playing time in New York.

Tebow remains with the Jets, who have struggled to find a trading partner. The Jets have said he is competing for the starting quarterback job.

Clarkson also said he and Tebow have been working on Tebow’s throwing mechanics. Clarkson said Tebow has “very coachable and minor” problems with his motion, which has been much maligned by fellow players and football analysts.

Clarkson is also encouraging Tebow to lose weight. Tebow packed on the muscle last offseason, but that may have actually cut down on his ability to make plays.

Editor’s Note: NESN.com will evaluate and analyze one potential Patriots free agent addition every day from Feb. 18 through the start of NFL free agency on March 12.

Rashean Mathis is no Adrian Peterson. That was obvious even before the Jaguars corner tore his ACL midway through the 2011 season. Just because he didn’t recover quite as quickly as the bionic freak Peterson doesn’t mean he can’t return to his once All-Pro form, though.

Even after enduring his worst season as a pro in 2012, the 32-year-old cornerback still has all the makings of a productive cornerback, which could well interest the Patriots.

The Patriots are in dire need of some help in the secondary, and they have been for a few seasons now. Aqib Talib appeared to provide the answer to their ailments midseason, but he, along with a few other Patriots defensive backs, is set to hit free agency.  Now, the focus turns to that same pool of players to find a more permanent solution to the Patriots’ problem.

Mathis parted ways with the Jaguars on Tuesday, sending him to free agency for the first time in his 10-year career and making New England an immediate contender for his services.

The Patriots have a penchant for signing veteran cornerbacks, dating back to Otis Smith and Terrell Buckley and counting all the way through Shawn Springs and Will Allen. Mathis fits that exact mold, and even more so he is also revered as a high character and team-oriented individual — all of which smells distinctly like Foxboro cooking.

Mathis might not be the same cornerback who squared off with every team’s No. 1 receiver on a weekly basis, nor is he the one who once intercepted eight passes in a season (2006), but the Patriots could use a reliable third corner in the potential absence of Kyle Arrington.

A lot of older corners tend to drift over into the slot and become a team’s nickel corner. Terence Newman did a great job of it with the Bengals last season, and there is no reason Mathis wouldn’t be able to do the same in New England. Plus, after such a down year, Mathis should come on the cheap.

Even if Mathis was seen as one answer, he wouldn’t be enough to ensure improvement in the Patriots’ secondary. Someone in the ilk of Talib, Brent Grimes or even Sean Smith would still be needed to solidify that defense, but signing Mathis would at least be a solid starting point.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Other free agent possibilities: Gosder Cherilus - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - Danny Amendola - Anthony Spencer - Anthony Fasano - Dwight Freeney - Brandon Moore - Dunta Robinson - Glover Quin - Greg Jennings

Photo via Twitter/@Prophesional

Blaine Gabbert

Gabbert was viewed as a franchise quarterback when the Jaguars selected him 10th overall out of Missouri in 2011, but he hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype. He’s started 25 games in two seasons, completing just under 54 percent of his passes and throwing 21 touchdowns to 17 interceptions — not exactly Pro Bowl-caliber numbers.

The mediocre performance under Gabbert has led to rumblings that the Jaguars should consider drafting West Virginia’s Geno Smith, USC’s Matt Barkley or any of the other potential first-round picks in this April’s draft. But new Jaguars quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo believes Gabbert is better than all of the quarterbacks available, according to the Florida Times-Union.

“If you graded him out right now, this is his draft class,” Scelfo said of Gabbert. “If he were coming out and the quarterback draft class the way it is, would he be the top guy taken? I think the answer is yes.”

If Gabbert, who redshirted his first season at Missouri, stayed all five years in college like Oklahoma’s Landry Jones or North Carolina State’s Mike Glennon — other potential high-round picks — then this would also be his draft class. So, Scelfo’s assertion, if not accurate, is at least relevant in this scenario.

With no standout No. 1 prospect in this class, it is feasible to believe that Gabbert would be considered the top quarterback on most boards ahead of Smith, Barkley and the others. Then again, given his middling production over the past two seasons, maybe he would’ve been better off staying in college and trying his luck now anyways.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Photo via Facebook/Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars hired Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley as the franchise’s fifth head coach Thursday, the latest move in the team’s rebuilding project.

The 46-year-old Bradley joins general manager Dave Caldwell, who led the coaching search after being hired last week.

“It was just a matter of time before Gus Bradley became a head coach in the NFL, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are extremely fortunate that Gus will be on our sidelines for many years to come,” Caldwell said in a statement. “Gus more than met every criteria we insisted on from our new head coach, and his intangibles and leadership abilities are exceptional. Gus is who the Jaguars need now and in the future.”

Bradley spent the last four seasons in Seattle, earning a reputation as a fiery assistant who demanded — and often got — the most from his players. His defense improved each of the last three years and finished in the top 10 in points and yards the last two. This season, the Seahawks ranked first in points allowed (15.3), fourth in yards (306.2) and tied for fourth in takeaways (31).

The Jaguars were 30th in the league in total defense in 2012.

“I had faith that Dave would make an outstanding hire, and my faith has been rewarded,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said. “Gus Bradley is perfect for our franchise. The energy he will immediately bring is incredible and I am confident the victories will follow.”

Bradley will be formally introduced at a news conference Friday morning.

“Shad Khan and Dave Caldwell expect to win, and that’s what I wanted to hear,” Bradley said. “That’s why I am coming to Jacksonville — to win a Super Bowl.”

His liveliness seems to be a good fit with Caldwell, who oozed confidence during his introduction last week. Caldwell pointed to his “track record of success,” adding that he has “never been a part of a losing team.” He also openly shot down any chance of bringing in New York Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow, a bold move in Tebow’s hometown.

Caldwell came across like the polar opposite of former general manager Gene Smith, who showed little emotion in his four years at the helm.

Bradley probably will look equally outgoing compared to former coach Mike Mularkey, who was known for taking a calm and consistent approach to everything — including losing.

The new coach started his NFL coaching career with Tampa Bay as a defensive quality control coach in 2006. He was the Buccaneers’ linebackers coach the next two seasons before going to Seattle. Bradley coached in college from 1990-2005, including two stints at his alma mater, North Dakota State, and four years at Fort Lewis College (1992-95).

But his rise through the NFL ranks had him on several teams’ radar. Before taking Jacksonville’s head coaching vacancy, he interviewed for the head job in Philadelphia this past week.

“He’s got a brilliant football mind,” Seahawks coach Peter Carroll said this week. “He’s got a way of reaching people and touching people and getting the best out of them, coaches and players alike. He’s got everything that you’re looking for.”

The Jaguars interviewed defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden before striking a deal with Bradley.

Bradley replaces Mularkey, who went 2-14 in his only season in Jacksonville. Mularkey failed to make the team any better in his first season.

Khan fired Smith, the architect of the roster since 2009, and charged Caldwell with turning around one of the league’s worst franchises. Caldwell’s first move was ousting Mularkey, saying the team “needed a fresh start.”

Many believed Caldwell would target close friend and college roommate Greg Roman, San Francisco’s offensive coordinator.

Instead, Caldwell and Bradley will team up in hope of getting the Jaguars back to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Jacksonville has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 13 years.

No surprise that Bradley inherits a team that lacks playmakers on both sides of the ball.

The Jaguars have running back Maurice Jones-Drew under contract for another year and have young and talented receivers Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts III. But the offensive line was a mess in 2012, adding to the team’s quarterback woes.

Neither Blaine Gabbert nor Chad Henne proved to be the answer under center. Caldwell said he had “others in mind” to compete for the starting job.

Defensively, the biggest issue is generating more consistent pass rush.

The Jaguars had a league-low 20 sacks this season. Philadelphia Eagles cast-off Jason Babin helped down the stretch, but the team will likely use the No. 2 pick in April’s NFL draft to find a pass rusher.

Bradley’s defense had several young stars.

Defensive end Bruce Irvin, the 15th overall pick last April, led all rookies with eight sacks. Linebacker Bobby Wagner, a second-round draft pick, ranked second among rookies in tackles with 140 and fourth with three interceptions. Safety Earl Thomas was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, second-year cornerback Richard Sherman led the team with eight interceptions and defensive end Chris Clemons had a career-high 11 1/2 sacks.

Photo via Facebook/Seattle Seahawks

It’s Week 17 in the NFL, meaning it’s the final Sunday of regular season action before the postseason gets underway. Admittedly, there’s plenty that has already been determined in terms of this season’s playoff picture, but that’s hardly going to stop assistant editors Mike Cole and Ricky Doyle from breaking down the week’s slate of games.

Plus, the two survived a scare from the Mayans, another Christmas of eating unhealthy and the aches and pains of shoveling since their last podcast. They deserve to blow off some steam with some gridiron chatter, even if it requires Cole to call in from his place of residence.

This week, our two fearless podcasters are like two battering rams, differing in a number of their selections. If there’s one thing we can all agree on, though, it’s that Tony Romo and the Cowboys mustn’t throw up all over themselves again — although they probably will.

Check out the complete list of Week 17 picks below, and have a listen to the final podcast of the regular season at the bottom of the page.

Home teams in caps, lines courtesy of Bovada.lv.

Cole
BUFFALO (-3.5) over New York Jets
Baltimore (+3) over CINCINNATI
INDIANAPOLIS (+7) over Houston
Jacksonville (+4) over TENNESSEE
Philadelphia (+7) over NEW YORK GIANTS
Chicago (-3) over DETROIT
NEW ORLEANS (-6) over Carolina
NEW ENGLAND (-10) over Miami
Green Bay (-3) over MINNESOTA
Kansas City (+16) over DENVER
Arizona (+17) over SAN FRANCISCO
SEATTLE (-10.5) over St. Louis
WASHINGTON (-3.5) over Dallas

Last week: 9-7
Season: 111-123-2

Doyle
BUFFALO (-3.5) over New York Jets
CINCINNATI (-3) over Baltimore
Houston (-7) over INDIANAPOLIS
Jacksonville (+4) over TENNESSEE
NEW YORK GIANTS (-7) over Philadelphia
Chicago (-3) over DETROIT
Carolina (+6) over NEW ORLEANS
NEW ENGLAND (-10) over Miami
MINNESOTA (+3) over Green Bay
DENVER (-16) over Kansas City
Arizona (+17) over SAN FRANCISCO
SEATTLE (-10.5) over St. Louis
WASHINGTON (-3.5) over Dallas

Last week: 12-4
Season: 111-109-4

Just a few years after Jacksonville supporters failed to see their team scoop up their hometown star, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, in the 2010 NFL Draft, No. 15 may be headed south.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that it’s “a virtual certainty” that Tebow will go to the Jaguars after this season.

Tebow is expected to ask to be released after the season, and the Jets will likely honor that request, Mortensen reports.

The Jaguars were among the teams said to be interested in Tebow, then the Broncos quarterback, after last season, when Denver signed Peyton Manning and needed a new home for Tebow. But the New York Jets suddenly ended up in the picture, trading for Tebow and dashing the hopes of pro-Tebow Jaguars fans yet again.

Tebow was given the choice of going to either the Jets or the Jaguars, but he was reticent to join Jacksonville because the team had committed to Blaine Gabbert, the Jaguars’ 2011 first-round pick, Mortensen says. Tebow was also given assurances by Jets head coach Rex Ryan that he would be involved in New York. The Jaguars have since moved on from Gabbert, though, and there’s a “high likelihood” that Tebow could be in the mix for the starting job in Jacksonville, according to team sources.

Tebow’s time in New York has been rocky at best, with the Jets failing to make Tebow useful outside of occasional wildcat sets. Tebow has said he wants a chance as a traditional quarterback, and he faced another setback this week when the Jets benched quarterback Mark Sanchez but went to third-stringer Greg McElroy rather than Tebow for the starting job. Tebow was said to be ready to ask for a trade after the decision.

The Jaguars (2-12) have had a rough season of their own, and bringing in Tebow, who still has a lot of work to do in his development as a quarterback, wouldn’t necessarily help turn the team around. But Tebow has a lot of fans in the Jacksonville area, and the boost he would bring to the organization has long been considered enough to buy time to get the team winning again.

Chad Henne, who began last season as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback, threw for a career-high 416 yards on that night nearly 16 months ago, and he’s transferred that success into his play with the Jaguars this season.

After beginning the year as Blaine Gabbert‘s backup, Henne finally got his opportunity to lead Jacksonville’s anemic offense in Week 11 in Houston. Gabbert went down with a season-ending shoulder injury during the first quarter, and Henne stepped up to nearly dethrone the AFC-leading Texans with 354 passing yards and four touchdowns.

Henne has taken over the Jaguars’ starting job since then. He’s put together some decent numbers (throwing seven touchdowns to just four interceptions) during the five-game stretch, and now he’s zoning in on dismantling an enigmatic Patriots secondary. That’s something he’s experienced a few times before.

In five career starts against the Patriots, Henne has completed 60 percent of his passes, thrown for an average of 269 yards — his most against any opponent — and tossed six touchdowns.

Bill Belichick is well aware of Henne’s past successes against his defenses, and explained on Wednesday just how impressed he is by the Jaguars’ quarterback.

“With Henne, you really have to defend everything. You have to defend all the receivers, you have to defend the short balls, you have to defend the play-action, the deep balls, a little bit of scrambling. I think he does a pretty good job at everything.” Belichick said. “He’s certainly done it well against us. He’s had some of his best games against us, so we have a lot of respect for Henne.”

That respect for him might have even grown since joining the Jags, given his bevy of offensive weapons. The combination of Cecil Shorts, Justin Blackmon and tight end Mercedes Lewis in the passing game offers Henne the consistent pass catchers and deep threats that he seemed to lack for much of his time in Miami.

While Lewis, who was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2010, remains a constant in the Jaguars’ passing attack, Blackmon and Shorts are relatively new commodities to the team. Blackmon came to the Jaguars as the fifth overall pick in last April’s draft. Mike Mularkey and his staff knew, at least partly, what they were getting in the tall, athletic receiver, but Shorts has been nothing short of a revelation this season.

Blackmon leads the Jags with 51 receptions and Lewis has provided his typical steady production, but Shorts has become the Jags’ best weapon in the passing game. He has developed into a consistent playmaker on offense since joining the starting lineup just nine short weeks ago. He’s caught 49 balls and a team-high seven touchdowns on the year, while ranking second in the NFL with 19 yards per reception.

The trio has given opposing secondaries fits for much of the season, and the Patriots aren’t expecting anything different this weekend.

“We’re going to have our hands full,” Devin McCourty said of the Jaguars’ threesome. “They have three guys that make a lot of plays in the passing game. I think obviously Mercedes Lewis has been doing it, you know Pro Bowl tight end. Blackmon and Shorts, they’ve made a lot of big plays. Whether it’s on deep balls or five- or six-yard routes, they can go 80 yards.”

McCourty and the secondary have faced a number of tough challenges already this season; defending the likes of Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne and Michael Crabtree is no treat. But this weekend presents an unexpected challenge for the Patriots’ secondary, as they’ll have to deal with three talented wideouts.

Henne has killed the Patriots with his arm in the past, and with his trio of receivers now at hand, the Patriots could be in for some serious trouble once again.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Just days ago, we brought you Patriots running back Stevan Ridley wearing footie pajamas in a local television commercial. Apparently Ridley started a trend for the rest of the NFL.

We don’t have a lot of context for this photo, but we do know it features Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne and his wife, and that it was originally pulled from his wife’s Facebook page. Beyond that, we have no idea if the photo was intended for a humorous Christmas card, as just a joke between the couple or if it’s truly sincere.

Nonetheless, we submit to you a picture of an NFL quarterback wearing footie pajamas.

Photo via Twitter/@IAmEvilTebow

After a 38-day holdout from Jaguars camp, seeking a new, richer contract, the 2011 rushing champ returned to his team on Sunday and was greeted with the No. 2 tailback jersey by new head coach Mike Mularkey. The role likely isn't a permanent one as Jones-Drew is still one of the best, if not the best, running backs in the game. But as in shape and physically gifted as he is, Jones-Drew still needs time to acclimate his body to the lightning quick speed of the game and the rigors of NFL tackling. Not to mention he's still new to the offensive system that Mularkey brought along in the offseason.

In reality Jones-Drew remains the best running back on the Jacksonville roster, and don't let any Rashad Jennings propaganda convince you otherwise. But given his time away, there could be a lot more at stake than just the money that MJD decidedly left on the negotiating table by caving to the pressures of new owner Shad Khan.

Jones-Drew's decision to report before the season was a wise one for a number of reasons, not the least being that he's still going to earn a hefty $4.45 million in salary this season but also to try and add more leverage to his case for a new deal as he approaches his contract season in 2013. Yet, even as Jones-Drew undoubtedly made the right call in coming back to his team, his decision to hold out in the first place could cost him more than just money in the end.

As MJD enters his seventh season in the NFL, he's slowly creeping closer to the dreaded 30-year-old marker, which is treated like the plague when talking about running backs. Asking for a multiyear deal after 30 at that position would be like a DH seeking more than a one-year pact at any point after 35 in baseball — not going to happen. For that reason alone, MoJo was rightfully empowered to seek a more lucrative deal, especially after coming off what could arguably be the best season of his career. In the end, though, it could mean less carries and even fewer red zone opportunities for the feature back.

Jennings, a seventh-round pick of the Jags in 2009, has established himself as a quality backup over the past few seasons in Jacksonville. And in Jones-Drew's stead this preseason, Jennings has taken an even bigger role in the Jaguars offense. He's been given a much bigger workload during the preseason, carrying 11 or more times in each of the four preseason contests, and finding open lanes to reel off 10-15 yard runs at times.  

Keith Totson's presence also presents an issue, as the former Rams special teamer has found open space of his own and even played through a hamstring injury in the preseason finale to the tune of 13 carries for 71 yards — not too shabby.  He also offers up a bigger frame near the goal line at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, which means the 25-year-old could vulture some touchdown trots from MoJo as well.

There are plenty of scenarios and situations where Jones-Drew will lose carries, touchdowns and even responsibilities this season, even in spite of his tremendous talent. He'll still maintain that elite talent, and who knows, maybe if the Jags are just as bad as in 2011 they'll decide to trade the 27-year-old back for a few high draft picks and continue their rebuilding process. That could accomplish plenty for the Jags, aside from putting butts in seats — of which Jones-Drew helps more than anyone — but MJD may not find the same sort of solace in a move to a new franchise.

He has stated time and again, even among trade suggestions from he and his agent, that he truly does want to remain with the Jaguars. That may not be possible, though, especially if the Jags find out that using a combination of Jennings and Totson can adequately make up for MoJo's production. It wouldn't be quite the same as having a 1,600-yard monster in the backfield, but sometimes it's merely about the ends and the means become irrelevant.

That is exactly what Jones-Drew doesn't want: a trip to the unimportant line. But this season in Jacksonville could serve as that exact mode of transportation. A couple of touch snipers and touchdown vultures could severely impact Jones-Drew's value to his own team, but even more importantly it could impact that value to other teams on the open market.

At times a holdout can be the perfect protest to secure a new and better valued deal (see: Darrelle Revis, at least the first time around).  But in the case of Jones-Drew, as well as that of Wes Welker and potentially even Mike Wallace, the reward might just not be worth the risk involved.

The Starting 11 The Starting 11 is a weekly feature taking a look at the big winners and losers of the past week around the NFL.
1	Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars Well, that was a waste of time. After a 38-day holdout throughout training camp, the NFL's leading rusher in 2011 decided that it was time to return to the field. The only problem? He still doesn't have a new contract. Now, the Jaguars have named Rashad Jennings as their starting tailback for Week 1 and Jones-Drew has been relegated to being the third-down back. The move likely won't be permanent, but if you ask me this can be simply defined as "Mission Un-Accomplished" — cue George Bush flying onto an aircraft carrier for the acceptance speech.
2	Don King No not the fight promoter — although at this point I might take him as at least a back judge. Don King, the legendary replacement referee in the Giants-Patriots preseason finale, appeared to be nearly as lost making accurate calls on the field as fans were off it. King struggled and butchered his way through a number of calls, leaving fans, players and hopefully owners alike to wonder if it may be time to get Ed Hochuli and the boys on the phone after all.
3	Aaron Kromer, interim head coach, Saints When Roger Goodell handed down the suspensions on Sean Payton (season) and Joe Vitt (six games) there was plenty of speculation about who would take the reigns of the Saints for the 2012 season. That question was answered on Sunday. Kromer, New Orleans offensive line coach for the past three seasons, has officially taken over the head coaching duties for the first six weeks of the season. This could be an unbelievable opportunity for the offensive guru as he could set himself up for a future head coach or offensive coordinator job.
4	Carolina Panthers The Panthers looked good this preseason and last year's NFL Rookie of the Year, Cam Newton, did everything to further encourage Carolina fans for an even bigger season in 2012. But the Panthers were forced out of town — even out of state — over the weekend, as their home turf was taken over by the Democratic National Convention. Carolina found themselves practicing at the IMG Football Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in a trip head coach Ron Rivera referred to as like a "bowl game." Well, I hope the players enjoyed the trip like college kids, but let's hope they don't play as such when getting back on the field in Tampa Bay on Sunday.
5	Deion Branch, WR, Patriots Bill Belichick and the Patriots never seem to disappoint when it comes to surprise roster moves. The hoodie and his brigade were back it again in 2012, first cutting old friends Donte Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney during the initial roster cutdowns and then leaving Branch, Pro Bowl center Dan Koppen and backup quarterback Brian Hoyer off the final 53-man roster. Branch was the biggest surprise, by many counts, and without a place in New England the 34-year-old receiver may be at the end of his career on the outside. A midseason return to New England is possible, something both Branch and the Patriots are reportedly interested in, but there are a lot of questions to be answered before then.
6	Kellen Winslow, TE, Free Agent After a few underwhelming seasons in Cleveland, Winslow finally seemed to figure things out and really assert himself as a top-flight tight end in the NFL. A Pro Bowl appearance (2007) and a few quality years in Tampa Bay apparently aren’t enough for Winslow, though, as the 29-year-old was released in a surprising move by the Seattle Seahawks. Pete Carroll is taking that team in a different direction, but apparently Winslow just couldn’t hang with their offensive scheme. He’s likely to get picked up by someone short on tight ends, maybe St. Louis even, but it’s a tough situation to be in for Winslow either way.
7	Brian Urlacher, LB, Bears Urlacher has been one of the most dedicated and hard-working players in the NFL during his 12-year career, so an injured knee wasn't going to stop him from playing in Chicago's Week 1 game against the Colts. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2005) has had his share of injury troubles in the past, but after a resurgent Pro Bowl campaign in 2011 the now 34-year-old seemed to be back in form. He claim he'll be starting at middle linebacker in Week 1, but the real question is how many weeks can he stay on the field?
8	Trent Richardson, RB, Browns Richardson underwent knee surgery at the start of training camp and there were plenty of questions surrounding his availability for the start of the season. Richardson answered all comers on Monday with a flashy display out on the practice field which offers a good likelihood he’ll be ready come game time on Sunday. That also means fantasy owners can breathe a sigh of relief — Phew! — as you won’t be turning to your bench for a starting tailback just yet. But don’t worry, it won’t be long.
9	New England Patriots, Offensive Line Brian Waters was a last-minute addition to the Patriots roster last season. After being released by the Chiefs just before the start of 2011, Belichick scooped up the All-Pro guard and the relationship went off without a hitch. Waters returned to his Pro Bowl form and helped New England back to the Super Bowl. Now, the 34-year-old still has yet to report to the Pats and the team even gave away Waters' No. 54 jersey to rookie linebacker Dont’a Hightower on Monday. With only a handful of days until kickoff, all signs point towards an already struggling offensive line looking even weaker and Tom Brady likely finding himself on the ground a whole lot more often.
10	Ryan Mallett, QB, Patriots Speaking of Patriots quarterbacks, how about that Mallett kid? A pretty good training camp, combined with a few solid preseason outings, and suddenly he’s got the No. 2 job all sewn up. Hoyer, the proverbial heir to the Brady throne, was ousted on Friday as he fell victim to the final round of roster cuts. A shocking move to let Hoyer hit the market with getting value in return, but that only goes to show the confidence in Mallett’s potential. That all being said, if Brady goes down at any point, it doesn’t matter who’s backing him up, the Patriots are screwed — royally.
11	Chris Johnson, RB, Titans CJ2K had an interesting week even though he didn't play in the Titans final preseason game. It wasn't so much his on-field work, which hasn't exactly lived up to the hype this preseason, but rather an interesting tweet he sent out late Friday night. "Aww man forgot I had to be to work at 7," Johnson said. Hey man, I'm all for you having a good time and letting us know about it. But in all honesty, tweeting about your forgetful attitude about your job as the starting running back in Tennessee probably won't go over well with the fans or your coaching staff. Probably not your wisest course of action.

Photo of the Week

This may be the only time you'll ever see Gronk scowl.

Photo via Twitter/@SINow

Tweet of the Week

Some things are just better left un-tweeted.

Aww man forgot I had to be to work at 7

— Chris Johnson (@ChrisJohnson28) September 1, 2012

Quote of the Week

I think there may be just a little less at stake.

Video of the Week

Greg Jennings. One of the freshest-smelling wideouts in the league.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes
or send it here.

Jones-Drew will end his holdout and report to the Jaguars on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Here we go: MJD returning to Jaguars today. Carry on.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 2, 2012

Jones-Drew lobbied hard for a new contract throughout the offseason, arguing for his value to the Jaguars as other top-tier backs, Ray Rice and Matt Forte, locked up new deals with their teams. But Jacksonville owner Shad Khan stood firm, and with the opening week of the season approaching, Jones-Drew has elected to play rather than miss the games he is under contract for.

Jones-Drew has played in Jacksonville for six seasons, racking up 6,854 yards and 62 touchdowns on 4.6 yards a carry. He has had three straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons, including 1,606 yards last season, when he also had 374 receiving yards.

Click here for an opinion on why Jones-Drew should get a new contract>>

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