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WILFORD NOMINATED TWICE FOR NFL ROOKIE AND PLAY OF THE WEEK  -  By Teneshia L. Wright, Blacksonville.com sports editor

Jaguars wide receiver Ernest Wilford’s game-winning touchdown pass from Byron Leftwich in the season-opening victory against Buffalo has been nominated as one of five finalists for the Levitra Play of the Week by the NFL. Wilford also has been nominated as one of five finalists for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. Fan voting continues until Thursday at NFL.com.

These awards are presented each Thursday during the NFL regular season to recognize the single most exciting play that week and the single best performance by a rookie as determined by the fans. Voting is open to the fans each week from Tuesday at Noon ET until Thursday at Noon ET, exclusively on NFL.com. Each weekly winner will be a finalist for the “Levitra Play of the Year” and the “Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year” to be awarded at Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville.

Fans who vote at NFL.com each week can also enter for their chance to win a three-day/two-night trip for two to Jacksonville to attend Super Bowl XXXIX on February 6, 2005, including round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations. For more information log onto NFL.com.

Blacksonville.com Exclusive
CUT FROM THE JAGUARS, ROOKIE AND FORMER B-CC QB ALLEN SUBER SPEAKS OF FUTURE WITH THE NFL
By Teneshia L. Wright
Blacksonville.com sports editor

Sorry it’s taken so long for me to write back. But I've been a little busy
preparing for my little boy I have on the way, boarding my house up in
Tampa in preparation for this hurricane and staying in shape. Anyhow,
the experience of going through an NFL training camp was everything I
thought it would be -- physically and mentally demanding, but fun at the
same time. I'm very appreciative of the opportunity that the Jaguars
have given me because I understand the nature of the business; that sometimes you might have to bounce around a little bit before you find a place that's good for you. I'm currently just trying to stay in shape. My agent was contacted by the Texans last week, and they set up a workout for me to fly out Friday but because of the weather it has been postponed until Tuesday. So I'm still very optimistic about my NFL career and very optimistic that Jacksonville saw enough in me to offer me a practice squad spot. Take care and I’ll keep in contact regardless of where I end up. Have a good one.   --suberman7

READ MORE ON ALLEN SUBER'S WEEKLY ROOKIE DIARY

Blacksonville.com Exclusive
CAT CHAT with JAGUARS RB AND FORMER FSU STAR GREG JONES
By Teneshia L. Wright
Blacksonville.com sports editor

Greg Jones, who is nicknamed “Tank” for his ability to run over defenders, was so hard to pass up that the Jaguars traded a third and fourth round draft pick for the right to select the former Florida State workhorse in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Jones is the Jaguars’ third-highest drafted running back behind Fred Taylor and James Stewart, both first round picks.
Read On


GARRARD PROGRESSES, JAGS PLACE 2 ON IR
By Blacksonville.com sports staff

David Garrard, a reserve quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, used the team’s morning practice session on Mon., Aug. 2, to continue progressing after his offseason battle with Chron’s disease.

“When that whole thing went down, the first thought is the concern for his life. It's a very serious disease. The message from us to him was just take care of yourself. Just get healthy and then we'll worry about football. He's done that,” said head coach Jack Del Rio. “He's been ahead of the schedule on all the rehabs. It's really been remarkable and he's anxious to get out there, and he is getting out there and doing a nice job. He's gained his weight back. He's gained his strength back. He's well-conditioned and playing well.”

Also on Monday, the Jaguars made two roster moves by placing fourth-year linebacker Hakim Akbar and first-year defensive back Chris Brown on the NFL Europe’s waived/injured list. Brown signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted rookie in 2003 and played in four games with two special teams tackles. Akbar signed with the Jaguars on Dec. 16, 2003, after spending most of the season on Tampa Bay’s practice squad, but did not play during the season.
 

DEL RIO LIKES DB'S, PREPS FOR EXHIBITION
By Blacksonville.com sports staff

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has been impressed with the competition in the defensive backfield, and he looks forward to the team’s mock game at 7:30 p.m. Friday inside Alltel Stadium.

“Friday night we're looking forward to getting out for the scrimmage,” Del Rio said. “We'll have live tackling in the scrimmage. We'll have some special teams aspect. We'll have some kicking competition. We'll have some things that ought to be a lot of fun to watch. You'll get a good feel for what our team is trying to accomplish in some of the position battles.”

The Jaguars signed free agent defensive backs Juran Bolden and Dewayne Washington in the offseason. They will team up with second-year starter Rashean Mathis, a former All-American and NCAA Division I-AA’s all-time interceptions leader.

“Compared to last season, we'd like to have a little more physical presence out there on the corner,” Del Rio said. “Then, you're looking at Rashean and whether it's Dewayne or Juran running down the field, as a quarterback, you can't just throw it up and think that your receiver is going to jump up and come up with the ball. Those guys are big, long, fast guys and they're going to win a lot of those jump balls.”

Prior to the scrimmage on Friday, the team will practice at 11 a.m. There will be a brief autograph session immediately following the scrimmage.

TIGERS COACH IS A JAGUARS FAN
By Teneshia L. Wright
Blacksonville.com sports editor

Edward Waters College coach Lamonte Massie has jumped on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ bandwagon, but it’s not to join the chorus of people who expect the team to stay at home and compete in the 2005 Super Bowl at Alltel Stadium.

Massie grew up a fan of the New York Giants fan, where ironically former Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin has resurfaced. The fourth-year EWC coach switched allegiances out of gratitude and admiration toward the Jaguars. “You know I’m definitely going to become a Jaguars fan,” Massie said. “They’ve been real good to us. Coach [Jack] Del Rio is nice. I see him anywhere, and he recognizes he. I’m just a small-time football coach here in Jacksonville, and he recognizes me and it kind of makes my day.”

[Jaguars personnel director] James Harris is a phenomenal person to know and he mentored me in coaching and dealing with people.”

Massie also is appreciative to Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver and his wife, Delores. In 2001, the Weavers gave Edward Waters $575,000 to push the college over its $2 million goal for a football endowment. The Jaguars also donated uniforms to the Tigers.

On Tuesday (Aug. 3), Massie and his EWC coaching staff capped four days of observing the Jaguars’ training camp and studying film. The Jaguars have welcomed Tigers coaches to training camp ever since EWC revitalized its football program in 2001 after a three-decade layoff.

“Every year, we walk away with something,” said Massie, who is coming off back-to-back winning seasons. “I think we spent a lot of time looking at offensive line technique and technique with specials teams because you know they brought in coach [Pete] Rodriguez, who’s considered one of the best special teams coaches in the country.”


JAGUARS SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE
Single-game tickets for the Jaguars’ 2004 home games will go on sale on Sat., Aug. 7 at 9 a.m. Tickets can be purchased three different ways:

1. By logging on to http://www.jaguars.com/ontix --24 hours a day

2. By calling 904-633-2000 or 1-877-4-JAGS-TIX (please press 4) from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday

3. By visiting the Jaguars ticket office at Alltel Stadium. Normal ticket office hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The ticket office is located next to the Crown Royal West Touchdown Club.
The stadium ticket office will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. to coincide with the Jaguars' 10:00 a.m. mock game inside Alltel Stadium. The location for walk-up sales, for August 7th and game days only, will be the ticket windows between Gates 2 and 3 on the north end of the stadium.
Single game ticket prices for the 2004 season are as follows: $20, $30, $45, $65, $70 and $95. Crown Royal Touchdown Club seats are also available upon request.


JAGUARS REPORT TO CAMP
By Blacksonville.com staff

The Jacksonville Jaguars opened their 2004 training camp with a morning session with all 89 players, including first-round draft pick Reggie Williams, on Sat., July 31. Training camp is held at the practice fields northwest of ALLTEL Stadium.
read on



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Teneshia L. Wright
Sports editor
Blacksonville.com
P.O. BOX 40933
Jacksonville, FL 32203-0933
Ph: (904) 614-2344
Fax: (904) 764-7944
e-mail: teneshia@blacksonville.com