Jaguars center motivates 6-year-old to relearn how to walk

((ht: jacksonville.com))

This is a story that kind of wants to make you cry. It's inspiring and is why for every bad thing you can say about football players, this renews your faith in them.

This story is about Luke Akerstrom. Luke had a bad seizure in December of last year and was unable to walk. He was laid out, suffering at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital when he got a surprise visit from Jacksonville Jaguars center Brad Meester, his wife and Jaguars PR guy Ryan Robinson. And for some reason, they all immediately bonded.

Without going into detail, the Meester's and Robinson became frequent visitors of Luke's and all but adopted Luke's parents.

It wasn't until June that Luke moved his legs for the 1st time in 6-months. A mere 5-weeks later he did something he hadn't done since his seizure on December 31st. But he wanted more than anything in the world to do it where his pal Brad could see it.

So they went to Jaguars training camp and in front of the team, Luke, got up out of his chair and took 5-steps...straight into the waiting arms of Brad Meester.

Read the entire story, please, from Jacksonville.com RIGHT HERE

First and foremost, congratulations to Luke. And his parents. To do what he is doing takes bravery of a level few people will ever know. It's inspiring to read your story.

And second, we have an undying respect for Brad Meester and his family. And the Jaguars. For doing what they did to help a kid who needed it. That folks, is what it is all about.

Keep in mind for all the negative and bad things we report about professional athletes, there are oh, so many more who are just like Brad Meester. Guys who work hard at what they do...and get paid well for it. But there true thrill in life is to be able to do things to help other people and for that, we salute you.

Here's a well done video piece on this story done by Jon Fletcher and Jacksonville.com:

Toronto wants to chase NFL teams

Rogers Centre/Courtesy: thescore.com

((ht: Profootballtalk.com))

What is it with Canadian cities chasing pro-sports franchises anyway?

A report surfaced last night in the Score, a Canadian sports network, that Toronto councillor Doug Ford is talking NFL relocation. Relocation of a franchise to the "Great White North".

Ford tells the score "They have to take care of the problem in Los Angeles first". But also adds: At least two cities teams are in play for them after that...and neither of them is the speculated one, Buffalo. Ford says "Two teams are kind of in play here: Jacksonville's number one; New Orleans is the other. So there's two teams."


Read the entire article from thescore.com RIGHT HERE

Hmmm. While we find this story very interesting. We don't think there is any truth to it, it's mostly speculation on Ford's part. We get the premise that there may, in time be franchise relocation, but we don't believe that Canada will be the primary target. The Toronto Jaguars? Naw, just don't see that.

As for the Saints. Absolutely no way. At one point there was discussion about them relocating, back in the Katrina era, but that ain't happening now.

Either way, it is an interesting topic of discussion. So if you read this and are interested in discussing, then by all means: discuss.

They never made a video for this, but click on it and listen while you read the story, it will add to the effect. Plus it has Geddy Lee from Rush singing:

Happy 17th Birthday Jacksonville Jaguars...will you see many more?

The Crew at the Hyatt Bar-Dan flew back w/team

A good friend of mine reminded me what the folks in Jacksonville, Florida celebrate at this time every year. It's something I probably should forget, if for the simple fact that I was in the room when it happened.

That "it" was the announcement on November 30th, 1993 at the Hyatt O'Hare Airport hotel. That announcement was that the city of Jacksonville was getting an NFL football team.

At the time, I was still a struggling relative youngster in the TV business, and the story about the city of Jacksonville trying to get a team pretty much consumed my life for oh...a good six months or so. A non-stop slew of stories, most with Investigative reporter/football fan Michael Dillin on the group trying to get the team and at the time, how badly they were bungling the attempt.

They eventually, got the money man they needed, Wayne Weaver, to take control and they figured out how to get sentiment on their side with a creative marketing plan that tapped hard into the local media.

Still, they were on the outside looking in.

The 1st expansion meeting took place in early October. That's when Charlotte got their team. The owner's could come to an agreement on the other, due to the fact that all the remaining cities and groups had some holes in their presentations. Yes, we were there. And we left wondering if or what would happen.

We went back. Seven of us. Me, Jeff Imperial, Michael, Sports Dude Dan Hicken, Field Producer Mo Gordon...Rex Wells and Merle Metts drove up the Satellite Truck.

We knew something might be up the minute we walked into the hotel. A few of the reporters recognized us and said something to the extent of "Good Luck, we hear this may be a good trip for you". We all looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders.

A little later, we got an opportunity to interview the potential ownership group and someone from the NFL and we knew something was up. We didn't know what, but things were different than our last visit.

That next morning, the day of the meeting and vote was a blur. From Jeff finding the NFL Properties guy walking with a helmet to Michael and I finding both a Jacksonville and St. Louis background in the press announcement room...something was up.

It was around 1 or 1:30 in the afternoon when we knew. Dan was live on TV, turned and saw the Jacksonville group heading into the announcement room. He yelled at them "Did we get it?". Deron Cherry, a minority owner and the others, turned slightly, gave a "Thumbs Up" and walked into the room. From there it was on.

6 hours later, we finally shut the cameras down for the day. 6 hours later, we didn't realize what had happened. We finally got to sleep around 1am. We were on a plane out of O'Hare at 6am that morning and were carted directly to a rally with 40,000 people at the football stadium. Again...all a blur.

We wish the Jaguars a happy 17th birthday. We hope for the city and area's sake, that they have many, many more.

Here is a story that I did on the 1st Anniversary of the announcement. Yes, I shot an interview with a really old and somewhat scary version of myself too.

Just like a cat, the Jacksonville Jaguars have 9 Lives....With Gus on the Call

This is your Sunday play of the day. The dreaded Hail Mary at the end of the game never works. Does it?

Well, this one did. Here's the situation, 3 seconds to go, Jaguars and Texans tied at 24. Jacksonville has the ball on the 50 and there's one last play.

Without spoiling the moment, look at the video and enjoy the perfect person to call the play....our pal Gus Johnson...Hopefully it won't get pulled.

Thanks BSOUncut and YouTube:

Scobee Do, Scrappy Do... Jags Beat Colts At Buzzer

And all it took was a career-long field goal of 59 yards to get the job done.

The Jacksonville Jaguars matched Indy stride for stride all day at the gator Bowl, but Josh Scobee hits the game-winner and deserves to run off the field with his helmet raised high...

Nicely done...
Until it gets pulled...
((HT: NFL on CBS/Youtube))


Both teams are now 2-2...
Insert laughing and finger-pointing at all Indianapolis players...

Draft Day One: More Tebow; Is Jags Alualu A No-No...

((HT: Fox30/CBS47 Jacksonville))

Here's the local coverage of the Tebow draft by Denver and what is, probably, the gaffe of the opening round when the Jacksonville Jaguars- who really need butts in seats- went after a reach...

ActionnewsJax's Brent Martineau examines the local Tebow angle and understands folks aren't all that excited about a Pac-10 unknown...

Del Rio Staying In Jacksonville

((HT: ActionNewsJax.com))

FOSG Steve Wrigley reports that the meeting between Jags owner Wayne Weaver and head coach Jack Del Rio is over. The end result is that Del Rio will stay and not walk away from the last three years and $15-million on the contract.

USC AD Mike Garrett will now continue his fishing expedition...

Here's Wayne Weaver's press conference talking about Del Rio's non-exodus...
((HT: FirstCoastNews/NBC12-ABC25))

The Orlando Jaguars?

The owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wayne Weaver is apparently floating the idea of having his team play a couple of games in Orlando in upcoming seasons. A big reason he is floating the idea; attendance, or lack of it for games in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are having major problems selling out games, sometimes drawing as few as 46,000 people in their 66,000 seat stadium and having their home games blacked out.

More from the Florida Times-Union HERE.

((Wayne Weaver wants fans//Courtesy: Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union))

An interesting discussion. Having lived for a time in Jacksonville, I was actually there when they were awarded the team. The prevailing thought was that they were so football crazed in the River City, they would never have a problem with attendance.

What part of the problem is and nobody has mentioned this; they are now competing with the University of Florida. And quite honestly, people down there are choosing to spend there money in Gainesville. Much like the Atlanta area, North Florida is primarily College Football Territory and as much as they try, unless they have a winning product, people won't come. The Atlanta Falcons for years had the same problem, trying to compete with the University of Georgia. They finally realized they couldn't. They embraced UGA and put a good product on the field...boom...people showed up.

Whether the solution is Orlando...I don't know. I grew up in that area and though the population is big, it is transitory. There aren't a lot of people who live there that are from there. Who knows, maybe they would embrace the Jags, even if it were for just a game or two; my guess is they are just relocating the problem I just talked about. The hardcore football fan in Orlando...also will spend there money with the Gators. Just sayin'.

Eben Britton Is Pissed

((HT: Orlando Sentinel/Jim Nasella))

Arizona Offensive tackle Eben Britton is a large man.
At last check 6-5, 317 pounds worth of blocking madness...
Now, he just just a big, ol' ball of 2nd-Round hate.

"I couldn't be happier than to be picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars but I was [ticked] off," he said of not going until the second round. "There isn't a better organization that I could have asked for, but every team that passed on me will regret it for the rest of the history of their franchise."
The drop in the draft was just the latest in what Britton, a two-time captain at Arizona, says has caused him to play with a chip on his shoulder since childhood.

"I was always told I wasn't big enough, fast enough to play," Britton, 6-5, 317, said. "Well, the chip just got a little bigger and somebody's going to pay."
He said he also has an agenda entering the league.

"I want to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Super Bowl and I want to become the greatest tackle in the history of the NFL," he said.

Britton, who will probably wind up playing right tackle, apparently also has a chip on his shoulder with some draft experts who weren't too complimentary about his skills heading into the draft.

"You know what, if one of these draft guys lined up across from me they'd be dead, so that's not something I'm really concerned with. If you want to line up across from Eben Britton you're going to know what's happening to you, I guarantee you that."
KGUN-TV's Jake Knapp caught up with Britton Saturday.
Knapp got the G-Rated version of Britton's anger...

Breaking News: Matt Has The Jones For Jail

((HT: KFSM-TV))

Former Arkansas Razorback and current Jacksonville Jaguar wide receiver Matt Jones (([pictured, thanks KATV)) was back in Washington County Drug Court Monday afternoon with some bad news for the judge.

Jones told the Judge Mary Ann Gunn he had been drinking and playing golf on Thursday.

Jones is not supposed to drink while participating in the Drug Court Program. Jones told the Judge Gunn it was a bad decision. Judge Gunn told Jones she thought he was a good person and because of that he had to choose between a week in jail or entering a six weeks residential drug program.

She said he will also be set back in the program. After a short recess, Judge Gunn decided Jones will go to Washington County Jail until 8am Sunday morning. Gunn cut the jail sentence short so Jones could make Jaguar football practice.

From KHBS -TV 40/29:

((as we piece this together...))

Jones was called in for random drug test on February 27 as part of his treatment for being caught with cocaine.

The treatment center received the results late last week and tested positive for alcohol.
Jones was in court Monday to be sanctioned for using alcohol.

He admitted to a judge that he drank on Thursday, the day before the test, when he was playing golf with some of his friends.

The judge set his bond at $150,000.
If he does make bond, he'll have to go to treatment for six weeks.

More as we know more...

Charges Brought in Collier Shooting

((HT: Firstcoastnews WTLV/WJXX- Jacksonville))

There has been an arrest in the shooting of Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Reggie Collier. Saturday evening 32-year-old Tyrone Romaro Hartsfield was taken in to custody and was scheduled for his inital court appearance Sunday.

Police followed leads from witnesses and tracked Hartsfield's cell phone data to catch up with him.

Undersheriff Frank Mackesy says JSO treated this investigation like any other but all the attention did bring in tips that helped police.

"It will all come out in the right time, right now is not the right time but what I will say is that some of the Crime Stoppers tips that did come in, paralleled the information we already had in the investigation," Mackesy said.

The September 2nd shooting left Collier paralyzed from the waist down. He also lost part of his leg below the knee due to an infection.

From Gary Detmer's article on firstcoastnews.com

"...after the shooting, police started looking into that April fight. Last week Hartsfield told our news partner, The Florida Times-Union, that he wasn't involved in the shooting. "I wouldn't dare go after no one," Hartsfield said.

Hartsfield has a lengthy criminal history, including numerous drug and weapons charges. He was found guilty of Battery on a School Board Employee. He was also charged with Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Woman, but charges were later dropped.

Hartsfield was booked into the Duval County Jail, where he remains with no bond."

First Coast's Ashley Coleman was present for Hartsfield's court appearance. She reports that the hearing lasted less than a minute, and that Hartsfield is being appointed a public defender. One of Hartsfield's family members told First Coast that Hartsfield was being "falsely accused."

CBS47's coverage is below...

Richard Collier Update

The news isn't good from Shands-Jacksonville hospital on the condition of Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier...

From Leslie Coursey at cbs47.com in Jacksonville...

"Nearly a month after Richard Collier was shot in Riverside, doctors now say the Jaguars Offensive Lineman is paralyzed. Doctors also say they had to amputate his left leg, and that he will never play football again.

Collier was rushed to the hospital with 14 bullet wounds on the morning of September 2nd. He was shot while sitting in his S.U.V. Police say he was the target of the attack, but have yet to identify a suspect.

To help police, Jaguars players and Crimestoppers are offering a $26,000 reward for any information that may lead to an arrest."

Steve Patterson's in-depth coverage from the Florida Times-Union is in black...

CBS47's coverage with Coursey is below...