Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
Does anyone wonder whether Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon is getting tired of saying, “I’m sorry?”
It all started when Blackmon was at Oklahoma State and was arrested on a DUI charge. He gave the obligatory apology, later telling reporters he had been “humbled” by what happened.
Fast forward to last year, about five weeks after the Jaguars traded up in the draft with Tampa Bay and selected Blackmon with the fifth overall pick in the draft.
Back in Oklahoma, Blackmon was again arrested for a DUI and reportedly had two blood-alcohol readings of 0.24 and 0.26, which is three times the legal limit of 0.08.
A few days later, naturally, Blackmon again apologized, uttering with utmost sincerity, “That’s not who I am, that’s not who I’m going to be.”
Really? Well, then, who are you? What are you?
Especially cogent questions after Blackmon was suspended last week for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse.
The specific violation isn’t known, but there was no suspension after the incident last June, although it’s likely he entered the league testing program after pleading guilty in July to a charge of aggravated DUI. He received a one-year deferred sentence and was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.
Under new management that wasn’t involved in the selection of Blackmon, they certainly weren’t pleased to have this fall in their lap three days after the draft.
Said general manager David Caldwell, “It’s very disappointing. We understand this isn’t all going to be on an upward trend and we’re going to have setbacks. To be honest, things like this are frustrating because it’s an avoidable situation.
“Coach (Gus) Bradley and I have spoken with Justin, and he is well aware of our disappointment. I don’t think there is any question that Justin is embarrassed and remorseful, and coach Bradley and I are both confident he understands the obligations ahead of him, to himself, the franchise and the fans.
“We will support him throughout the process and continue to work to educate him and all of our players on making the right decisions. The Jaguars have made a lot of progress over the past three months, and we will not allow this news to slow us down.”
How many times, though, does it take to be “embarrassed and remorseful,” before deciding to make sure you won’t be “embarrassed and remorseful” again?
In a statement issued by the Jaguars, Blackmon said, “I’ve made a mistake and I have no excuse. I am truly sorry and disappointed in myself for putting the Jaguars in this situation, and I look forward to putting this behind me and maturing and growing as a person.
“I will have a productive training camp and preseason with my team, and during the suspension I will work hard to stay in top football shape and be ready to help the Jaguars when I return. I have chosen to be accountable for my poor decision, and I sincerely apologize to my teammates, coaches, the front office and Jaguars fans for the impact of my mistake on the team.”
Huh? He has chosen to be accountable for his poor decision? As if there was a choice involved. Will he suddenly mature and grow as a person?
The Jaguars now have a player that could be suspended for a full year with one more misstep. We’ll learn soon enough just how accountable he plans to be.
The Sanchez Conundrum
For two-plus seasons, quarterback Mark Sanchez played fairly decent football for the New York Jets. The team advanced to the AFC Championship Game in his first two seasons, and Sanchez engineered some stirring comebacks. He certainly experienced growing pains, but offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was doing a solid job of bring him along.
But things fell apart late in the 2011 season. The Jets were 8-5 entering the final three games of the season, but ended the year with three losses and out of the playoffs. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes, inexplicably named a captain by coach Rex Ryan, divided the locker room and the result wasn’t shocking.
Of course, Schottenheimer was deemed the scapegoat, and was replaced by Tony Sparano. Brilliant.
In a new offense, along with having the distraction of Tim Tebow, Sanchez regressed even more, and became the focal point of criticism. Sparano was fired after the 2012 season and replaced by former Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. To get a head start on the offense, Sanchez worked with former quarterback Jeff Garcia prior to the start of the offseason program.
And then the Jets selected Geno Smith in the second round of the draft. The circus never closes with the Jets when it comes to bizarre personnel decisions.
ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer believes Sanchez’s play last year was directly traced to Spranao. Dilfer told ESPNNewYork.com bring in Sparano was “the worst hire ever. I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, are you kidding me?’ You’re talking about a defense-centric, offense-minimalizing coach. It made you want to throw up in your mouth.
“He (Sanchez) was locked up from his brain to his toes. A cluttered mind equals a slow body. That’s how he played. It tells you something else was going on upstairs.”
Dilfer believes Mornhinweg has a chance of being good for Sanchez. He said, “If anyone can get him out of that, it’s Marty.”
But it won’t be easy. And might be harder now looking over his shoulder at Smith. Said Dilfer, “The demons might be too loud, they might be too much to overcome. But at least now the guy has a chance. I thought Marty was one of the best hires in a long time.”
Reggie’s Goal
Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne will be 35 in November, and he wants to be the 13th player in league history to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season at the age of 35. Last season, Wayne had 106 catches for 1,355 yards.
For the record, 12 players 35 years or older have reached 1,000 yards 16 times.
Said Wayne, “I’m going to put that list in my locker. I thrive off that. That’s what fuels me, motivates me. Not everybody can do that.”
