The Jacksonville Jaguars have no room to complain about the 2011 schedule and the amount of TV time they will receive throughout the season. The national exposure begins in the preseason and continues in the regular season.
The Jaguars are slated to play on four of the NFL's five television networks including three nationally televised prime time games in the regular season. In the previous 10 seasons, the franchise played in three prime time games only once, in 2008.
The prime time exposure kicks off in week two of the preseason with a road game at Atlanta on August 19 which will be televised on FOX at 8 p.m.
The Jaguars will host two Monday night games at EverBank Field on ESPN, against Baltimore (Oct. 24) and San Diego (Dec. 5), for only the third time in franchise history. The Jaguars were undefeated in the two previous seasons, 1998 and 2006, in which they played two home Monday night games.
Playing on Monday night is nothing new for the Jaguars. It will mark the fifth time in the last six seasons the Jaguars will host a Monday night game and the 14th time overall.
TV guide
The Jaguars are scheduled to play 11 games on CBS, two on FOX, two on ESPN and one on NFL Network. In prime time games the Jaguars have appeared on ESPN more than any other network and they own an 8-8 mark in 16 ESPN games. The 16 games include nine on Sunday night, five on Monday and two on Thursday.
History on Thursday night
History will be made in 2011 for the Jaguars as they play their first road Thursday night game in team history. The Jaguars travel to Atlanta on Thursday, December 15 for a game nationally televised on NFL Network. It marks only the fifth Thursday night game in franchise history and third in the last four seasons.
Williams in Broadcast Boot Camp
Former Jaguars offensive lineman Maurice Williams is one of 16 former NFL players who will participate in the 2011 NFL Broadcast Boot Camp which runs from June 20-23 at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. Williams was a second-round draft pick of the Jaguars in 2001 and played nine seasons for the franchise.
This year's camp will have an interesting twist as event directors will select a top performer to serve as a studio analyst for a 2011 NFL regular season Sunday on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. Of the 90 players who took part in the camp from 2007-10, 36 have already earned broadcasting jobs and many as a result of their participation in the program.
Busy offseason for Garrard
Quarterback David Garrard has been busy outside of football with several community events to benefit children in Jacksonville and his hometown of Durham, North Carolina. For the second straight year, Garrard hosted the Fishing for the Cure, Gamefish & Gridiron event at the Conch House Marina in St. Augustine to raise money for his foundation.
Garrard was joined by several teammates including cornerback Derek Cox last week in Durham for his annual "Air it Out" Football Summer camp at Southern High School. More than 400 children participated in the camp. Garrard and Cox also spent time visiting children at the North Carolina Children's Hospital.
Podlesh honored by high school
Jaguars punter Adam Podlesh was inducted into the Pittsford Schools Athletic Hall of Fame this week. Podlesh was a three year letterman as a punter, fullback and linebacker at Pittsford Sutherland High School. He also competed in track where posted the fastest 200-meter (21.58) and 400-meter times (50.5) in the state as a junior. He earned a scholarship to Maryland where he was a four-time All-ACC selection before he was drafted in the fourth round by the Jaguars in 2007.
Lewis to hold third annual football camp
Tight end Marcedes Lewis is hosting his third annual free football camp this weekend at Long Beach State University. Lewis has been actively involved with the community in his hometown since being drafted in the first round in 2006. He established the Marcedes Lewis Foundation in 2009 to support youth by awarding scholarships to those who wouldn't be able to participate in sports without financial assistance. He eventually wants to send a local child to college on a full scholarship on an annual basis.
NFL 101 Workshop for Women
It's your last chance to participate in the NFL 101 Workshop for Women for 2011 as the final session will be held on Thursday, June 23 at PRI Productions. Jaguars special teams coach Russ Purnell will be one of the featured speakers at the event. Interested parties should contact Rabiah Hickey at (904) 398-8179 or visit priproductions.com for more information.
