It wouldn't be accurate to say it was hot when the Jaguars practiced late this afternoon. Let's just say that if it's this hot on the opening day of the season, when the Jaguars host the Pittsburgh Steelers, the humane society might have the Jaguars arrested if they make the Steelers wear their black jerseys.
Why might that thought make coach Tom Coughlin chuckle?
"We practice in this and we've got to make it a mental thing we count on in those games in September," Coughlin said following this afternoon's practice.
Temperatures were conservatively estimated to have been in the mid-90s today and yesterday, with the heat index in the 110 area. Of course, the Steelers will open the season at one o'clock on Sept. 9 at Alltel Stadium. It almost sounds frightening.
Backup quarterback Jamie Martin practiced for the second consecutive day. "Jamie had two good days in a row. He's pushing off that foot real well," Coughlin said.
Safety Carnell Lake (hamstring) also practiced, giving rise to the belief he'll play in Thursday's preseason game against the Giants. If he plays, it will be Lake's first action since the AFC title game on Jan. 23, 2000.
"It's really a matter of strength and confidence now," Coughlin said of Lake's hamstring, which had sidelined the veteran since the second day of training camp.
In other news, the Jaguars announced they have waived rookie fullback Dustin McClintock, and have replaced him on the roster with tight end/long-snapper Joe Zelenka, a third-year player from Wake Forest.
Vic Ketchman is the Senior Editor of Jaguars Inside Report, the official team newspaper of the Jacksonville Jaguars. One-year subscriptions may be purchased by calling 1-888-846-5247.
