The Jaguars' historic win at EverBank Field against Houston on November 24 is being recognized as one of the top plays in sports for 2010. David Garrard's 50-yard Hail Mary pass to Mike Thomas is one of 16 "Best Play" nominations for an ESPY. ESPN will air the annual awards show on Wednesday, July 13 in Los Angeles. Fans can vote here: http://espn.go.com/espn/espys/?ov=bestplay#!/voting/.
The play marked only the fourth time in NFL history that a regular season game ended on a game-winning touchdown pass of 50 yards or more with no time remaining, and the first time the home team was the winner.
Busy time ahead for Del Rio
Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio will be spending the next two weeks on the west coast, doing charity work with his foundation for his former high school and competing in a celebrity golf event.
Del Rio has been actively involved with the Hayward High School Football Alumni group for several years. The group has raised funds to pay for a new weight room, uniforms and team travel to road games while also supporting academics by establishing a study hall and tutoring program. Later this week, the Jack Del Rio Foundation will distribute 100 Jaguars backpacks full of school supplies to more than 100 athletes at the school.
Del Rio will participate for the third consecutive year in the American Century Celebrity Golf Championships from July 12-17 at Lake Tahoe. The event is played at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course and will be televised by Versus and NBC.
Del Rio is joining more than 80 sports and entertainment stars at the event. Celebrities scheduled to appear include Tim Tebow, Steve Spurrier, Ray Romano, Michael Jordan, Emmitt Smith, Charles Barkley, Tony Romo, Jason Kidd, Jerry Rice, Matt Ryan, Joe Theismann and Ken Whisenhunt.
Did you know?
Every positional coach on the Jaguars 2011 coaching staff played college football and there are six former college head coaches on the staff.
Trades under Gene Smith
Gene Smith is in his third season as the Jaguars general manager and senior vice president, player personnel. Smith has been busy reshuffling the roster and has put the focus back on drafting and developing players. All 15 players from his first two drafts remain with the club, and he added five players in the 2011 draft including quarterback Blaine Gabbert with the 10th overall pick.
Smith and his staff made several trades the last three years to acquire additional draft picks and players. Here's a closer look at the club's trades from 2009-11:
2009
4/9/09 – DT Tony McDaniel to Miami for Miami's 7th (232)-round selection. Jaguars later traded pick 232 to New England.
4/26/09 – Jaguars traded Miami's 7th (232)-round selection and Jacksonville's 2010 2nd (44)-round selection to New England for Green Bay's 3rd (73, CB Derek Cox)-round selection. New England selected WR Julian Edelman with pick 232.
9/6/09 – Jaguars' 2010 7th (217)-round selection to Tampa Bay for QB Luke McCown.
2010
4/23/10 – DE Quentin Groves to Oakland for Dallas' 5th (158)-round selection. Jaguars later traded that selection to New Orleans for 2011 4th (121)-round selection.
4/23/10 – Jaguars' 4th (108)-round selection to Oakland for LB Kirk Morrison and New England's 5th (153, DE Austen Lane)-round selection. Oakland selected WR Jacoby Ford.
4/23/10 – Jaguars traded Dallas' 5th (158)-round pick to New Orleans for New Orleans' 2011 4th (121, S Chris Prosinksi)-round selection. New Orleans selected C Matt Tennant.
2011
4/28/11 – Jaguars' 1st (16) and 2nd (49)-round selections to Washington for Washington's 1st (10, QB Blaine Gabbert)-round selection. Washington selected LB Ryan Kerrigan with selection 16, and traded selection 49 to Indianapolis, who selected OT Ben Ijalana.
4/29/11 – Jaguars' 3rd (80) and 6th (182)-round selections to San Francisco for San Francisco's 3rd (76, G/C Will Rackley)-round selection. San Francisco selected DB Chris Culliver and WR Ronald Johnson.
