Put me in, coach
It’s normal to walk through the Jaguars locker room on any given day and hear players talking about other sports, especially the current NBA Playoffs. Several players put on the general manager hat and selected their starting five for the Jaguars if they were in the NBA.
Greg Estandia –Marcedes Lewis would be in there. Richard Angulo would definitely come off the bench. He would be just like he is on the football field, just a workhorse guy. He would come off the bench and give us energy. If we had to pick a center then it would definitely be big John (Henderson). Rashean (Mathis) is good at everything so I assume he’s good at basketball as well. Rashean would be our point guard or forward. Scotty Starks is pretty good. He would do a pretty good job of bringing the ball up the court. We would bring Vince Manuwai off the bench. Nobody would be in the paint. They would take all outside shots.
Joe Zelenka – If I am going to coach the starting five then I want a lot of meat on the court with some muscle. Vince Manuwai is running my point and I have Tony Pashos at my power forward. I am going to put Brad Meester at the shooting guard. Big John (Henderson) will be in the middle and he will just clean the boards. We are going to play more of a half-court, power basketball game. We are not going to run and gun. Vic Ketchman is my three man. He’s got the distance and he can shoot. He’s money. My guy to come off the bench and stop a spurt, the hustler would be a blast from the past; I am going to call on Mike Hollis. I want the shortest player ever in Jaguars history to come in and stop the spurts.
Reggie Hayward – Big Hen (John Henderson) would be the center. I would definitely run the four. Rashean could run the point. We would put Marcedes (Lewis) at the three. He wants to be a two because he wants to be Kobe. I like Clint Ingram at shooting guard because all he is going to do is shoot. Hold on. We are going to put Scotty (Starks) at the one, Rashean at the two and (Greg) Estandia at the five because he’s 6-8. The player/coach would be me.
John Henderson – I would be the starter at the five. We would go with Scotty (Starks) at point and I like Rashean (Mathis) at shooting guard. (Reggie) Hayward would be my four and Greg Estandia at the three.
Greg Jones – I like Rashean (Mathis) at the two. David (Garrard) can play so I like him at the one. Marcedes (Lewis) will be at the four and Clint (Ingram) at the three. Big John (Henderson) is at the five. I’m coming off the bench all day.
Clint Ingram – (Brian) Iwuh is my point guard. Marcedes Lewis is my two guard. Big John (Henderson) and Reggie Hayward would be down low. I need those boys for the inside game. Rashean (Mathis) is my three. Maurice Jones-Drew is my guy off the bench.
Trivia question
Who is the tallest player on the Jaguars roster?
Walk with the quarterback a success
Jaguars quarterback David Garrard served as the Honorary Chair of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Take Steps Walk last night at Metropolitan Park. The event included live music, refreshments and other activities.
The participants enjoyed a two-mile walk with Garrard through the park and helped raise money for research of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and other painful and often debilitating chronic digestive diseases that affect over 1.4 million Americans. Garrard was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2004, but he returned to field by the start of the 2004 season.
Thursday’s walk is one of 80 walk sites across the country where people will gather to help in the fight against digestive diseases. More than 30,000 participants walked together and raised more than $6 million dollars in 2008.
Supporting the family
Quarterback Todd Bouman is traveling to Atlanta this weekend to watch the University of Iowa women’s softball team compete in the NCAA Tournament.
Todd’s brother, Shane, is in his second season as the pitching coach for the Hawkeyes. Shane previously served as head coach at South Dakota State and left as the winningest coach in school history. The Hawkeyes open play on Friday against Auburn at 5:00 p.m.
Five questions with tight end Greg Estandia
You just named your starting five if the Jaguars had a basketball team. What would be the coaching philosophy?
“We would run a motion offense, motion high-low. We are athletic.”
You were a standout basketball player at Moorpark High School in California. Did you have dreams of playing in college?
“Basketball was what I was more known for in high school, but it was more of something to just do in the offseason for me. Football was always my number one growing up, since I was seven years old. I did both since I was seven and I would do basketball and baseball in the offseason. Football season was always my favorite time.”
Do you watch much football when you are not playing?
“Every once in a while I will catch a classic game on NFL Network. I don’t really watch it. I will watch a game if we have a bye week and I will watch a tight end like Tony Gonzalez or Jason Witten or one of those guys.”
You have had the opportunity to take batting practice with the Jacksonville Suns, North Florida and tonight you are heading to Jacksonville University. Do you enjoy testing your skills at another sport?
“It brings back a lot of memories from when I played baseball. I played baseball from when I was five years old all the way through my senior year of high school. I was always a pitcher but I always had the power when I came up to bat. It is so much fun to go out there and get a nice straight ball coming at me. It’s a lot different when it’s moving. I have so much respect for those hitters in major league baseball. I think it’s one of the hardest things to do in all of sports to hit a baseball that is moving going mid-90s.”
You came into the NFL the hard way as an undrafted rookie. You were originally signed by Cincinnati and but you were waived before you even stepped on the field. Does your route to the NFL make you appreciate being here even more?
“I do appreciate what I do. Even if I was a high draft pick, I would be hungry but because of the way I came in that hunger is just intensified more. I knew no matter what that I could play in this league. All I needed was an opportunity and that is what I was so concerned about. It’s all about opportunity. The Jaguars took a chance on me.”
Reggie Nelson to host bowling event in his mother’s honor
Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson is hosting the inaugural Mary Lakes Invitational Bowl Against Breast Cancer on June 27 at Orange Park Bowl America. The event was created in memory of Nelson’s mother, Mary, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2006. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the North Florida affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and help provide breast health education and services in North Florida.
For more information, please visit www.komennorthflorida.org or call Tamara Krause at (904) 448-7446 or email tkrause@komennorthflorida.org.
Baseball fever
Several Jaguars will be in attendance at tonight’s baseball game between Jacksonville University and Dallas Baptist at John Session Stadium. Long snapper Joe Zelenka will throw out the first pitch prior to the 6:30 start. Defensive end Mkristo Bruce and tight end Greg Estandia will take batting practice with the team and then join Zelenka for the pregame festivities.
Trivia answer
Tight ends Greg Estandia and Richard Angulo both stand 6-8.
Tidbits
Offensive lineman Uche Nwaneri visited Mandarin Middle School Wednesday to reward students for their work in the Super Bowl of Caring Program. The program raises money for Second Harvest Food Bank … Offensive linemen Tony Pashos, Drew Miller and Vince Manuwai spoke to an assembly of more than 200 students at Grove Park Elementary on Monday … Tight end Greg Estandia, quarterback Paul Smith, wide receiver Nate Hughes and tight end Charles Davis participated in the St. Pius V. Catholic School Field Day on Friday morning.