Receiver Dennis Northcutt was traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Detroit Lions today. In exchange, the Lions send 24-year-old safety Gerald Alexander to the Jags. It’s no surprise that Dennis was traded because his availability was made known earlier this week.
The Lions get a smart, veteran receiver who actually led the Jags in catches last season with 44 (for 545 yards). Dennis will provide depth at the receiver position and he’ll be a reliable target (who knows his way around opposing defenses) for either Daunte Culpepper or Matthew Stafford.
Source: ESPN.com

As expected, the Jacksonville Jags signed free agent receiver Torry Holt to a three-year deal worth about $20 million today. Sure, Torry is 32-years-old, but he’s a seven-time Pro Bowl player who gives the Jags their best, most-established, go-to receiver since Jimmy Smith. If Torry comes close to producing the same kind of numbers as Jimmy, the Jags will consider themselves very lucky.
As far as I’m concerned, Torry’s got six-to-eight more years left in his career. You can’t base an opinion on his production — or lack thereof — with the Rams last season (64 catches, 796 yards, three TDs). …read more

The Jacksonville Jaguars expressed their devotion to running back Maurice Jones-Drew today by giving him a four-year extension worth $32 million ($17.5 guaranteed). In the process, they announced very clearly that his days of sharing the spotlight at the running back position were over. Former teammate Fred Taylor chose to finish his career in New England so MJD is now the Jags’ go-to guy.
With next season (2010) scheduled to have no salary cap, the Jags really could’ve forced Maurice to spend a number of consecutive years as a restricted free agent, something he obviously would’ve wanted to avoid. So, to …read more

Tonight on Dhani Tackles the Globe (9 p.m. ET, Travel Channel), the location is Spain. And the sport is called jai alai. Jai alai consists of 24 different games. Cesta Punta is one of the 24 games. Cesta Punta has two meanings — instrument (gear), which is one of the four models of Chistera — the long, narrow, curved wicker basket that incorporates a glove. The second meaning is the name of the game played with such gear mentioned above. The Basque sport is similar to the America’s Squash. Watch as Dhani “dodges death.”
About Dhani Tackles the Globe
Dhani Jones will …read more

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The Jacksonville Jags released running back Fred Taylor today. I wasn’t surprised and I’m sure Fred wasn’t, either. He hasn’t been the team’s number one running back for several seasons and didn’t fit with the team’s ongoing, offseason facelift. So after 11 years in Jacksonville, Fred was given his walking papers. It’s difficult to see this happen — especially when the guy has been such a good player for one team for so long. But I can understand why the decision was made. And apparently, it wasn’t about the money. Fred is 33-years-old and was …read more

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It’s been a really bad season for the Jacksonville Jags. Not only are they playing some of the worst football in their recent history, the Jags are a mess off-the-field as well. Most troubling was when offensive lineman Richard Collier was tragically shot, taking his leg and ending his pro football career. That’s enough to ruin any team’s season. Now, Jag’s top receiver Matt Jones (65 catches, 761 yards, two touchdowns) has been officially suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Head coach Jack Del Rio issued the following brief statement …read more

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Here’s a great story on former Jacksonville Jags offensive lineman Richard Collier that was on ESPN’s Outside the Lines yesterday morning. I realize he lost a leg in this terrible crime, but because of the adversity he’s already been through in his life, I believe “Big Rich” will find a way to walk again.

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Not surprisingly, Jacksonville Jags leading receiver Matt Jones has been suspended three games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The suspension comes a week after Matt was accepted into a drug treatment program that could erase a felony cocaine charge against him. Matt has to participate in NFL-sponsored substance-abuse counseling and random drug testing through the end of the football season. Then he’ll have to complete the intervention program. I think he’s lucky to get three games. We’re not dealing with an over-the-counter supplement here. Sure, he pleaded not guilty to the felony drug …read more

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Jacksonville Jags receiver Matt Jones’ cocaine charge will be heard in drug court rather than in the regular criminal system, allowing him to keep any conviction off his record. If you’ll recall, Matt was to have gone on trial this Friday for his July 10 arrest when a Fayetteville police officer saw him inside a car allegedly cutting up cocaine with a credit card. Well, prosecutor John Threet said his office reached an agreement with Matt yesterday to send the case to drug court. Matt still could be suspended by the NFL under the league’s …read more

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Jacksonville Jags offensive lineman Richard Collier is in critical but stable condition after he was shot numerous times early this morning. Apparently, he and a former Jacksonville teammate (Kenneth Pettway) were waiting for two women they had met at a nightclub when a gunman fired into the Cadillac Escalade they were in. The motive behind the attack was unknown and the sheriff’s office was investigating. Jags owner Wayne Weaver released the following statement today:
“We’re shocked and deeply saddened by this morning’s news about Richard Collier. We have been informed that Richard has had surgery and …read more