QB derby gets hotter for Jaguars

By Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 27, 2003

---

JACKSONVILLE - The Jaguars got Byron Leftwich, and nobody was happier about it than Wayne Weaver.

"We've solved our quarterback position for the next 10 years," the team owner gushed.

Jacksonville picked Leftwich seventh in Saturday's draft after the Vikings, original owners of the seventh pick, let the clock run out.

Weaver might be right, but the next 10 months should be much more interesting.

Coming soon in Jacksonville: The Great Quarterback Debate.

The stars: Leftwich, a 6-foot-5, 241 pounder from Marshall; David Garrard, a fourth-round pick last year who was supposed to be the starter of the future; and Mark Brunell, an 11th-year veteran who always has hoped to finish his career in Jacksonville.

Naturally, the Jaguars, under new management, are spinning this as a success story with no downside.

"Mark Brunell is under contract," first-year coach Jack Del Rio said. "We like Mark Brunell. We like David. We like all our quarterbacks. We're in an enviable situation. Most teams are lucky to have one or two quarterbacks. We have three who can play."

Quite often, that spells trouble.

Brunell has made his feelings known. He was working on a contract extension, only to see negotiations stall this month.

"We're still working on that, and we'll see how it goes," Weaver said.

Brunell was in California and not available for comment, but last week he said, "I'd hope you'd pick somebody with the team's best interests in mind to help the Jaguars win in 2003. There's no waiting around."

The Jaguars could cut Brunell without major salary cap consequences. He has two years left on his deal. If they keep him, it presumably would be as a starter who would tutor Leftwich, though Del Rio wouldn't confirm any timetables.

"That would be irresponsible," he said. "We want competition at all positions. The best player is going to play. The best backup is going to back up."

The Jaguars have holes at receiver and offensive line but Leftwich was the highest-rated player on their draft board when their pick came up.

"We looked at him as an elite player," personnel executive James Harris said of Leftwich. "We took the player because he was just too good to pass up."

Leftwich said he was thrilled the Jaguars picked him and he wasn't thinking about starting, being second string or anything else yet.

"I'm so happy, I can't think that far down the line," Leftwich said. "I'm just ready to come and be a part of the organization."

Also now part of the organization is Rashean Mathis, a defensive back out of Bethune-Cookman.

Mathis (6-1, 202) had 14 interceptions for the Wildcats last season and won the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in Division I-AA. Harris said Mathis was the best player left on Jacksonville's board and fills a need in its secondary.

Jacksonville took Hawaii guard Vincent Manuwai (6-2, 304) in the third round, 73rd overall.

Britain's Don eliminates world-class competition

Rant, Rave

Floridian a step ahead of field

Top 10 list missing a U.S. man's name

Arena football

Long way back to Storm

Autos

Epicenter of NASCAR change

Kenseth keeps Cup regulars atop BGN

Baseball

AL: Botched bunt blessing for K.C.

Bad elbow flares up on Burnett

NL: Late power lifts Montreal again

Gwynn reasserts drug-use claim

Colleges

Mitchell, UM have day to remember

Golf

Couples spends 3rd day on top

Horses

Frankel starts Derby week with a victory

In brief

Experience negligible as Danes upset U.S.

NFL

After top three, draft day belongs to defensive players

NFL Draft

Dolphins pick size on first day

QB derby gets hotter for Jaguars

NHL

Another overtime goal gives Anaheim 2-0 lead

Outdoors

Daily fishing report

Preps

Balanced Chargers repeat

Chiefs focus on eight more wins

Doubles matches doom Lecanto

Lions find the answers

Patriots can't hold lead, stop Falcons

Three area lifters place

Tennis

A return to No.1 for Agassi

Your turn

Letters: Marketing is part of golf world

Bats and Zambrano team up for gutsy win

Lee nears return to hit-and-miss lineup

Got a minute ... with Toby Hall

Rays tales

Rays to play odds in draft

Difficult life leads to NFL promise

NFL: Glazers can buy Dodgers

Bucs just can't pass on Simms

Walker arrested after Ybor scuffle

Wyms may make move to make room for White

Division rivals bulking up to take run at Bucs

Tied, then denied

Langenbrunner joins litany of surprise scorers

Lecavalier vanishes first, then stumbles

Sound bites

NHL

Slapshots