TAMPA - It seems unlikely the image of a running back bearing down on him will bring too much fear to Jets veteran linebacker Marvin Jones.
Through 10 seasons Jones has seen it all, felt it all, experienced it all. But what he did Thursday at the Florida Aquarium has put him in rare company. How many NFL players have swam with sharks?
"Being in the cage and watching how the sharks move around was a great experience," Jones said. "It was definitely an adrenaline rush."
As part of the Marvin Jones Charitable Foundation, Jones hosted 40 children from Tampa, New York and New Jersey's Boys and Girls Clubs on a three-day weekend in the bay area. The children visited the Florida Aquarium and Busch Gardens and spent time fishing.
"It's an academic-incentive program for the kids from all over," the former Florida State standout said. "It's a reward for their academic efforts. For some of these kids, they have never been out of New York, much less to an aquarium."
Jones, a certified diver who has dived in exotic locations such as Thailand and Indonesia, said he was, for the most part, comfortable in the tank.
"Well, there came a point when they wanted to take pictures and they had to keep the sharks in check and maneuver the sharks (into the frames)," said Jones, who has an offseason home on St. Pete Beach. "That was a little (risky). I was leaning over just enough (to be in the picture)."
Jones is expected to be in Japan with the Jets when they play the Bucs in a preseason game Aug.2.
PASS THE SALAD: Speaking of Jets defenders, newly signed defensive tackle Chester McGlockton, who played with the Broncos last season, is going to have his work cut out for him over the next six weeks.
The Jets refused to reveal his weight, but McGlockton reportedly weighed close to 375 pounds, well over his listed 335.
When pressed by reporters for McGlockton's weight, coach Herman Edwards said, "It's up there. He's a huge man."
McGlockton, who signed a one-year deal worth $780,000, apparently will not accompany the team to Japan.
And despite making four Pro Bowl appearances, McGlockton won't participate in full-scale workouts when the Jets open training camp Monday.
"He doesn't want to embarrass himself or embarrass the team," Edwards told reporters in New York. "It's not like big guys like to go out running, last time I checked. We won't rush him. We have until opening day."
McGlockton, who will be 34 this year, owns several fast-food chains in Denver.
THAT'S GOTTA HURT: Orlando Magic general manager John Gabriel, credited for the signing of perma-injured forward Grant Hill, can breathe a sigh of relief. He isn't the only executive who made a really bad call.
Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly is right there with him.
Left tackle Tony Boselli, who the Texans selected with their first pick of the expansion draft last year, announced his retirement because his chronically sore left shoulder is showing no improvement.
Like perennial All-Star Hill, Boselli, 31, was a five-time Pro Bowl selection with the Jaguars before joining the Texans. Since then he has had two surgeries. All told he has had three operations and played in three games in two seasons. In 2002 Boselli practiced once before the opener and five weeks later was on injured reserve.
The 6-7, 332-pounder, who appeared to be making progress and participated in a minicamp in May, counted for $7.55-million on the team's salary cap last season. He recently restructured his deal to count for $3-million this season and next, the Houston Chronicle reported.
NO MORE TICKETS: How much has quarterback Michael Vick meant to the Falcons? Well, in consecutive years the Falcons have sold out all the regular-season home games.
In a trend similar to what has happened in Tampa Bay in the past five years, Falcons hysteria is catching on and will become progressively harder for visiting fans, like those from the bay area, to dominate the Georgia Dome, as has happened in the past.
Last week the Falcons placed the last single-game tickets for sale, and about 1,000 of them were gone in about 26 minutes, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. The team has sold a club-record 61,000 season tickets.
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
