Justin Blackmon was the first wide receiver drafted in 2012. (USATSI)
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Two years ago, the Jaguars took wide receiver Justin Blackmon fifth overall. The hope was that he would give quarterback Blaine Gabbert, drafted 10th overall the year before, a legit downfield target.
It never happened; Gabbert was traded to the 49ers in March for a sixth-round pick, and the NFL suspended Blackmon indefinitely last November for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. On Friday, Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell didn't sound optimistic that Blackmon would play in 2014 either.
"It's not something we're counting on," Caldwell said, via Mark Long of the Associated Press.
The team has had little contact with Blackmon, and for coach Gus Bradley that means "we've got to get some guys in here at the position."
Blackmon was considered the best wideout in the 2012 draft class, but the on-field praise came with off-field concerns. Barely a month after he was drafted, Blackmon was arrested on DUI charges. And he missed the first four games of the 2013 season for a previous substance-abuse violation.
While an indefinite suspension is, by definition, open-ended, previous suspensions have, in general, been lifted after eight games. That would mean Blackmon would be available to the Jags to start 2014, but Caldwell would be "relatively surprised" if the wideout returned at any point next season.
In 20 games from 2012-13, Blackmon ha 93 receptions for 1,280 yards and six touchdowns, numbers made even more impressive when you consider that the Jags had one of the league's worst offenses over that span.
As it stands, Jacksonville's wide receiver depth chart includes Cecil Shorts and Ace Sanders, followed by Denard Robinson and Mike Brown. Put another way: That's one proven starter and some guys with upside. The draft is deep at wide receiver so the team will almost certainly look to add depth at the position next week, though it probably won't happen in the first round.
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Giants QB Manning to miss spring activities
Recovering from ankle surgery in April, quarterback Eli Manning isn't expected to participate in any of the Giants spring activities. General Manager Jerry Reese stated Friday that the team's quarterback should, however, be ready for training camp when it opens in July. "Obviously, he's coming off an ankle injury and he's going to be out of spring ball," Reese said. "He's going to get back when he gets back, but we're not going to rush him back. We want him for the summer. We know he'll be back in the summer, so that's important to us. So if he can do something in the spring, we'd obviously have him out there, but we're not going to rush him back."Manning is coming off his worst season to date. His 18 touchdowns and 27 interceptions were career worsts, since taking over as the team's full-time starter in 2005. Manning has led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles, in 2007-08 and 2011-12.
Manning was, in a word, awful in 2013. This surgery and subsequent rehab/recovery period can't be good for the work he needs to put in with his flock of receivers. With Hakeem Nicks off to Indianapolis, WR Victor Cruz is the main receiving target that Manning has returning in 2014. He's only got room to improve, coming off of last year. However, with new weapons and not as much time to get used to them, Manning doesn't look like a promising fantasy option in 2014. He won't repeat last year's debacle, but he won't be someone you'll want as your main guy. For a two-time Super Bowl winning QB, it's sad to say, but Manning is probably going to head into 2014 ranked outside the top 20. He was the 21st signal-caller off the board in a recent FFWC $99 Draft-n-Go Slow Draft.
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