Fred Taylor is a bust . . . in Canton

Hey, great story Mike. But just because you got it right with Fred Taylor doesn't mean you got it right with the 3rd basketball arena for the Magic.

Never forget that the only reason Alex Martin changed the name from Basketball Arena to "Event Center" was because I raised the issue of a retractable-roof stadium being a superior solution/idea.

Fred Taylor has had a superb career. It is too bad he missed the equivalent of about 2 seasons because of injuries, otherwise he would probably be in range of Emmitt Smith's record in a couple more years.

The lack of pro bowls will hurt his cause. NFL HOF voters are a finicky bunch. Art Monk had all the numbers - owned most of the record Jerry Rice broke - and it took him 8 years to get in. Writers pointed to the fact he only went to 3 pro bowls in his career and he was never considered to be one of the most dominating receivers in the game. The same tired and weak argument will be used against Taylor.

Mike un intentionally brings up a good point. Which is why in the world does a crap-hole-in-the-wall town like Jacksonville have a NFL team!!?? For crying out loud they don't even sell out that small stadium, they put tarps over the empty seats! This always infuriated me.

I know we Orlandoans don't derserve a team seeing as how we b **tch and complain about upgrading the Citrus Bowl. But c'mon man, NFL couldn't find ANY other city of Florida or in the US for the matter to put the Jaguars? Can someone shed some light into this?

iTek wrote:

Mike un intentionally brings up a good point. Which is why in the world does a crap-hole-in-the-wall town like Jacksonville have a NFL team!!?? For crying out loud they don't even sell out that small stadium, they put tarps over the empty seats! This always infuriated me.
I know we Orlandoans don't derserve a team seeing as how we b **tch and complain about upgrading the Citrus Bowl. But c'mon man, NFL couldn't find ANY other city of Florida or in the US for the matter to put the Jaguars? Can someone shed some light into this?

I agree. The Jags need to leave Jacksonville just for the fact that we can watch all the Miami games on tv once they leave. Not more scheduling conflicts.

Also, Fred deserves to bet in the HOF. Just because he played in a small market town doesn't mean anything. He was still playing against the same NFL defenses that other RBs are and he still put up those numbers. He'll make it in the HOF for sure.

iTek wrote:

Mike un intentionally brings up a good point. Which is why in the world does a crap-hole-in-the-wall town like Jacksonville have a NFL team!!?? For crying out loud they don't even sell out that small stadium, they put tarps over the empty seats! This always infuriated me.
I know we Orlandoans don't derserve a team seeing as how we b **tch and complain about upgrading the Citrus Bowl. But c'mon man, NFL couldn't find ANY other city of Florida or in the US for the matter to put the Jaguars? Can someone shed some light into this?

Jacksonville has one of the bigger stadiums in the NFL. Even with the tarps it still holds 65k which about avrage for an NFL stadium

Matt hit it on the head. Unforturnally, when the stadium was built, it was built to the needs of college football (florida/georgia and the gator bowl) and not NFL football. Look at all the new stadiums in the NFL, they are still smaller than the current capacity of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. To those who bash Jacksonville because of sell outs, you don't know jack. They did sell out all games in 2008, alothough most were down to the wire, however given the large size of the stadium compared to the size of the metro area, those issue will happen.

Are you kidding me?? Taylor is NO hall-of-famer. Did the guy EVER stay healthy for an entire season? He was a fine RB, and its tough to control injuries. But being a "fine RB" doesn't mean you deserve to be in the HoF, and Fred does not. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but the HoF should be reserved for the all-time greats, and Taylor is not one of them.

iTek wrote:

Mike un intentionally brings up a good point. Which is why in the world does a crap-hole-in-the-wall town like Jacksonville have a NFL team!!?? For crying out loud they don't even sell out that small stadium, they put tarps over the empty seats! This always infuriated me.
I know we Orlandoans don't derserve a team seeing as how we b **tch and complain about upgrading the Citrus Bowl. But c'mon man, NFL couldn't find ANY other city of Florida or in the US for the matter to put the Jaguars? Can someone shed some light into this?

Jacksonville has way more to offer then that Mickey Mouse town Borlando(Better industry Beaches Seaport cheaper cost of living completed beltway and no Tollways) Orlando a city built by kids for kids!!!!.

jrs wrote:

<quoted text>Jacksonville has way more to offer then that Mickey Mouse town Borlando(Better industry Beaches Seaport cheaper cost of living completed beltway and no Tollways) Orlando a city built by kids for kids!!!!.

Jacksonville smells bad.

I saw fred taylor's first play from scrimage as a pro and if i am not mistaken he took it 65 or so yards for a t.d.

Giving Jacksonville a team is still a pretty lousy idea. I like all of us here don't know all the behind the scene politics that goes on. But when I see cities like San Antonio, Los Angeles, Vegas, Portland etc. with out a team but Jacksonville?? You can't help but scratch your head and wonder "WTF?".

If this guy didn't go to UF, you wouldn't be slurping his mediocre stamp he left on the NFL. The Hall of Fame should be for players that will remembered for greatness, this guy is already forgotten.

iTek wrote:

Mike un intentionally brings up a good point. Which is why in the world does a crap-hole-in-the-wall town like Jacksonville have a NFL team!!?? For crying out loud they don't even sell out that small stadium, they put tarps over the empty seats! This always infuriated me.
I know we Orlandoans don't derserve a team seeing as how we b **tch and complain about upgrading the Citrus Bowl. But c'mon man, NFL couldn't find ANY other city of Florida or in the US for the matter to put the Jaguars? Can someone shed some light into this?

Hater in the house. Check average attendance oh clueless one. Jacksonville is right there with Pittsburgh and Chicago.

Jimmy wrote:

<quoted text>
Jacksonville smells bad.

Stupid comment from the uninformed. Jax used to smell because of the paper mills on the North and West sides of town. Most are gone now and Mayor Tommy Hazouri made them all clean up their act (and our air) in the 1980s. Jax has not smelled since then.

Your comment "reeks" of jealousy. In fact, if you compare the air quality of Jax and Orlando, you will see that they are almost identical right now with both falling in the "Good" range.

iTek wrote:

Mike un intentionally brings up a good point. Which is why in the world does a crap-hole-in-the-wall town like Jacksonville have a NFL team!!?? For crying out loud they don't even sell out that small stadium, they put tarps over the empty seats! This always infuriated me.
I know we Orlandoans don't derserve a team seeing as how we b **tch and complain about upgrading the Citrus Bowl. But c'mon man, NFL couldn't find ANY other city of Florida or in the US for the matter to put the Jaguars? Can someone shed some light into this?

The explaination is simple...you're an idiot.

Charlie wrote:

<quoted text>
The explaination is simple...you're an idiot.

Wow, you really trumped me there. How can I ever recover from that argument?

Wow being a Jacksonville Jaguar fan and reading this story speak volumes to what I have been saying for years. Fred Taylor was amazing but because he was in Jacksonville he never got noticed.

He was the first running back with 10,000 yards never to make a pro-bowl until last year when he got in because another player backed out (i.e. Willy Parker). If that fact doesn't speak volumes look at his yards per carry average, but still no love

I am From the Nebraska and have followed the Jaguars ever since they were formed. Fred Taylor and Mark Burnell were major reasons why I became a fan. This is truly a sad day in Jaguar football History. His only wish was to finish his career in the Jaguar jersey and they wouldn't even let him.

As for the Hall of Fame, If Fred was on any team with slightly more media coverage. He would be in, but the small market Jags just didn't get him enough chatter going.

So to all the fellow Fred Taylor fans. Is This truly a sad day for one of the greatest running back who may miss Canton. May Fred find another football home who will treat him right, and let him finish what he started. A great career!!!#28

The Jaguars need another big play receiver like Jimmy Smith they need to draft WR Hakeem Nicks from North Carolina!!!