Jaguars handing Bortles keys to the offence

It took 13 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars to give quarterback Blake Bortles full control of the offence.

Offensive co-ordinator Nathaniel Hackett said this week that Bortles was allowed to audible from running plays to passing plays for the first time all season against Seattle. Hackett praised Bortles for switching to a pass on a second-and-6 play early in the 30-24 victory. Bortles found rookie Keelan Cole on a crossing route for a 10-yard gain that helped set up a field goal.

“He knows why the play is being called now,” said Hackett, in his first full season as the team’s OC. “It’s not just going out there and running a play and just kind of being a robot. He’s trying to understand and figure out what we’re trying to accomplish . ... Blake is starting to own the offence and that’s what you want from him.”

Although the Jaguars (94) clearly had reservations about Bortles’ ability to get the team into better plays early in the season, they are trusting him more now. And for good reason: Bortles is the NFL’s highest-rated passer in December, completing 71 per cent of his passes the last two games for 577 yards, with four touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks.

And now he’s getting more control.

“We started giving him the green light because obviously people are trying to stop the run and put a lot of people in there,” Hackett said. “It’s like, ‘OK, Blake, you’ve got to start picking it up.’” and said, ‘I got you Boyer,’ and gives me knuckles. He’s that kind of guy, though, so he was great.”

The 25-year-old Tomlinson ended up launching seven snaps to punter Lachlan Edwards in the Jets’ 23-0 loss to the Broncos.

“There were some that were iffy,” Tomlinson said with a big grin. “They were all right.”

More than 100 students from 33 historically black colleges and universities participated in the second annual Careers In Football Forum as part of the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.

The Careers in Football Forum is an extension of the NFL’s broader partnership with the HBCUs. Through the partnership, the NFL and participating institutions aim to provide qualified individuals with the preparation and skills needed to secure employment in professional football administration.

“It is imperative for the future of football that there is a sustainable pipeline of qualified, well-educated candidates to fill the many positions that make our great game so successful,” says Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice-president of football operations and a former pro player. “Our partnership with HBCUs is aimed at equipping and providing networking opportunities to those who have a passion to pursue a career in football.”

The forum featured panel discussions with NFL leadership and club executives, mock interviews facilitated by NFL Human Resources personnel and skill-building workshops.

The Dolphins have every player on the roster registered as a voter. The initiative started in June when the Dolphins played host to Martin Luther King III and Bill Wachtel of the Drum Major Institute at practice to start the voter registration process.

Such voter registration success comes on the heels of an announcement by team owner Stephen Ross and Dolphins players of the creation of a yearly fund for advocacy and social justice programs. The fund will provide financial support and amplify programs centred on community engagement, education and justice reform.

“I salute the Miami Dolphins for their leadership in realizing upon my father’s dream of a society where all Americans can and do vote,” said King III. “Today, we celebrate the fact that every player on the Dolphins roster is a registered voter. What makes this truly special is that this voter registration effort, which was begun by Kenny Stills, has been spreading throughout the NFL and other sports leagues.

“As my father often said, that short step into the voting booth is the longest stride for democracy.”