- November 6, 2024
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It was about 5:15 p.m. and I had about 45 minutes until Maurice Jones-Drew, of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was going to be signing autographs from 6 to 8 p.m. at PNC Bank.
Forty - five minutes was just enough time for me to decide what to wear. I recently bought a blue blazer that I’d been chomping at the bit to show off. But I didn’t want to feel too dressed up. Then again, I really wanted to wear my blazer. I felt like I was getting ready for a first date, trying to pick out what to wear.
Then I thought to myself, MJD isn’t going to care. In fact, he’s not going to remember me, though I am a reporter for The Palm Coast Observer, which is kind of a big deal.
I opted not to wear it. It’s a good thing I didn’t wear it, too, because as you can see in the above picture, Jones-Drew (“MJD” to those of us who know him well) was sporting shorts and sneakers.
I didn’t really want an autograph, though I got MJD to sign my reporter’s pad. It was all I had. The profile picture for my Facebook account was what I really wanted.
I was also there to give MJD some advice: Make sure quarterback David Garrard attempts short passes. Establish the run. Play sound defense in the upcoming game against the Dallas Cowboys.
After watching Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys (1-6), it was as if MJD listened to all the words I never said.
The Jags dominated, beating Dallas 35-17, and MJD had his best game of the season, carrying the ball 27 times for 135 yards. Luckily, I didn’t play against Garrard in my fantasy league that week. Garrard’s five-touchdown performance (four passing, one running) led to 38 fantasy points. Garrard’s quarterback rating of 157.8 ranks as the highest of all quarterbacks to play against the Cowboys since 1960.
Next time, I’ll be sure to tell him what I’m thinking, and skip the autograph part.
