I can almost understand Spicer’s complaint. Reggie Hayward makes a milion more than he does, Derrick Harvey will make much more than he will. Spicer is at the end of his money making life, after this there is nothing. He stepped up, did it all last year, is expected to hold the position this year and be the best DE at the lowest salary. He won’t push it much more, it is a great risk to assume there is a market above his current salary at his age with a new team. This is a short holdout for maybe one million more based on incentives. That is my guess. Both sides really need each other right now and neither has real leverage.

Spicer has proved he is exactly who I thought he was. When we drafted our first two rounds I was excited because I realized immediately that they would be learning from one of the hardest working and best veteran DEs in the league. When he came back, BEFORE his contract was re-negotiated, because he is loyal to the team and a mature player, he only proved what I thought I knew about him. I’m excited for this- it represents exactly what the Jaguars team goes for- professionalism.

I can’t say enough about guys like Fred Taylor, Spicer, Mathis, Henderson, Peterson… these guys know what’s up. They play from the heart- they play football because above all, it’s a game. They stay in shape, and of course, they expect to be paid a fair amount. I wouldn’t expect Spicer to accept that he’s making the least when he has continued to be the most productive at that position. This guy is as much an asset to this team as Garrard or Del Rio are.

Other teams can say what they want about their high drafted players or superstars but what I love most about the Jaguars is that they seem to be a down to earth group of guys who don’t have that #1 superstar talent but play so hard and put everything together so well that on gamedays they generally come out on top.
You won’t find me getting down on a player for having a bad day if it was legitimate. Brian Williams just can’t keep up with R.Wayne, it’s not his fault- it’s too easy to blame him for R.Wayne’s catches when he just doesn’t have that kind of speed. But look at what he does against all the other receivers. ... The same can be told about any veteran on the team. These guys make do with what they have and push it to the max every time they get on the field.

Kudos to Spicer for attending so he can help guide the draftees through their rookie training and year.

-meacham