More photos » Keith Srakocic - AP

5 months ago: Pittsburgh Steelers' Joe Burnett, right, tackles San Diego Chargers kick returner Antonio Cromartie on a kickoff return in the second half of the NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. The Steelers won 38-28. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

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Some interesting news out of Charger camp. ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting Antonio Cromartie may be on the trading block. According to the article, San Diego would be interested in obtaining a running back as it appears LaDainian Tomlinson will not be returning.

The first thing that struck me when reading this was what Cromartie has done, or isn't doing, to warrant him as a trade candidate. He had a stellar 2007 season in where he was voted to the Pro Bowl and was an All-Pro. You also may recall his 109 yard touchdown return off a missed FG against Minnesota. Ten interceptions in your 2nd year will obviously set the bar high so the question is whether 2008 (in which AC states he played with a broken hip) and 2009 were more indicative of what to expect.

Jacksonville has nothing to offer in a 1:1 trade, save MJD (talk about taking crazy pills). Teams like Baltimore and Dallas have depth which would make them candidates. The question would be whether the Chargers want to go with youth or experience. How much do they trust Darren Sproles to carry the load? More so, as a RFA, will Sproles leave for more pay?

Though now it is just rumor, this makes the combine more interesting with respect to the running backs. C. J. Spiller, out of Clemson, looks to be the first back taken off the board. Some mocks have him top 10 with most having him around 15. If he blows up at the combine teams may find taking him at 10\11 as a value selection.

Beyond the actual speculation of the trade, this highlights a team with a need. Sure the Bolts could fill the spot with a veteran like Marion Barber but there is also the variable of potentially losing Sproles and thereby needing someone to build for the future. The NFL has shown us that you can never have too much depth in the backfield.

Should the Chargers state Cromartie is not on the trading block then a draft day trade becomes more of a reality. The 49rs are hot candidate to take Spiller at 13, and though the Dolphins needs are on the defensive side of the ball, they could decide bringing in the Clemson RB to compliment an aging Ricky Williams and injury burdened Ronnie Brown (though that would mean passing on DT Dan Williams). The Jaguars draft slot then becomes a perfect place to grab C.J..

I don't think Jacksonville is a player for Cromartie. What I do think is that even taking about trading a player like AC, who plays a position of high need, indicates the Chargers are willing to deal. That dealing may extend to draft day.

Rumor: According to the internet grape vine, the Jaguars are interested in Eagles back up QB Kevin Kolb. The reported initial offer is that the Jaguars would send their first round pick (10/11) to the Eagles for their first round pick (24) and Kolb.

BCC's Take: As of right now, I have to say it's bogus, or far from a done deal if there is validity to it. Matt Cassell's 2nd round price tag was reported to be a "discount", while the Texans had to include two second round picks to grab Matt Schaub from Atlanta. Not to mention Donovan McNabb's name once again showing up in trade rumors, and who knows what. IF the Jags are serious about Kolb, I think swapping first round picks and next year's 2nd rounder is a much more likely asking price.

It is being reported that David Garrard has been told by the team to not audible out of running plays as much. The coaching staff was widely criticized for opening up the game with nine straight passing plays. However, the first two plays were called runs to Maurice Jones-Drew that Garrard then audibled to passing plays.

And the plot thickens. If this is the case, is it the coaching staff trying to cover their butts, did MJD complain behind closed doors, or something else?

They'll make what coach Jack Del Rio called "hard ball calls." That means quarterback David Garrard will be told on occasion not to call audibles out of running plays and into passing plays.....

"We took that privilege away or that ability away and said, "Look, just hand it to him and let him run the ball,' " Del Rio said.

Del Rio also said that if Reggie Nelson doesn't tackle better in the future than he did against the Titans, he won't be in the lineup. Nelson moved from safety to cornerback in place of injured Rashean Mathis on Sunday.

-John

First, thanks to Surteal for bringing this to BCC via fanshot

According to this story on PFT, Quentin Groves and possibly Mike Sims-Walker are being shopped around by the Jaguars in hopes of finding a suitor before the October 20th trade deadline. With Quentin Groves, I can understand the team's willingness to find a trade partner now. Groves' incident while heading to the airport last Friday was his most headline worthy action since being drafted by the Jaguars in 2008. With his demotion to 3rd team, it is clear that Groves has a tall mountain to climb with this team.

This is compounded by the fact the Jaguars are now running the 3-4 (the defense that Groves was projected to coming out of Auburn) and has still been a non-factor. Would a team be willing to trade for Groves at this point? Well he's still very young and in the hands of a team that could actually run a 3-4 scheme, he could be useful as a rush linebacker. Still, I wouldn't expect more than a 5th rounder or similar marginal player in return for him.

Mike Sims-Walker on the other hand, I really can't fathom why this team would put him on the block except to further make an example out of him over his own Seattle incident. Sims-Walker has a minor screw up, so let's trade the guy who was looking like the second coming of Jimmy Smith? It makes perfect sense to me *sarcasm*. Unless we got two first rounders in return, I really can't see the advantage in trading Sims-Walker.

More on this as it unfolds

-Jonathan Loesche

Mike Walker, some people's pick as the Jaguars number two receiver, just sustained an ankle injury and had to be helped off the field by trainers. As WOKV's Jeff Lageman reported...

"This is a kid who needs a break..."

Story developing...

Collin Streetman

The hot rumor is that the Jaguars are currently in contact with Torry Holt's agent, and may be coming for a visit. This would go along with Gene Smith's statement that the Jaguars would go after a veteran WR.

Holt is 32 and would be in his 12th season if he starts 2009 as a Jaguar. However, Jimmy Smith posted three 1,000 yard seasons after 32. Let's be clear, Holt is no longer the dominant #1 receiver he was for most of his time as a Ram. However, he would be head and shoulders above any of the current receivers the Jaguars have.

If this is a situation similar to Tra Thomas, I'm all for it. If we can pick Holt up on a low risk contract, where all the guaranteed money is up front, then I say go for it. What do the Jaguars have to lose? He instantly lands them credibility as a legitimate threat.

Even if we don't sign him, what's the risk of bringing him in for a visit. What can it hurt? If nothing else, ESPN might actually stat bother to get our players names right again.

-John

There is no quicker way to damage one's credibility than to start rumors that never come to fruition. There are always a ton of rumors going around during the offseason, and we don't like to get egg on our face more often than we have to. That being said, JagNation has a story (In the pay section, so I can't/won't go into detail) that implies Cutler could be involved in a trade to Jacksonville. Jagnation started this rumor, and they are deeply connected, so there must be some truth to it.

Here's the link... WE DIDN'T START THIS RUMOR!!

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A RUMOR BCC HAS STARTED... WE'VE HEARD NOTHING AND HAVE NO INFORMATION... THIS IS SPECULATION!!! (That was for the message boards who regularly misquote us, and in turn, slander our credibility).

I ventured into the dreaded Jags Message Boards to see what people were saying (NOTE: This is never a good idea if you want intelligent info), and what I saw was a complete disregard for reality. 

Let me be the voice of reason here people... DAVID GARRARD will NOT be traded in any deal. Period. What may occur is a 3-way trade involving the Jags... In a 3-way trade, one team is usually the "middle-man" who has the leverage to negociate two different deals to accomplish what one deal would have, and then to reap the benefits. 

Here's how I see what's happening (this doesn't mean it will happen, but is SPECULATION). It is a pretty good guess though, if I do say so myself. The Bucs want Cutler, no doubt about it. However, the Bucs also need a DT. They missed out on Haynesworth and they lost Jovan Haye in free agency. ENTER BIG JOHN... I am guessing the Jags will work out a deal that involves the #8 pick (and possibly additional compensation) going to the Broncos for Cutler. The Jags would then trade Cutler to the Bucs (all three sides would have a deal in place so nobody gets stuck, that's how 3-ways work) along with Big John Henderson for a literal plethora of picks. We ditch the number 8 pick and John Henderson in one fell swoop... That is my ideal scenario. 

I will guarantee that DAVID WILL NOT BE TRADED... You can take that to the bank, regardless of how this turns out. Anyone who thinks we are going to trade a man of high character and a proven leader like David, for a prima-donna like Cutler, is out of their gourd. That goes against everything Gene stands for. If this trade occurs, the Jags will only be a middle man, that's a promise.

-Collin

Rumor:

There's a  rumor flying around that Matt Jones is in Jacksonville today and meeting with the Jaguars.

There's also the classic public relations news of dropping "bad" stories late in the afternoon on Fridays, when the cycle is shut down for the weekend. If Matt Jones is in Jacksonville, and IF the Jaguars are going to cut him, late afternoon on Friday is a good time to do it.  This happens all the time in politics, typically in the form of a news dump at 4:50 on Fridays in Washington.  By the time Monday comes around the perception is that the story is old news and gets passed over.

I've not found any hard confirmation that Matt is in the building, but there's enough smoke here to suspect some sort of fire.  As soon as I do, I'll update this accordingly.

Speculation:

There's no way the Jaguars open training camp on Friday with Matt Jones on the roster.  The intimacy of players and fans, as well as the distaste toward Jones by his teammates because of perceptions of being lazy would turn camp into a circus.  Because he's a bubble player anyhow, the Jaguars should let the players who want to be there compete and cut the dead-weight that is Matt Jones.

More to come as it comes!

-Chris