Two-Minute Drill: High school football games as well as Dolphins, Jaguars and Bucs
It’s one week of high school football preseason games, and the following week the regular season begins. The Bucs also face the Jaguars.
Six years after the New York Jets released him following a 10-day tryout before the 2018 season opener, the NFL has not kicked him again. John Wolford to the curb.
Wolford, a product of Bishop Kenny High and the most overlooked Jacksonville quarterback in league history, is still employed as the third-team quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He will likely play a half in his hometown on Saturday night when Tampa Bay faces the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. This preseason matchup could be a factor in determining whether the former Florida Gator Kyle Trask can leave Wolford behind for the backup job Baker Mayfield.
Yes, the Bucs invested a 2021 second-round draft pick in Trask, and that likely gives him an advantage, but Wolford’s history makes a strong case for never writing off the 6-foot-4 quarterback who was not selected in the draft.
In 2019, he fought his way onto the Los Angeles Rams practice squad and stayed there for four seasons. Wolford helped them to a playoff spot the following year as a replacement for Jared Goffand was the first quarterback to throw for over 200 yards and run for over 50 yards in his NFL debut in an 18-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Since then, he has won a Super Bowl ring as a backup for the Rams. Matthew Staffordstarted three more games with the Rams in 2022, was signed as a free agent to the Bucs’ practice squad last year, was promoted to the 53-man roster after turning down a promotion to return to LA, and then was re-signed by Tampa Bay in March.
Wall Street is no longer an option
Wolford, a finance major and record-setting quarterback at Wake Forest, gave up his full-time job at a Wall Street investment firm five years ago to pursue his NFL dream.
At 29, he has two off-the-field business partnerships with Quarterback Whisperer Tom Gormelywhich trains NFL stars such as Brock Purdy and Anthony Richardson in the Jacksonville area. Wolford has developed an iPhone app (Kinetex) with Gormely that allows high school and youth players to train like professional quarterbacks. He is also co-owner of Cortx Sports Performance, a 5,000-square-foot training facility in Ponte Vedra.
Aside from his business interests, Johnny Football intends to pursue his dream of becoming an NFL starter until the league no longer provides him with a uniform.
“You have to remember where you came from and how slim the chances were when I first went to the draft and nobody signed me,” Wolford said after training with the Jaguars on Thursday. “I’m proud of myself for sticking it out and of all the people who helped me along the way.”
“But when you’re a competitive athlete, it’s not just about making a team. It’s about playing at a high level. You always have these goals and ambitions and you work every day to achieve them.”
Wolford knows how uncertain life is as a veteran backup quarterback in the NFL, so he spent the offseason investing in several business opportunities to figure out what next career would be the best fit for him.
“When I stop playing in five or 10 years, hopefully some of the things I’m involved in will be successful,” Wolford said. “I like the entrepreneurial spirit that comes with starting something.”
“I worked part-time at a venture capital fund in LA when I was still playing for the Rams. That’s what I love. I think that’s what I’m going to do when I’m done (with football).”
Still against all odds
When the Jets released Wolford in 2018, he vowed to be better prepared for his next opportunity in the NFL. That came after he proved himself to be the best quarterback in the defunct Alliance of American Football (AAF), which was disbanded after he played eight games with the Arizona Hotshots.
Many thought this would be the end of Wolford’s career as a football player, but he defied the odds. Two NFL teams kept him, including a job as a backup with the Rams instead of the former Jaguars quarterback. Blake Bortles.
Among the few quarterbacks from Jacksonville who have made it into the NFL roster, only the Chicago Bears’ reserve player Nathan Petersman (Bartram Trail), now entering its eighth season, has lasted longer.
One way or another, Wolford will find a way to make money. It’s an amazing story that this undrafted quarterback, long thought to be too small to make it at his position, continues to collect checks from the NFL, earning $3.3 million in his career.
John Wolford’s resilience, quarterback instincts and talent can never be underestimated, so it’s best not to put an expiration date on his football career.
Braswell moves on after canceled TD
Cornerback of the Jaguars in the second year Christian Braswell had a “Hello NFL” moment for just a minute or two in last week’s 26-13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Braswell heard the roar of the EverBank Stadium crowd as he reached the end zone after taking the ball from the Kansas City Chiefs receiver. Nikko Remigioand returned the ball 52 yards for what appeared to be a touchdown.
However, his big moment was taken away after an official review, as it was determined that Remigio had touched the ground with his left knee before Braswell gained full possession of the ball.
“I’m a little mad they took it back because it was a special play for me,” Braswell said. “I never gave up on the play because I kind of messed up my coverage at the beginning. I was committed to coming back and just finishing.”
Braswell, who is vying for a nickelback job, is shutting down social media during training camp. He learned from his girlfriend that many people were upset that the touchdown was disallowed.
“My girlfriend told me that everything kind of goes viral, but I try not to get too caught up in it because I have to focus on my job,” Braswell said. “I wish (the touchdown) would have counted, but it still stands out for me. That’s a highlight that I’ll keep and remember.”
Scheffler should have POY advantage
Xander Schauffele or Scottie Scheffler for the PGA Tour Player of the Year?
This is a legitimate debate considering that Schauffele has won two majors (PGA Championship, the Open) and no player since has done so without being named Player of the Year. Nick Faldo (Masters, the Open) in 1990. He lost to Wayne Levi, who has won four times without a major.
But unless Schauffele wins the Tour Championship, it’s hard not to give the win to Scheffler, because the world’s leading player’s overall consistency and dominance is on a whole different level.
Scheffler has accomplished much more than just winning the Masters and the Olympics, shooting a final round of 62 to claim a gold medal. Although the Olympics are not part of the tour, they carry considerable prestige and the players’ vote for Player of the Year will likely add some weight to Scheffler’s seventh win of the season.
While Schauffele’s only victories in 2024 are the two majors, Scheffler also has victories at the Players Championship and the Memorial, arguably the two biggest non-major events besides the Tour Championship.
Scheffler should be the leader in the clubhouse for this award, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late for Schauffele to take it away.
Fast-hitting nuggets
When Florida State travels to Ireland next week to face Georgia Tech in its season opener on Aug. 24, it will be the first time all but four of the Seminoles’ players have flown across the Atlantic or any other ocean. The exceptions are all foreign-born players: offensive lineman Lucas Simmons (Sweden), gambler Alex Mastromanno (Australia), Defensive player Sione Lolohea (Tonga) and Offensive Lineman Manasse Itete (Democratic Republic of Congo). . . .
A round of applause for NASCAR for withdrawing playoff participation for Austin Dillon after video evidence showed that he had intentionally caused an accident Joey Logano And Denny Hamlin in the last round to win last week in Richmond. According to the rules, the racing association could not take the victory away from Dillon. Denying him a place in the playoffs and relieving the car owner Richard Childress Getting 25 points in the race seemed like a fitting punishment for Dillon’s despicable behavior. Imagine the consequences if Logano and Hamlin had been seriously injured…
The New England Patriots give up their best pass rusher Matthew Judon (32 sacks in 38 games) to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round draft pick is further proof that a shattered dynasty is headed toward its NFL end. It’s no exaggeration to think New England could have the league’s worst record in 2024. If that happens six years after winning a Super Bowl, the Patriots would be the third-fastest team to go from one outright to the league’s worst record, surpassed only by the Indianapolis Colts (2006 to 2011) and the Baltimore Colts (1970 to 1974).
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