Monday, June 19, 2000

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

The Jaguars could have kept Coleman had they really wanted to

By Keith Schleiden, Managing editor

Considering this team is one of a few legitimate Super Bowl contenders, one would think they would do everything possible to improve their roster. Or, at the very least, keep the status quo. But rather than do that, Jacksonville let Ben Coleman get away.

Coleman left the Jaguars via free agency, deciding to sign with the Chargers. He agreed to a one-year deal worth about $1 million, which means he will hit the open market again next offseason.

Coleman is not a superstar in the NFL. But he is an above-average offensive lineman who is versatile enough to play either guard or tackle. He stepped into the starting lineup when Tony Boselli went down with a knee injury late last season and performed very well. To make a real Super Bowl run, you need to have players like that on your roster.

Boselli, one of the best left tackles in the NFL, is coming off a serious ACL injury. It seems to me that the Jaguars need a proven commodity in reserve in case Boselli isn't ready to go come Week One. Coleman was that guy.

Furthermore, the Jaguars now will have to start an unknown entity at left guard this season. That’s where I get really confused. If you could have a proven veteran like Coleman, or someone who has never started an NFL game, as your left guard, whom would you take? I’d take Coleman.

Not the Jaguars. They are going to let second-round pick Brad Meester battle second-year pro Anthony Cesario for the job. From what I hear, Cesario is a stiff. He didn’t see any action last season, and sources tell me he’s a bust. Had the Jaguars retained Coleman and still drafted Meester, Cesario would have had trouble making the team.

I understand that money comes into the equation. Teams have to have priorities when it comes to handing out contracts. Obviously, Coleman was not considered a priority by the Jaguars. Jacksonville, instead, made players like LB Hardy Nickerson, OG Zach Wiegert, DT Seth Payne and CB Aaron Beasley their highest priorities. All are good players indeed. But I can’t believe the team couldn’t find a million dollars under the salary cap to re-sign Coleman. Even if the team is close to hitting the cap ceiling, there are ways around it. Teams create cap space every day. Surely, the Jaguars could have found a way.

From what I hear, this team is going to have some serious cap issues in the next few seasons, and that the window for winning a Super Bowl may be closing. If that’s the case, the team should have done whatever possible to retain an integral part of the offensive line.

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