| One of two underclassmen wide receivers to leave the Gators early —
junior Reche Caldwell entered the draft as well — Gaffney hopes to put an end to the
rap on Florida receivers who haven’t made the successful transition to the NFL.
Gaffney, whose father Derrick was a wide receiver at Florida and then in the league with
the Jets, has blazing (4.4) speed and good size. He figures to be a first-round pick. Q:
Your old coach, Steve Spurrier, is collecting Gators in Washington. Do you want to be part
of the collection?
A: I would love to play for Coach Spurrier in the NFL. I loved playing for him in
college and he isn’t the kind of guy that is going to come and change much in the
NFL. He’s Coach Spurrier. He knows how he wants his players to perform and how he
wants to control the team. I see he got a couple of Gators; I don’t know if he’s
coming for me or not.
Q: Is the 40-yard dash time overrated?
A: There is a lot of emphasis put on it. It is important, but it isn’t. You can
get out there and run your fastest, but what good is it to be able to run that fast but
not be able to do it in a game?
Q: When you played for Spurrier, what was the reaction when he actually called a
running play?
A: You expect it to come. It was fun knowing how much he was going to throw the ball,
and when he doesn’t do it, you think he is mad at you
Q: What was the deciding factor in you leaving school early for the NFL?
A: The competition level. It was kind of easy in college. I wanted to see what I could
do in the NFL. I had a lot of fun my two years in Gainesville, but I felt like it was
time.
Q: What aspect of your game are you trying to improve?
A: My speed, hands. I need to improve everything. You can never stop getting better.
Q: Have you talked to the Chiefs at all?
A: Yes, a couple of times. They expressed interest in me, but so have a lot of teams. I
don’t have a choice in the matter, you know. They are going to pick me. I’m not
going to pick them. They have an exciting offense. I wouldn’t mind playing in that
offense.
Q: Has Coach Spurrier talked to you about joining him?
A: They have an interest just like other teams do. We’ll see.
Q: How difficult will the transition be to the NFL?
A: I am confident. Guys come out early all the time. I believe in myself. I think I’m
going to have success.
Q: There are a lot of Southeastern Conference wide receivers coming out this year
— Donté Stallworth, Josh Reed, yourself — who is the best?
A: You know I’m going to tell you I’m the best. I’m not going to sit
here and give you some list of a bunch of guys that are better than me. That’s just
the way I am. It starts with confidence. I feel like I’m the best one out there.
Q: If you could draw a wide receiver blueprint, what would it be?
A: Confident. Somebody that can make the tough catch across the middle on third down.
Be able to block. Catch the ball and run.
Q: What is your best 40 time?
A: 4.38 last year.
Q: Why haven’t Florida receivers stood out in the NFL?
A: I think it is the defense. You don’t see a lot of complicated coverages in
college. I think some guys have taken longer to adapt.
Q: What NFL receivers do you look up to?
A: I grew up watching the Jaguars. I like watching Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. I
like their style of play. Both of those guys are difference-makers.
Q: Who is the best corner you have faced?
A: Tay Cody at Florida State. He’s the best I’ve seen.
Q: What is the most exciting thing about Jabar Gaffney?
A: You never know what I’m going to do. I take pride in being the big-play guy. I
want to be the guy that the ball is going to, when everyone knows the ball is going my
way. On fourth down, with the game on the line, I want the ball.
Q: You talked about the Florida receivers. Do you acknowledge that they haven’t
been very successful?
A: I don’t know if they struggled. They might not have met the expectations that
everybody had for them. To be a good receiver, you need opportunity to catch the ball.
Those guys are still good players. Me, I’m going to be me. I’m going to have the
same drive whether I’m in orange and blue or an NFL uniform.
Q: What did your dad’s experience mean to you?
A: Ever since I could walk he’s been throwing me the football. I remember watching
him play a couple of games in New York. I’m a little faster, but that always comes at
the end. We both have good hands, but speed is much, much different.
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