A Sun Blog

Gators Gone Pro

Tracking former UF athletes through their professional sports careers

Harvin makes Seattle debut against former team

Monday, at 6:23 by

Percy Harvin’s last two NFL games have been at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field. On Nov. 4 of last year, Harvin suffered a season-ending ankle injury. It would be his last game with the Minnesota Vikings. Harvin returned to the gridiron Sunday — this time facing his former team in his debut with the Seahawks. After missing the first 10 weeks of 2013 to recover from his Aug. 1 hip surgery, he was happy to back in action despite playing sparingly in Seattle’s… Read More »

Ross earns World Series ring with Red Sox

Thursday, at 1:50 by

Former Gator catcher David Ross earned his first World Series ring Wednesday as the Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 at Fenway Park to clinch the series in six games. Ross, who was on Florida’s 1998 College World Series team, has played for a half dozen teams in his 12-year career in the majors. In November of 2012 he signed a two-year, $6.2 million deal with the Red Sox, marking his second stint with the team after spending… Read More »

Reed catching on with Redskins

Tuesday, at 8:04 by

Florida’s tight end position has disappeared this season, and Gator fans were reminded Sunday just how much the football team misses Jordan Reed. The rookie had a breakout performance with Washington in its 45-41 victory over the Chicago Bears. Reed led the Redskins with nine receptions for 134 yards (both career-highs) and scored on a three-yard fade route to give them a touchdown lead just before half. He also hauled in two passes on the game-winning drive, including a 10-yard catch… Read More »

Earnest goodbye to The Gainesville Sun

Thursday, at 3:31 by

After 10 years, it’s time to bid a very bittersweet farewell to The Gainesville Sun. I recently accepted a job in production at ESPN in Bristol, CT. I’ll get the chance to write behind the scenes and blog. It’ll be hard to move away from Gainesville, where I was born and raised. It’ll also be difficult to trade the sun for the snow, which I’ve never seen in my life. I just wanted to say thanks to Sports Editor Arnold… Read More »

Gillislee grateful for chance as Dolphins camp begins

Saturday, at 2:51 by

Another NFL offseason has proven itself to be an inescapable black hole for stars or potential stars. But not all get devoured like Aaron Hernandez, Titus Young, etc., leaving behind nothing except another unceremonious story to read. They shouldn’t eclipse those players that use the hottest time of year to shine the brightest in the fall. And running back Mike Gillislee, with his down-to-earth demeanor, seems poised to do just that with the Dolphins as they begin training camp in… Read More »

Dunlap’s deal a sign of NFL’s changing times

Tuesday, at 3:03 by

He’s not great against the run. He’s yet to play a full season in the NFL. Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap has received criticism about what he can’t do, but there’s no question about what he can do. And that just so happens to be the main thing defenses are looking for in today’s NFL. Get to the quarterback. That’s why despite his shortcomings, Cincinnati signed the 6-foot-6, 280-pound pass-rushing menace to a six-year, $40 million extension on Monday. Dunlap… Read More »

Tebow’s signing with Patriots filled with irony

Monday, at 7:31 by

We thought we had possibly seen the last of Tim Tebow. There’s no doubt some in the New York Jets organization believed the same thing. It turns out the Jets may be seeing him twice a year. That’s because their AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots, are expected to sign Tebow and see him at minicamp on Tuesday, according to ESPN sources. The network’s Ed Werder couldn’t release details of Tebow’s contract, but he said the Patriots did bring… Read More »

Haslem key again for sluggish Heat in pivotal Game 5

Friday, at 12:24 by

It was halftime, and the Heat needed an igniter. The defending champs didn’t need to sweat their 44-40 deficit as much as their lackluster sense of urgency in an Eastern Conference final that was tied 2-2 and headed back to Indiana for Game 6. LeBron James, likely feeling like he was back in his days as a Cavalier, needed serious help. Luckily, Miami has loads of options in times like these. Obvious ones like Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh. Less… Read More »

Bonner spearheads biggest wild card of NBA playoffs

Monday, at 2:39 by

The San Antonio Spurs’ ability to make it rain from long range is the biggest X-factor in this year’s NBA playoffs, and Matt Bonner is their ace. The Memphis Grizzlies got that memo in Sunday’s 105-83 Game 1 loss. Bonner is on fire from beyond the arc in these playoffs (60 percent) and after going 4-of-6 from deep in Game 1, the Grizzlies know they need a defender attached to his right shoulder cannon at all times. Only problem is,… Read More »

Jets fumble on Tebow Time

Monday, at 5:23 by

Tebow Time only lasted a New York minute. Tim Tebow arrived at the Jets’ facility on Monday morning and was told he had been cut. As if it would fly under the radar, a three-paragraph news release was sent out at 8:18 a.m. That early exit from Florham Park, N.J., serves as a microcosm for the quarterback’s one-year stint in the Big Apple. The truth is, we learned a lot more about the New York Jets than we did about… Read More »