Former Florida safety Will Hill returns an interception during the first half against Georgia in 2010. (Andrew Stanfill/Staff Photographer)

Will Hill is going back to the place where he was “The Thrill”. He’s going back home to New Jersey.

He won’t be in West Orange, but he’ll be in East Rutherford about 45 miles away. There, he has the chance to play for the defending Super Bowl champion Giants, who signed Hill to a one-year, $390,000 contract on Tuesday.

Hill was regarded by many to not only be the best safety in the nation, but the best overall athlete of the 2008 recruiting class after playing quarterback, receiver, running back and safety at St. Peter’s Preparatory School only 11 miles from the New Meadowlands. However, after deciding to take his college career to Florida, the move down south took his career prospects in the same direction.

“When I was in college, I was the No. 1 athlete coming out and then going straight to a team that won the national championship, that had the possibility to win another one, it was just rock star status basically,” Hill told ESPNNewYork.com. “My head got big and I did let my gifts get away and start[ed] acting like a fool, basically. So I did waste my talent in some aspects.”

Still, he decided to cut his time at UF short after an also-short list of memorable moments on the field that were easily outnumbered by his off-the-field ones. His two interceptions in a 34-31 overtime win over Georgia in 2010 couldn’t steer NFL scouts’ attention away from his two-game suspension for an undisclosed violation of team rules, the public castigations from then-coach Urban Meyer and other coaches, his vulgar Twitter account and ultimately his poor showing at the Combine. (Hill claimed his Twitter feed was hacked).

Not long after going undrafted and being relegated to Arena Football in Arizona, Hill says marijuana use was the main thing that kept him from reaching his potential in college.

“I had smoked in college,” Hill told The Palm Beach Post after joining the Rattlers. “It wasn’t about failing drug tests, but the coaches knew I smoked, and that’s what the NFL asked about.

“My problem was off the field…I had off the field problems like partying and things. That’s what kept me from the NFL.”

Hill also attributed his less-than-stellar junior season to groin and shoulder injuries that were undisclosed to the media.

Regardless of what reasons prevented him from meeting expectations as a Gator, the Giants had been interested in Hill since the summer after the draft when they brought him in for workouts. At the time, they were too reluctant to gamble on him. A year later, New York has reason to. Hill will fill the vacancy left by safety Chad Jones, a third-round selection in 2010 from LSU who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident two months after being drafted. And the Giants are still keeping their fingers crossed that strong safety Kenny Phillips won’t reaggravate his bothersome left knee.

Meanwhile, free safety Antrel Rolle was forced to move to cornerback during a stretch last season as the Giants’ secondary was decimated by injuries. The team lost five cornerbacks to season-ending injured reserve — including emerging star Terrell Thomas — while waiting for rookie Prince Amukamara to return halfway through the year from his own injury.

The Giants, whose scouting is well-respected around the NFL after several successful drafts in recent years, obviously saw something in Hill to keep him on their radar for a year. After spending this past offseason working out in the tri-state area, the team signed him to a deal only days after he participated in the team’s rookie minicamp. Now, he has a chance to reward their interest after not being invited to any NFL camp last offseason.

“It’s been a hard time, many nights crying, many night just wondering, ‘When is this going to happen?’” Hill told ESPNNewYork.com. “But people were like, ‘Look, you’re a good athlete. Just work on being a better person.’ And that’s something I needed to do. I needed to calm down and sit down, and that’s what I did.”

Whether he’ll get a chance to play safety or even contribute on special teams for the Giants is yet to be seen. But at least he’s rediscovered his dedication to football.

The same place he left it behind.

Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem will need to rediscover his mid-range jumper with Chris Bosh out. (Photos by The Associated Press).

No sooner than the news that Derrick Rose tore his ACL, the question became, “So who’s playing the Heat in the NBA Finals?”

From what we’ve seen this season, maybe Rose’s injury should have led everyone to ask, “Which team is going to be the next one to lose a star?”

The answer to that is the Heat. An MRI exam performed Monday confirmed that Chris Bosh will be sidelined indefinitely because of a strained abdominal muscle. Bosh was hurt late in the first half of Miami’s 95-86 victory over Indiana on Sunday in Game 1 of the East semifinals.

The recovery time for abdominal strains is hard to predict. Utah’s Al Jefferson only sat out a game with it this season, but the same injury forced Kevin Garnett to miss more than three weeks in 2008. Bosh’s injury is leaning toward the more serious variety, and that means Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller have to step up if Miami is to win its second NBA title and the King is to win his first ring.

Although Bosh is the weakest link in the Big Three, he’s critical in this series. The threat of his mid-range jumper forces 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert out of the lane, which gives LeBron James and Dwyane Wade more open lanes and uncontested finishes at the basket. Haslem can at least mimic Bosh in that way when he’s at his best, but he isn’t. Haslem has been in a funk lately and has only made 3-of-12 mid-range jumpers in the playoffs.

Haslem will also be relied on to help the 21st-best rebounding team during the regular season win the battle on the boards against Indiana, the league’s fourth-best rebounding team.

James could see more time at power forward. He played 20 minutes there in Game 1, and the Heat outscored the Pacers by 15 points during that stretch. He also grabbed 15 rebounds. However, the Heat certainly don’t want James — who already leads the team in points, rebounds and assists this postseason — to shoulder any more responsibility than he already does and risk another burnout in the NBA Finals or sooner.

Miami will also need to find a way to replace Bosh’s 18 points per game, because James and Wade won’t be able to do that every night between themselves. The players who will likely see more minutes in Bosh’s void — Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf — will likely see more minutes, but they’re liabilities on the offensive side of the court.

Missing in the hoopla of the Heat’s newfound problems are some of their old ones. Without a perimeter threat in last year’s NBA Finals, the Mavericks employed a zone defense that clogged the paint and became arguably the key to the entire series. There’s no doubt Miami will see that down the road against disciplined defenses that execute it well, such as Boston potentially.

Heat shooting guard Mike Miller will finally need to deliver Miami the perimeter shooting it expected when it signed him last offseason.

The responsibility of stretching the defense will once again fall in Mike Miller’s lap. With Bosh out, the Heat will need the extra dimension on offense that Miller is best suited to provide. The Heat expected him to do just that when they signed him to a five-year, $25 million contract during the team’s big offseason last year. Now that Bosh may be done for the rest of the playoffs, Miller has to prove his worth. After matching Ray Allen’s efficiency from downtown this season (45.3 percent) –fourth best in the NBA — Miller has gone 11-of-28 from 3-point range in the playoffs.

Game 2 of the series is Tuesday night.

FLOP TALK
When Pacers coach Frank Vogel called the Heat out for being “the biggest flopping team in the NBA” last Thursday, it was directed at two players in particular.

Haslem and Shane Battier.

Vogel elaborated by saying, “Every drive to the basket, they have guys not making a play on the ball, but sliding in front of drivers,” said Vogel, who was fined $15,000 for the remark. “Oftentimes, they’re falling down even before contact is even being made. It’ll be interesting to see how the series is officiated.”

While James, Wade and other Miami players simply tossed the comment on top of the towering heap of criticism they’ve received since The Decision, Haslem had a harder time doing the same.

“I’m speechless,” Haslem said. “I don’t know. He’s entitled to his opinion. A charge is a charge. I take mine. It’s up the referee to make the call. I don’t know what it is. If that’s the way (Vogel) feels, that’s the way he feels. It’s not going to change the way we play the game, how we step in there or how we take hits. The referees are going to do their job.”

And that would prove to be true, the Heat bringing Vogel to his boiling point with each charge.

It started at the 4:12 mark of the second quarter as Miller took a slight shoulder bump from David West and fell to the floor. No charge was called and West was left with an easy, uncontested basket. The camera panned to the Pacers’ coach, who had a smile plastered across his face.

However, Miller made up for it by successfully taking a charge from Leandro Barbosa with 26 seconds left in the half.

It happened again shortly after halftime when George Hill was called for charging into Mario Chalmers while trying to call a timeout at midcourt, giving Hill his fifth foul with 8:26 left to go in the third quarter. That prompted Vogel to shoot more glares and start lengthy conversations with the referees.

It was Joel Anthony’s turn. At 2:05 left in the third, Indiana’s Paul George drove to the rim only to find Anthony slide perfectly into position just outside the restricted area.

There’s no question that Haslem, Battier and the Heat are great at drawing charges. However, Vogel’s assertion that Miami deviates from the “athletic play made above the rim” is also off base. The Heat were fifth in the Eastern Conference in blocks a game this season with 5.4, actually tying them with Vogel’s Pacers.

Vogel tried to manipulate the calls. Instead, the young coach has his young team focused on the officiating before the series even started.

MARREESE SPEIGHTS
The Grizzlies lost to the Clippers in Game 7 on Sunday. Still, Memphis may not have even found a playoff spot in the deep West without Speights stepping up at the power forward position and giving the Grizzlies a presence in the paint with Zach Randolph out due to a partial MCL tear in his knee.

Speights, a cast-off like many of his Grizzlies teammates, proved he could be depended on after Philadelphia gave up on him.

“When I first got here people said I was lazy and other stuff like that,” Speights told The Commercial Appeal in Memphis before the start of the playoffs. “I just came here and tried to prove everybody wrong, and I think I’ve done a good job of that. Coach told me some things he wanted me to do when I got here and I go out and try to do what coach wants every night.”

“I never saw myself in this role. I knew I was going to play. But I got an opportunity to start when Zach went out and I’ve just tried to run with that opportunity.”

Nuggets forward Corey Brewer picks up a loose ball and heads downcourt against the Lakers in the fourth quarter of their 113-96 win in Game 6 on Thursday. (Photos by The Associated Press)

Kobe Bryant huddled his teammates up. His team was forced to call a timeout early in the fourth quarter after a quick barrage from Corey Brewer that included two 20-foot jumpers then a layup off a steal.

Bryant was trying to pick his team up for one more rally, similar to the one that got the Lakers out of a deep hole to scare the Nuggets in Game 5.

Back on the court, his point guard Steve Blake hit a 3-pointer. Brewer answered it with one of his own, then snuck ahead of the pack on a breakaway to throw down his preferred spread-eagle slam. That gave Denver its 11th straight point and an insurmountable lead en route to a 113-96 win. It also helped the Nuggets force a Game 7 on Saturday night in L.A.

“It was really fun,” Brewer told The Associated Press. “The crowd was into the game and we were playing well.”

The Nuggets went up by as many as 28 in the game, but Brewer — wearing a Band-Aid under his eye after needing stitches following Game 5 — had the final flurry that has the Lakers in need of stitching.

After the game, Denver coach George Karl said he was happy to see Brewer finish strong because he felt bad that he didn’t play him more earlier. Brewer scored six straight points for the team in a span of 3:33 that started late in the first and into the second quarter. Nonetheless, the fifth-year small forward’s effort in the fourth quarter was “a great gift” to his coach. Brewer finished with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in just 19 minutes of play while living up to Karl’s label as the “energizer, offensively and defensively” for the Nuggets and the 19,770 in the Pepsi Center. He was outscoring the Lakers’ bench on his own until the scrubs entered to finish the game.

After scoring a 3-pointer, Denver's Corey Brewer, front, celebrates with teammate Kenneth Faried as the Lakers call a timeout in the third quarter at Denver.

Brewer has managed to find his niche in Denver’s deep rotation, which the team has relished since trading star Carmelo Anthony away to the Knicks. The Nuggets’ bench is one of their only advantages, but it’s giving thin and sluggish L.A. fits. It looked like every Laker other than the flu-stricken Bryant needed an IV last night to keep up with Karl’s uptempo offense, which came into the playoffs as the highest-scoring unit in the NBA (104.1 points per game). Everybody on the Nuggets recognizes Brewer as a pivotal piece of that scheme while also serving as one of the team’s best defenders.

“Corey’s defensive instincts, he’s helped us win a lot of games this year,” Karl said. “I love him. I think he’s a great weapon off the bench.”

Now the series shifts to Staples with Denver looking to make a little history. Only eight teams in NBA history have ever come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series. The last team do it was the Phoenix Suns against none other than the Lakers in 2006.

A win in Game 7 would also rival the franchise’s biggest playoff win when Dikembe Mutombo and Co. ousted the top-seeded Sonics to become the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1.

AL HORFORD
The Celtics eliminated the Hawks in a hard-fought 83-80 victory last night to win the series 4-2. Horford scored 11 of the team’s 17 points in the fourth quarter but after getting hacked while going up for what would’ve been an easy dunk, he missed one out of two from the charity stripe with two seconds left. That left Atlanta down one, and Paul Pierce made both of his ensuing free throws to seal the win.

Horford finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block while getting the most playing time on the team (46 minutes).

MARREESE SPEIGHTS
Speights and the Grizzlies are also looking to rally from 3-1 back and force a Game 7 with a win tonight against the Clippers in L.A. Speights is averaging 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds a game in 15.6 minutes per game in the series.

Hawks center Al Horford reacts after causing the key turnover in a 87-86 win over the Celtics in Game 5 on Tuesday in Atlanta. (The Associated Press).

Everyone marveled at Carmelo Anthony as he rained big shots on Sunday. Then awed at Chris Paul as he sank the clutch ones on Monday. Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook and others have taken turns this postseason donning the role of the ever-popular dominant scorer/closer.

Last night, Al Horford did score eight points, and the last two buckets, on the way to an 87-86 win over the Celtics to keep the Hawks’ season alive. More notably, he also represented a Type B game-changer. One that has its own legion of fans, including me: the energy/hustle guy.

Atlanta cut its deficit to 3-2 as the series shifts to Boston on Thursday, and Horford was the biggest reason why. Starting for the first time since January due to a pectoral injury, Horford fed Philips Arena with enough electricity to host a potential Game 7 with no added juice. He was diving for loose balls, leading fast breaks coast-to-coast and would eventually come up with the key defensive play in the final seconds.

Horford said he felt sore before the game and hoped the adrenaline would carry him through, and it did. He played way more than he intended, going for 31 minutes as he recorded a team-high 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and three steals.

“I didn’t expect to play that many at all,” Horford told The Associated Press. “We had an arrangement. It was going to be between 15 and 25.”

Although the 6-foot-10, 250-pound All-Star center has been the game-changing energy guy before, Horford can’t duplicate the same level of impact he made last night every game. However, the same thing goes for the “Black Mamba”, “The Truth”, “CP3″, “Flash” (you know, the mostly Type A game-changers who have cool nicknames). They may be the hot topic for talking heads, headlines and highlights, but I live to see guys change the game in a Type B way.

Is it not as “flashy”? Does that explain why everyone calls it “the dirty work”? Or maybe it is flashy because it’s not flashy? Isn’t that the same reason old school is new school? Or why hot means cool?

Maybe our sudden obsession with “the closer” can be pinned on Mariano Rivera. Could it be that the late-game legend of baseball not only gave us a catchy mainstream name to apply to the role in hoops, but also made bigger stars out of NBA players and Kyra Sedgwick at the same time?

Nonetheless, Horford’s performance last night was special in its own right, because he wasn’t supposed to even be on the floor. After it looked like the Hawks would get Horford’s services for the playoffs, he was officially ruled out for the series against the Celtics. With big men Zaza Pachulia and Josh Smith dealing with recent injuries, Atlanta was desperate and in danger of going home. And they still were when former Kentucky star Rajon Rondo stole an inbounds pass with 10 seconds left and raced upcourt with Boston only down one. Horford went out to defend Rondo, causing him to cough up a desperation pass that got batted out of bounds.

The ex-Wildcat reluctantly gave Horford props a second after not giving him props.

“I cornered myself,” Rondo said, before adding, “Give Al credit.”

Although only eight teams have come back after going down 3-1 in a series, the Hawks players give off the aura of world-beaters with Horford back. As Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, “This is the team they thought they were going to start the season with. They now have it, and we have to deal with it.”

He did play 20 minutes in Game 4, putting up 12 points and five rebounds. That was garbage time. This was big time.

“I wanted to bring that energy to the team,” Horford said.

That was there for everyone to see, “Big Al.” I just hope they thought it was as cool as I thought it was, and always is.

Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah (13), Luol Deng (9) and Kyle Korver (26) react after Derrick Rose suffers an injury during Game 1 against the 76ers on Saturday in Chicago. (The Associated Press).

In their first game of this year’s playoffs, the Bulls seemingly went from a team playing for an NBA title to a team playing for pride.

But after point guard Derrick Rose tore his ACL in the fourth quarter against the 76ers on Saturday, Bulls center Joakim Noah called his “little brother” to support him and instead found Rose supporting the team.

“His season’s over, you know?” Noah told the Northwest Herald. “But he’s trying to stay as positive as possible. He said he still believes in the team. He’s a great leader.”

Noah echoed Rose’s belief.

“We’re not going to let anybody paint the picture for us,” Noah told The Associated Press. “Obviously, it’s tough losing Derrick. I feel for him, but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves.”

Chicago already knows what it’s like to play without its reigning MVP on the floor as Rose was in street clothes for 27 of its 66 regular season games this year. The Bulls still managed to claim the No. 1 seed in the East — four games better than the Heat — while boasting a record of 18-9 without Rose.

“The whole team has to step up,” Noah said. “Our margin for error is a lot smaller with Derrick out. Can you replace a guy like Derrick? No. But it’s on us to step up as much as possible.”

And Noah, in particular, will be asked to do that more than ever in these playoffs.

While Rose suffered a myriad of injuries throughout the season, Noah became the focal point for the NBA’s best defense, which allowed three fewer points per game in Rose’s absence. But if the Bulls are to make a deep run in these playoffs, Noah will have to become more than just the team’s defensive leader or emotional leader. Thing is, Gator fans know that Noah won’t shy from being Chi-Town’s general just like he isn’t shy to dance behind reporters or wear a questionable seersucker on draft day.

And he will be the team’s leader even though the Bulls have a roster full of good candidates. It won’t be Luol Deng, even though the eighth-year forward has been with the team longer than anyone on the roster and earned his first All-Star selection this season. It won’t be Richard Hamilton, even though the 13-year veteran has appeared in 121 playoff games and has an NBA championship with Detroit. It won’t be Carlos Boozer, even though the 10th-year power forward is making his sixth playoff appearance and his salary exceeds that of any Chicago player.

Regardless of who it is, the Bulls will either become the deflated, dispirited team that will be easily had by the 76ers now or by the Heat down the road. Or they’ll become the wounded warriors, the motivated team that will get out of the first round and give any team they play a run for their money. The answer to that question may reveal itself on Tuesday night when Chicago hosts Philadelphia in Game 2.

MARREESE SPEIGHTS
Memphis is also trying to avoid a potential season-ending injury, albeit a mental and not a physical one. Speights was obviously still feeling the effects upstairs after the game.
“It’s a long series, we’ve got seven games left.”
On Sunday night, the Clippers tied the NBA playoff record for the largest deficit overcome at the end of three quarters, when they trailed by 21 and rallied for a 99-98 win over the Grizzlies. Los Angeles trailed by as much as 27 points before putting together the comeback. Although his math was off after the game, Speights had impressive numbers during the game as he went for 8 points and a team-high 9 rebounds (6 offensive), nearly notching a double-double in just 18 minutes.

COREY BREWER
The Nuggets were on the receiving end of a 103-88 beatdown at the hands of the Lakers in Game 1 on Sunday. Brewer finished with 11 points and 3 rebounds on 3-for-6 shooting, 2-for-4 from 3-point range. Most of Brewer’s and Denver’s damage offensively may have to come from the perimeter after Los Angeles center Andrew Bynum swatted an NBA record-tying 10 blocks.
Of course, Kobe Bryant is also a concern for the Nuggets. Before the game, Brewer told The Los Angeles Times he felt like shooting guard Arron Afflalo, a.k.a. the Rattlesnake, could handle the Black Mamba.
“Hey, the Rattlesnake versus the Black Mamba,” Brewer said. “It’s going to be a good matchup. I like the Rattlesnake in this one.”
Bryant scored 31 points off 11-of-24 shooting.

UDONIS HASLEM/MIKE MILLER
While the previous three Gators are facing uphill battles, Miami’s Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller look comfortable in their first-round series against New York. Haslem had 3 points and a team-high 8 rebounds (4 offensive) and 1 block. Meanwhile, Miller recorded 9 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal while going 3-of-9 from downtown as the Heat thrashed the Knicks 100-67 in Game 1. During the regular season, Miller tied with Ray Allen to shoot 45.3 percent from 3-point range, the fourth-best mark in the league.

MATT BONNER
San Antonio’s 3-point specialist was at his best in his supporting role with the Spurs on Sunday, going for 9 points and 4 rebounds, while going 3-for-4 from deep in a 106-91 romp of the Jazz. It’s a good start to the playoffs for Bonner, who’s had a tendency to cool off in the postseason. For his career, Bonner shoots 41.5 percent from 3-point range during the regular season but only 34.8 percent during the playoffs.

To see a video of highlights from Gator alums in their Game 1 contests over the weekend, click here. The clip is courtesy of YouTube user Coach Donovan.

FLORIDA GATORS IN THE NFL DRAFT, 1936-2011
Rd. (Overall); Name; Pos.; Team
2011
1 (15th) Mike Pouncey OL Miami Dolphins
2 (63rd) Marcus Gilbert OT Pittsburgh Steelers
5 (151st) Ahmad Black S Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7 (217th) Maurice Hurt OG Washington Redskins

Browns cornerback Joe Haden was among three Gators chosen in the first round in 2010. The only other year Florida had at least three first-rounders came in 1989.

2010
1 (7th) Joe Haden CB Cleveland Browns
1 (18th) Maurkice Pouncey C Pittsburgh Steelers
1 (25th) Tim Tebow QB Denver Broncos
2 (53rd) Jermaine Cunningham DE New England Patriots
2 (54th) Carlos Dunlap DE Cincinnati Bengals
2 (62nd) Brandon Spikes LB New England Patriots
3 (75th) Major Wright S Chicago Bears
4 (113th) Aaron Hernandez TE New England Patriots
5 (159th) Riley Cooper WR Philadelphia Eagles
2009
1 (22nd) Percy Harvin WR Minnesota Vikings
4 (124th) Louis Murphy WR Oakland Raiders
5 (153rd) Cornelius Ingram TE Philadelphia Eagles
2008
1 (8th) Derrick Harvey DE Jacksonville Jaguars
3 (97th) Andre Caldwell WR Cincinnati Bengals
2007
1 (17th) Jarvis Moss DE Denver Broncos
1 (21st) Reggie Nelson S Jacksonville Jaguars
3 (97th) Ray McDonald DE San Francisco 49ers
4 (221st) Marcus Thomas DT Denver Broncos
4 (135th) Joe Cohen DE San Francisco 49ers
6 (206th) Ryan Smith CB Tennessee Titans
7 (227th) Dallas Baker WR Pittsburgh Steelers
7 (228th) DeShawn Wynn RB Green Bay Packers
7 (240th) Brandon Siler LB San Diego Chargers
2006
2 (36th) Chad Jackson WR New England Patriots
6 (191st) Jeremy Mincey DE New England Patriots
7 (236th) Dee Webb DB Jacksonville Jaguars
2005
3 (70th) Channing Crowder LB Miami Dolphins
4 (112th) Ciatrick Fason TB Minnesota Vikings
7 (218th) Reynaldo Hill DB Tennessee Titans
2004
2 (40th) Ben Troupe TE Tennessee Titans
2 (49th) Keiwan Ratliff DB Cincinnati Bengals
3 (75th) Max Starks OL Pittsburgh Steelers
3 (95th) Guss Scott S New England Patriots
7 (249th) Bobby McCray DE Jacksonville Jaguars
2003
1 (22nd) Rex Grossman QB Chicago Bears
2 (44th) Taylor Jacobs WR Washington Redskins
4 (100th) Todd Johnson FS Chicago Bears
4 (116th) Ian Scott DT Chicago Bears
5 (161st) Aaron Walker TE San Francisco 49ers
5 (171st) Tron LaFavor DT Chicago Bears
6 (190th) Mike Nattiel LB Minnesota Vikings
7 (227th) Clint Mitchell DE Denver Broncos
2002
1 (26th) Lito Sheppard CB Philadelphia Eagles
2 (33rd) Jabar Gaffney WR Houston Texans
2 (40th) Mike Pearson OT Jacksonville Jaguars
2 (48th) Reche Caldwell WR San Diego Chargers
4 (102nd) Jeff Chandler PK San Francisco 49ers
4 (104th) Alex Brown DE Chicago Bears
5 (141st) Andra Davis LB Cleveland Browns
6 (181st) Marquand Manuel SS Cincinnati Bengals

Defensive tackle Gerard Warren, seen here, Steve Spurrier and Wes Chandler were all selected third overall, the highest position a Gator has ever been drafted.

2001
1 (3rd) Gerard Warren DT Cleveland Browns
1 (14th) Kenyatta Walker OT Tampa Buccaneers
4 (125th) Jesse Palmer QB New York Giants
7 (208th) John Capel WR Chicago Bears
2000
1 (10th) Travis Taylor WR Baltimore Ravens
3 (68th) Erron Kinney TE Tennessee Titans
3 (80th) Darrell Jackson WR Seattle Seahawks
4 (112th) Cooper Carlisle OG Denver Broncos
7 (249th) Eugene McCaslin LB Green Bay Packers
1999
1 (16th) Jevon Kearse LB Tennessee Titans
1 (24th) Reggie McGrew DT San Francisco 49ers
2 (36th) Mike Peterson LB Indianapolis Colts
2 (51st) Johnny Rutledge LB Arizona Cardinals
3 (81st) Zach Piller OT Tennessee Titans
3 (91st) Tony George DB New England Patriots
3 (93rd) Travis McGriff WR Denver Broncos
5 (157th) Terry Jackson RB San Francisco 49ers
1998
1 (9th) Fred Taylor RB Jacksonville Jaguars
1 (23rd) Mo Collins OT Oakland Raiders
2 (34th) Jacquez Green WR Tampa Bay Bucaneers
4 (97th) Fred Weary DB New Orleans Saints
6 (166th) Elijah Williams DB Atlanta Falcons
1997
1 (7th) Ike Hilliard WR New York Giants
1 (16th) Reidel Anthony WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4 (99th) Danny Wuerffel QB New Orleans Saints
5 (134th) Jeff Mitchell C Baltimore Ravens
1996
3 (78th) Mark Campbell DE Denver Broncos
4 (96th) Jason Odom OT Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6 (172nd) Dexter Daniels LB Baltimore Ravens
6 (184th) Reggie Green OL Seattle Seahawks
6 (185th) Chris Doering WR Jacksonville Jaguars
7 (225th) Johnie Church DE Seattle Seahawks
1995
1 (6th) Kevin Carter DE St. Louis Rams
1 (15th) Ellis Johnson DT Indianapolis Colts
4 (116th) Jack Jackson WR Chicago Bears
6 (180th) Henry McMillian DT Seattle Seahawks
1994
2 (34th) Errict Rhett RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 (109th) Willie Jackson WR Dallas Cowboys
6 (138th) Harrison Houston WR Atlanta Falcons
6 (147th) William Gaines DT Miami Dolphins
SD (25th) Darren Mickell DE Kansas City Chiefs
1993
6 (142nd) Lawrence Hatch DB New England Patriots
7 (172nd) Will White FS Phoenix Cardinals
Note: In 1993, the NFL Draft was reduced to seven rounds.
1992
4 (105th) Tony McCoy DT Indianapolis Colts
5 (119th) Dexter McNabb FB Green Bay Packers
5 (127th) Cal Dixon C New York Jets
6 (156th) Tony Rowell OT Los Angeles Raiders
7 (182nd) Tim Paulk LB Atlanta Falcons
8 (206th) Hesham Ismail OG Pittsburgh Steelers
9 (241st) Ephesians Bartley LB Philadelphia Eagles
10 (264th) Brad Culpepper DT Minnesota Vikings
12 (309th) Michael Brandon DE Indianapolis Colts
1991
1 (15th) Huey Richardson DE Pittsburgh Steelers
3 (62nd) Godfrey Myles LB Dallas Cowboys
3 (73rd) Ernie Mills WR Pittsburgh Steelers
6 (157th) Richard Fain DB Cincinnati Bengals
8 (215th) Jimmy Spencer DB Washington Redskins

Running back Emmitt Smith was chosen No. 17 overall by the Cowboys in 1990. Smith is the NFL's all-time rushing leader.

1990
1 (17th) Emmitt Smith RB Dallas Cowboys
4 (83rd) Stacey Simmons WR Indianapolis Colts
5 (131st) Cedric Smith FB Minnesota Vikings
9 (245th) Tony Lomack WR Los Angeles Rams
1989
1 (12th) Trace Armstrong DT Chicago Bears
1 (23rd) David Williams OT Houston Oilers
1 (25th) Louis Oliver FS Miami Dolphins
3 (68th) Rhondy Weston DT Dallas Cowboys
1988
1 (21st) Clifford Charlton OLB Cleveland Browns
2 (42nd) Jarvis Williams DB Miami Dolphins
6 (162nd) Bob Sims OG New Orleans Saints
7 (180th) Kerwin Bell QB Miami Dolphins
1987
1 (27th) Ricky Nattiel WR Denver Broncos
2 (55th) Adrian White DB New York Giants
3 (68th) Jeff Zimmerman OL Dallas Cowboys
6 (149th) Ron Moten OLB Philadelphia Eagles
12 (318th) Scott Armstrong ILB Dallas Cowboys
12 (323rd) Keith Williams DT Minnesota Vikings
1986
1 (15th) John L. Williams FB Seattle Seahawks
1 (27th) Neal Anderson RB Chicago Bears
2 (48th) Alonzo Johnson OLB Philadelphia Eagles
5 (121st) Ray Criswell P Philadelphia Eagles
5 (131st) Patrick Miller OLB San Diego Chargers
7 (187th) Ray McDonald WR New England Patriots
8 (211th) Alonzo Mitz DT Seattle Seahawks
1985
1 (6th) Lomas Brown OT Detroit Lions
1 (27th) Lorenzo Hampton RB Miami Dolphins
3 (76th) Crawford Ker OT Dallas Cowboys
5 (139th) Billy Hinson OG Denver Broncos
6 (164th) Tim Newton MG Minnesota Vikings
11 (306th) Gary Rolle WR Denver Broncos

Linebacker Wilber Marshall (58) was a significant member of two Super Bowl-winning defenses with the Bears in 1985 and Redskins in 1991.

1984
1 (11th) Wilber Marshall LB Chicago Bears
3 (78th) Tony Lilly DB Denver Broncos
8 (202nd) Randy Clark DB Kansas City Chiefs
9 (232nd) John Hunt OG Dallas Cowboys
1983
1 (13th) James Jones RB Detroit Lions
4 (108th) Chris Faulkner TE Dallas Cowboys
9 (229th) Mike Mularky TE San Francisco 49ers
10 (274th) Dan Fike OT New York Jets
1982
2 (38th) David Galloway DT St. Louis Cardinals
10 (253rd) Brian Clark K New England Patriots
1981
2 (37th) Cris Collinsworth WR Cincinnati Bengals
6 (153rd) Dock Luckie DT Kansas City Chiefs
7 (183rd) David Little LB Pittsburgh Steelers
7 (190th) Mike Clark DE Los Angeles Rams
1980
3 (75th) Scot Brantley LB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1979
7 (251st) Mike Dupree LB Kansas City Chiefs
10 (178th) Don Swafford T Philadelphia Eagles

Former Saints wide receiver Wes Chandler (89) was among a school-record 10 Gators drafted in 1978.

1978
1 (3rd) Wes Chandler WR New Orleans Saints
2 (38th) Scott Hutchinson DE Buffalo Bills
4 (91st) Terry LeCount WR San Francisco 49ers
5 (124th) Earl Carr RB St. Louis Cardinals
5 (128th) Willie Wilder RB Green Bay Packers
6 (159th) Tony Green RB Washington Redskins
8 (197th) Derrick Gaffney WR New York Jets
10 (259th) Mark Totten C Green Bay Packers
11 (296) Charlie Williams LB New England Patriots
12 (311th) Alan Williams P New York Jets
1977
9 (239th) David Posey K San Francisco 49ers
10 (252nd) Robert Morgan RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10 (253rd) Alvin Cowans DB Pittsburgh Steelers
12 (310th) Jimmy Stephans TE Pittsburgh Steelers
1976
2 (29th) Sammy Green LB Seattle Seahawks
2 (30th) Jimmy DuBose RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4 (111th) Mike Smith DE Philadelphia Eagles
6 (157th) Alvis Darby TE Seattle Seahawks
7 (199th) James Richards RB New York Jets
12 (332nd) Gerald Loper G San Francisco 49ers
13 (356th) Mike Williams T Atlanta Falcons
14 Wayne Fields DB Pittsburgh Steelers
1975
1 (14th) Glenn Cameron LB Cincinnati Bengals
2 (29th) Ralph Ortega LB Atlanta Falcons
2 (44th) Richard Lawless G Dallas Cowboys
8 (191st) Preston Kendrick LB San Francisco 49ers
1974
3 (78th) Nat Moore WR Miami Dolphins
4 (96th) Vince Kendrick RB Atlanta Falcons
5 (113th) Joseph Parker WR New Orleans Saints
12 (267th) Ricky S. Brown LB Houston Oilers
12 (312th) Jim Revels DB Miami Dolphins
1973
6 (143rd) Fred Abbott LB Minnesota Vikings
11 (285th) Willie B. Jackson WR Los Angeles Rams
1972
1 (14th) John Reaves QB Philadelphia Eagles
12 (294th) Mike Rich RB Green Bay Packers
14 (348th) Tommy Durrance RB Pittsburgh Steelers
15 (390th) Carlos Alvarez WR Dallas Cowboys
1971
1 (20th) Jack Youngblood DE Los Angeles Rams
1970
1 (20th) Steve Tannen DB New York Jets
10 (250th) Malcolm Steen G San Diego Chargers
1969
1 (8th) W. Larry Smith RB Los Angeles Rams
2 (47th) James Yarbrough TE Detroit Lions
5 (109th) Guy Dennis G Cincinnati Bengals
17 (434th) R. Larry Rentz DB San Diego Chargers
1968
3 (63rd) Richard Trapp E Buffalo Bills

Former San Francisco quarterback Steve Spurrier (11) was chosen No. 3 overall by the 49ers in 1967 after becoming the first Gator to win the Heisman Trophy.

1967
1 (3rd) Steve Spurrier QB San Francisco 49ers
3 (57th) Jimmy Jordan HB Atlanta Falcons
1966
2 Larry Gagner G Pittsburgh Steelers
3 Larry Gagner G Miami Dolphins (AFL)
3 Randy Jackson T Buffalo Bills (AFL)
4 Randy Jackson T Chicago Bears
6 Charley Casey FL Atlanta Falcons
15 Harold Seymour HB-K Washington Redskins
18 Harold Seymour HB-K Kansas City Chiefs (AFL)
1965
5 Roger Pettee LB Dallas Cowboys
6 A. Dennis Murphy T Houston Oilers (AFL)
10 Frank Pennie T Detroit Lions
10 A. Dennis Murphy T Chicago Bears
15 Larry Gagner T Cleveland Browns
19 Joseph B. Brown E-LB Baltimore Colts
1964
6 Merrell R. Brown E Washington Redskins
7 Hagood Clarke, III B San Francisco 49ers
15 Joseph B. Brown E Pittsburgh Steelers
18 Hagood Clarke, III B Buffalo Bills (AFL)
1963
2 Frank Lasky T New York Giants
3 Dick Skelly B New York Giants
6 Anton Peters T Denver Broncos (AFL)
8 Anton Peters T Los Angeles Rams
9 Robert Hoover B Minnesota Vikings
11 Lindy Infante HB Buffalo Bills (AFL)
12 Lindy Infante HB Cleveland Browns
14 Frank Lasky T San Diego Chargers
19 Bruce Starling HB Denver Broncos (AFL)
1962
4 Thomas F. Dean T San Francisco 49ers
8 Paul White HB Minnesota Vikings
8 Paul White HB Buffalo Bills (AFL)
15 Thomas F. Dean T Oakland Raiders (AFL)
29 Jim Beaver G Buffalo Bills (AFL)
30 Don Goodman HB Dallas Texans (AFL)
31 Louis Hicks T New York Titans (AFL)
1961
7 Pat Patchen E Denver Broncos (AFL)
8 Jim Beaver G Philadelphia Eagles
13 Don Goodman B Dallas Cowboys
19 Jack Espanship HB Los Angeles Chargers (AFL)
1960
6 William D. Hudson E Washington Redskins
11 Bob Wehking C Baltimore Colts
17 Jim Beaver T Baltimore Colts
1960 AFL Organizational Draft (Rounds not available)
- Jim Beaver T Dallas Texans (AFL)
- William D. Hudson E Denver Broncos (AFL)
- Bobby Joe Green HB Denver Broncos (AFL)
- Perry McGriff E Los Angeles Chargers (AFL)
- Bob Wehking C Los Angeles Chargers (AFL)
- Dan Edgington E Minneapolis (AFL)*
* Minneapolis subsequently gave up their AFL franchise in lieu of an NFL franchise shortly after the 1960 draft. All selections by Minneapolis then became property of the newly formed Oakland Raiders AFL franchise.
1959
9 Bobby Joe Green HB San Francisco 49ers
16 Dan Edgington E Green Bay Packers
24 Joe Hergert C Green Bay Packers
28 Don Fleming B Chicago Cardinals
29 Perry McGriff B Balitmore Colts
1958
2 Charles Mitchell G Cleveland Browns
9 Bernie Parrish B Cleveland Browns
10 Val Heckman T San Francisco 49ers
15 Ed Sears B Pittsburgh Steelers
20 Lou Pelham E Washington Redskins
25 Jim Roundtree B Baltimore Colts
1957
4 Jackie Simpson B Baltimore Colts
5 John Barrow G Detroit Lions
5 Larry Wesley T New York Giants
8 William E. Booker B New York Giants
16 Joe Brodsky B Washington Redskins
18 Jim Eaton E New York Giants
24 Donald Hicks T New York Giants
1956
5 Don Chandler B New York Giants
6 Fred Cason B New York Giants
16 Ray T. Brown B Chicago Bears
25 Harry Spears B New York Giants
28 Bobby Lance QB Green Bay Packerss
1955
3 Malcolm Hammock B Chicago Cardinals
23 George Medved T Los Angeles Rams
28 Arch Cassidy T Washington Redskins
29 Bill Dearing B Detroit Lions
1954
2 Rick Casares B Chicago Bears
7 Jack O’Brian E Pittsburgh Steelers
8 Dan Hunter T Philadelphia Eagles
15 Joe D’Agostino G Baltimore Colts
17 Howard Chapman T Cleveland Browns
1953
4 Everett Douglas T New York Giants
5 Buford Long B New York Giants
17 Reed Quinlan B Pittsburgh Steelers
22 Mike Kelly E New York Giants
25 Haywood Sullivan B Chicago Cardinals
1952
13 Carroll McDonald C Detroit Lions
25 Charlie LaPradd T Green Bay Packers
1951
No selections
1950
1 *Chuck Hunsinger B Chicago Bears
13 James F. Dempsey T Chicago Bears
14 James W. Kynes, Jr. C Pittsburgh Steelers
26 Gaspar Vaccaro B Pittsburgh Steelers
*Pick acquired in trade with the New York Bulldogs
1949
No selections
1948
8 Bob Forbes B Boston Yanks
20 (136th) *Bob Forbes B New York Yankees (AAFC)
25 Doug Beldon B Chicago Cardinals
*The All-American Football Conference existed from 1946-1950, merging with the NFL for the 1950 season. The AAFC held its own separate draft from 1947-49.
1947
No selections
1946
23 Kay Jamison E Los Angeles Rams
24 Roger Adams C Pittsburgh Steelers
30 Nick Klutka E Boston Yanks
1945
1 Paul DuHart B Pittsburgh Steelers
4 Roger Adams C Pittsburgh Steelers
18 Broughton Williams E Chicago Bears
1944
No selections
1943
10 Fondren Mitchell B Chicago Cardinals
25 Gene Lee C Brooklyn Dodgers
29 Floyd Konesty G Cleveland Rams
29 Bill Corry B Washington Redskins
1942
20 Milton Hull T New York Giants
1941
16 Julius Battista G New York Giants
1940
5 Clark Goff T Pittsburgh Steelers
1939
No selections
1938
6 Walt Mayberry B Cleveland Rams
1937
No selections
1936
No selections

MOST GATORS TAKEN BY NFL FRANCHISES
Pittsburgh Steelers – 23
Chicago Bears – 18
New York Giants – 17
Washington Redskins – 11
Green Bay Packers – 10

Houston's Chandler Parsons shoots against Miami's LeBron James (6) during the second half on Sunday in Miami. Parsons scored a career-high 23 points as the Rockets were eliminated from the playoffs. (The Associated Press).

The Rockets’ season has officially come to an end, but Chandler Parsons’ career is clearly just getting started.

Houston was eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday after a hard-fought 97-88 defeat in Miami, but its rookie second-round pick provided a silver lining in the loss.

Parsons, playing in his home state of Florida for the first time as a pro, had his most impressive game of the season with a career-high 23 points off 10-for-13 shooting to go with 6 rebounds, 4 steals and one block.

“It was great,” Parsons told The Associated Press. “I had a lot of family and friends here. You always want to play well for them but at the end of the day you want to get the win. It was a good learning experience and it’s exciting to be back in Florida.”

Parsons also knocked down 3-for-5 from downtown but the versatile small forward was matched up against the best stat sheet-stuffer in the NBA, LeBron James.

After Parsons drove on James for a layup to tie the game 83-83 with 3:18 left, James countered with a 3-pointer. Another Gator alum, Mike Miller, drilled another from deep that put Parsons and the Rockets out of reach.

Houston led by as many as 13 in the first half before Miami chipped away at the lead, eventually taking a 45-44 lead into halftime. However, Parsons led the way out of the gates in the third with his second-best scoring quarter of the season, recording 12 of the Rockets’ 25 points to give the team a 69-66 heading into the fourth.

“Fortunately, I hit shots,” Parsons said. “My teammates got me open. I just hate losing so at the end it doesn’t matter how well I played. A loss is a loss.”

This will be Houston’s third straight season without a playoff appearance, but the future is bright and their 38th overall pick in last year’s draft is a big reason why.

Entering the team’s last regular season game against the Hornets, Parsons has scored in double figures in 19 of 29 games since February. That month, Parsons averaged a season-best 12.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1 steal a game. Meanwhile, his 3-point shooting has improved dramatically since the new year: January (22.1 percent), February (33.3), March (35.6) and April (37.2). Parsons also notched five 20-point games in his debut season.

Hawks center Al Horford had his first full-contact practice with the team since his torn pectoral injury on Thursday. (The Associated Press).

Kobe Bryant. Derrick Rose. Dwight Howard. Amare Stoudemire.

Many recent injuries to star players have forced playoff-bound teams to suddenly take a harder look in the mirror. The Hawks have been doing that almost as soon as the season started.

Just 11 games into this condensed season, Atlanta All-Star center Al Horford went down with a torn left pectoral that required surgery and at least three months of rehab. However, the Hawks still managed to clinch a playoff spot on Monday, then got great news the next day when Horford was medically cleared for contact work.

On Thursday, Horford participated in his first full-contact practice with the team since doctors gave him the green light. It couldn’t have come at a better time with the playoffs set to begin in just nine days.

However, the practice did little to assure Horford that he’s ready to be the force that the fifth-year pro has proven himself to be.

“Today was the first chance I got to play 3-on-3 with the guys and I’m not where I need to be,” Horford told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I had a deadline in my mind that I wanted to be back by the last game of the regular season, but I’m not where I need to be. That is a little frustrating for me.

“I’m going to keep trying to work, but I’m not there yet.”

Horford hasn’t played in a regular-season game since a loss to the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 11. He went under the knife on Jan. 17. Two weeks ago, Horford returned to the team for non-contact practice but is annoyed with his progress up to this point despite “doing everything on schedule.”

“Once (you) get moving and doing different stuff that is when you start to realize (how far you have to go) and I feel limited,” Horford said. “More because of the injury, I’m limited. I’ve been working on my game and each week I’m improving and getting better at things, but it’s just not going as fast as I would like it.”

And not as fast as the Hawks would like either as Atlanta only has four games left in the regular season. On Friday, the fifth-seeded Hawks host a nationally televised game against the team they’re currently slated to play in the first round — and a team they’re all too familiar with — the Celtics.

“When you play in the post, you have to have a level of physicality and you have to be able to bang with another player and I’m not confident doing things like that yet,” Horford said. “The other thing is keeping (his left) arm above (his shoulder) for a certain period of time, that is another weak point for me. If I can’t do that, I’m going to be in trouble. The last thing I want to do is hurt the team.”

Re-inserting Horford if he’s less than 100 percent may not be a good option, but the coaches clearly aren’t concerned with a healthy Horford disrupting team chemistry. Coach Larry Drew wants the 6-foot-10, 250-pound double-double machine on the floor as soon as possible. In Drew’s words, “When he tells us.”

The Hawks and Celtics played a memorable first-round series in 2007, the same year the Boston Three Party was formed. Atlanta gave Boston a tougher time than any team would end up doing in the playoffs, taking the Celtics to seven games before being ousted. Horford, a rookie that year, played the best ball of his debut season in that series. After averaging 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds a game during the regular season, he averaged 12.6 points and 10.4 rebounds against the Celtics’ stingy defense while shooting 47.2 percent from the field.

Since then, Atlanta and Boston have continued to test each other every time they meet. The Celtics have taken both contests this season with a 79-76 victory on March 19 and an 88-86 overtime win just eight days ago.

The Jets' offseason program began on Monday and a source says head coach Rex Ryan and his coaches plan on using Tim Tebow as an H-back, fullback and running back. (The Associated Press).

When the Jets’ offseason program began on Monday, a source gave some insight on how the Jets’ two-quarterback system will function this season. The unnamed source said that coaches will use Tim Tebow as an H-back, fullback and running back.

Left guard Matt Slauson also shed some light on the team’s plans.

“It’s like we’re going to be two different teams, but as far as I know, Mark (Sanchez) is still going to be our guy,” he said on Monday.

A crazy thought first came to mind: Maybe New York’s coach Rex Ryan will actually use Tebow in the ground game and nothing more.

This is a coach who’s steeped in a family heritage of smash-mouth, defensive football. He is ground and pound through and through. Plus, the Jets were successful with a run-heavy offense in back-to-back runs to the AFC Championship Game in 2009 and 2010. The Broncos were the top rushing offense in the NFL last season, so what better place to look than Denver when trying to re-establish that philosophy? If he does in fact use Tebow strictly as a runner, that may explain why Ryan said he plans on using Tebow an average of 20 plays a game.

It’s conceivable that Ryan actually sees Tebow for what he is: different. Tebow’s made a career of embodying that in many aspects. One aspect in particular is fighting the widely supported notion that when it comes to quarterbacks, “If you have two, you have none.” Tebow has accomplished two things that may have Ryan believing his new QB can break that mold.

While it is true that no NFL team has ever won a Super Bowl with a two-quarterback system, Tebow has won a national championship in college while being the No. 2 quarterback before.

And while it’s true that Tebow hasn’t proven himself to be the best drop-back passer in the NFL, Tebow has shown that he’s a very gifted runner from that position.

So if Ryan is envisioning Tebow as a replacement for his former Wildcat guy Brad Smith, and if offensive coordinator Tony Sparano sees Tebow as merely another Ronnie Brown like he had in Miami, this two-quarterback system has a chance.

However, the second Sanchez struggles and/or Tebow records his first passing attempt, the coaches will have a rift. If that pass is called during the fourth quarter, fuggedaboutit. It’ll be exactly what Slauson said it would be: two different teams.

And what’s the probability of Tebow not throwing a pass, let alone a good amount of passes, this season? Ryan has also proven himself to be “different”, and when Tebow does pass — effectively beginning the start of another popularity contest with the fans as its judge — who’s to say Ryan of all people won’t favor the high-profile quarterback who brings national and maybe global attention to his franchise? On that point, some people have countered with, “If he wanted the attention, he would’ve gladly put his team on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ this season.” Why would Ryan put his combustible locker room in front of cameras at a time when all they want to record is Tebow’s every heavenly movement?

But that’s only one of the reasons Ryan may favor Tebow as his interest in the QB has been clear from the start.

Tim Tebow was pursued after a year in which Mark Sanchez, left, was criticized by his teammates, including receiver Santonio Holmes. (The Associated Press).

He did go after Tebow even though he must have known beforehand that it would be Tebow’s face, and not Sanchez’s face, plastered on TVs, magazines, cereal boxes, etc. no matter what Sanchez does. He also brought in Tebowmania despite two public vetoes, one from cornerback Antonio Cromartie and another from Sanchez himself, who said he doesn’t like having to come off the sidelines for the Wildcat. Plus, he pursued Tebow even while unnamed Jets criticized Sanchez, whose beef with star receiver Santonio Holmes is still likely simmering regardless of the attempt to cool it off in Orlando. Not even that hiccup in the contract was enough to prevent Ryan from getting his hands on Tebow.

An interest that strong only signifies that Ryan has bigger plans for the same player he watched firsthand, getting the job done against his own team and his own quarterback. The same guy who went on to make magic happen again and again the same way Sanchez does in the fantasies of the annual Super Bowl-guaranteeing coach.

So the Jets aren’t suckering anyone when they say “Sanchez is our quarterback” without adding a “for now” or a “unless Tebow is performing better” in there. They aren’t tricking anyone into believing Tebow will be the punt team’s “personal protector” as special teams coach Mike Westhoff said.

Even Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas, who wasn’t exactly crushed that Tebow was traded to the Jets, said he feels Tebow is good enough to wrestle the starting job away from Sanchez.

Nonetheless, Slauson and center Nick Mangold reiterated their confidence of the scheme on Monday.

“As much as any other trade or movement gets done, if it’s going to help our team, I’m all for it,” Mangold said. “I’m excited. Tim’s won, obviously, a lot of games and brings a new dynamic for our offense.”

“You guys will be really surprised by what Mark’s going to do this year,” Slauson said. “The way we’re going to be running things plays right into Mark’s strengths, running the ball. It’ll be very similar to what we did in Ryan’s first two years, very much a style like that — heavy run, heavy play action and whipping out a deep ball every now and again. That’s all the stuff Mark does really well.”

Interestingly enough, that type of offense would fit Tebow, too, as one could replace every reference of “Mark” with “Tim” throughout that last quote.

There’s no doubt that the Jets have thought about doing just that, and not just in words.

Washington receiver and former Gator Jabar Gaffney. (The Associated Press).

Beginning on April 8 and up until just a few hours ago, Redskins receiver Jabar Gaffney posted a series of venomous tweets centered around his “soon-to-be ex-wife” and his cousin — fellow Gator alum and NFL cornerback — Lito Sheppard. Gaffney said the comments about Sheppard and his wife had nothing to do with each other. As a result of the rant, Gaffney became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter worldwide on Thursday afternoon while Sheppard wasn’t far behind. Censored versions of some of the tweets are listed below in chronological order from the beginning:

“Lito Sheppard is the biggest (expletive) in the world if u c him tell him I said it & it’s whatever”

“4-12 is my anniversary woke up and couldn’t find my soon 2 be ex wife anywhere. … I can’t wait till its final in a few weeks”

“Feelings are for suckas Neva Eva again. Black heart dead soul!!! Get it how u live & I’m outta here”

“My beef wit Lito don’t got nothing to do bout a girl he just a person I don’t (expletive) wit he lame to me so don’t hit me up wit that. #Realtalk”

“Last tweet: (expletive) ain’t grateful no matter what u do for em. Homeboys will change on u. I keeps it 100 don’t read into that’s all it is.”

“I’m done tweetin all u smart (expletive) i be in da 904, 407 & 703 tell me what u think if and when u c me”

Gaffney was drafted by the Texans in the second round of the 2002 draft and has also played for the Patriots and Broncos. The 10-year NFL veteran has 443 receptions for 5,622 yards and 24 touchdowns.

While at Florida, Gaffney was named a first-team All-American in 2000 and 2001 and helped the Gators to the 2000 SEC Championship.

UPDATE: Later on Thursday night, Gaffney posted another series of tweets claiming his account was hacked and that he didn’t say any of the things mentioned above. He said he and his wife “handle our business in house” and added “me and my boy Lito are cool.” Gaffney also said he would delete his account. “…so now if u c my name it’s fake”