It's a metaphor.

Three time Pro Bowl quarterback Mark Brunell is hoping to get more protection from the federal government than he could ever get from the Redskins offensive line, as the former Jaguars star is expected to file for bankruptcy later today. Brunell, who plans to sign with the New York Jets late next month, made 52 million dollars throughout the course of his career. He never could adapt to the salary of a clipboard holder, he was just so used to the starter life style.

Abel Harding of the Florida Times-Union reports that Brunell plans to make the filing today, despite earning $52 million during his career.

The tipping point seems to be multiple lawsuits resulting from failed business loans for which Brunell and others co-signed. The fact, however, that the total liability under those claims falls in the neighborhood of $3.3 million suggests that Brunell hasn’t squirreled away much, if any, of the money he made while playing. To qualify for bankruptcy protection, assets can’t exceed debts. Thus, Brunell necessarily has less money than he owes. –PFT

Failed business ventures, Mark? Really? If you’re going to lose 52 million, the least you could do is spend it yourself. Giving things to others is so overrated, that is, unless you’re giving someone a venereal disease. Why, Mark must be as crazy as Crazy John from Tire House and Rims. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s no secret that the Jacksonville Jaguars are struggling. The team has gone 12-20 in the past two seasons and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2007, but it’s troubles don’t end there. The team has recently received criticism for only opening their intra-squad scrimmage to season ticket holders, and Vic Ketchman, senior editor of Jaguars.com, explained why on the team’s website.

In the most clear way possible, Ketchman makes the case that the Jaguars have reached a crisis point, if that wasn’t already clear.

“Ticket sales, not the futures of David Garrard and Jack Del Rio, is the number one issue confronting this team, and it’s not about next year’s ticket sales or growing the fan base for 2020, it’s about selling tickets for this year. This is it,” Ketchman says.

“This is save the whale and, from my perch on the beach, the whale is struggling to live. I think everyone would do well to understand that the radical nature of this decision underscores the team’s desperation to sell tickets. The team knew this decision would be harshly criticized, yet, it went forward with it. Why do you think it did? If your answer is that we have reached the tipping point, then you are a logical person.” –PFT

That sounds like a pretty foreboding message coming from the Jags front office. But I’m still shocked. A poorly managed team in a small market isn’t making money, you say? Why, that’s impossible! Next, you’ll be telling me of flying machines, and moving pictures that dance and make noise in a box I put in my sitting room!

They should have the sad trombone play every time Ketchman speaks, and introduce him as Debbie Downer. “We lost another million because the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is destroying our state’s economy, and we couldn’t sell tickets before that, either.” He’d say, “Did I mention that David Gerrard is our quarterback, and that we drafted Matt Jones in the first round a couple years ago? Oh, and we also drafted Tyson Alualu with the 10th overall pick in this years draft, whose only value is in the hilarity of his name.” By then, Ketchman would be laughing hysterically and would have a crazy, far off look in his eye. Somewhere, Donald Trump is rubbing his hands together and laughing smugly.