By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire
Do you remember Chuck Bednarik?
He was the NFL’s last true “60-minute man” as a linebacker and center for the Eagles from 1949-62, and he played a pivotal role in the Eagles’ 1960 NFL championship.
My mother introduced him to me as a 12 or 13-year-old, and I had no idea who he was. I do remember how his right pinky finger was bent. Back then, I was just an encyclopedia on players from the late 1960s and early ‘70s.
A few years later, I realized whom I had met, and I was amazed.
A few weeks from now, I should have the opportunity to cross paths with the game’s probable next two-way player.
With training camp roughly two weeks away, there are plenty of indications that Jags’ top pick Travis Hunter will play both ways.
The Jags are on the precipice of adding another chapter to a piece of NFL history. They also will be dealing with an issue that will dictate their future arguably with the game’s biggest rookie chip.
Hunter recently inked his rookie deal, and there has been plenty of buzz around Jacksonville about his prospects. It’s that same kind of fever that surged when assumed quarterback messiah Trevor Lawrence was drafted five years ago.
Looking at the Jags under first -year head coach Liam Coen, they can use him on both sides of the ball.
But what will Coen and new GM James Gladstone do? There will be plenty of national interest in their camp after they flirted with maximizing Hunter in the recent mini camp.
Yet, Coen and Gladstone will be expected to take the first step to turn the franchise around with one of the game’s rare breeds, a fifth-year quarterback with questions, and some new faces on an inconsistent offense and defense.
Hunter paired with Brian Thomas Jr. give them one of the game’s best wide receiver tandems, and he also can raise the level of the secondary with his corner play.
Does Coen play him at wide receiver and at a nickel position in the secondary, or does it flip the other way? Or does he split his time?
Coen and Gladstone will need to discover how best to utilize Hunter and whether or not he can be a gamechanger for the franchise.
With Lawrence and now Hunter, the Jags arguably have two of the game’s top transgenerational players.
In a few weeks, their journey will begin on how they will fit to bring the franchise back to playoff form.
For Jaguars’ fans, they can hope another Chuck Bednarik will be playing this fall.
