As you are aware, 1996 represents the first year the Jaguars ever notched a winning season.  It represents the team's first magical playoff run, a run that saw the Jaguars capture the hearts of Jaguars fans and reach the cusp of the Super Bowl.  It would be nice if the team could surprise us all and replicate that run. 

That isn't likely.  Chances are, this is going to be another LONG season.

However, there is one small yet important aspect of the 1996 offseason that might yet be replicated and be of significant help to this team:  the waiver wire.

Certainly you are blinking in befuddlment after reading that statement.  I was tempted to while typing it. 

But the waiver wire proved to be very important to the Jaguars that year, as they managed to acquire a few of the most important players in early Jaguars history.

RB Natrone Means started off well for the Chargers in 1994, but fell out of favor in 1995, and was waived by the Chargers in 1996.  The Jaguars snapped him up, and he led the team during their playoff run with some dominant rushing performances.

I often speak of Buddy Ryan in almost reverent terms..  However, that respect is limited to his ability to construct great defenses.  He had seemingly zero use for/respect fo offenses, including those players on his own team.  This was reflected in his waiving of OL Ben Coleman.  Coleman wound up settling in at LG for us, and gave us some superb play subbing for Tony Boselli.

A former Ryan alum, DL Clyde Simmons, was cut by the Eagles that offseason.  The Jaguars snapped him up, and he wound up making some of the most important plays in team history, including intercepting the Jim Kelly shovel pass in the 1996 Wildcard game, and blocking the FG to beat the Steelers on Monda Night Football.

Aside from those guys, one of the top 3 players in team history-Jimmy Smith- was a street free agent available for any team to pick up.

The Jaguars took advantage of some mistakes by other organizations to bolster their team.  If UM and Baalke are astute, they will similarly take advantage of their status at  at the top of the waiver wire selection process to acquire players who could upgrade this team in the short and medium term.

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