By: David Levin (@davidlevin71)

The greatest thing Maurice Jones-Drew has done all offseason is he jogged out onto the practice field last Thursday to the delight of the fans at EverBank Field’s practice facility.  MJD showed everyone in attendance he was getting close to being ready for the start of training camp in August.

But there are always instances where depth is a good thing to have.

Right now, the Jaguars have to believe MJD will be ready to play, but whether he can be the 1,600-yard runner he was two seasons ago remains to be seen. You can be sure that the small runner with the big heart will use it as motivation to make doubters believers by the end of the season.

Justin Forsett and Denard Robinson are listed as the backups at the position.

Seriously, if the Jaguars were to look for more depth, they could look at these veterans to provide strength in numbers.

Beanie Wells has already been in Jacksonville and left with a whimper or no sound at all. At 24 years old, you figured he would be ideal for this franchise, but team general manager David Caldwell did not make a more to sign him.

Cedric Benson had some good seasons in Cincinnati. Could he be an answer here? When MJD was holding out last season, I thought the team might make a move to acquire him, but it never happened. Just think what might have happened had Benson been a Jaguar while Jones-Drew was on the shelf?

I also think the Jaguars connection with the Falcons could play into their hands again. Michael Turner is big, hulking back who could be a goal line wonder for this team. He played in Atlanta while Caldwell was with the team.

There has been no word as to whether any team has looked at Turner.

Willis McGahee played in Denver and is now a free agent. He has ties to the state, having played at the University of Miami. Coming home could revitalize him. McGahee would be the most likely choice, if you asked me.

By: David Levin (@davidlevin71)

If I had to choose my Mt. Rushmore of the NFL it might take some thinking, but I know I would have Jerry Rice and Walter Payton on it. The other two spots are debatable and I may argue with half a dozen or more sports writers over who the other two spots on the side of the mountain should go to.

By the way, Joe Montana would probably be third and then we would really get into semantics as I would fight hard to keep Brett Favre off the sculpture. Anyone who knows me knows I am a Dan Marino guy, but he doesn’t deserve a place on the sculpture.

The reason I bring up the subject is that the NFL Network is doing its version of revisionist history, asking who would make up the Mt. Rushmore of all 32 teams. And while the Jaguars may not be the team with a rich history in its 18 years in the league, it could be argued there would be some fighting amongst fans and possibly local media over who would belong on the side of the mountain or the side of the EverBank Building on the north bank of the St. John’s river.

Let me take all the debate away from everyone and make a case for these six players who deserve a chance to represent the Jaguars as the team’s best ever. After that, you all can talk amongst yourselves over should be dropped and who should be kept.

Tony Boselli: There is no debate on this one. The team’s first overall draft pick and the best offensive tackle in the league when he was in his prime. When he and Bruce Smith went head-to-head in the AFC Divisional playoffs in 1996, it was the best effort of any offensive lineman I had ever seen and remains one of the most talked about confrontations of all time.

Fred Taylor: He went from “Fragile Fred” to freaking unbelievable Fred with one play --- 90 yards in the 1999 AFC Divisional Playoffs. He single-handedly retired Dan Marino 62-7. Taylor is a dancer who could sprint from a dead stop and then run to daylight. He was a 1998 first round pick from Florida (Thank you, Rob Johnson) and is considered one of the best all-time. Jim Brown once said Taylor was the best back he had ever seen play.

Mark Brunell: He was and is the best passer to ever wear teal. He is also one of the best left-handed quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. Brunell was unseated by Byron Leftwich and spent time in Washington, New Orleans and New York. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Saints.

Donovan Darius: No one has hit anyone in the secondary like Darius over the years. The “other” draft pick in 1998 from Syracuse, Darius was a mainstay in the defensive backfield and a team leader. He is now working with teens and kids to improve themselves. Darius (along with Rashean Mathis) helped the Jaguars in a division with the likes of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.

Brad Meester: He does not get the media coverage that he deserves, but this tenured Jaguar is the rock of the offensive line and a leader on the team in general. Meester has played more games than any other Jaguar and will again play center for the team this season, in what could be his last in the NFL.

Keenan McCardell: While Jimmy Smith will never be on this list or on the “Pride of the Jaguars,” McCardell is one of the best possession receivers to ever play. He was “Robin” to Smith’s “Batman” in the heydays of this team. It could be argued that McCardell was more important to the success of this team because he could move chains and was Brunell’s short route receiver.

By: David Levin (@davidlevin71)

All the buzz at the end of last week’s mini camp in Jacksonville was the statements by both Gus Bradley and David Caldwell that the team could take five quarterbacks to training camp. While it is not unheard of to do such a thing, the fact remains that more than likely only two will make the roster (53-man roster) and possibly two (Matt Scott and Jordan Rodgers) will be on the practice squad. I seriously doubt the Jaguars would carry a rookie passer on the active roster when the season starts or that Mike Kafka would make this team (although if he did, what a story that would be considering who the Patriots signed when he was cut).

Believe it or not, there are still other issues this team must deal with in other positions on this roster. Mini camp was great because it showed talent, but it also left questions unanswered and writers like me scratching their heads wondering what moves will be made in the five weeks prior to training camp.

Here are some issues this team still must deal with...

* The replacement for Justin Blackmon: I think it will be Mohamed Massaquoi who gets the start, but Jordan Shipley will play a major role and don’t count out Ace Sanders to see some touches as well. The Jaguars like Shipley and Sanders for their all out speed.

* Injuries on the defensive line: This may be most pressing. Jason Babin is out after surgery and Roy Miller is still dealing with tendonitis. Both are expected to play a major role on the line. Tyson Alualu has already been moved to end and Andre Branch may see time at Defensive end, LEO, and outside linebacker.

* Offensive line depth: The starting five at the beginning of the season will be Luke Joeckel and  Eugene Monroe at tackles, Brad Meester at center and Uche Nwaneri and Will Rackley at guard. Cameron Bradfield, Jason Spitz, Mike Brewster all provide depth. There could be more linemen on the roster, but who really stands out in this crowd?

* If Maurice Jones-Drew cannot start: Does the team sign someone like Beanie Wells or maybe take a swing at Willis McGahee? Does a Cedric Benson make sense (yes!). The Jags have MJD, Justin Forsett and Denard Robinson listed as their three backs. Lonnie Pryor will make the team and possibly start.

* Is Jeremy Mincey done in Jacksonville? I think so, personally. But that remains to be seen. After signing a free-agent contract last season, he did little to impress last season and may have a hard time making this squad because of Tyson Alualu’s move outside and the play of Andre Branch. If Paul Hazel makes this team, he is out of here.

By: David Levin (@davidlevin71)

By: David Levin (@davidlevin71)

My first reaction when I saw the Jaguars signed former New England Patriots’ quarterback Mike Kafka was, “There goes the neighborhood.”

Another player linked to Tebow and the Jaguars --- he goes on a list that reads Tyson Alualu, Blaine Gabbert and of course, the “Weapon” Bryan Anger. We don’t know a lot about Kafka, who was a player in Philadelphia before he was signed by the Patriots, but because he was cut to make room for the enigmatic Tebow, he immediately will draw attention here in Jacksonville.

The truth is, he shouldn’t.

The real truth is, regardless where he played, who he played for, what color his underwear is or which arm he throws with, if he can help this team win, that is all that matters. A cousin of mine would disagree with my assessment, but she wants Tebow here to sell tickets and keep the team in Jacksonville. That sounds a little like something done in the Big Apple where a kid who ultimately is good for the sport was strung along and played like a yo-yo barely seeing the field in 2012.

While I sound like a mark who is totally against No. 15 (No. 5 in Patriots’ programs) I am more against the people who want him here for the wrong reasons. You bring a player in to play first, sell tickets second. If the kid can play, tickets sell and the rest takes care of itself.

The Jaguars did the right thing in distancing themselves early on from this dilemma. Tim Tebow is now a New England Patriot. Mike Kafka is now a Jacksonville Jaguar. It is not a trade, it is not a switch, it is a matter of circumstance. I’m all about winning, and whoever gives this team a chance to do so, then great. But if you sign players for publicity (Hello, New York) and do not see the whole picture, then you lose sight of what the sport is about.

If Mike Kafka sets the world on fire and wins a spot on the roster, we shouldn’t once think it is a bad move because our community hero wasn’t offered the same deal.

Different players, different circumstances, different choices. That is what football is all about.

Like it or not, the Jaguars still made the right decision.