Let Tony Boselli guide Jaguars out of Corridor of Shame | Commentary

Tony Boselli had his bronze bust unveiled in Canton, Ohio, in excess of the weekend, but this should not be the ultimate chapter of his Jacksonville Jaguars legacy.

It ought to be the beginning of a new phase of his affiliation with the workforce that he once street-graded a path to getting to be the most profitable expansion franchise in NFL heritage.

Boselli, the most dominant offensive tackle in the league in the late1990s, became the initial Jaguar at any time inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday and now should be the gentleman employed to rescue this now-moribund franchise from the Pro Football Corridor of Disgrace.

I will die on this hill — journalistically talking, of study course.

For years, I have thought and even created that Jaguars owner Shad Khan has inexplicably underestimated Boselli’s probable benefit to the firm. And, no, I’m not speaking about his opportunity worth as a famous participant whom skilled groups normally employ as some form of figurehead community ambassador. I’m chatting about his potential value to run the entire front business office as a general manager or some other hoity-toity title these kinds of as government vice president of soccer operations.

It is baffling that a excellent billionaire businessman this kind of as Khan could make so many lousy football hires over the yrs (see coaches Urban Meyer, Gus Bradley, Mike Mularkey, GM Gene Smith and the determination to make previous-faculty, no-nonsense former coach Tom Coughlin into the vice president of football operations), but has in some way managed to ignore the evident, no-brainer using the services of of Boselli as the franchise’s front person.

Why would not you want the finest Jaguar of all-time and one particular of handful of shining stars in the organization’s if not dismal historical past to be the leader? Boselli’s induction into the Hall of Fame in fact gave beleaguered Jaguars admirers a motive to sense very good and be very pleased of their crew for a adjust.

You could convey to just by viewing the induction ceremony on Tv set and observing the enormous variety of Jaguars admirers who manufactured the pilgrimage to Canton and purchased up each and every very last shred of Boselli Corridor of Fame equipment that was on sale. The Boselli clothing and souvenirs offered out so promptly that Tony’s very own relatives did not even get a possibility to obtain any.

“Definitely, the Jaguars have been the most obvious group presence this calendar year,” HOF spokesman Rich Desrosiers instructed the Florida Instances-Union.

Of study course, you would in no way retain the services of a person to run your franchise just simply because they are beloved, but recognition unquestionably does not hurt Boselli’s qualifications. Particularly when public self confidence in the firm is at an all-time very low as the Jaguars try out to make their way out of the muck and mud of the City mire.

Whenever I have introduced up the notion of Boselli managing the Jaguars in the previous, some Jags fans and media cynics have scoffed at me and reported Boselli has no knowledge as an NFL scout and expertise evaluator. To which I say, that is a bunch of archaic, outdated-faculty hooey.

You know what Kevin Demoff, the executive vice president of soccer functions for the earth winner Los Angeles Rams did prior to joining the corporation? He was an editor and web-site designer for a failed dotcom-era enterprise known as Broadband Sporting activities.

You know what Bob Myers, the esteemed president of basketball operations and basic manager for the planet winner Golden State Warriors, was executing right before he joined the Warriors? He was a athletics agent.

You know how Alex Anthopoulos, the president of baseball functions and basic manager of the environment winner Atlanta Braves, got his get started in the baseball enterprise? As a media relations intern.

Consider me, you can use scouts and capologists but an helpful normal supervisor wants to be a great chief and determination-maker and it surely does not damage if you had been also a wonderful participant.

Hall of Fame protection John Lynch went straight from the Tv set booth to typical supervisor of the San Francisco 49ers, where by he was named the NFL’s Government of the Year in only his next period on the job.

Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway didn’t have any knowledge when he was employed as GM of the Denver Broncos in 2011. In the next 5 seasons, the Broncos went to the playoffs five periods, won four division titles, two AFC Championships and a Tremendous Bowl trophy.

I believe Boselli would be an unbelievable leader for the Jaguars. He is aware of the group and he loves the corporation. He understands the league, the players and the coaches from his nine a long time of remaining the direct radio analyst for Thursday Night time Soccer on Westwood 1.

If Shad Khan is as good as I feel he is, he will flip around the keys to the franchise to a good leader, a terrific communicator and an all-time wonderful participant.

Putting the Jaguars into the Pro Soccer Corridor of Fame was a remarkable accomplishment for Tony Boselli, but you know what would be even a lot more awesome?

If he were being offered the opportunity to lead the Jaguars out of the Pro Soccer Hall of Shame they’ve been mired in for most of their existence.

E mail me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Strike me up on Twitter @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio demonstrate every single weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and High definition 101.1-2

()