Justin Blackmon is in the record books and he has not even played a game yet for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He certainly did not plan for the dubious distinction he acquired, but then who would?
Blackmon became this year’s final first-round draft pick to sign a contract. The No. 5 overall will show up for his first NFL practice Tuesday after he signs a four-year deal worth $19.5 million, according to the Florida Times-Union.
As it is in today’s technologically advanced times, the Jaguars announced the contract agreement with Blackmon via the team’s Twitter account.
In any case, the club is ready to have the receiver with so much potential begin working on his craft with his teammates. Blackmon isn’t likely to play in the Jaguars’ first preseason game Friday against the New York Giants. New rules call for a player to have three days of non-contact work before he’s allowed to put on full pads. Starting practice Tuesday only allows for two days of non-contact work before the preseason game.
Whatever the case, Blackmon will arrive with a cloud of drama hanging over him and suspect eyes because of his troubled past.
The former Oklahoma State star pleaded guilty last month to drunken driving in Oklahoma. He negotiated a deal that did not included jail time.
Still, it was s disturbing scenario. Blackmon was arrested in Stillwater, Okla., on June 3 and charged with aggravated DUI when he registered a .24 alcohol level, three times the legal limit. He later apologized and indicated that he would stop drinking.
This arrest followed an arrest for an alcohol-related offense while at Oklahoma State, leading to speculation that the Jaguars wanted some sort of contractual protection should he run afoul of the law again.
It is not clear at this time if that kind of stipulation was a sticking point in the contract negotiations.
