by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich is entering his second year in the NFL, but he said he prepared in the off-season like it would be his last.
“There’s no pacing myself,” said Leftwich. “The mindset you have to have is to practice and play every day as hard as you can.”
This will still be a season of firsts for Leftwich: first year with a full training camp; first year with expectations of playoffs; first year those expectations have been hoisted squarely onto Leftwich’s shoulders.
The team will hold several practices at night. The post-workday practices will give more fans a chance to see the team. Leftwich said he can’t wait to get out after dark. “I always play better under the lights.”
Leftwich said Wednesday he welcomeed the new challenges. When fans talk about the team’s successes, and failures, Leftwich said he wants his name to be the first one mentioned.
“It’s OK when people want to put all the pressure on me,” he said. “It’s OK, put it all on my shoulders. I hope it’s that way for 12-15 years.”
The increased scrutiny will start early. NFL Films will turn the team’s training camp into a weekly reality series. Leftwich said the team is looking forward to the camera’s glare.
“If they thought we were going to be a bad team, they wouldn’t be here,” he said.
Leftwich isn’t shy about his own expectations. “Believe me, we all know where the Super Bowl is going to be played,” he said. But he said he learned last year not to get ahead of himself. Early in his career, Leftwich already has a command of NFL philosophy and lockerroom cliches. “We have to take it one step at a time.”