Looks Like Justin Blackmon Finally Might be Trying to Get Clean
Alex Dunlap, RosterWatch.com

According to the Florida-Times Union, there is some concern among teammates and those close to enigmatic Jaguars WR Justin Blackmon, an uber-talented wideout who is serving his second NFL suspension for drug use.

High School football coaches, college buddies and Jags teammates are currently reporting very minimal contact from Blackmon, who has changed his cell phone number per the Times Union’s report, which should shock no one as Blackmon has always been a bit shy of the public eye outside of his on-field displays. Furthermore, readers and listeners of RosterWatch know very well that one thing the Jags brass really got bothered by during the period of his most recent suspension was that Blackmon had very little contact with the club about his whereabouts and status.

When I asked Jags GM Dave Caldwell at the Combine about where Blackmon stood with the organization, he said,

“Justin needs to take care of himself and our biggest thing for Justin is to make sure he lives a happy and healthy lifestyle.”

I followed up by asking Caldwell whether the Jags wanted Blackmon back after all this.

“We haven’t’ really thought much about it. If he can get things right and he’s right, we would welcome him back.”

“Haven’t thought much about it” … sure, Caldwell.

According to the Times-Union article, though, Blackmon is indeed – reportedly – “taking care of himself,” as he told his former WRs coach at Oklahoma State, Gunter Brewer, in a brief text message that “I’m getting help.”

At RosterWatch, we learned our lesson with Brandon Marshall, an elite WR who appeared to be on a one-way track to disaster and becoming virtual locker room kryponite, when he came out of therapy healthy and as the new person fans and citizens of Chicago have grown to love. While fans will not see any of Justin Blackmon in 2014, and are likely to never see him again in a Jaguars uniform, the Brandon Marshall saga should be proof that at 24 years, no player or person is too old to change their stripes.

At least it looks like Blackmon is starting to realize that – as incommunicative as he may be regarding his progress and status.