Winners off the field

Be forewarned, this notebook is not going to contain any statistics, how many yards Maurice Jones-Drew needs to set the franchise record or what needs to happen for the team to make the playoffs. That is for another day.

If you ask any player in the Jaguars locker room about the key to this team's success, I guarantee that each will talk about the "team atmosphere" in the locker room; everybody buying into the program and following the lead of the veterans providing leadership.

Head coach Jack Del Rio addressed the media following Sunday's win over Houston and talked about the importance of needing everyone on the team to pitch in for the team to have success.

The same can be said of what the Jaguars have been accomplishing each week off the field. The last two days were no different, with 41 different players participating in the community the last 48 hours. That is not a typo; 41 different players, from rookies to seasoned veterans.

Less than 24 hours after earning their seventh win, 14 members of the rookie class joined owner Wayne Weaver outside the stadium to help distribute more than 15 tons of food to 25 area community agencies through the Second Harvest Food Bank. Cornerback Derek Cox, with a smile on his face, greeted the group and talked about the importance of making sure people aren't going to bed hungry. The event was a partnership with Lift Up America and Tyson Foods, and several of the speakers talked about the increasing number of children going to bed hungry each night.

Early Tuesday morning, several Jaguars joined their former teammate, Richard Collier, to sign autographs and greet participants in the "Gift of Life" blood drive held by the Blood Alliance at the stadium. The Blood Alliance needs to collect 350 pints of blood each day to keep up with the needs in the area, and during the holiday season people traditionally dedicate less time to giving blood. More than 700 people attended the event and 630 units of blood were given.

While Clint Ingram, Justin Durant, Brian Iwuh, Nate Hughes and Ernest Wilford signed autographs, several of the Jaguars players and coaches gave blood including linebackers coach Mark Duffner. Defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison and his wife, Jessica, along with their two children, took donations for baked goods that players and coaches wives prepared for the event.

Downstairs in the team's cafeteria, Hughes and safety Gerald Alexander hosted a private lunch for eight people, winners of team sponsor Kraft Foods "Eat Lunch with a Jaguar" season-long promotion. Both players had plenty to talk about after their performances on Sunday, with an interception by Alexander and Hughes' first career touchdown reception.

On the other side of town, any fan wondering about the health of Pro Bowl cornerback Rashean Mathis this week could have asked him personally as he signed autographs at a local Daily's convenience store.

As darkness descended on the stadium, more than 70 area children were being led on a private tour of the club's locker room and weight room by the Jaguars equipment staff along with Wilford and rookie defensive end Julius Williams. The group spent time on the field, pretending for a short time they were their favorite Jaguar and quickly realizing how far 100 yards really is. Following a pizza party with more cookies than one could imagine, the group was taken to a local store for a shopping spree provided by 13 Jaguars players and a local community foundation.

Imagine the delight in the kids' faces when they stepped off the bus and learned they would be shopping with a Jaguar. Ellison, Reggie Nelson, Derrick Harvey, Eugene Monroe, Eben Britton, Jordan Black, Marcedes Lewis, Kennard Cox, Kynan Forney, Rashad Jennings, Tyron Brackenridge and Vince Manuwai each took three or four kids on a private shopping excursion.

Center Brad Meester and his wife, Jamie, joined the fun by hosting 23 children from the 4^th Judicial Court Guardian Ad Litem program as part of the "Brad's Buddies" program. The Meesters, who have taken the group to a Jaguars game and dinner at Maggiano's the last two months, gave each child a $100 gift certificate so they could experience the holiday shopping themselves.

It was nice to see the faces of surprised customers as several of the Jaguars shopped in the kids' clothing section or tried to explain to their child the importance of getting a shoe that actually fit. You don't forget when you hear a child saying he wants to buy a watch because he has never had one or making sure they didn't leave without getting something for their teacher. Or the kid asking if he has enough money left to buy his grandmother something special.

Sure, the Jaguars are 7-5 and making a postseason run that should have the people of Jacksonville excited, especially with two home games coming in a five-day span. But what excites me the most is the fact the players don't stop providing thrills and making people smile just on Sunday; it's becoming a recurring them each week off the field as well.

Back to the stats on Thursday.