The 2000 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the franchise’s sixth year in the National Football League. The Jaguars in 1999 had obtained an NFL-best record of 14–2 and thrashed the Miami Dolphins 62–7 in their divisional round game. However, they were helped to this by an extremely easy regular season schedule.[2] In 2000, the Jaguars were severely hit by the loss of safety Carnell Lake for the entire season to foot surgery,[3] and by an ultimately career-ending knee injury to right tackle Leon Searcy.[4] Further offensive line injuries, notably to left tackle Zach Wiegert and center John Wade,[5] crippled the Jaguars all season, with the result that after a fair start the Jaguars fell in Week 4 to five consecutive losses and were out of the running for a postseason berth by November.[6] Ultimately the team’s tally of wins was halved vis-à-vis 1999. At the close of the season, the Jaguars also had problems with being $31 million over the salary cap.[7]
↑‘Injury Woes Build for Jacksonville Jaguars: Free Safety Carnell Lake Made the Decision Thursday to Undergo Foot Surgery’; Orlando Sentinel; August 18, 2000; p. C1
↑‘No Block Party for Jags: Tackle Leon Searcy Tore a Tendon Above His Right Knee at Practice, Putting The Jaguars’ Star’s Season in Jeopardy and the Offensive Line into Crisis’; Orlando Sentinel; July 25, 2000, p. C1