Written by Good Morning Jacksonville Producer, Joseph Kuczynski
Jalen Ramsey may be out sick, but the rest of Jacksonville has Minshew fever. His eccentric behavior coupled with his on-the-field success has made him the stuff of legends.
Digging deeper into the tall tales of Gardner Minshew, First Coast News has made the realization that what was once a Mississippi boy has grown into a bonafide Florida man.
Let’s go back in time to the first bizarre story that really caught our attention.
While playing at East Carolina, Minshew sat with two senior quarterbacks above him, waiting for his chance to play. With not a ton of playing time available, Minshew would go to great lengths to get a medical redshirt for another year of eligibility. Gardner Minshew II went home, drank some whiskey and proceeded to pound his hand with a hammer as if he owed himself gambling debts. The worst part? It didn't even work! His hand was swollen but he still wound up playing. Eventually, he transferred to Washington State, was drafted by the Jags and you know the rest.
Now that he’s in an NFL locker room you might expect him to change the way he approaches the game, but you’d be wrong. His routine has stayed the same including a stretching routine that involves him wearing little more than just his aviators. Players are used to seeing the “male form” but even this is unusual, to say the least.
The most recent Minshew-moment came following the Jags Thursday night win. As many pro players do, Minshew returned to his alma mater to take in a Cougars game. Naturally with all the spotlight comes interviews at every turn and just before an ESPN reporter was done asking him about his newfound success, he snuck in one last question. “Did you cut your own jorts (jean shorts) or did you buy them?” To which Minshew replied, “I cut my own.” ...as if there could be any other answer.
From his sunglasses and headband down to his custom made jean shorts. Gardner Minshew embodies the best “Florida Man” has to offer.
May his reign be long…until the inevitable quarterback controversy that will come with Foles return to health.
- Joe. K.
Good Morning Jacksonville
