The Associated Press

The Jaguars clinched the AFC Central and the top seed in the conference Sunday with a 24-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, but the future of Boselli’s right knee cast a cloud over the celebration.

Monday, January 03, 2000

The Jaguars clinched the AFC Central and the top seed in the conference Sunday with a 24-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, but the future of Boselli’s right knee cast a cloud over the celebration.

The injury was as fluky as they get.

The four-time Pro Bowl tackle was moving upfield on a running play in the third quarter when the knee suddenly buckled. Boselli, a player almost universally recognized as the best lineman in football, lunged down to grab his leg and fell to the ground.

There was no contact on the play, leading some to believe that the condition of the field – filled with hundreds of scoops of green sand after being torn up Saturday during the Gator Bowl – had something to do with the injury.

”Before the game, Tony said it looked like a bunch of 30-handicappers were out there hitting golf balls,” said offensive lineman Zach Wiegert.

Coach Tom Coughlin didn’t want to speculate.

”I don’t know what to think,” Coughlin said. ”I didn’t see it. I just saw him go down.”

Jaguars officials whisked Boselli away so he wouldn’t have to speak to the media. Coughlin said an MRI would be taken either Sunday night or today.

The Jaguars will be in bad shape if Boselli, their best player and maybe the most respected team leader, can’t return for their first playoff game, Jan. 15.

In his place would go Ben Coleman, the left guard who was demoted just last week for subpar play and a knee problem of his own. Meanwhile, right tackle Leon Searcy, a Pro Bowl player as well, gimped off the field with a sprained ankle in the second quarter.

Mark Brunell is on the mend from a knee injury, meaning his protection will be as critical as ever when the playoffs start.

”You always want to protect your quarterback and those two are the best in the league at doing that right now,” said veteran safety Carnell Lake. ”That’s unfortunate, but that’s the way it is. You have to find a way to overcome.”

The Jaguars did gain a bit of momentum for their playoff run, after a humbling 41-14 loss to Tennessee the week before.

Jay Fiedler threw for 317 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL start. Jimmy Smith matched Marvin Harrison’s NFL season high with 14 catches. Both Smith and McCardell surpassed the 100-yard mark in receiving. Fred Taylor rushed for 85 yards and two scores.

But the Jaguars stumbled badly on four trips inside Cincinnati’s 20, leaving the bumbling Bengals in the game until well into the fourth quarter.

”We don’t think we’re playing our best,” Smith said. ”We’ve got a ways to go. But hopefully, this bye week will help us, help guys heal up injuries. I think we’ll begin to turn around.”

The Bengals, losers of an NFL-high 107 games in the 1990s, started the new decade on a familiar foot.

”We’re just looking for things to build on for next year, and I hope I’ll be here to see it,” said running back Michael Basnight, who ran for 86 yards in place of the injured Corey Dillon.

If Dillon’s reaction after the game was any indicator, it seems Basnight will get his chance.

Adding to an already awkward week in which the Bengals said coach Bruce Coslet would return and receiver Carl Pickens complained about it, Dillon said he wanted out of Cincy.

”I’m out, I’m done, I’m through,” Dillon said. ”I just want to go somewhere else and get my career going in the right direction.”