PLAYER TO WATCH

David Fleming

August 30, 1999

The first thing that free-agent tight end Kyle Brady did after signing with the Jaguars was walk up to second-year strong safety Donovin Darius and show him the scar on his chin. While running a slant pattern in the playoffs last season, Brady, then a Jet, was knocked so silly by a Darius tackle that he needed smelling salts. It was just one of the many nasty hits administered by Darius, a 1998 first-round draft pick. "Donovin has one speed," says Jacksonville linebacker Kevin Hardy. "Full tilt." Last year Darius topped the secondary with 74 tackles, leading then defensive coordinator Dick Jauron to comment that the safety brought an element of violence to the defense. Says Darius, "That's the highest compliment I can think of."