JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey combined football and the Olympic Games on Sunday.
Returning to the field for the first time since Friday night's scrimmage, Mularkey ended practice a little early and invited the 1,200 fans in attendance to join the players and coaches inside EverBank Field to watch the finals of the women's 400 meters.
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Sanya Richards-Ross, wife of Jaguars cornerback Aaron Ross, was among the favorites in the race. She lived up to that billing, coming from behind in the last 50 meters to finish first and win her first gold medal.
"Well, that was a good way to finish practice," Mularkey said afterward. "That was a neat experience for the players. I don't think any of them knew the outcome. The fans did a great job of keeping (the outcome) under wraps. This brought us a little closer as a team."
Mularkey said he came up with the idea earlier in the afternoon. He had the Jaguars' video department tape the race off a live Internet showing, as NBC wasn't going to broadcast the race until later in the evening.
"We're all proud of Sanya, very proud of her," Mularkey said. "And yes, we're expecting her to come back and show us the medal. That was part of the deal. If we let Aaron go, she has to come back with a medal."
Aaron Ross was in London to watch his wife run and after the race told her: "You did it. You finally did it, Babe. Enjoy the moment. Don't be the moment, live in the moment."
The defensive back is scheduled to return to Jacksonville on Monday and be at practice Tuesday.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
