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A lasting legacy: Players, coaches celebrate Tony Sparano

Gabe Jackson looked back at Tony Sparano, a puzzled expression of confusion and slight terror on his face.

"Get in at right guard," Sparano barked at the then-Raiders rookie ahead of a two-minute drill in training camp.

Jackson, who was drafted by Oakland 81st overall in 2014, was an All-American left guard at Mississippi State. Up until that moment, he had never taken a snap right of center. The first defender he was set to battle? Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck.

"He threw me out there into the fire to see how I was going to survive," Jackson told ESPN.