JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Anita from Springfield
Is BTJ in the building? Is anyone missing – and if so, are they off working out elsewhere?
Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen on Wednesday said he was pleased with attendance in the 2025 offseason program, which began at the Miller Electric Center last week. It is important to remember that NFL offseason programs are voluntary – and while many who observe and analyze this great sport tend to forget that, and to therefore put great import on whether or not players attend this very voluntary period, they nonetheless are voluntary. Players therefore are under no obligation to attend any practices or meetings except for a three-day mandatory mid-June minicamp. That said, most NFL players do attend – particularly when there is a new coaching staff, which is the case this offseason with the Jaguars. To answer (finally) your question … yes, second-year wide receiver Brian Thomas was at the MEC last week. So were defensive ends Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. And cornerback Tyson Campbell. And quarterback Trevor Lawrence. And pretty much every player of significance. As was pretty much expected.
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, it's possible my Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty submission started that train rolling. Thus, I want to apologize and change direction. I think Penn State tight end Tyler Warren should warrant consideration at number five. Team him with Brenton Strange and you have a tight end bonanza.
No need to apologize. There are multiple names not to rule out for the Jaguars at No. 5 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Warren is among those names.
Sam from Orlando, FL
Drago lost that fight the minute Eugene "The Audible" Frenette took his shirt off. PERIOD.
Longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette in his prime won many a hand-to-hand battle in many a fashion. Did he ever mentally dominate an opponent with a bare chest and a quick pre-fight sashay? I've heard word of this, though – perhaps thankfully – I never witnessed it.
Hugh from GM training ground, NYC
Why don't teams hire an experienced judge of talent? Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone, for example, would instruct him to rank the players at positions of need. We need offensive line, wide receiver and defensive back help. Building a squad via the draft is the only way to go.
If I'm reading this correctly – and I believe I am – you believe teams should hire experienced people with an eye for talent and have those experienced eyes evaluate players, then rank them. Perhaps teams could really go crazy and give these people a wild, wacky title such as "general manager" and even create a department dedicated to this task. The teams could name this department "scouting" or "personnel." I'm being facetious, of course. This idea never would work. It's way too "out there."
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. Over the years, I was wondering if there are a few positions in the draft that seem to pan out safer than others? Lots of attention to those first-round picks that are busts. But outside of Best Available Player or Need, is there a good conservative position pick that might put more weight on who the Jags might pick in the first round? Or are the risk odds pretty even across the roster?
Offensive line and running backs are generally considered safe, though the reality is the NFL Draft is an endeavor of projection involving young human beings – and therefore there is substantial risk involved with selecting any position. Remember: While observers looove to ask general questions about positions and need before an NFL Draft, teams eventually must select an individual player. That means all the research and analysis done about past drafts and positions means very little in comparison to the traits – both physical and mental – that make up that particular player. A general manager can have the best data in the world about offensive linemen in his laptop. If he drafts an offensive lineman that doesn't like to work out and cares more about playing Call of Duty than playing football, that data is pretty worthless and the general manager will be scrambling to fill a need in two or three years. If the general manager is still employed.
Steve from Nocatee
Zone, if a player signs a contract full of incentives, how does that affect the salary cap? Let's say the player signs for $4 million but can earn up to $10 million, what number is counted against the cap? If it's the base amount, is this a way to circumvent the cap? Thanks, you rock.
Incentives in the NFL work are either Not Likely to be Earned (NLTBE) or Likely to be Earned (LTBE). If a player meets an LTBE incentive, the amount of the incentive counts against the salary cap in the year it was earned. If a player meets an NLTBA incentive, it counts against the salary cap the year after it was earned. It's not circumventing the cap. It's just applying cap figures according to the rules.
Hilarious from Funnytown
Before we get back to more football-centric discussions, and because I tend to appreciate your taste in music, I'm curious your thoughts on U2. I feel like The Joshua Tree is a timeless album, which is difficult to do in the generic alternative genre. Did they ever make it into your rotation or do their songs take you back when you hear them?
I like U2 and I was always glad they existed, but I sort of strangely never was "super into" them. I loved songs such as "I Will Follow," "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "A Sort of Homecoming." The "Unforgettable Fire" album also was insanely popular when I was in college, but I was never blown away by an entire U2 album the way was with The Alarm or R.E.M. I always thought they were a band I would have loved, but I just sort of didn't.
Limo Bob from Neptune Beach, FL
Just finished reading your book about the 1996 season. What a great journey back in time and the fantastic possibilities of what a football season can turn into at any moment. Reliving those moments was a real joy!
You're referencing Jags to Riches, the story of the Jaguars' remarkable 1996 season written by Pete Prisco of CBS Sports and myself. It's not necessarily the most well-written book ever to come off the presses, but writing it with Pete is a great memory and one of the highlights of my "career." For people to still enjoy it three decades later … well, there are worse things.
Mike from Daytona Beach, FL
Recently, a few of the exploits of Eugene P. Frenette have been exposed for the whole world to see. Is there any truth to the rumor that a Japanese film maker is currently racing to premier the next summer blockbuster (with English subtitles), Frenette versus Godzilla, King Kong and Mothra?
I'm not at liberty to say. There are contracts involved. And agents. A lot of agents.
Steve from Nashville, TN
I read where another NFL team has taken an insurance policy out on their star quarterback against injury. The quarterback was injured last year and this year, if the insurance company pays the claim the proceeds go against that team's cap number reducing their cap hit for that player?
Correct. The NFL's 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement allows teams to receive a salary cap "credit" if it receives proceeds from an insurance policy on an insured player who has been lost due to injury. The team receives the "credit" the following season.
The King of Palatka from Palatka, FL
We don't have internet down here, but I heard the Jags have some new free agents. Maybe you could publish their names for us backwoods folks. How many of our free agents do you expect to start next season?
Having internet wouldn't have helped here because I have been oh-so-remiss in not yet listing the 10 unrestricted free agents signed by the Jaguars last month. The list: Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Robert Hainsey, Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Fred Johnson, Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis, Los Angeles Rams tight end Hunter Long, Baltimore Ravens guard Patrick Mekari, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens, Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt and Houston Texans safety Eric Murray. I expect Hainsey, Mekari, Brown and Murray to start next season with Lewis starting at nickelback and Long and Mundy playing a key role at tight end in a rotation.
Carolina Reaper from Pepper Patch Carolina
Hi, John, I heard some rumor about some guy named Gene Frenette about how tough he is. I bet I can bring him to tears. Set it up.
You don't tug on Superman's cape. You don't spit into the wind. This doesn't just apply to Jim. It applies to Gene, too.
