JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
John from Jacksonville Beach, FL
How close are we to finding a GM? Seems like it's taking a while.
The Jaguars as of late Friday have completed interviews with Las Vegas Raiders Assistant General Manager Champ Kelly, Green Bay Packers Vice President of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, Chicago Bears Assistant General Manager Ian Cunningham, Los Angeles Chargers Assistant General Manager Chad Alexander, former Tennessee Titans General Manager Jon Robinson, New York Giants Assistant General Manager Brandon Brown, Buffalo Bills Director of Player Personnel Terrance Gray, Cincinnati Bengals Senior Personnel Executive Trey Brown, Los Angeles Rams Director of Scouting Strategy James Gladstone and San Francisco 49ers Director/Scouting and Football Operations Josh Williams – with Jaguars Interim General Manager Ethan Waugh also a strong candidate. That's the first round of the process. The second round begins next week and I would expect a general manager in place late next week or soon thereafter. Is it "taking a while?" Maybe. Maybe not. Hiring is not a race. The object is to find the right person.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
You were very quick to dismiss the Steelers' interest in Lawrence. And very dismissive. And a little rude. Answer the question.
I answered the question. There was a report on Thursday that the Pittsburgh Steelers were interested in trading for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. A Twitter – or X, or whatever it is – account called it a "bombshell" report, which is perhaps accurate if bombshell is code for ridiculous. The Jaguars aren't trading for Lawrence. This isn't happening. It's silliness. Move on.
Jimsure from DBS
How is the team doing concerning the salary cap this offseason? Will we be able to keep our core players and be able to sign a free agent if we desire to go that route?
The Jaguars will be able to retain their core players and sign free agents this offseason.
Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
John: I know that conventional wisdom says get the GM before the coach, but I think the Jags' approach is sneakily brilliant. There is a huge frenzy at the end of the season to get the general manager, next sexy head coach and all of the coordinators. By waiting, the Jags have a whole staff of coaches who can look at the roster and determine the best style of play to fit the roster. The general manager then comes in aligned with that approach and can carry it out. Also, you can take your time interviewing and hiring because most of the feeding frenzy has died down. Thoughts?
The Jaguars, remember, are a head-coach-centric organization. That's the vision of Owner Shad Khan. When Tony Boselli was hired as executive vice president of football operations, he spoke of supporting Head Coach Liam Coen as Coen set the tone for the organization. Hiring a general manager to run personnel and also support the head coach is in line with a head-coach-centric organization. I don't know if what the Jaguars are going is "sneakily brilliant. I suspect we will judge that based on how the Jaguars fare moving forward. I do know their process is a perfectly fine way to build a front office and football leadership structure. Remember, too: You don't hire a head coach or general manager for two or three weeks. You're hiring for the long-term. Get it right.
Robert from Elkton
Predicting how the draft falls to you is a fool's errand. Way too many variables with 1,000-plus eligible players, 31 other teams picking and more than 250 total picks. That said, with four picks combined in third and fourth rounds, I will say right now I would be thrilled if the Jags picked offensive line with each of those picks.
OK.
Ryan from DUUUUVaaaal
With part of Tony's new role being in charge of equipment and whatnot - can you make the call for those '97 Throwbacks to become our primary uniforms? Look good, play good!
Boselli indeed is overseeing the equipment staff and other significant football departments. That doesn't necessarily mean he will be making all decisions by himself regarding the uniforms. My understanding is we're unlikely to see the Jaguars change from their current standard uniform combination until around the time the Stadium of the Future is complete. That's 2028.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
We need to find a guy with an eye for talent for general manager, like that guy who drafted BTJ. That guys could draft. And he traded back to do it, right? EPIC.
Former Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke had some solid-to-very good draft selections. Thomas was one. Defensive end Travon Walker was another. There are others. When discussing Baalke it's unfair to ignore that the Jaguars made some good moves during his tenure.
Mark from Jacksonville
John, I'm amazed you could be so stupid to question the great and all-knowing Brian from Round Rock. Are you so stupid that you don't realize he has built some of the most impressive rosters and coaching staffs in NFL history? His declarative statements are what make this Q&A even possible. Also, he runs a 4.2-second 40 and can put up 225 more times than Vita Vea. Get some new glasses, you simpleton.
I am the king of all funk.
John from Jacksonville
I understand the kickoff rules were changed to promote player safety. I'm starting to get used to it but still like the old way better. I will never get used to the new onside kick rules. Was it changed in the name of player safety too? It's not like the players are running full speed at each other from 50 yards away. How much momentum can one achieve running ten yards? Add the fact that teams must announce they are attempting an onside kick is ridiculous. They completely neutered the play to where it's almost a given it will fail. Will they ban the fake punt next? Arguably these were two of the most exciting plays in football and they killed one of them. Is there any chance the NFL revisits the onside kick rule and reverts back to when it was exciting to watch?
I don't expect the NFL to ever bring back the old onside kick. While exciting, it also was considered the most dangerous play – and if you ever saw an onside kick from up close, you would know NFL players don't need a running start from 50 yards a way to turn onside kicks into moments of sickening danger and violence. But you're correct that the rules have made onside kicks as they are currently performed all-but impossible and therefore ridiculous. I expect the league in the foreseeable future to experiment with some sort of alternative – perhaps allowing teams to try to convert a fourth-and-15-ish play from their 20-yard line. That seemingly would be risky enough to prevent teams from trying it all the time and makeable enough to make it interesting.
Mario from West Kelowna, BC
If memory serves me well, good running teams run the ball well whether the opposing defense knows a run is coming or not. Good running teams have an offensive line that imposes their will and power over any defensive front.
To a degree, yes.
Richard from Jacksonville
I think Derrick Henry is a better athlete, but the beer is good.
I believe you're referencing a recent discussion in which I referred to Bob Hayes as the best athlete from Jacksonville. You seem to believe Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry is a better athlete than Hayes. This belief stretches reason. Hayes won the Gold Medal in the 100-meter dash at the 1964 Olympics. He also turned in a relay leg in the 4x100-meter dash for the gold-medal-winning team at that Olympics that is still considered one of the fastest relay legs in history. He also is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and many credit him with changing the NFL by introducing speed to the receiver position and forcing defenses to invent the zone defense and bump-and-run coverage. Henry's a great player, probably a Hall of Famer. He deserves to be discussed as one of the best athletes out of Jacksonville. Hayes stands alone. It's not particularly close.
Don from Marshall, NC
I think we will keep Trevor Lawrence and kick everyone's backside on the way to the Super Bowl. Thank you for asking though! These morons who put that garbage out there need to get punished. It's blatant lying and there is only one way to fix it and believe me it would not be nice. Go Jaguars!
When it comes to taking a little dig at the Pittsburgh Steelers, and being up on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence – and being up on the Jaguars, and being down on "reports" and lying – Don remains "all in."
Ed from Danvers, MA
Are you considered a bright young mind? Every time I see Mr. Khan near you, he's wearing sunglasses.
I'm a dim, old dolt. No sunglasses required.
