JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville

I am so pleased to see Tyson Campbell get a new contract extension. The Khans and Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke are building a solid roster while keeping their top draft choices in Jax for the long term. They also realize that waiting to sign these players will only cost more.

The Jaguars on Tuesday indeed signed cornerback Tyson Campbell to a reported four-year extension worth $76.5 million with $53.4 million guaranteed. The deal makes Campbell – the No. 33 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft – the third recent premium recent draft selection to sign a long-term extension with the Jaguars this offseason, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and edge defender Josh Hines-Allen also doing so. The Jaguars for a decade and a half or so didn't draft well enough consistently enough, and therefore were unable to re-sign and build around "homegrown" players. It's very difficult to have long-term success acquiring "core" players through free agency. The salary cap in fact makes it almost impossible. This indeed has been a positive offseason from that perspective.

Johnny from Jax

Zoneio, I am excited … when do the radio shows and podcasts resume? Jags AM? Happy Hour? Bucky's show? Thursday night? Love them all!

Jags A.M. will make its 2024 debut Monday, July 29. Happy Hour will debut Thursday, August 1. Huddle Up – a.k.a., the Bucky Brooks Podcast with Bucky Brooks featuring special guest Bucky Brooks of the Bucky Brooks Network – will debut August 7. Jaguars All-Access is scheduled to debut August 21.

Michael from Mean streets of Arlington

What's the deal with extending our own draft picks? I thought we were supposed to let them all hit free agency and replace them with other free agents.

No, that's not what you're supposed to do.

Keith from Titusville, FL

Zone, here's a fun fact for you. As much as people love to pick on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence's turnover issue, did you know he has the same amount of turnovers after his first three seasons (72) as Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning had after his first three seasons?

I don't know if that statistic is all that fun for Lawrence and Manning.

Marc from Oceanway

Two-part question, if possible, before the Dead Zone ends (and poor Marc from Oceanway gets relegated ;-) Watching Leon Searcy in the throwback release video got me reminiscing how essential he was to our early success. Do you think Searcy belongs in the Pride of the Jaguars? And, where would you rank Peyton Manning amongst the all-time great quarterbacks?

I wouldn't have a problem with former Jaguars right tackle Leon Searcy in the Pride of the Jaguars, though there are quite a few players I believe need to be enshrined before him. Either way, he belongs in any list of high-level players who have mattered a great deal to this franchise. As for where I would "rank" Manning on all-time great quarterbacks, I look at this question a bit differently than many. Circumstance, era and surroundings matter so much that it's impossible to accurately rank quarterbacks in a one-through-ten list. I would put Manning in a group of the all-time greats with Tom Brady, John Unitas, Joe Montana, John Elway, Dan Marino, Otto Graham and Sammy Baugh. I can't put Roger Staubach on the list because some childhood wounds never heal. There are others I leave off because it's my list.

Doug from Jacksonville, FL

I for one don't mind one game with the throwbacks, especially since so many seem to enjoy them. I do NOT want to see them come back. I think they are ugly. I think the old logo is ugly. I'm a season ticket holder, own the old logo merch as well as the new, so for the "I was here Day 1 and celebrated at the landing" crowd I am a fan. I was glad to see the two-tone helmets go, and I will be glad to see the throw backs go after the one game.

Wow. One not fer the Prowlers, huh?

Jason from Jacksonville

Welcome back Josh Scobee! I see he got a job in the Jag's personal department. I wish him the best of luck!

I once would have assumed this email was sarcastic. Or an attempt to be funny. I learned long ago to not assume such things very often. The Jaguars indeed have hired Josh Scobey as a college scout. He has spent the past 12 seasons (2010-23) with the Arizona Cardinals' scouting department, most recently as their director of college scouting (2022-23). He is not to be confused with former Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee because … well, because no one deserves that.

Jerry from Riverview

I have a different perspective on Tom Coughlin leaving the Jags in cap hell after his first tenure. Seems to me he bet the house on getting to the Super Bowl and came within a whisker of doing so. Imagine how the narrative would have changed if we had figured out how to stop their tight end?

Significantly.

John from St. Augustine, FL

Thanks for the context on Mora's "Playoffs??!!?" Since it's SO fead, got any context for Denny Greene's "They ARE who we thought they were..." Who were they, and how did they get on the hook?

I don't have much insight into this story, not knowing Dennis Greene and not having covered the game. The late Greene at the time of his "They are who we thought they were" rant was coaching the Arizona Cardinals. The game in question came in 2006. The Cardinals were playing the Chicago Bears, who entered the Monday Night Football game with a 5-0 record. The Cardinals, playing at home, led 20-0 at halftime. The Bears, despite committing six turnovers, rallied to win 24-23. Greene wasn't happy and said afterward: "The Bears are what we thought they were. They're what we thought they were. We played them in preseason—who the hell takes a third game of the preseason like it's [expletive] [Expletive!] We played them in the third game—everybody played three quarters—the Bears are who we thought they were! That's why we took the [expletive] field. Now if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But they are who we thought they were! And we let 'em off the hook!" It was funny. It was the sort of thing that makes sitting through 100 "routine" post-game pressers worth it. It was the stuff of legends.

John from Boynton Beach, FL

Trip MacCracken is a made-up name, right?

They're all sort of made up on some level, right? Names, I mean.

Rob from Jacksonville

In the keys points for 2024, Brian Sexton mentioned consistency and references the weeks of "bad and good" practices last year leading up to losses. This is something we heard a lot about last year. What does a bad week of practice mean? Unorganized? Lethargic? Infighting? All of the above? That obviously starts with coaching, right?

I'm always a bit skeptical when players following a loss say there was a bad week of practice. It always has struck me as something that's said in retrospect and perhaps isn't as true in real time. A bad NFL practice wouldn't look disorganized; the routine and patterns are too ingrained. And a post-play skirmish or two wouldn't mean a practice was bad. A bad practice therefore pretty much means the work just doesn't look as sharp and crisp as would be ideal. I suppose coaching could be blamed. But the bottom line here is always the bottom line when it comes to the NFL. This is professional football. And professionals must be responsible for their performance.

Taylor from Columbia, MD

While I don't usually agree with your takes regarding the Jaguars, you are as deserving of the Pride as any member of the organization. In all seriousness: the O-Zone is an essential outlet for Jaguars fans and we appreciate you. I don't think a single fan would oppose your induction into the Pride.

I think you would be surprised.

Sean from Oakleaf, FL

Is not one of the main goals of training camp is for players to practice? Do you think the next CBA will have language discouraging healthy under contract players who report to camp and participate in meetings to avoid fines but refuse to practice or play in preseason games (QB Jordan Love / Green Bay Packers)? Or is this a very limited occurrence non-issue?

This is already discouraged and is a limited occurrence. I would be a little surprised if there were language in the Collective Bargaining Agreement against this because the CBA must be agreed upon by both players and owners. While owners would favor such language, I expect players might be opposed enough to prevent its inclusion.

Charles from Soho, London, England

John, I once saw Gene Frenette having a pina colada at Trader Vic's. His hair was perfect.

I laughed at this.