JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
JT from Palm Coast, FL
Jacksonville is my place of birth. When it was announced we were getting an NFL franchise, I fell in love with this team immediately. This season has been a complete disappointment, but not everything is a failure. Congrats to the city for keeping this team in Jacksonville for at least the next 30 plus years. Best news we have heard all year. Jaguars belong in Jacksonville!
This references the NFL Owners this week approving the lease for the City of Jacksonville and the Jaguars Stadium of the Future, doing so in unanimous fashion by a vote of 32-0. The sentiment from this view couldn't be more spot on. Yes, the Jaguars' 2024 season has been a complete disappointment – particularly considering the built-to-win now nature of the team. But the approval of the stadium dwarfs the season to date – and is far more important in the big picture. For Jaguars fans who for more than a decade have lived through the nation's NFL media and fans from other fans ignorantly assuming – and stating – that the team would not remain in Jacksonville for the long-term, this news at long last removes any lingering anxiety on that front. And while those fans savor that moment, they should acknowledge Owner Shad Khan as an overriding reason for the team remaining in Jacksonville for decades. Since purchasing the team in 2011, he has been committed to keeping the team in Jacksonville for the long-term. He NEVER was going to allow the team to relocate, and he and the entire organization – particularly President Mark Lamping – have worked to ensure that remains the case. Now, it's officially official. Now, any doubt has been removed. The Jaguars are staying in Jacksonville. 'Tis indeed in that sense a glorious week.
Tom from The Mean Streets of Nocatee
They may be a crappy football team, but they're OUR football team. DUUVVAALLLLLL!!!!!
No doubt.
Johnny from Jax
Well, that certainly helps pick up our spirits!
Yep.
P Funk from Murray Hill
Shad Khan obviously has tremendous business knowledge and acumen. Hiring Mark Lamping to oversee the operations and planning needed to stabilize the franchise in Jacksonville, as promised, and nail down the stadium deal cements Khan's business foothold here and will benefit him and our city beyond measure. All credit and appreciation to him for making that hire. I believe he also has to know that his on the field business venture is a poor product as a direct result of some more of his hires. Do you think he makes the business decisions this offseason and hires different people for football operations?
We'll see.
CaptBob from JAX
Zone, 32-0, that's our best score this year.
No doubt.
Edward Chester Wright from ORANGE PARK
Is the Rumor of Shad Khan selling team to Jacksonville Group, real?
C'mon.
Michael from Fountain
Do you think it's time to bench Lloyd? He looks lost and is flat-out jogging through some plays. The fact that he's getting more snaps than Miller makes zero sense.
I would be surprised if linebacker Ventrell Miller is out of the lineup very much moving forward when healthy. He has played well enough to be playing a lot.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
Hey, John - I heard you were seen drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's and your hair was perfect?
Ah-ooo.
Robert from Jax
John, I have a theory about why the Jags played such a sloppy game Sunday. As a retired airline captain I am very familiar with sleep patterns after an Atlantic crossing. It's a bit different for everyone but what most do is get a nap of 2-3 hours after arrival and set an alarm to ensure one gets up after that. It's not easy! Then do some exercise and eat at one's normal time and you'll sleep like a baby. Get up the next morning not too early and carry on. The Jags should give themselves more time to adjust. As I understand it the Bears flew over on Tuesday. I believe they'll be much sharper this Sunday. Doug shouldn't be a slave to the routine used without the time change. It's entirely different.
The Jaguars flew to London last Thursday with a game Sunday. This is essentially the same schedule they have used when flying to London for a Sunday game since 2015. They are 5-4 in those games – and they haven't always been a .500 team during that time.
Tom from Charlottesville, VA
Wide receiver Marvin Jones was a vocal leader in the locker room and a good influence! There may have been others, but they do not come to mind for me. It seems from a distant seat on the internet that the team is missing this type of leader?
Good eye.
Izzy from Jagster
Mr, J, stadium question - thought I heard that the agreement mandated an overseas game every year. If so, isn't game scheduling the purview of the league? Confused why a facility agreement would need to speak to game scheduling…
The Stadium of the Future stadium agreement allows for a total of six games to be played overseas while the stadium is being renovated and it also says that the team can play just one home game per year in London after completion. The agreement does not mean six games automatically will be played overseas during renovation; it simply means it's allowable if necessary. The agreement speaks to game scheduling because the City of Jacksonville and the team want to ensure a home game per season can be played in London, but no more. They want this because it benefits the City of Jacksonville and the team do so.
Red from O-Zone Comments Section
I'm glad I don't have your job, John. How do you manage to retain some level of optimism about the Jaguars given the pitiful performance of 2024's team?
Who says I'm optimistic? I'm neither optimistic nor pessimistic about these 2024 Jaguars. I have written all week – and for several weeks before that – that I'm not sure how good the Jaguars are. I'm not sure they have enough great players to win close games consistently – and in order to be good in the NFL, that's what you must do. I think the Jaguars can play well enough to be competitive and have a chance to win a lot of games the rest of the season. I haven't the foggiest idea if they will win those games. They haven't shown much ability to do that lately – dating to last season. That could change. If that's optimistic, then I suppose I'm optimistic. Is that optimistic?
Willie from Bradenton
They keep talking about " owning " their poor play, but when are they going to SHOW it?
I don't know.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
You were impressive in the offseason with your tempering of the many overzealous emails that effusively praised defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's aggressive, pressing defense philosophy but from a certain distance it's also easy to see that the offensive coaching is also really bad and getting dangerously close to permanently ruining Lawrence. The next team the 2024 Jags play is basically the 2021 Jags . Don't you think a loss is the tipping point for Pederson?
I don't know what will happen if the Jaguars lose to the New England Patriots Sunday. I haven't gotten an impression at all that anything happening this season is close to permanently ruining quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Hobo from Random Locations
Is there any chance we could bring in Robert Saleh as a defensive consultant?
Is there a chance? It's rare that there is no chance at something, however infinitesimal. But I get no sense that former New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh – or anyone else – will be hired by the Jaguars as a defensive consultant. The Jaguars have a defensive coordinator. His name is Ryan Nielsen.
PDub from Miami
KOAF, I think it is time to start discussing the draft. I would go with offensive or defensive line with our first pick?
Eleven games remain in the 2024 regular season. We're not getting deep into the draft here in the O-Zone for a long, looooooooooong while.
Stan from Jacksonville
Do you think the Jaguars will have the number 1 pick in next year's draft? If not, who do you think will?
No. Another team.
Doug from the Southside
This not so much a question as it is a statement. The Jaguars are bad. Why? Because they're not playing as a team. What I'm seeing is a bunch of individuals trying to get a paycheck. "Team"mates lift each other up. They play for each other. I don't know whose fault that is but it's very evident. I read the ozone every day
Thank you for reading.
Ray from Jax
John: And you think the wolf sweatshirt was the reason for the dating slump?
When Shaq missed every free throw in a game, was that a slump?
