JACKSONVILLE – A word before we begin.
News came late Wednesday night that Ray McNulty, my former Florida Times-Union colleague, died earlier that day at age 67.
Older Jacksonville-based readers perhaps remember Ray, who worked at the T-U from 1983-1994 and again in 2000. He was a talented, productive writer at a time when newspapers had larger staffs and larger budgets, covering Florida State sports, University of Florida sports, Jacksonville University sports, tennis and the NFL.
Ray loved being a sportswriter as much as anyone I knew. His various stops in addition to the T-U included the Denver Post, New York Post and Orange County Register before finishing his career in Vero Beach – where his career began decades earlier.
Ray was an outstanding writer, an unforgettable character and part of a front-line staff in his decade-plus at the T-U. I'm at the age where I hear too much news like this about too many people who meant a lot to me long ago. Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think.
Let's get to it …
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
Should Etienne and Lloyd not have been drafted as high as they were? Since they developed, yet we're not going to re-sign them?
This is a fair question. Different teams and personnel officials have different views on this – and there's also an element of having to remember that not all first-round selections are created equal. There are those in the NFL who believe you never – or hardly ever – take running back or off-the-ball linebacker early in the draft because of the positional value. But there are also those who believe if you can get four or five really good seasons from a player, then it may be worth some level of first-round selection. That's where remembering that not all first-round selections are created equal enters the discussion. Remember: Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. was the No. 25 overall selection in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and linebacker Devin Lloyd was the No. 27 overall selection in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Nos. 25 and Nos. 27 are not the same as Nos. 1 through 10. Had Etienne and Lloyd been Top 10 selections, perhaps they were drafted too high. In the mid-to-low 20s, perhaps not.
Bryan from Tampa, FL
Re-signing Lloyd is risky given the amount of salary he should command and future performance isn't guaranteed. If he walks, how big of a speed and athleticism hit will the linebacker room take? Will the Jags brass be able to fill that gap inexpensively during the offseason?
The Jaguars' linebackers will for a time be less fast and athletic if Lloyd signs elsewhere. That could change depending on who the Jaguars sign or select at the position this offseason.
Jadon from Raleigh, NC
I can't believe this isn't a bigger story line. The Jags are likely to have jersey numbers 0, 1, and 5 come available. Who's going to take them? How is this not being covered just as much, if not more, than mock drafts?
In due time.
Armand from Atlantic Beach, FL
John let the GM and COACH do their jobs and the coach potatoe gm and coaches do theirs and watch how the team does it vote t h e GM and COACH
Armand the WRITER has truble understanding the READER question if words are spelled incorrectly with no punctuated and piece d together somewhat without seems random WRITER and READER
Colin from Sanford
Hey, John. I just watched the video showing every touchdown the Jags scored last season, and I think my favorite has to be Parker Washington's sliding grab at Arizona. It was a true NFL touchdown, pressure navigated in the pocket, a great throw into a tight window and an excellent catch. Do you have a touchdown from this past season that stands out in your mind?
That touchdown stands out to me as well. It was not only a big-time play at a crucial moment in an important game, it was a critical moment for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He had thrown three interceptions already in that game. Instead of playing more conservatively, he drove the Jaguars for that touchdown and capped it with the touchdown pass to Washington. The Jaguars went on to win in overtime. It was one of the best passes of Lawrence's career to date, and set the tone for a second half of the season in which he emerged as one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. It might be overstating it to say that touchdown turned Lawrence's season and career around. It also might not be overstating it.
Ray from Newport News, VA
Looking ahead to the 2026 schedule and we all know you like 1 p.m. games (I do as well). Assuming the Jaguars will get a few prime-time games, what games/teams would you like to see in prime-time next year? For fun, I made a schedule for when I want the games. Please pass this to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for approval. Week 1 @ Houston (any prime-time slot), Week 2 versus Tennessee (1 p.m.), Week 3 versus Philadelphia (1 p.m.), Week 4 @ Baltimore (1 p.m.), Week 5 versus New England (any prime-time slot), Week 6 @ Chicago (4 p.m.), Week 7 @ Denver (London away game), Week 8 versus Cleveland (London home game), Week 9 bye week, Week 10 versus Steelers (1 p.m.), Week 11 @ New York Giants (1 p.m.), Week 12 @ Dallas (Thanksgiving game), Week 13 versus Washington (1 p.m.), Week 14 @ Cincy (1 p.m.), Week 15 versus Indianapolis (1 p.m.), Week 16 @ Tennessee (1 p.m.), Week 17 @ Indianapolis (4 p.m.) and Week 18 vs Houston (flex).
One projected schedule is as good as any from this view, just as any prime-time games are as good as any others. I would like to see prime-time games at home because traveling after a prime-time games kind of sucks and because fans like prime-time games. Beyond that …
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
King of All Funk: The question about the origin of your moniker was asked in December. Now that we are in the offseason, we should strive to recall how you became the King of All Funk. I found an article May 10 2018: "Mind Your Own Business" and Tommy from Fernandina Beach asked if you feel overpowered by funk when discussing Blake Bortles. You replied that you "are the overlord of funk." Is this the origin of KOAF?
Perhaps.
Richard from Jacksonville
Unless I am mistaken, Lloyd's tag number is based on edge rushers as well as linebackers. This provides an inflated dollar amount for positional value. I imagine it was collectively bargained like this because it has players earning more money than they really should. Also pushing more players into free agency and theoretically a larger payday.
The NFL determines tag numbers based on positions, with the defensive positions as follows: Linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle, safety and cornerback. The "linebacker" issue is sort of the same as the "defensive end issue" in the sense that any time a position includes pass rushers, the value going to rise. Inside, off-the-ball linebackers such as Lloyd rarely receive the franchise tag because outside, pass-rushing linebackers are considered worth more. Defensive ends who are great against the run but aren't "pure pass rushers" also rarely get tagged for the same reason. It indeed was collectively bargained this way, but it's not to allow players to make more than they should or to push players to a larger pay day. It's more a result of teams playing various schemes and different positions featuring players with different strengths. The league in this era is varied enough that it's hard to fit every player into a specific position.
Travis from High Springs, FL
In Devin Lloyd's first few seasons, he didn't consistently play well enough to earn a new contract or have his fifth-year option picked up by the team. Then last year when a new coaching staff comes in he has his best season by far. But a lot of other players also had their best seasons with this new staff. So, could it just be the new scheme and staff? And could they possibly get similar production from Ventrell Miller or Jack Kiser for significantly less money?
It's never "just" any one thing in the NFL, though defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and the Jaguars' defensive staff indeed did a nice job allowing Lloyd to play to his strengths in 2025. I expect the Jaguars can be as good defensively next season if Lloyd doesn't return, though it's too early to say how the linebacker position will look.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
U.S. Women's team, baybeeeee!
What a cool, cool story. What a cool, cool day overall. All Hail Hilary Knight. All Hail Megan Keller. All Hail Alysa Lui. And someone find me the contact info for Johnny Weir's tailor. Stat.
