JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Stephen from Fortson, GA
Do NFL teams provide housing/lodging to players participating in Rookie Camp? Drafted players will have the wherewithal to fund lodging, but not necessarily the undrafted players. Does the front office have a go-to hotel or apartment/condo complex that they refer not only rookies to, but all free agents coming in for a look-see? I remember reading stories about how some sports franchises had living quarters within their stadiums. I seem to recall Alex Rodriguez living in the Kingdome while a Seattle Mariner. Any plans on the Stadium of The Future having any such amenities?
Yes, NFL teams – including the Jaguars – provide housing/lodging for players in rookie camp in addition to providing it to other players in various situations. The front office does have a go-to hotel/apartment/condo complex for this purpose – and for visiting free agents, etc. There are no plans for the Stadium of the Future to provide such facilities.
Mike from Jacksonville
I've seen several videos of Hunter dancing during practice when all the other players seem focused. Do you think the coaches will say something about it? I've never seen another player dancing like that when they think the camera is on them.
I do not believe Jaguars coaches will "say something" to Jaguars rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter about dancing on occasion during practice, and I don't expect this to be an issue for the coaches. I have been at multiple Jaguars 2025 organized team activities and indeed have seen Hunter dancing at times. The dancing does not dominate practices. It is not distracting. It Is not against the rules. It does not prevent Hunter from practicing or learning his assignments. It is who Hunter is and who he always has been. Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone talks a lot about players who elevate the team by simply being themselves in the team's ecosystem. The Jaguars drafted Hunter believing he was the perfect example of such a player. They're darned sure not going to ask him not to be himself.
Chevin from Jacksonville
Currently, which position group(s) do you anticipate being among the most competitive during training camp and preseason?
Secondary and offensive line.
Joel from Mandarin
I'd like to weigh in on the Aaron Rodgers Steelers headlines and football talk. I do enjoy watching Rodgers play, having grown up with my NFC team being the Green Bay Packers. But I feel that people and teams fail to see a major flaw in Rodgers' play during the season ... an observation from me on his career in the NFL so far. Yes, Rodgers is a four-time regular season League Most Valuable Player … blah, blah, blah. Rodgers managed to go to and win just one Super Bowl, too ... blah, blah, blah. This year is his 20th season. Something big that I notice is while Rodgers has been MVP quality during the regular season in 19 seasons he hasn't been good in the postseason except that one Super Bowl-winning year. It's almost like Rodgers underperforms in the postseason consistently. I don't hear the NFL news people and analysts talk about this flaw in Rodgers very much if ever.
I hear and see NFL news people and analysts reference this pretty regularly when discussing Rodgers. I also tend to roll my eyes a bit when people follow phrases such as four-time MVP and winning a Super Bowl with "blah, blah, blah …" Rodgers in his prime was among a handful of the best quarterbacks in my 30 years covering the NFL. Rodgers, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, perhaps now Josh Allen, John Elway. I know people feel compelled to rank them. I just know that's the list of quarterbacks who gave their teams a chance to get to the postseason every season, which gave them a chance to win the Super Bowl. Whatever happened in the postseason during his career, Rodgers is in that group. Blah, blah, blah.
Kevin from Ponte Vedra, FL
What. A. Match.
I'll assume you're referencing Sunday's French Open men's final, and I'm not sure what more there is to say aside from "What. A. Match." Carlos Alcarez of Spain defeated Jannik Sinner of Italy in five sets, 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2). This is a football forum, so I won't dive deep into details, but it ranked with the all-time major finals I've seen. The mental toughness/skill set of both players makes me think they both will finish their careers among the sport's all-time greats. Alcarez at 22 has five major titles and Sinner at 23 has three. I would be surprised at this point if both don't reach double digits in their career. They're the clear class of the sport. Sunday was epic stuff.
Anita from Springfield
Between the Hicks, Hockey Players and Skids, who do you like the most in Letterkenny and who do you like the least (groups, not specific individuals)?
I lean Hicks over Hockey players and I'm not the biggest fan of the Skids.
Stuart from Cottonwood AZ
Since we're doing shout outs to former players who made an impact in our memories, I've got a shout out to Paul Spicer and Big Rich.
One fer Paul and Big Rich.
Scott from St. Johns
NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that the NBA is exploring expansion into new cities. Do you think that Jacksonville could become an option for a franchise site in the near future? If not, what needs to occur in Jacksonville in order to make it an attractive option for a potential owner to locate a team here?
My first thought is that the NBA in Jacksonville would be something of a long shot. But this thought admittedly is heavily influenced by the vibe around this subject in the 1990s and 2000s, when the general thought was the city could support 10 or so NFL games a season but perhaps not 41 or so NBA games, for example – or 81 Major League Baseball games. It's still a bit hard for me to imagine the city consistently quite being able to support the NBA. But that's my thought – and my thoughts on this matter aren't facts. Could the city be an NBA option in the foreseeable future? Certainly. What needs to occur? Perhaps a bit more population growth – and of course, an owner that really wants the franchise here.
Paul from Washington, D.C.
One for Smeenge? How 'bout many more for Smeenge? No PA announcer asked the crowd to yell out "SMEEEEEEENGE" in the early days — it just happened. From "SMEEEEEENGE" to "DUUUUVAL" to "MOODACHAY" to "SMOOOOOOT," we make our own chants in Jacksonville.
Indeed.
Randy from Jax
Did you have to Google Stan and Yosh Smeenge or did you learn that in High School? Now it makes sense you being a sports writer, after all the lockers you got stuffed in.
It's Shmenge, not Smeenge. I didn't google it or learn it in high school. Some things you know the way you just know.
Robert from Elkton
Dead Zone question: how many years until high schools are paying football players and have a portal? Thirty years ago, the general public thought it would never happen in college. High schools or their boosters have recruited players and have paid them for as long as I can remember (against rules of course). Texas has many stadiums with over 10,000 seats and is legendary for it's fanatical high school fan base. Is it a huge leap to see them eventually authorizing recruiting players from around the county for pay?
I don't pretend to know every detail of this issue. I do know high school athletes in many states already are eligible for NIL money through endorsements. High schools to my knowledge can't yet pay players anywhere. I don't expect high schools to ever be allowed to pay players. I don't have enough of a feel for high school rules regarding transfers these days to know if a portal makes sense or would even be necessary.
Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter
"Who would you say are the fan favorites over the years that stand out, even as supporting cast?" Harry Colon.
Fair.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
I think it might have been the press conference when Jaguars Owner Shad khan announced the firing of former Head Coach Doug Pederson and at some point he criticized the play-calling and then someone in the press corps yelled, "It's always the coaching in the NFL." Was that you?
I don't know that I would say that person yelled it, exactly. It was more of a muffled cough. Like in Animal House.
Dbsuperbiker from Ormond Beach
Does the legendary Florida A&M Head Coach Jake Gaither's philosophy on his type of football players align with our new Jags culture? With the emphasis on lose extra weight, run fast, play violent (each "i" is pronounced as a long I) ... Agile, mobile and hostile.
Sure.
