JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Jesse from Texas
How do the players on the field know when to come off between plays? And likewise, how do players on the sidelines know when they are coming in?
Players typically know this in a couple of ways. One way is that they are part of offensive or defensive packages – based on down and distance or where the ball is on the field. If a player is in a particular package, he plays in the designated situations. If he isn't, he doesn't. The other way is that a coach tells him to go into the game or tells another player to go into the game, with that other player telling the player in question to leave the game. There's another the less ideal – but not uncommon scenario – in which a coach and/or teammate must communicate to an unaware player it's time to come out of the game. This communication often is accompanied by arm-waving, yelling and the player sprinting to the sidelines to avoid a penalty.
Stephen from Sec 113 from Jacksonville via Pennsauken, NJ
John, I generally feel that the referees get most calls right. Yes, it is frustrating when they blow a call or replay does not fix the situation to my satisfaction. For me, it is part of the human side of the game. I am old enough to remember the last time the NFL used replacement referees and it was major league ugly. With all that said, what are the issues keeping the NFL New York office and the referees apart in the current contract negotiations? Are they even negotiating? I figure money is the first issue, but are there other issues? Issues like how playoff crews are selected or getting a "bye" week like the players or too much/too little instant replay or better hotel/air accommodations> I know the referees work some during training camp to help teams with what is holding/interference/illegal motion/ line of scrimmage alignment. Do you think they will get a contract worked out without a work stoppage? Thanks.
This remains an ongoing, contentious, fuzzy story – as often is the case with high-profile contract negotiations. The NFL Referees Association and NFL owners reportedly remain far apart in negotiations to renew the referees' Collective Bargaining Agreement, with a deadline set for May 31. The key "contentious" points, according to reports: Accountability for poorly performing officials, compensation and playoff assignments. Using replacement officials remains a possibility, with the league prepared to begin training replacements June 1 if there is no agreement by the end of May. I expect the details of these negotiations to remain relatively fuzzy because neither side is supposed to speak publicly on the matter. I have no idea how to predict if there will be a work stoppage that will last into the 2026 season. I do know we are not at a deadline yet, and deadlines tend to produce resolutions on such matters.
JayTee from SE Ga
No question, just Semper Fidelis to 2nd Lt Rayuan Lane USMC!
Semper Fi.
Jadon from Raleigh, NC
Who is the best player to wear No. 2 for the Jags in Jaguars history?
Four players have worn No. 2 for the Jaguars long enough to be considered in this discussion – safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2021-2023), kicker Jason Myers (2015-2017), punter Chris Hanson (2001-2006) and cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2025-2026). Jenkins made two of the biggest defensive plays in this team's history during the 2022 playoff run – an overtime interception return to beat the Dallas Cowboys and a late-game sack/forced fumble that led to linebacker Josh Hines-Allen's return for a touchdown to beat the Tennessee Titans in the regular-season finale to clinch the AFC South. Let's go with Jenkins on this one, with apologies to Hanson.
Henry from Florahome
Hello. I hear a lot of reference to market size – and everywhere I checked, I see Jax ranked around 11th highest population in the country. Of the cities with more people, about seven have NFL teams. I guarantee there is plenty of television watching going on here. too. I don't give a hoot about "respect." Just tell me how is this a small market. Thanks.
Confusion in this case is understandable – because Jacksonville indeed is one of the largest and most populated "cities" in the United States. But that ranking is because the area of Jacksonville is the second-largest in the continental US whereas many larger cities are actually one large city with a lot of cities around it. The city of Jacksonville itself therefore ranks highly in terms of population. But when people speak of "market size," they do so as it relates to television market. And television market accounts for population of surrounding areas. New York City, for example, ranks 30th in area and first in population – and market size – because of populated cities/areas around New York. Jacksonville is the NFL's largest city in terms of land, but it's 28th in terms of "market size." The Jaguars are therefore absolutely a "small-market" team.
Don from Marshall, NC
The Jaguars don't have eleven spots to give out, do they? You are not going to draft someone to place them on the practice squad. They got to do something and most likely they trade up. Or they trade for a player with picks. I wouldn't be surprised if they traded the entire draft class if they thought they could get a certain player. Going to be interesting to see the competitive James Gladstone do his thing. Go Jaguars!
When it comes to breaking down a lot about the Jaguars' 2026 NFL Draft – sometimes correctly and sometimes not as correctly – Don remains "all in."
Daniel from Johnston, IA
Joe from Jacksonville recently touched on a question I was wanting to ask you. Do you think the Jags would consider investing a higher (relatively speaking) draft pick in a quarterback if one fell to them? Love the emergence of Trevor Lawrence, but injury is always possible and getting a good young quarterback is always a good thing?
I think investing a fourth-to-sixth-round selection in a quarterback is a decent idea. This is because quality veteran backup quarterbacks are very, very expensive. I don't expect the Jaguars will select a quarterback in this draft because quarterback Trevor Lawrence is the key to the franchise. There's a school of thought that if you lose a quarterback of Lawrence's caliber, you're not going to win the Super Bowl, so why overspend – in money or draft capital – if you're spending toward something that's not helping you win a Super Bowl? I expect the Jaguars will attend that school of thought.
Scott from St. Johns, FL
Hey, John: Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington was dynamic as a punt returner in 2025, averaging 13.4 yards per return and taking two returns to the end zone for touchdowns. Unquestionably he will be in the mix for the No. 1 wide receiver spot in 2026 following a stellar performance in the latter part of the 2025 season. Do you foresee him continuing to return punts in 2026, or will the Jaguars opt to keep him off the field during punts to reduce his risk of injury?
I expect the Jaguars may draft a player who can return punts in certain situations. I don't expect the Jaguars will remove Washington from this role completely.
Woody from Dunlap
KOAF: What are the NFL rules pertaining to teams signing players unlikely to be drafted to a contract? Must the team wait until Draft Selection No. 257 is made? Can the team at least talk in advance to such a player of the team's interest if the player goes undrafted? I ask these questions for two reasons: (1) there appear to be more than the usual number of potential NFL quality players who may remain undrafted this year (at positions of interest such as OL); and (2) I have noticed that most NFL teams make their contract offers to UDFAs quickly after the draft ends. How can all these contract offers be made and accepted so quickly without some type of earlier contact between the NFL team and the player?
Teams can and do talk to potential undrafted free agents, with those conversations heightening in urgency in the late rounds of drafts. UDFAs can agree to terms any time after the draft.
JagFanatic24 from Jacksonville, FL
Add safety to the list of positions we need. I think losing longtime veteran Andrew Wingard is going to be bigger than what most people think. I'd prefer a non-rookie back there with Murray. On a side note … Thank you for all of your hard work and your coverage through the years, Zone.
I expect the Jaguars will select a safety in the 2026 NFL Draft. I expect Antonio Johnson, Caleb Ransaw and Eric Murray to be the Jaguars' primary three players at that position next season and I don't think a '26-drafted rookie will disrupt that.
Kenneth from Jacksonville
Does your ego know no bounds?
I am the king of all funk.
