JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it…
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Yawn. Is the Super Bowl over yet?
My Scooby Sense – and not my Scobee or Spidey sense – tells me you may be having just a smidge or two of trouble conjuring excitement over Sunday's Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Cal. I confess to sharing this feeling at least somewhat, perhaps because neither team is all that "sexy" by professional football standards – but mostly because I expect Seattle to pull away in the fourth quarter with little drama by game's end. I also expect there's a general lack of interest with many NFL fans have a little eye roll going on with the Patriots being there yet again – and I don't know how much those same fans have connected to the Seahawks. When both teams come out of nowhere as they teams have done, it can be difficult for the average fan to connect. As for Jaguars fans specifically … it's natural for them to have trouble getting interested for Sunday. I can't say the Jaguars should have been in this game, but they absolutely could have been in it. It's hard to think of this game without playing some serious "what-if" games. If for that reason you're having trouble as a Jaguars fan getting excited for Sunday … well, that's really understandable.
Fred from Naples, FL
The only sure Hall of Famer next year might be former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. If there was ever a year that Fred Taylor had a chance, it's going to be next year. Here's to hoping I am right.
I also hope you're right, but I worry that the NFL's Hall of Fame current voting system – implemented in 2025 – will continue to hurt former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor and many other candidates. The new system has produced classes of four and five, respectively, the last two years. That's too few. I have seen multiple ideas for improving this situation. The thought here is the best ideas focus on allowing modern-era classes to be at least six players with a minimum of four and to mandate at least one senior candidate – perhaps two – be enshrined each year. There also should be a separate category for contributors and coaches, with the ability for classes to total eight or nine including all categories. Is this too many? Remember: This is a sport of 22-to-25 positions compared to five and nine for basketball and baseball, respectively. And the current system makes it all-too possible for coaches such as former Head Coach Bill Belichick and for players such as Taylor to get lost in the process for various reasons. I sense Belichick not making it this year will spur change. Here's hoping the change is extensive enough to fix some significant issues in multiple areas.
Alan from Neptune Beach, FL
JP Shadrick, fact or fiction? Man or myth?
To be determined.
Steve from Jacksonville Beach, FL
Who do you like in the big game, zone? And why?
I expect the Seahawks to beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LX. I expect the Patriots to play well, smart and disciplined – and for it to feel like they have a chance early. Maybe even a really good chance. I expect this even though the Seahawks are the better team because the Patriots know how to play to their identity. But I expect the Seahawks to pull away from the Patriots as the game continues because their offensive and defensive fronts are very strong. They're the reasons the Seahawks handled the Jaguars in the regular season, and the reason they navigated the playoffs successfully. And from this view, they're the reasons the Seahawks will win Sunday.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Without ETN and Lloyd. we don't make the playoffs. In another note, how are we improving without a first-round pick, ETN and Lloyd? We're not. Maybe Trevor keeps getting better? Break it down wizard!
Your concerns and points are valid, because Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. and linebacker Devin Lloyd indeed were critical to the Jaguars' 2025 AFC South Championship season. I don't know that it's absolutely guaranteed that the Jaguars wouldn't have matched their success without them, but they certainly contributed in a major way. How will the Jaguars improve next season? There are multiple ways this could happen. They absolutely could run better and more consistently, particularly on the interior. I expect them to focus heavily on trying to improve there this offseason. They also could improve defensively in the area of interior pass rush and by reducing big plays allowed. I also do expect quarterback Trevor Lawrence to continue to improve – as he did throughout the last half of the 2025 season. I don't know what that means in terms of matching or not matching his 2025 statistics, but he can improve consistency and command of the offense. That sort of improvement is expected and very possible in his second season in Head Coach Liam Coen's offense. Remember, too: One of the most-overlooked ways teams can and should improve is from within. With continuity and time to develop, the Jaguars have plenty of players who can improve in this area. Stay tuned.
Wes from Ponte Vedra, FL
Don't try to convince us that the NFL has a four-O's loooong season. The other Sunday sport, NASCAR, goes from mid-February to early November. The idea of an added bye week is fantastic! It gives fans the opportunity to watch more games without adding any injury risk for the players. That's what we call a win-win.
I have a lot of trouble connecting the NFL and NASCAR. I don't have trouble saying the NFL season is too long at all, though I don't expect league officials or some observers to agree. But in my lifetime we have seen the league extend the regular season from 14 weeks with no bye to 17 weeks with a bye, thereby pushing the regular season a week into January and the Super Bowl into early February. I expect we will see the Super Bowl become a mid-February staple soon enough. The season is unnecessarily long – and that's true no matter how many oooooooos you use.
Shawn from Moore County, NC
I like Etienne and Lloyd, but I am of the belief that you don't pay those two positions the kind of money they will get this offseason. Let someone else make that salary-cap mistake. I also wouldn't pay Walker the kind of money he will get after this year. Who would be the next Jaguar you would extend? Washington and strange would be my next two.
I would do whatever I could within reason to extend defensive lineman Travon Walker's contract because I think when healthy he is a dominant, defense-defining player. I expect the Jaguars will focus heavily on extending wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange this offseason.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
John. An O-Zone Fest at Strings or even The 'Bank is a fun idea. Who wouldn't want to meet some of the legends? But I suspect you really don't want to really meet and hang out with your fans, admirers, detractors, collaborators, muses and foils. Part of the intrigue of the Zone is that you don't know us and we really don't know you, even though you have been pretty transparent over the years. Should we just let the mystery be?
I've met many O-Zone readers – not too many to count, but enough. More pertinent to this conversation: I have met me. Not only that, I have spent a lot of time around me. Trust me, tis no great shakes.
Bradford from Orange Park, FL
When I sent the "O-Zone Gathering" idea, I didn't really think about how that would likely have some of ALL those who write in showing up. You know, as far as all those you've seen their submissions over the last however many years. I could only imagine the ones that don't make the column. LOL. I could see … how that could turn into a lot.
"A lot."
Nicholas from Fort Hood, Texas
KOAF: Rewatched Cam Little's 67-yard field goal. Why were the Jaguars granted a new 25-second play clock when the play clock was down to five seconds? I didn't see any administrative delays.
Jaguars kicker Cam Little's 67-yard field goal came at the end of the first half of the Jaguars' 41-7 Week 18 home victory over the Tennessee Titans. The kick that gave the Jaguars a 31-7 halftime lead came one play after the Titans turned the ball over on downs with :03 remaining in the half. The Jaguars took a timeout after the change of possession, allowing Little time to kick.
Jerry from Orlando, FL
Do you really believe Lawrence can get better or are you saying it because you have to?
No one puts O-Zone in a corner.
