JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
John from St. Augustine, FL
Hey, O. Do we know if the Jaguars offered Devin Lloyd a contract? If so, was it significantly less than what he got from Carolina?
The Jaguars to my knowledge did not offer linebacker Devin Lloyd a contract extension earlier this offseason. This isn't because they didn't like Lloyd nor is it that they didn't appreciate the season he had in 2025, when he intercepted five passes and earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors. It was more about knowing that Lloyd was going to be a certain level of free agent at the start of the 2026 NFL League Year last March, and knowing that – partly because of their salary-cap situation moving forward and partly because of their organizational philosophy when it comes to positional value – they weren't going to pay Lloyd what he almost certainly would earn on the open market. Lloyd therefore became an unrestricted free agent and signed with the Carolina Panthers. Could the Jaguars have signed Lloyd had they chosen to do so? Perhaps. But in free agency and roster-building, you must make difficult decisions. And sometimes the market and circumstances helps dictate those decisions.
Devin from Stilesville, IN
O, the characters that continue to fret about "aggressiveness" just don't get it. The only reason that the fourth-down attempt failed against the Bills is because No. 16 tripped. It was the right play call at the right time that just unfortunately fell short. It has been six months, guys. Give it up. Looking at the numbers, we were only middle of the pack when it came to fourth-down attempts across the league last season. Sometimes you get the bear. Sometimes the bear gets you. On to 2026 and hopefully MORE (successful) fourth-down attempts.
I would say we are reaching the end of our discussion of Head Coach Liam Coen opting to go for a first down on fourth-and-2 from the Buffalo Bills 9-yard line in a 27-24 Bills victory in an AFC Wild Card Playoff game this past January, but I know better. Boy, do I know. And the play against the Bills early in the second quarter of that game indeed failed because quarterback Trevor Lawrence tripped. You are also exactly right that Coen isn't all that much – if any – more aggressive in these situations than many NFL head coaches these days. Going for it in previously unconventional situations is fast becoming the NFL norm and I get no sense that will change. Why is this so discussed? Because aggressiveness in these situations is a significant change from what many (older) fans consider the norm – and because it's easy to say the decision to go was "wrong" if it failed. Sometimes you eat the bear. Sometimes the bear eats you. One fer truisms.
GP from Savannah, GA
The Jags were 56 percent successful in 2025 on fourth-down conversions, 54 percent in 2024. Interestingly they were only successful 33 percent in the last three games of 2025. The bear ate us last three games!
The bear is a formidable foe. You're not going to go 17-0 against him. Or her.
Stephen from Hilton Head Island, SC
John. The easy way to convert on fourth-and-2 every time is to use a five tight-end formation.
If you say so.
Kevin from Jacksonville Beach, FL
Hi, John. With all the construction going on around the stadium, will there be any changes to how fans will enter and leave the stadium during the season? Will all gates be open or will we be redirected to other entry points? You can see the new stadium taking shape. It is getting exciting to see the changes.
I researched this what I call "heavily," which meant I sent an email to a busy person. The busy person was nice enough to respond. I was told this: "The Jaguars will be providing full knowledge 'before you go' information – including videos to fans – ahead of the first preseason game. There will be slight impacts to gate entries, as we are bringing two new grand staircases online." That's what I know. Now you know what I know. Good on you, I guess.
Fred from Naples, FL
If Liam Coen takes us to the AFC Championship game this year, would he already be considered the second greatest coach in Jaguars history?
When considering how people are considered, it is important to remember that such considerations vary depending on who is doing the considering. But yes … if the Jaguars make the AFC Championship Game this season, I expect most considerers would consider Coen the second-best coach in Jaguars history. Consideringly speaking, of course.
Will from Jacksonville
I did some painstaking research and found that you selected the best Jags' player to ever wear No. 5 way back on April 19. I did this research to confirm a suspicion that I had: you didn't even MENTION Matt Scott as a candidate. You are a scumbag.
FreeMattScott
Al from Fruit Cove, FL
How about a historical question for the dead zone (not the dead o-zone, we hope)? Where did teal come from as the color choice? Were team colors a league decision? Why didn't the Jags go with, say, navy blue and gold to honor the region's military connections?
Finding official history here is tricky. I also researched this heavily, which meant I sent a text to a person who's not as busy as the person who I emailed about the stadium information. The response provided a bit of context that gibed with my memory, which is that the choice for teal in fact may have been a bit league-driven because teal was a popular color at the time and there were no "teal" NFL teams. The thought at the time was that teal therefore might have been good for marketing. The navy blue and gold combination has been discussed a lot since and it would have been cool because of the navy connection. I don't remember all that much discussion about this at the time, but I was younger than and I am older now.
Kenneth from Jacksonville
Who's the best player in Jaguars history to don No. 76?
Tally forth, good man. Possibilities here include guard Ezra Cleveland (2024-2026), offensive lineman Richard Collier (2006-2007), left tackle Luke Joeckel (2013-2016), offensive lineman Will Richardson (2019-2021), offensive lineman Ephram Salaam (2004-2005) and guard Rich Tylski (1996-1999). This is tight, but we will nod to Cleveland by a nose ahead of Tylski. Perhaps.
Steve from San Marco
I can't wait till we get to No. 100. Thank goodness the alphabet only has 26 letters. It will be amazing if we were to win the division again this year, and the next, and then again to christen our new stadium. Were you covering Indy when Peyton arrived? Did you witness their fan base, and not just locally but nationally, rally around the team? What year was Peyton when they opened their new stadium and did it in some way help propel their immense popularity nationally?
A few thoughts on your thoughts and questions. Though I suspect we will reach No. 99 in our discussion of the best players in Jaguars history to wear a specific number, I expect we will stop there because of the pointlessness of the next step. And yes … 26 is a cool number for an alphabet. One fer the Canaanites, another fer the Phoenicians, another fer the Greeks and yet another for the Romans for thinking of such a thing in the first place. It also would be cool if the Jaguars won the next three AFC South titles because that would mean doing it four consecutive seasons and that's a lot. As far as quarterback Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts … I began covering them in 2001, which was Manning's fourth NFL season. I did witness their gain in popularity because it really happened locally – and to a lesser degree, nationally – around the end of the 2003 season. That was when the Colts won their first AFC South title and made the AFC Championship Game. It wasn't until then that the team began consistently selling out with constant high demand and passion. The popularity continued growing – partly because of Manning, but mostly because the Colts made the postseason every season from 2002-2010. Manning was in his 11th NFL season when Lucas Oil Stadium opened in downtown Indianapolis. That was 2008 and I never got the sense that the stadium increased their popularity. Winning consistently did that, as it tends to do.
Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida
Also, since it's still very much The Dead Zone and for the sake of conversation, the spouse and I are jetting up to Toronto/YYZ early August to see Rush play on their "R50" tour no one ever thought would happen with the brilliant, Annika Nilles, on percussion. Is your mind not for rent? To any god or government?
I would answer this. It's just that I can't pretend a stranger is a long-awaited friend. I've tried. I just can't.
