Let's get to it . . . Scott from Chelsea, NY:
My initial reaction to the new logo was it looked a little cartoonish, almost as if it was from a comic book. Giving it a day and looking at it on the site I have to say I'm a fan. Sometimes, new things take time to sink in. After all, it does look cool atop the web page.
John: I'd like to say my latest O-Zone Video Mailbag (cha-ching) had something to do with this because we've been getting a lot more of these coming-around-to-the-new-logo emails in the days/hours since the new logo was released. Alas, I probably had little to do with it. People recoil at change, and once they get used to something, they often like it. Not everything is New Coke. Most of the time, it just takes time to get used to change and a lot of times, once you get used to it, the new thing is pretty cool.
David from the Island:
There's a lot more gold used in the new team lettering and on the website. I'm thinking there will be a lot more gold in the new unies too. Sweet!
John: Shad Khan: "Stay tuned."
Joy from Section 103:
The Jag head really doesn't look all that different. I like it. What's the fuss? Shad is taking control of what is his and he isn't a gazillionaire for nothing. Give him a bit of time. He is also quietly putting money into the small business community.
John: Indeed he is. Khan and Mark Lamping are smart enough to know you can't change perception or reality overnight. You have to have a long-term plan, stick to that plan and operate in a manner that you believe will be successful in the long haul. Look, no one expected cartwheels over the new logo immediately. Change doesn't work that way. But Khan could have thrown a logo out there that looked completely different than the past. Instead, he stayed with a logo that clearly has elements of the past with some stylistic changes for the future. That seems as appropriate as you can imagine.
Ken from Jacksonville:
I love the new logo. It looks feisty.
John: Feisty is a fun word to say. Feisty, feisty, feisty . . .
Ryan from Atlantic Beach, FL:
How can you have a slogan, "Stand United" when you do something guaranteed to divide an already fragile fan base? I don't think Kahn is cutout for the football business. Unless his goal is to alienate the entire fan base one way or another (Tebow, logo, staff, etc...), so he can make it look like it's the fans' fault and we're the reason he moves the team.
John: Ryan, let me open the window. Now, come in off the ledge. Good, good . . . yes, there.
John from Savannah, GA:
I understand that most people will resist change to a logo, and count me among those fans who are not thrilled. But there is a reason other than simply, "It's different, I hate it" - it's the ears. They look like they belong on a rabbit. My eyes are drawn to them each and every time I look at the logo. It's like Steve Martin's nose in "Roxanne." Hypnotic.
John: You know how when you look at something too long it takes on a life of its own, and perception can get skewed? Well, I think we're close that here. Close your eyes, John. In fact, do what I do most days from noon to three – take a nap! When you wake, I think you'll see the logo is just fine.
Steven from Jacksonville:
Jonathan Ogden and Larry Allen were good offensive linemen, but I don't think they are any more deserving of the Hall of Fame than Tony Boselli. Tony Boselli was as good a left tackle as ever has played in the NFL and he played during the same time as these two elected to the Hall of Fame this year. The only argument against Tony is he didn't play long enough (which I think is a garbage excuse). Is there any way the city, fans, and franchise could mount a campaign to get Tony elected within the next few years?
John: Campaigns such as the one you suggest can be mounted, but they honestly don't help much and can even be counterproductive. Hall of Fame voters in my experience are very diligent and passionate about their vote, but to get inundated with passionate, angry fans about a certain player could have the opposite effect of that desired. And as much as it pains me to say it, I agree with you that Boselli was every bit as good as Allen and Ogden. Those were two players who weren't good; rather, they were great. Boselli absolutely was a Hall of Fame-level left tackle, but because his career was cut short he will have a hard time getting in. That's not fair, but Boselli would be the first to tell you life ain't fair. As much as Boselli and I joke back and forth, I hope he gets into the Hall. He deserves it. We'll see what happens.
Willis from Jacksonville:
Here's a boring question: when the new staff looks at tape of say, Eugene Monroe, do they just pop in Game One and press play or does the media department put something together specific to Eugene?
John: They'll look at each game from the perspective of watching the whole team, and they'll also look at cutups specific to each player. The team's video department puts these together.
Cliff from Jacksonville:
Until he proves otherwise, Matt Flynn = Rob Johnson.
John: Yep. And until he is given a chance, he won't be able to prove otherwise. That's what makes the backup-quarterback-with-potential dilemma so tricky for teams searching for quarterbacks.
David from Auburn, AL:
[Obligatory comment about picking up Joe Flacco in free agency even though he will be re-signed or at least Franchise Tagged]
John: [Noted]
Scott from Jacksonville:
As a Jaguar season-ticket holder and big tennis fan, I really enjoyed the Davis Cup. Did you or any other people in the Jaguars' office check out the arena? It was the first time in its 113-year history that Jacksonville has hosted the Davis Cup, and with the poor crowds it will probably take another 113 years until we get another one. Ticket sales were dreadful and that doesn't help Jacksonville out when we demand that people treat us like a big-boy city.
John: I am as guilty as anyone on this one. I am indeed a big tennis fan, but didn't attend the Davis Cup matches. One reason is I wasn't compelled by the competitors, not being a big Sam Querrey, John Isner or Bryan Brothers fan – and yes, I knew all three without googling. I don't think I'm alone in that the top Americans right now don't inspire me to watch – and if they don't inspire me, they certainly don't inspire the casual sports fan. This is not a knock on any of the four aforementioned players, just an observation. Also, my 16-year-old son had a tennis tournament of his own that weekend, and for now, Junior Ozone tennis to me is far more compelling than the Davis Cup. Lastly, though, I wouldn't worry much about Davis Cup as it relates to Jacksonville being a big-boy city. The ticket sales don't make Jacksonville a small-boy city. It just means most people here don't buy into professional tennis.
Jason from North Pole, AK:
I coach high school football and you are right that running QB's get hurt. When they are healthy, zone read is extremely effective if you have a kid that can throw well enough. We had a Division I duel threat at quarterback this year and won our first two games; he shattered his arm running the ball in Week 3 and we went 2-7. People forget that RG3 was not nearly as effective in the playoffs after his knee injury. They also forget that Kaep has only played half the season. If running a high school program, you have to play with what you have and often times that means a duel threat quarterback. But in the NFL, when I am paying that quarterback millions of dollars? Give me the pocket passer who won't get hurt.
John: I agree with all of what you say. We seem to be at that point in this discussion where each side is dug in as far as what they believe. There are those who grasp that running quarterbacks in the long run get hurt and have their effectiveness diminished; there are those who don't see the long-term and believe running quarterbacks are the superior model. There's not much sense arguing anymore, so it's probably time to move on, but know this: most people in the NFL don't think you can win that way long-term. If they're wrong you'll see a gradual move toward running quarterbacks, but it's going to take a long time to have that thinking turn into a trend.
Kathy from St. Augustine, FL:
Are you aware that the comment section of this site is filled with the nastiest and most-negative people? The vitriolic responses to the new logo were mind-blowing. What ungrateful jerks!
John: This site has a comment section?