JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Fred from Naples, FL
The Titans are apparently hiring Robert Saleh to be their new head coach. Just when you think the rivalry couldn't use any more gas on the fire … I love this!
The Tennessee Titans indeed reportedly are hiring former New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh as head coach. Saleh served as the Jaguars' linebackers coach from 2014-2016. More recently – and more interestingly and entertainingly – Saleh while serving as the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator had words with Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen following the Jaguars' 26-21 victory over the 49ers in Week 4 this past season. Saleh said something during the week about the Jaguars' offense that Coen didn't love and the two "chatted" somewhat animatedly about the matter following the game. The Titans and Jaguars are both in the AFC South, which means Saleh and Coen will coach against one another twice a season – and which means what was a one-off story last October will be a "topic" until it's not. Will media and fans make more of this than necessary? Of course. Professional sports are entertainment and entertainment is supposed to be fun. Rivalries and storylines are fun. This will be fun.
Brad from Jax
Saleh to the Titans? How fitting. He's a good coach, but he's also something I can't say here because it's "important to be nice." A new chapter in the Jags' flagship rivalry.
We indeed talk a lot here in the O-Zone about the importance of being nice. This is professional football. This is a rivalry. Rivalries aren't nice. But they are fun – and in professional football, fun is more important than nice. Or something like that.
Boxcutter Bill from Mass
Robert Saleh new Titans head coach. The rivalry is on. Jags picked Coach Coen over him, then Saleh made those comments before the 49ers game. The shouting match after the 49ers game. This is going to be fun.
I'll click on that.
Brian from Wheeling
The rivalry runs even deeper now, O? It's just suiting for the Titans to do that.
Brian is already ready for some rivalry football.
Greg from Section 122, SOTF, Jacksonville
We recently drove past the stadium and saw the cranes already in place to start removing the upper decks. It hit me. The postseason loss to the Buffalo Bills was the final game as the 'Bank. Well, at least in the way we knew her. Currently I sit in 122, which is in the lower bowl. I want to go back but I don't know how the reduced capacity would work. I think only 41,000 seats? So how would the NFL view if we won the AFC South again and hosted a home game here? I am sure that would not be ideal for them with a smaller seating capacity. One good thing I would imagine about this. Fewer seats would be less away team fans in our house. A final observation as I was at the game: After the Bills scored the final time, ALL of the on-field press ran over to the Bills sidelines before the Jags ever got the ball. Almost like they knew the outcome. I KNOW there is no predetermination in the NFL, it's our imagination.
A thought or two on your many, many thoughts. One thought is I don't know what "on-field" press means. If it means people who hold cameras, I expect a lot of them were trying to get a shot of Bills quarterback Josh Allen whether the Bills won or lost because Allen as the 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player was the story of the game from a national perspective. Of course there's no "predetermination" in the NFL. To think there is, is to ignore the insane and league-destroying ramifications if there were. As for how the NFL would feel if the Jaguars host a playoff game with reduced capacity at EverBank Stadium next season, I suppose league officials would shrug and move onto the next – and far more pressing – issue. The Jaguars are building the Stadium of the Future to open in 2028 for the long-term franchise stability that comes with increased revenue. A season or two of reduced capacity was the necessary bridge to that stability.
David from The Island
The stadium next year will be at a reduced capacity. If the Jags are fortunate enough to have one or two playoff games at home, do you think the NFL would like to move those games to Orlando and get away from "reduced capacity"?
No.
Jarret from Conshohocken
Leave Udinski alone! Zone, please tell Shad to pay our coordinators whatever is needed to try to keep the band together. One more round, baby.
You want Jaguars Owner Shad Khan to pay offensive coordinator Grant Udinski a lot of money to turn down what could be a once-in-a-career opportunity to be a head coach. That's an awesome concept from a Jaguars fan perspective. It's a less-than-awesome concept from a Udinski perspective.
Chris from Mandarin
To me, it seems inevitable that Travis Etienne plays for a different team next season. Why would the Jaguars spend premium money on running back when it's not a premium position? Plus, Tuten was a touchdown machine, and I don't doubt that he can be a starter in this league. I only hope that Etienne doesn't end up with the Kansas City Chiefs.
My thought is it's a bit more likely that Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. plays elsewhere next season than returns, though I wouldn't go so far as to call it "inevitable." It does occur to me that Etienne's 13 touchdowns this past season were a bit more machine-like than rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten's seven. Thirteen is more than seven. It's almost double except not quite.
John from Jax
Hi, KOAGF. Is the next "most important game in franchise history" on Sunday, September 13? If so, what about all those who think the preseason games rank up there, as well?
The next regular-season game indeed is the most important game in Jaguars history. I don't know what to tell people who think preseason games rank "up there" with regular-season games, I can only handle so much.
Yeti Daddy from Somewhere and Yet Nowhere
The scouts will be busy this month. Then in February, the tags can be used. Will the Jags tag anyone of our free agents?
We shall see.
Doug from Riverside
So since the Buffalo Bills fired their head coach for only getting to the playoffs every season should we fire Head Coach Liam Coen since we lost to them? Heard that Urban was available.
I don't cover the Bills, so I don't know them well enough to know the exactness of why they fired Head Coach Sean McDermott after eight playoff appearances in nine seasons. I don't cover the Baltimore Ravens, so I don't know them well enough to know the exactness of why they fired Head Coach John Harbaugh after 12 playoff appearances – and a Super Bowl title – in 18 seasons. I do know teams that fire coaches who consistently get them to the postseason are wise to ask themselves this: "If I hadn't just fired this coach would I hire him as my head coach?" If the answer is yes, perhaps just don't fire him in the first place.
Freddy from Jacksonville
John, I understand the anger that Jags fans have for the Houston Texans and their glee at the New England Patriots beating them in an AFC Divisional Playoff this past Sunday, but I'm wayyyyy on the other side of the table here. I would've much preferred our rivals winning last weekend since it would've meant putting a stop to the Patriots being "back." The most obnoxious, loudmouthed, undeserving fanbase in the league got to have a dynasty for 20 years, and now, after a measly few of years of suffering, we're already hearing nonstop how Head Coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye are starting it back up again. I for one was rooting for Houston to win simply because the Pats need to be crushed like a grape at a Roman wine party.
Pettiness is cool. Fans like it.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, Texas
KOAF: How's this for pettiness: I am glad the Philadelphia Eagles lost to prevent running back Tank Bigsby from going to the Super Bowl along with the Pittsburgh Steelers (older backs tend to hurt this time of year in the cold weather so Cancun should be nice). I would have liked to have seen the Bills win given my jealousy of the Patriots almost being a shoe-in against the Broncos' backup quarterback after only being bad for three years. Then I realized that being consumed with hate or jealousy matters not a whit in my everyday life, but man does it feel good during game time being petty.
Maybe you should get with Freddy and have a petty party. Get it? I'll be here all week. Tip your bartenders and waitstaff.
