JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Stuart from Cottonwood, AZ
In the recent interview with NFL scheduling master Mike North, he said that they try to make sure that all franchises are at least "equally disappointed." It is so important for people with hard jobs to have a sense of humor.
I assume here you are referencing Jaguars senior reporter/editor J.P. Shadrick's recent interview with NFL Vice President, Broadcast Planning Mike North – an interview in which North discussed the Jaguars' 2026 schedule, which was released by the NFL earlier this month. North correctly noted that the Jaguars by winning the AFC South title in 2025 and emerging as a Super Bowl contender had very much earned the three prime-time games they are scheduled to play in 2026 along with two more national appearances in their back-to-back home London games. As for the difficulty of North's job … it is perhaps best categorized as impossible because it entails trying to make 32 teams and 32 fan bases happy. A fool's game, to be sure. I expect North enters the schedule-making process each season/offseason trying to do the best he can to produce a comparatively fair, entertaining schedule – an objective the league typically accomplishes. I expect he is rarely surprised when every team and every fanbase find something not to like about their schedule and express this feeling for all to hear. Fans fan and teams team. It's what they do.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
In a recent article, you mentioned offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen as playing the "extra tackle" position. Is this simply a 300-plus-pound blocking tight end that must report as eligible? I was also interested to see on the Jaguars.com roster page all offensive lineman simply listed as "OL." Other NFL teams delineate down to center, guard and offensive tackle on their team website roster.
Yes, the term "extra tackle" essentially means a tackle who plays as a blocking tight end in "heavy" packages – and extra tackles indeed must report as eligible. And yes, the jaguars.com roster lists offensive linemen as "OL." This is partly because most Jaguars offensive linemen play multiple positions and it is partly just because. I don't care enough about the topic to investigate all NFL team websites, though I looked at a few and some list offensive linemen as "OL" and some specific positions. Good on them, I guess.
JK from Ocala, FL
Yo O.
Yo.
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. Driving into Yulee. I always get a sense of regret when I see the Welcome to Yulee sign honoring Derrick Henry. I think most of us fans would have liked to have seen the hometown guy playing for the Jags. Regardless, nice touch.
The NFL is a sport – and when it comes to sports, people want and even expect feel-good stories. The NFL is also a sport of rules, and league rules are such that players can't always play for hometown teams. Players must play where they are drafted and circumstances during players' careers don't always allow freedom of movement and choice. I have no idea if Henry – originally selected by the Tennessee Titans and now with the Baltimore Ravens – had any desire to play for his "hometown" Jaguars. I do know he has been a great NFL running back – and I know he has created his share of memories against the hometown team. The memories at times have been better for the hometown hero than for the hometown team. So it goes.
Mike from St. Augustine, FL
When you put out your first rap album, it must be titled Rand Master Funk!
Fair.
Jadon from NC State
Who is the best player to wear No. 26 in franchise history?
Candidates here include safety Josh Evans (2013-2015), cornerback Shaq Griffin (2021-2022), safety Antonio Johnson (2023-present), safety Dawan Landry (2011-2012), defensive back David Richardson (2004-2006) and safety Jarrod Wilson (2017-2020). Johnson is getting there, and he might be there already.
Greg from the mean fields of EHS
Since PHILOSOPHY was invoked here in the O-Zone, I direct to your response to Mark from Archer, as to flaws of the Hall-of-Fame enshrinement process. Human systems, including sports, are inherently flawed, thus "fans will fan," "chance favors the prepared mind," "pride cometh before the fall" ... you know, it's what we do! Keeping it real here in the O-Zone! Was this considered "nice?"
Maybe. Maybe not. It is perhaps that I am just not smart enough to know.
Chris from Mandarin
What do you mean the Jaguars don't have an "optics" problem? We literally have the smallest fan base in the entire league, and are forced to give up a home game in order to be financially viable. This is not lost on the media and other team's fans. Winning the Super Bowl would be nice, but it is not going to change how the Jaguars are seen, not really.
This is an understandable perspective because this is a Jaguars forum and the Jaguars were low-profile for long enough that people believe they always must have such a profile. But optics are perception and winning unquestionably can change how a franchise is perceived. There was a time when franchises such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals were perceived poorly, with a very low profile. Winning changed that for both franchises. When I arrived in Indianapolis to cover the Colts in 2001, they were just beginning their successful run with quarterback Peyton Manning. They at that time did not routinely sell out home games, were not on national television routinely and were not even the dominant team/sport in the Indianapolis market. They had had some horrendous seasons in the previous decade and a half – and were not perceived as an elite franchise. They missed the postseason in my first season there and made it the next nine seasons, winning one Super Bowl and playing in two during that span. The nine-season run absolutely changed how the Colts were seen nationally and they were a premium franchise for much of – or more than – a decade. Winning consistently changes perception and winning the Super Bowl – and contending consistently – absolutely will change how the Jaguars are seen. A state-of-the-art stadium won't hurt on that front, either. Remember, too: While fans and media love to talk about "optics," the concept is largely meaningless. Win the Super Bowl and stand on a podium. If that happens, you will be amazed how little you care about what people think about you.
John from Jacksonville
Did Stephen and I just prove how unreliable AI is? Maybe we shouldn't be asking it for medical advice.
I come across AI from time to time when doing whatever it is I think I do for Jaguars Media. Sometimes I am impressed with its accuracy. Often, I am not. But you won't find me yelling at the top of my lungs about the evils of AI in these parts. I am too busy yelling at those damned kids on my lawn.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
I happen to think that Memorial Day is perhaps the most important of all the holidays. It honors the brave men and women who gave their lives in defense of the United States of America. I am probably biased because this is my "home" country, but I think it's the best country on earth. Gary called it a bank holiday. He should have written: Even on Memorial Day, you still suck.
Well said.
Woody from Dunlap
QKOAF: (I apologize for these math questions in advance). The 2026 salary cap is $301.2 million for each team. I understand there is also a mandatory salary floor. What is this mandatory minimum for 2026? Also, according to Pro Football Network, the Miami Dolphins currently have a dead money "hit" of over $179 million and only have about $127 million in active cap spending. Compared to the Dolphins, our dead money "hit" of just under $55 million with active cap spending at a little over $245 million seem quite manageable. How can any NFL team survive a dead cap "hit" of over $179 million?
There is no "mandatory minimum" an NFL team must spend in a given season. Rather, teams must spend 90 percent of the total salary cap on player bonuses/salaries over any three-year period. How do teams "survive" years in which they have mammoth dead caps? They field teams with players who take up really, really small amounts of space for a season and they do their best to restructure contracts in a way to spread a bit of the cap space over multiple seasons. Mostly, they try to field the best roster they can, reset and hope they can draft a quarterback around whom to build moving forward.
Decarlos from Columbus, GA
Do you think the Jags could trade for wide receiver A.J. Brown, without trading away wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.? If so, what would you think it would take to make that happen?
Trade machine!!!
