JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Brad from Yankton, SD
A Mr. Okada writing for nfl.com rated the Jaguars' offseason as an "F" grade. I did not realize there were offseason grades. Maybe filler for the Dead Zone. But Wow … this is sure different from the optimism the Jaguars feel. The national media have no clue and do not care about what is going on in Jacksonville. Go Jags!! Let's let this be another motivator for this year!!!
I am generally not in the business of criticizing writers, particularly those I don't know, for their thoughts or grades on the Jaguars. This is perhaps particularly true in the offseason, when the slow nature of NFL news often forces more list- and grade-oriented stories than is the case during the regular season. Also: Writers who attempt to analyze all 32 NFL teams from afar without the benefit of deep dives into the reasoning behind – and details involved with – teams' personnel decisions really do face a difficult task when ranking and grading teams. Sometimes national writers are correct in their analysis. Sometimes they are wrong. Mostly, such analysis is often the equivalent of throwing darts at a board while blindfolded and therefore has little to do with reality. Jaguars players and coaches do seem to like using these sorts of grades, lists and comments for motivation. Good on them. Go Jags!!
Bill from Orange Park, FL
Is this really the dead zone? It doesn't feel all that dead. Weird?
This remains the dead zone because we are still smackdab in the middle – or close to smackdab in the middle – of the time between the end of the offseason program and training camp. I suppose in one sense it doesn't feel all that dead this offseason, with readers still asking questions each day to get us through. We also have spent some time in recent weeks digging through the best players in Jaguars history with specific last initials, certain numbers and the like. A quick check of the calendar tells me we are still a few weeks away from the official end of the dead zone. Can we keep it from feeling "dead" for a while more? That will largely depend on the readers' questions. People ask questions. I answer. That's it. That's the column. Even in the "dead zone."
Richard from Jacksonville
I think I'm going to be sick.
Go in the back.
Kenneth from Jacksonville
Who's the best player in Jaguars history to don No. 69?
Possibilities here include offensive tackle Khalif Barnes (2005-2008), guard Eugene Chung (1995), defensive tackle Leger Douzable (2010-2011), defensive tackle Austin Johnson (2025) and guard Tyler Shatley (2014-2023). Barnes was a good starter here for a while. Shatley was a reliable backup here for a long, long while. It's hard to choose between the two, but I suppose we will go Barnes. Or not.
Robert from Elkton
Letterkenny and Father Ted are fantastic series. But the funniest single episode ever for me goes to "The Man with Two Legs" from Coupling. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot.
I watched Coupling a while back. I need to circle back.
Zach from Jacksonville
Elvis, The O-Zone, Greg Jones and Eugene Frenette step into a room with a crown labeled "KOAGF" laying on a padded pedestal. What happens next?
This is a question with many layers. Elvis – be it Presley, Joseph or Costello – being King and O-Zone being King of All Funk makes the issue tricky enough. That's before you try to sort through former Jaguars fullback Greg Jones and the late Chuck Norris pushing the earth down as opposed to doing pushups. This is all prelude to trying to figure where former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette fits into the discussion. I'm going to stop here. Even for the dead zone, it all has become a bit silly.
Tim from Jacksonville
Are we ever going to talk football again?
Readers ask questions. I answer. That's it. That's the column.
Tym from Southside
Does Mrs. O-Zone really call it 'futbol' every time? I'm starting to gather that there might be a little embellishment going on here. Maybe not, though. To confirm my suspicion, does she also let out a single or multiple long-winded 'GOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!!' cries after either team scores?
I never, ever, ever, ever, ever have embellished anything. Nor have I repeated a joke too often, or anything of the kind. Mrs. O-Zone has been known in recent weeks to shout out an extended "Gooooooooal," although it's also true that she's increasingly a bit disenchanted with soccer – or as she ALWAYS calls it, "futbol." This is mostly because of the constant falling to and rolling on the turf at the slightest contact. I have tried to explain that it's part of the game, but she's not wrong. It's a bit annoying and is hardly the prettiest part of the Beautiful Game.
Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA
O, Since the NFL is a copycat league, many teams are now going to the multiple tight end formations. Should the Jags, or any team using this approach, be concerned that the league will now know how to successfully defend against this?
Of course this should concern teams – and defensive coordinators unquestionably spent this offseason scheming against the 12- and 13-personnel packages that will emphasize multiple tight ends around the NFL this season. I expect some of these plans to succeed next season and some to fail, with the successful approaches being copied over time and eventually working well enough across the league to force offenses to shift approaches in future seasons. This is why the NFL is a cyclical league in addition to being a copycat league. It's always evolving to some degree.
Tony from Suwanee GA
Do you think the Jaguars may have an interest in Terrion Arnold if they investigated and thought the legal problems he has may be resolved without a conviction? Jags, like most teams, could use another corner.
This is a big "if."
William from Jacksonville
We're into the Wimby finals now? Who ya got?
The Wimbledon singles finals indeed are upon us, with Karolina Muchova of Czechia and Linda Noskova of Czechia playing for the women's title Saturday – and with Jannik Sinner of Italy and Alexander Zverev of Germany playing for the men's title Sunday. I am a big fan of Muchova – who beat Coco Gauff of the United States in the semifinal. I like her creativity and perseverance, but Noskova feels like she is playing just enough better to win Saturday. I would love to see Zverev, who won the French Open last month, with a second consecutive major Sunday. But Sinner, after a heat-induced early loss at the French, is back to the dominant form that makes him the best player in the world. It's just really hard to see Sinner losing.
Colin from Fruit Cove, FL
Hey, John. Regarding the 1995 NFL draft, do you recall there being a possibility the Jaguars would take quarterback Steve McNair over left tackle Tony Boselli? With hindsight, they certainly made the right choice (though McNair had a solid career), but if that draft were to happen in 2026, I can't imagine an expansion team not taking a quarterback. Side note: Thank the Cincinnati Bengals for taking Ki-Jana Carter and gifting us our beloved big man.
The 1995 NFL Draft before the Jaguars' inaugural season was of in a different era, with the Bengals' selection of Carter the last time a running back has been selected No. 1 overall. I will be surprised if that ever happens again. Though I recall observers and fans discussing the possibility of the Jaguars selecting a quarterback No. 2 overall – McNair or Kerry Collins – the team traded for Mark Brunell before that draft. My recollection is also that most inside and close to the organization pretty much knew Boselli would be the selection at No. 2 overall for several weeks before the draft. Would an expansion team be pressured to take a quarterback now? Maybe. It's a different time. Dramatically.
John from Jacksonville
A question with no wrong answer. What are your best rock album and best live album? I'll have to go with "Layla and Other Assorted Loves Songs" recorded in less than five weeks in 1970 and "The Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East."
I don't know that I have a "best rock album" – mainly because what is and isn't a "rock album" is very subjective. If you consider London Calling by the Clash "rock," then it's probably London Calling. If you don't, then maybe I'll go with Blonde on Blonde or Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan. Or the Ramones' first album. Or This Year's Model by Elvis Costello. As for live albums … for me, it's the Ramones' It's Alive. If you have it, you almost don't need their studio stuff. Except that the early studio stuff is so good, you want that, too. Does Taylor Swift have a live album?
