I've started several blogs, only to not finish them. Maybe my heart is not in it during the off season (like there is an off season ;-) ). It's not as if I haven't held vigil on jaguars.com waiting for the next player to re-sign or a new free agent to come to town. It's not as if I haven't been riled up about something. It's not as if I haven't threatened to do to Tallahassee what Sherman did to Atlanta. So today we'll talk about a few things. I don't hate on my own team. So, if you are looking for that, you've come to the wrong place.
Finally, there is a rebuilding process going on with the Jacksonville Jaguars that I can tolerate= modest free agency+building through the draft. FINALLY. Finally we can do things the right way. Instead of going off half cocked=signing every obscure player from a small school (which usually costs us twice as much time getting them to the level of the NFL)+dealing HUGE free agency contracts just to have players "take a vacation" in sunny, no state income tax Florida. See my blog "Is A Big Splash In Free Agency Necessary". I'm excited about the draft. But unlike many others, I have really tried to fix my attitude to this belief- This is All New Folks. We didn't just hire a new coach. We have a new owner, Shad Khan, a new coach, Gus Bradley, a new GM (YAY!! and no for sale signs were placed!!), David Caldwell, new everything. Free Agent players signing are excited. Why shouldn't we be? Why shouldn't we be excited for a new coach who wants to make everything a competition? Who has reached out to the players even before he was allowed to talk football with them? I have to trust the new system in place. And why not??!! I love my team!!!!
Speaking of coaches.....Jimbo Fisher needs some coaching up. About what you ask? I won't number them because there are many. Jimbo, don't start throwing your weight around too much. You didn't beat Florida last year and you know what that means? Your BEE-hind is on the hot seat. As well as Randy Spetman's BEE-hind. Not only for not beating Florida EVERY year but for unceremoniously taking Bobby out of the equation and for not making sure he is forever part of the game at Florida State. Do we really want to end up like Penn State? Not making it right by our legend? The man you pushed aside? Yeah. We are crazy at Florida State. We don't care about the ACC championship. We care about beating Florida EVERY year. Not just the year the game is played in Tally. Please Jimbo. Please do not waste Jameis Winston from Hueytown, Alabama. He is the best Quarterback we have. But please, let the best man win. Now, Jimbo, you lost 7 of 9 assistants. 1 of them was only employed a month. That's sad. I'm a little afraid of what that really means. Does that mean you are a head case and are hard to work for/occupy the same space with? Jimbo, this play calling thing is WAY out of hand. What's it going to take for you to give it up to someone else? And now you really probably can't because the best person to give that to is in Miami. My favorite part of that saga, Jimbo, is that you want opinions and directions/ "input" from offensive coaches DURING the game. WHHATTT????!!! Jimbo, FSU is a FOOTBALL DYNASTY. We do not operate in this manner you speak of. Let me repeat: FSU is a Football Dynasty. FSU has spent more weeks at #1 than any other team. We did that with a legend, Bobby Bowden. Jimbo, it is not merely enough to win the ACC Championship at Florida State. If Florida State won a National Championship, I'm not sure that would be enough either. We want to be feared. We want to be lauded. We want to be revered. We deserve to be. We are Florida State. And we are Unconquered.
MDK In The House.
We MUST Protect This House
Stay Calm, Wear Black
Stadium2
Showing posts with label Shad Khan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shad Khan. Show all posts
Friday, April 12, 2013
Saturday, November 10, 2012
What's a Football Chick to Do?
As I sit here, my Jacksonville Jaguars are 1-8. Who knew it could be this bad, disappointing, sad? I've tried everything. I painted my toenails different colors. I have brought The Paws. I have left The Paws. I even came up with my own slogan: Stay calm and wear black. All to no avail. So, what do I do now? Do I curse Blaine Gabbert? Do I talk incessantly about how TURRIBLE (I know I spelled it wrong) my team is? Do I long for the days of Jack Del Rio and Shack Harris because at least we were at .500? What's a die hard fan to do? I'm about to tell you what I'm going to do.
It bears repeating the history of the why of what I am about to explain. The overall state of the franchise began in decline with the NFL draft in 2008. It is widely known, understood, assumed that you build your team with the draft, not through free agency and not through waiver wires. Unfortunately, the Jaguars' 2008 NFL draft was one that I believe has contributed to the current demise. What transpired was this: the Jaguars organization "went for it". They spent 5 draft picks for 2 players, Quentin Groves and Derrick Harvey. (for all those people who say the Jaguars never pick "local-SEC,ACC-folk", both of these players were from the SEC-UF and Auburn) Neither player is still with the franchise. So that means the Jaguars wasted 7 (yes I said 7) draft picks on 2 players. Quentin groves played 2 years with Jaguars before being traded to the Raiders. Derrick Harvey played 3 seasons was benched before being traded to the Broncos. The other 3 players from the draft have all gone to other teams. These events are not news to anyone. But, you have to realize when you reach in that manner, the long term consequences are more than skin deep, they are lasting. So we are actually talking 10 players and NONE are still with the franchise (Derrick Harvey, Quentin Groves, Trae Williams, Thomas Williams, and finally Chauncey Washington +the 5 draft picks squandered to get Harvey and Groves). Once again, as I always say, I'm just a girl. I don't know much, but I know you don't trade a crap load of draft picks i.e. the future of your franchise, for 2 players.
And it's been downhill ever since. The Jaguars just haven't been able to recover and we are now feeling the full effects of an ENTIRE draft wasted. Not only that scenario, but the Saga that is Gene Smith has absolutely run its course. Gene has been part of this franchise since it's inception in 1995. I've always watched the Jaguars thinking,"We are one player away". Yeah one player away of getting rid of Gene Smith. He has had a hand in personally picking all the players. I will go on record saying I don't think it's the players fault. I believe it's possible some players don't fit "The Scheme" and are round pegs being shoved in triangular spaces. It just won't work. Gene has to go and I am willing to put for sale signs in his yard.
The question I keep asking myself is, when is this ever going to end? How long are we destined/doomed by these past failures to go season after season without winning? I have had friends on Facebook question my football judgment. "MDK, when are you going to get it? Shad Khan is moving this franchise because it sucks so bad!" Well, let me tell you. I don't quit. I don't give up. I am loyal. This is my city. I chose to move back here from Atlanta. I am a Jacksonville girl from the heart. I'm a football fan from the heart. I will not stop being a Jaguar fan. It will not happen. None of the other 31 teams are MY TEAM. If Shad Khan moves this franchise, he moves it. I can't stop him. But what I can (and everybody else, too) do, is be there support my team, and not hate. I stand with the players in solidarity.
You may ask, "Is that all you're going to do?" Um, no. When the players started wearing black jerseys, the Chicago game, and we lost that Sunday, I decided that I was going to wear black, in some fashion, either pants or shirt, until they win again. I even made my own sign for the stadium (see above). Maybe you saw it during the Colts game.
Just once, I'd like to go through an entire season without threatening to put for sale signs in an upper management's yard. Just one....
BTW: Don't get me started on that silver-football-spoon-in-his-mouth Andrew Luck whose Daddy, Oliver Luck was able to be in attendance at the Colts-Jags game Thursday night. Oh it was so sweet, said no football fan ever. If you want to know more about Andrew Luck and His DADDY please read my blog: It's Not Called the Naive Football League". Also, the 3 blown calls during the game were no mistake. All going towards Andrew's favor. Please spare me the ridiculousness and just give him a Super Bowl ring and shuffle him off with the likes of his father who never really made much of himself in the NFL. LUCK: GO AWAY!!!!!!!!
The Bitter and Always:
MDK In The House
We must protect this house.
Suck for Polian
It bears repeating the history of the why of what I am about to explain. The overall state of the franchise began in decline with the NFL draft in 2008. It is widely known, understood, assumed that you build your team with the draft, not through free agency and not through waiver wires. Unfortunately, the Jaguars' 2008 NFL draft was one that I believe has contributed to the current demise. What transpired was this: the Jaguars organization "went for it". They spent 5 draft picks for 2 players, Quentin Groves and Derrick Harvey. (for all those people who say the Jaguars never pick "local-SEC,ACC-folk", both of these players were from the SEC-UF and Auburn) Neither player is still with the franchise. So that means the Jaguars wasted 7 (yes I said 7) draft picks on 2 players. Quentin groves played 2 years with Jaguars before being traded to the Raiders. Derrick Harvey played 3 seasons was benched before being traded to the Broncos. The other 3 players from the draft have all gone to other teams. These events are not news to anyone. But, you have to realize when you reach in that manner, the long term consequences are more than skin deep, they are lasting. So we are actually talking 10 players and NONE are still with the franchise (Derrick Harvey, Quentin Groves, Trae Williams, Thomas Williams, and finally Chauncey Washington +the 5 draft picks squandered to get Harvey and Groves). Once again, as I always say, I'm just a girl. I don't know much, but I know you don't trade a crap load of draft picks i.e. the future of your franchise, for 2 players.
And it's been downhill ever since. The Jaguars just haven't been able to recover and we are now feeling the full effects of an ENTIRE draft wasted. Not only that scenario, but the Saga that is Gene Smith has absolutely run its course. Gene has been part of this franchise since it's inception in 1995. I've always watched the Jaguars thinking,"We are one player away". Yeah one player away of getting rid of Gene Smith. He has had a hand in personally picking all the players. I will go on record saying I don't think it's the players fault. I believe it's possible some players don't fit "The Scheme" and are round pegs being shoved in triangular spaces. It just won't work. Gene has to go and I am willing to put for sale signs in his yard.
The question I keep asking myself is, when is this ever going to end? How long are we destined/doomed by these past failures to go season after season without winning? I have had friends on Facebook question my football judgment. "MDK, when are you going to get it? Shad Khan is moving this franchise because it sucks so bad!" Well, let me tell you. I don't quit. I don't give up. I am loyal. This is my city. I chose to move back here from Atlanta. I am a Jacksonville girl from the heart. I'm a football fan from the heart. I will not stop being a Jaguar fan. It will not happen. None of the other 31 teams are MY TEAM. If Shad Khan moves this franchise, he moves it. I can't stop him. But what I can (and everybody else, too) do, is be there support my team, and not hate. I stand with the players in solidarity.
You may ask, "Is that all you're going to do?" Um, no. When the players started wearing black jerseys, the Chicago game, and we lost that Sunday, I decided that I was going to wear black, in some fashion, either pants or shirt, until they win again. I even made my own sign for the stadium (see above). Maybe you saw it during the Colts game.
Just once, I'd like to go through an entire season without threatening to put for sale signs in an upper management's yard. Just one....
BTW: Don't get me started on that silver-football-spoon-in-his-mouth Andrew Luck whose Daddy, Oliver Luck was able to be in attendance at the Colts-Jags game Thursday night. Oh it was so sweet, said no football fan ever. If you want to know more about Andrew Luck and His DADDY please read my blog: It's Not Called the Naive Football League". Also, the 3 blown calls during the game were no mistake. All going towards Andrew's favor. Please spare me the ridiculousness and just give him a Super Bowl ring and shuffle him off with the likes of his father who never really made much of himself in the NFL. LUCK: GO AWAY!!!!!!!!
The Bitter and Always:
MDK In The House
We must protect this house.
Suck for Polian
Saturday, July 28, 2012
People..It's Training Camp
Today, I went to my first Training Camp practice of the 2012 season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was HOT!! I was excited to See Blaine Gabbert, Rashad Jennings, Laurent Robinson to name a few. I was disappointed Maurice Jones-Drew aka Pocket Hercules and Justin Blackmon were not in attendance. I really try to be objective and not take a side between owners and players, but I can't help but wonder what will come of the Jones-Drew holdout situation. It never bodes well for a player to hold out and miss training camp. For example, Chris Johnson, Running Back Tennessee Titans. He held out until September 1. He only had 4 touchdowns the whole season. He averaged 4 yards per carry. He had the fewest first downs in the 4 yrs. he played. By all accounts, not a successful season. If Jones-drew holds out til the end of training camp, it could happen to him too. Or even worse. I've actually heard whispers of him being traded. Owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Shad Khan, has said Jones-Drew has 2 yrs. left on his contract and will not give him a new deal. Not to mention fantasy football implications. I might've jinxed the whole situation. At the end of last season, I said "With all of the new changes going on with the Jaguars, I don't care if they get rid of the entire team, except Jones-Drew and Scobee." Of course I didn't actually mean it. Losing makes you think desperate things. So, let's hope something happens and soon.
Justin Blackmon, Justin Blackmon, Justin Blackmon. The excitement of the draft pick!! The letdown of the DUI. The letdown of him not being at training camp. I think he's pretty ballsy to think it's OK to miss training camp because he has no deal. Dude, you are on your second DUI. You lose bargaining capability when you act like a reckless teenager. GET TO CAMP!!!! Has anyone seen the movie "Jerry Maguire"? Unfortunately, many of the quotes from that movie rule my life (that will be covered in another blog), but one of my favorite is when Kelly Preston, who plays Jerry Maguire's fiancee, is helping him figure out his next course of action after losing his job as a sports agent. He decides to open his own agency. However, most of the clients he had at the big firm wouldn't come with him. He is down to 2: Rod Tidwell, an aging, primadonna wide receiver who needs a new contract with the Arizona cardinals and a rookie, Frank Cushman, about to go to Number 1 overall in the NFL draft. Kelly Preston says "Cushman saves all". Justin Blackmon (could) saves all. It could happen. The Jaguars could go from the worst passing team (relative obscurity)in the NFL to the best. But it can't be done without our first round draft pick, Justin Blackmon. Justin, please come to camp.
So anyway. You guys don't know much about me. I'm 5'0" tall and I'm pretty quiet and shy but you wouldn't know that from what you read here. None of my friends went to training camp today. So I was flying solo. I had to find my way to the front of the plastic fence that surrounds the practice field. I must say that was no easy feat. I was surrounded by people and a few kids. I was entranced by watching the wide receivers and the tight ends catch balls from the 4 quarterbacks. I was looking for miscues and dropped balls and there were some. And, you know maybe I'm just too amateurish and I don't know what I see (insert eye roll here).The Tight Ends were catching balls being thrown and the testosterone around me kept saying "oh he boggled that ball" "oh he almost didn't have that one". Seriously??!! They were "catching" the balls. I COULD NOT SEE ANY boggling. I really hate haters. It's freaking Training Camp. The guys aren't even in pads. During part of the practice, they took their helmets off. It's not even close to being the real thing and it's the second day of practice!!!! Totally new offense with Mike Mularkey. And these haters are talking about Boggling? Get a hold of yourselves testosterone!!!
Yes I know. I have an entire gallon of Kool-Aid in my fridge. I drink it every day. I don't care. I'm All In.
MDK in the House
We must protect this house.
P.S. I had an opportunity to go to the Jaguars Women's Football Clinic on Wednesday of this past week. It was fun and educational for someone like me who LOVES football. I was surprised to find out there are women's flag football teams in Jacksonville. I got to try field goal kicking, defensive drills, wide receiving, throwing, 20 yd dash, and vertical leap to name a few. Here is a picture of yours truly performing the Vertical Leap. Can you tell I LOVE to watch the NFL Combine??!!
Justin Blackmon, Justin Blackmon, Justin Blackmon. The excitement of the draft pick!! The letdown of the DUI. The letdown of him not being at training camp. I think he's pretty ballsy to think it's OK to miss training camp because he has no deal. Dude, you are on your second DUI. You lose bargaining capability when you act like a reckless teenager. GET TO CAMP!!!! Has anyone seen the movie "Jerry Maguire"? Unfortunately, many of the quotes from that movie rule my life (that will be covered in another blog), but one of my favorite is when Kelly Preston, who plays Jerry Maguire's fiancee, is helping him figure out his next course of action after losing his job as a sports agent. He decides to open his own agency. However, most of the clients he had at the big firm wouldn't come with him. He is down to 2: Rod Tidwell, an aging, primadonna wide receiver who needs a new contract with the Arizona cardinals and a rookie, Frank Cushman, about to go to Number 1 overall in the NFL draft. Kelly Preston says "Cushman saves all". Justin Blackmon (could) saves all. It could happen. The Jaguars could go from the worst passing team (relative obscurity)in the NFL to the best. But it can't be done without our first round draft pick, Justin Blackmon. Justin, please come to camp.
So anyway. You guys don't know much about me. I'm 5'0" tall and I'm pretty quiet and shy but you wouldn't know that from what you read here. None of my friends went to training camp today. So I was flying solo. I had to find my way to the front of the plastic fence that surrounds the practice field. I must say that was no easy feat. I was surrounded by people and a few kids. I was entranced by watching the wide receivers and the tight ends catch balls from the 4 quarterbacks. I was looking for miscues and dropped balls and there were some. And, you know maybe I'm just too amateurish and I don't know what I see (insert eye roll here).The Tight Ends were catching balls being thrown and the testosterone around me kept saying "oh he boggled that ball" "oh he almost didn't have that one". Seriously??!! They were "catching" the balls. I COULD NOT SEE ANY boggling. I really hate haters. It's freaking Training Camp. The guys aren't even in pads. During part of the practice, they took their helmets off. It's not even close to being the real thing and it's the second day of practice!!!! Totally new offense with Mike Mularkey. And these haters are talking about Boggling? Get a hold of yourselves testosterone!!!
Yes I know. I have an entire gallon of Kool-Aid in my fridge. I drink it every day. I don't care. I'm All In.
MDK in the House
We must protect this house.
P.S. I had an opportunity to go to the Jaguars Women's Football Clinic on Wednesday of this past week. It was fun and educational for someone like me who LOVES football. I was surprised to find out there are women's flag football teams in Jacksonville. I got to try field goal kicking, defensive drills, wide receiving, throwing, 20 yd dash, and vertical leap to name a few. Here is a picture of yours truly performing the Vertical Leap. Can you tell I LOVE to watch the NFL Combine??!!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
It's Us Jaguar Fans Against the World
The last several days in Jacksonville have been interesting. The Alvin Brown vs. Shad Khan showdown was quite the entertainment none of us needed. Personally, I believe most of the hate and vehemence should be aimed at Wayne Weaver and Jack Del Rio for selling us a less than viable product for the last several years. I respect Wayne Weaver for bringing the Jaguars. But I believe the venom that is spewed toward Jacksonville, its team and fans is largely a result of Wayne Weaver not firing Jack Del Rio in a timely fashion. Like after the 2007 season. Because the Jaguars have not seen a playoff game or a better than 8-8 season in five years or so, they have become an easy target to the media. Easy Pickins as we call it in the south.
This week we had the crown jewel of events go down. After a very successful soccer match between the US and Scotland (if it's not Scottish it's crap), Jacksonville was riding high. The Jaguars submitted their pick for management of the stadium and facilities to the City of Jacksonville. The city promptly sends Shad Khan a letter saying, the decision was to be made jointly (which is not what the contract says. The Mayor just made it up. The Jaguars have the final say in who manages the stadium) and because it hadn't, the Jaguars and Shad Khan were in default in regards to their contract with the city. Rumor has it, that a management group who donated to Alvin Brown's Campaign for Mayor, was not given as big of a chance as they would've liked. Shad Khan responds with a "let me know what you want to do because I have a training camp that's supposed to take place in July and I need to know if I need to move the team to another city". Thank you Alvin Brown. I now have nightmares of Mayflower moving trucks driving down Bay Street, in the middle of the night, moving the team to the other end of I-10 (L.A.) ala Baltimore Colts to the Indianapolis Colts. Shad Khan does not play people. He spent 700 million dollars for his dream and he doesn't care about some podunk bull crap over picking the same management firm to run the stadium that's been running it for 18 years. Jacksonville doesn't even have a Mayoral Mansion.
The result of all of this was something I thought we might have put to bed. However, it is back with a vengeance. The media is now all over the Jaguars to L.A. story. It's very frustrating as a fan to listen and read all of that nonsense. I'm truly over it. Find a real story somewhere else and if you can't do that, please be quiet. That's as nice as it's going to get.
On a recent trip to Chicago, I wore a Jaguars sweatshirt on the plane (As a matter of fact, I make it a point to wear Jaguars gear all the time but especially when I fly into Chicago. You know because just because my franchise isn't a "storied" franchise, that doesn't make me any less of a fan.) I also had a Jaguar shirt under it. Did I mention I had my toenails painted Teal? It's the off season. Why am I still wearing my gear? Because I want to and because of all this nonsense about L.A. I'm sick of it. I'm not especially fond of the color teal, but I have all but made it my travel uniform. People have to know out there that there are real Jaguar fans. They are Season Ticket Holders. They sweat to death watching in the stadium on Sundays. I can't believe I'm going to say this, Jaguar fans have feelings too. And we get really mad when people keep dissing us.We don't appreciate people talking crap about us constantly. I have been a season ticket holder since 2005. Did you know we've been rebuilding since 2005? I'm still here and I'm still going to travel in Jaguars gear. Am I drinking the Kool-Aid? Quite possibly. But I still believe. Winning silences naysayers. Winning solves everything.
MDK in the House
We must protect this house.
This week we had the crown jewel of events go down. After a very successful soccer match between the US and Scotland (if it's not Scottish it's crap), Jacksonville was riding high. The Jaguars submitted their pick for management of the stadium and facilities to the City of Jacksonville. The city promptly sends Shad Khan a letter saying, the decision was to be made jointly (which is not what the contract says. The Mayor just made it up. The Jaguars have the final say in who manages the stadium) and because it hadn't, the Jaguars and Shad Khan were in default in regards to their contract with the city. Rumor has it, that a management group who donated to Alvin Brown's Campaign for Mayor, was not given as big of a chance as they would've liked. Shad Khan responds with a "let me know what you want to do because I have a training camp that's supposed to take place in July and I need to know if I need to move the team to another city". Thank you Alvin Brown. I now have nightmares of Mayflower moving trucks driving down Bay Street, in the middle of the night, moving the team to the other end of I-10 (L.A.) ala Baltimore Colts to the Indianapolis Colts. Shad Khan does not play people. He spent 700 million dollars for his dream and he doesn't care about some podunk bull crap over picking the same management firm to run the stadium that's been running it for 18 years. Jacksonville doesn't even have a Mayoral Mansion.
The result of all of this was something I thought we might have put to bed. However, it is back with a vengeance. The media is now all over the Jaguars to L.A. story. It's very frustrating as a fan to listen and read all of that nonsense. I'm truly over it. Find a real story somewhere else and if you can't do that, please be quiet. That's as nice as it's going to get.
On a recent trip to Chicago, I wore a Jaguars sweatshirt on the plane (As a matter of fact, I make it a point to wear Jaguars gear all the time but especially when I fly into Chicago. You know because just because my franchise isn't a "storied" franchise, that doesn't make me any less of a fan.) I also had a Jaguar shirt under it. Did I mention I had my toenails painted Teal? It's the off season. Why am I still wearing my gear? Because I want to and because of all this nonsense about L.A. I'm sick of it. I'm not especially fond of the color teal, but I have all but made it my travel uniform. People have to know out there that there are real Jaguar fans. They are Season Ticket Holders. They sweat to death watching in the stadium on Sundays. I can't believe I'm going to say this, Jaguar fans have feelings too. And we get really mad when people keep dissing us.We don't appreciate people talking crap about us constantly. I have been a season ticket holder since 2005. Did you know we've been rebuilding since 2005? I'm still here and I'm still going to travel in Jaguars gear. Am I drinking the Kool-Aid? Quite possibly. But I still believe. Winning silences naysayers. Winning solves everything.
MDK in the House
We must protect this house.
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