Dear Roger Goodell..

Dear Roger Goodell,

If you ever actually read this letter, I will be amazed. For some time now, I have wanted to speak with you. However, I don't really have that kind of pull (you were in my Section at Everbank Stadium for a Thursday night game, but I wasn't able to get close for the mob of people that surrounded you. And truthfully that wasn't the time or place to say what I needed to say). I understand and am reminded daily by fans of other teams, that my team, The Jaguars, have been under-performing the last several years. I realize in the real world that that situation will not command respect from John Q. Public. I understand. What I can't understand is the lack of respect that NFL Network, NFL Honors, and other NFL entities dish upon the Jaguars. How can you protect the brand this way? You are probably asking yourself "Where is this crazy football chick going with this? What is she talking about?"

What I'm talking about is the ridicule on NFL Honors in regards to the "suggestion box" that was read aloud. And I quote "The Jaguars should have fewer games HA HA HA". I expect that from Tony Kornheiser AKA Waffle-House-Is-The-Best-Restaurant-In-Jacksonville. I don't expect that from a "league run" awards show. My question to you is, are we loathed all they way to the corporate office? NFL films? Is it the priority of NFL Network to disparage the Jaguars on a pretty regular basis? I just need to know so I can accordingly put my thick skin on. It's become winter-like at this point. Does it need to be Siberia-like? I just need to know.

The other thing is if there is so much EMPHASIS on protecting the Quarterback in a passing league, why don't you see to it all Quarterbacks are protected the same? You have allowed league leaders: The Mannings, Tom Brady, Andrew Luck protection. What's wrong with sending out Fed Ex's for the same infractions on QBs like Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, Ryan Tannehill? The lesser knowns? If anyone breathes on Tom Brady it's roughing the passer, half the distance to the goal and 1st down. Protect equally or every man for himself.

For heavens sake, why did you allow Gregg Williams back in the league? Let me guess, second chances? Please. Did you hear Renaldo Wynn imparted some knowledge this weekend that Gregg Williams had the Jaguars playbook during the 1999 AFC Championship game? Do you care? I get the whole you ain't cheatin' if you ain't tryin' bit, but C'mon man!! Gregg (with 2 G's) has to go. Stealing playbooks. Does that warrant any interest? Has it been too long? Or was Spygate more prominent because it was the Patriots?

As a fan, I would relish the opportunity to be at the NFL Combine. I realize this event is more team and player oriented and not fan oriented. However, I would be really quiet and not cheer. I just really like to watch competition. Also, unlike Browns Defensive Lineman Desmond Bryant, I would be more than happy for nosebleed seats from the NFL at the Super Bowl.

Sincerely,

MDK In The House

We Must Protect This House

An Open Letter to the Haters of the Jacksonville Jaguars

What constitutes a hater? From the Urban Dictionary: Definition of a hater-

A person that simply cannot be happy for another person's success. So rather than be happy they make a point of exposing a flaw in that person. Enter Tony Kornheiser and every other pain in the bee-hind reporter (even my beloved Mike and Mike in the Morning). Please stop hating on a city and a team that you haven't been part of and haven't spent time in. You think it can't and shouldn't happen for Jacksonville. Yeah, I'm talking about  success. Do you honestly believe we are not worthy? Do you think we are any less loyal because we are in a so-called "small market"? We have no dome. Do you have any idea what it's like to sit in 100 degree heat? And watch football? No, you don't. You sit up in New York and New England with your parkas and hot chocolate. So save your judgements and accusations for some other team. How about Phillip Rivers and that abomination of a football team of which he's supposed to be leading? Yeah let's talk about that team's lackluster season ticket sales and how "they are next" to be in L.A.!! To the residents of Duval (or Dru-val) as the case may be: This is the National Football League. Not the NCAA. NFL is the best of the best. Faster, Bigger, Stronger. Please do not insult the NFL by thinking they should be like a NCAA team. Do you know how many undefeated teams there are in the NFL right now? 1. Do you know how many teams in the NFL have gone from start to finish with no losses? 1-the 1972 Miami Dolphins. One team in almost 40 years. Please do not degrade the NFL about how you think it should be similar to the NCAA. Any given Sunday. Either you are going to win or you are going to lose. So quit comparing the success of the Gator Nation to the lack of success of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Comparing apples to oranges. Get over yourselves and realize that this city was nothing before the Jaguars and it will be nothing if they go to another city. Your apathy will assure a move to another city. We as fans haven't had much to believe in lately. But we can't give up yet. I'm not going to be the one who says if I woulda, if I shoulda, if I coulda. That's not going to be me. So, either join me or curse me. It's your choice. If you love the city we are in and if you can remember what this city was like before football came to town (and I ain't talking about Florida vs. Georgia) stand loud and stand proud: WE ARE....JAGUARS!!!!!

Things I have seen...

This blogging thing is new for me. I wanted to let everyone know about my story-how i feel and see football. Although, some may not care, I'll try to give insight from a girl's (chick's) perspective.
I am the third and last child in my family. Some even say I was the caboose. At any rate, I am much younger than my siblings. In an attempt to gain attention, I tried to like the things my family liked. I was lonely and I learned lots of interesting stuff. One of those things was football. In the eighties, Jacksonville was abuzz with trying to get in the NFL. All you would hear is "When we get an NFL team".. or "We want an NFL team NOW". Because there was no NFL team, my father always watched college football. In particular, Florida State Seminoles. He had gone to the University of Florida but for whatever reason hated them. Imagine that. He lived and breathed the Noles. He sometimes wrote letters to Bobby Bowden!? So, I began to watch FSU football. Through the years, I watched and loved the Noles through wide right and wide lefts, through disappointing seasons and 2 National Championships. Painful and prideful though it was, I loved them all the more!! How is that possible? They are MY team. They are not just my dad's or my brother's team...they are MY team. I never even saw them play live and in person until 1994, FSU vs. Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Even though I lived in Atlanta, I refused to Succumb to the UGA or GT bug.
I grew up in Jacksonville until 1991 when I moved to Atlanta. I lived there 13 yrs. and then I moved back with a new husband in tow. A Georgia Tech fan at that!!! I'll explain about boyfriends and sports teams later. When I moved back, the NFL team Jacksonville had begged for in the eighties was in full gear in 2003. I went to a game. It was OK. I didn't really understand how special it was until a couple years later and more understanding about the difference between college and professional football. I had seen "Any Given Sunday", in the theater. But I did not get the professional game until I started going to games. I became a season ticket holder for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005. As the years have gone by , I have kept my ticket (now down to 1 due to the economy). Dare I say, it's like a 3 1/2 hr. vacation on home game Sundays. ( and the Tailgating doesn't hurt either!) The Jaguars disappoint. They excel. (We will be talking about the excelling at a later date.) These things ultimately do not matter. They are still my team. The team the city hoped for all those years. I understand why people show distress towards them. Ultimately, they don't want to lose this team. Jacksonville will lose it's identity and Tony Kornheiser will be right- "the JAGS stand for Just Another Guy".