The Jaguars signed a four-year agreement in 2012 to play one home game per year in the city of London from 2013-16. That deal is half over, but the Jags’ foothold in England is unlikely to slip anytime soon. When the team travels to London to play in October, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union expects Jags owner Shad Khan to announce a new four-year agreement. If it’s the same as their current accord and begins in 2017, it would mean one Jags home game in the U.K. through 2020.
The venue could eventually change from Wembley Stadium to Tottenham’s new stadium when it opens in London in 2018, notes O’Halloran, though the latter is expected to hold at least 22,000 fewer fans. That would mean less revenue for the Jags, but Tottenham’s stadium will have an artificial playing surface – which holds up better for American football than the natural grass at Wembley.
Here’s what else is happening around the NFL:
- Arbitrator Harold Henderson’s decision to reduce Cowboys pass rusher Greg Hardy‘s suspension for domestic violence from 10 games to four games is getting panned nationally, notes the Dallas Morning News. One sampling, courtesy of National Organization for Women president Terry O’Neill: “What’s very very sad is that nothing has come out of the NFL that indicates a real commitment to ending the violence-against-women problem that they have in the NFL.”
- The 49ers had a hectic offseason highlighted by several key departures and some noteworthy additions, and quarterback Colin Kaepernick thinks the changes will ultimately serve the team well. “A lot of new faces in the locker room and a lot of new coaches. I think the changes are for the good,” Kaepernick told the Nevada Appeal, according to CSNBayArea.com. “I feel people are writing us off, but for us, that’s all right.”
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap took a look at three wide receivers who, in his opinion, have the worst contracts at their position. The list consists of a trio of big names, with two being potential Hall of Famers.
Some interesting names from Jason for his worst WR contracts. It definitely makes sense that guys like Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald would make the cut, considering how much guaranteed money they’re getting and how big their cap hits are. But at least you’re probably still getting All-Star-type production from them.
As far as smaller WR investments go, I’d put a couple recent signings – Eddie Royal and Dwayne Harris – on my list of worst deals. But their salaries are so much smaller that if they even exceed expectations for a single season or two, those contracts could pay off.