Through at least the 2020 season, EverBank Field will continue to host seven Jaguars regular season games annually, rather than eight, as we learned earlier today. With Jacksonville having extended its relationship with Wembley Stadium through 2020, with an option for five additional years, the Jags will play at least one home game per year overseas for the foreseeable future.
While that announcement wasn’t a surprise, it’s worth keeping an eye on the Jags’ schedule over the next few years to see if they spend even more time in the United Kingdom. The team is a good candidate to become the first to play two consecutive games in London — likely one as a home team and one as a road team. Additionally, once Tottenham’s new stadium opens in 2018, the Jags would look like a prime candidate to play games there as well, given owner Shad Khan’s fondness for the market.
Here’s more on Khan, the Jaguars, and some other teams from the NFL’s two South divisions:
- While Khan is disappointed with the Jaguars‘ 1-5 record to open the 2015 season, he said today that he still has “a huge amount of confidence” in GM Dave Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley, writes Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
- Texans guard Brandon Brooks, who figures to be one of the more intriguing free agents at his position in 2016, was impressed by Marshal Yanda‘s new contract with the Ravens, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “Not bad at all,” Brooks said. “He deserves it.” For his part, Brooks could end up seeking a similar deal this winter.
- Drew Brees is 36, and it’s time for the Saints to face reality and think about the future of the position, writes Pat Yasinskas of WalterFootball.com. Although Brees is coming off his best game of the season against Atlanta, Yasinskas rightly notes that there have been some signs that the veteran signal-caller is slowing down. If the Saints finish near the bottom of the league this year, they may have a chance to draft California quarterback Jared Goff, and that’s a pick that Yasinskas endorses.
- Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota didn’t take part in practice today, and head coach Ken Whisenhunt said that tomorrow’s practice will reveal a lot about the QB’s availability for Week 7 (Twitter links via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com). Reports on the severity of Mariota’s injury have varied, with some suggesting he could be sidelined for multiple weeks, while others have indicated he should play this weekend.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Despite Khan’s vote of confidence, barring a turnaround this year, Bradley’s probably a goner at season’s end. I can’t remember such an unsuccessful coach getting a fourth year with the same franchise. Caldwell shouldn’t be safe either.
The Jags are 8-30 in the Caldwell/Bradley era and the record hasn’t been deceiving (32nd in DVOA in 2013 and ’14, 27th this year). They’ve lost three in a row against teams with a combined 7-10 record – teams led by Jameis Winston, Matt Hasselbeck and Brian Hoyer. It could be four straight losses this week against the battered Bills, who are down to EJ Manuel under center. Another loss Sunday and the Jags’ alleged “progress” under their current regime will be even less obvious.
Come to find out, Bradley wasn’t the mastermind of the Legion of Boom, in Seattle. Quinn is slowly mirroring that defense in Atlanta now. Looks like the Jags went after the wrong guy..lol
I disagree…. I believe Dave and Gus will survive the season no matter what and start 2016.
Excuse or not it’s hard to just ignore the multitude of injuries to Starters in key positions.
Now I do believe one or both will lose their jobs mid season next year if they again start 1-4 or similar.