The Jacksonville Jaguars

[ProjectMaximus]

Put me in the column with Apache. I don't mind them and don't think they're bad. There are some that look better and some that are worse.

[RattlerGator]

Sorry, Steve, I wasn't questioning your fanhood or anything -- just your presumption that the helmet depicts a Jaguar jumping into darkness. That seemed a bizarre interpretation of the helmet design to me, and the interpretation I gave (a Jaguar lurking behind the darkness) is what I'm pretty sure they were thinking of.

When the Jags win some games, that helmet is going to become much more popular. I don't like that alternative helmet design but I am A.O.K. with a shiny all-black helmet or shiny all-gold.

[jaxjaguar]

In the press conference that revealed the new uniforms, the lead designer stated that various parts of the uniform AND the helmets represented a jaguar hiding in the shadows.

It's reiterated several times throughout the video, but the main part can be heard at 2:40 mark.

http://www.jaguars.com/media-gallery/videos/Nike-presents-Jaguars-new-uniforms/a5a9d15d-b813-4bf5-a5aa-5c9bfd25e39c

[RattlerGator]

Much obliged, jaxjaguar -- I don't remember any of that but it makes for good viewing.

[spuwho]

NFL says Yahoo will live stream Bills - Jaguars game

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/nfl-yahoo-live-stream-bills-jaguar-game-article-1.2245111

The NFL is taking the first step on another avenue to distribute its product.

The league said Wednesday Yahoo has been selected to deliver the first-ever live stream of a game on the internet to a world-wide audience in the fall.

This "historic" event will feature Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills taking on Jacksonville on Oct. 25 in London. It will serve as a look into the NFL's future in the business of live-streaming games.

Kickoff for the game will be at 9:30 a.m. EDT and will be available only on TV in the participating teams markets.

"....We are taking another important step in that direction (of media innovation) as we continue to closely monitor the rapidly evolving digital media landscape," Roger Goodell said in a prepared statement.

Neither the NFL or Yahoo revealed the rights fee for this global stream. CBS's production crew and broadcasters will produce the game, which will be shown on Yahoo, Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Screen and Tumblr.

[I-10east]

James Sample will get surgery for a fractured arm. Luckily he'll be back during training camp.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/05/jags-fourth-rounder-james-sample-has-surgery-for-fractured-arm/

[I-10east]

Chris Clemons joins the Jags minicamp. It's no big deal for a long time vet like him to miss some involuntary stuff.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/15/chris-clemons-joins-jaguars-for-minicamp/

[BridgeTroll]

http://www.news4jax.com/sports/teal-shocker-jaxson-de-ville-retiring/33720660

Teal shocker: Jaxson de Ville retiring

From skydiving into EverBank to zip-lining across field, this cat reinvented job

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - 
The man who's given life to the Jaguars' beloved mascot for 19 years announced Tuesday morning he is hanging up his cat suit.

Curtis Dvorak said his time as Jaxson de Ville has come to an end.

The 40-year-old never missed a home game as the mascot, but he told me in an extended interview Monday that he's now ready for the next chapter of his life.

"It's time," Dvorak said. "(I've spent) 19 seasons in that building, jumping off those light towers. Even though I tell people I started when I was 10, I actually started when I got out of college. I eat a little too much Advil -- more than I should -- and I have some really cool opportunities here in town that I have been working on for a long time."

Dvorak said when he was younger, he always knew he was going to have a career in entertainment.  Growing up, he said he spent more time in the principal's office than class, but he made it to Virginia Tech, where his senior year he took over as "HokieBird."

That experience landed him the job as the Jaguars' mascot, and he's lived in a fur coat ever since. 

"I decided I could either work for a living or I can dress up and act like an idiot -- which I do anyways -- and get paid. I have always loved performing, loved making people laugh. The instant feedback from live performance, (there's) nothing better."

Dvorak didn't expect his career as Jaxson de Ville would last this long.

"I came to Jacksonville thinking I was only going to be here for a couple of years and head to the NBA because that's where most mascots go," Dvorak said. "But I fell in love with Jacksonville. I am not leaving. I play too much golf, and I like boating too much."

He said doing "dumb stuff" like swinging from the light towers in 100 degree heat has allowed him to maintain his "girlish-figure."

"Did you see some of the stuff I did? There were literally moments in the first couple of seasons where I thought it might be the shortest career ever," Dvorak said. "Here is what I am proud of: 19 seasons, 40 years old; same weight of what I started at 22."

Dvorak said some of his favorites tricks as Jaxson were BMX bike jumps at halftime, stunts off the light towers and skydiving into the stadium, which he did at least once a season for the first eight or nine years.

"There is nothing better than standing up on the light tower on game day there, especially this last year and the year before, when the stunts are right before kickoff, the anthem just happened, the energy in the building, the family is all down there, that is the coolest part," Dvorak said.

The fans Dvorak refers to as his family are why he stayed as long has he did, he said. He called the games "a 3½-hour party with 60,000 of your closest friends."

With more than 7,000 appearances, 200 games, multiple video skits and more, Dvorak said he feels he got everything he could out of his time as Jaxson and is ready for some new challenges.

He said despite ending a long chapter of his life, "the best is yet to come."

"I had the privilege and honor of raising Jaxson for 19 years," Dvorak said. "I gave him life. I had 19 years to raise him. Now it's somebody else's turn."

The Jaguars have not yet announced who will replace Dvorak as Jaxson de Ville.

[I-10east]

Someone will have big shoes to fill, and I'm not being sarcastic here. He's one of the best (I personally think the best) mascots in all of pro sports.

[fsujax]

Very surprising. I thought he maybe had a couple more years left in him. He did an awesome job.

[exnewsman]

Very surprising. I thought he maybe had a couple more years left in him. He did an awesome job.

+1

[FSBA]

God speed Curtis Dvorak

[I-10east]

The Jags released Ace Sanders.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/17/jaguars-discard-ace-sanders/

[RattlerGator]

I had such high hopes for this man and it just never quite clicked for him the way I was certain it would.

Good luck to you, Ace.

[civil42806]

That draft class is starting to look bad, verging on a major bust yet again.  Its up to Joeckle and Cyp to salvage it, but I don;t have much hope