The Jacksonville Jaguars

[BridgeTroll]

Its just a flesh wound...

https://www.youtube.com/v/zKhEw7nD9C4

[BridgeTroll]

A perspective from the Green Bay Press Gazette on the first game of the season...

http://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2016/06/29/packers-feel-heat-hungry-jaguars/86468970/

Packers to feel heat from hungry Jaguars
Ryan Wood, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin 11:01 a.m. EDT June 29, 2016

Get ready to beat the heat.

The Green Bay Packers will feel plenty of it — along with high humidity — when they travel to Florida for their Sept. 11 opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In a perfect world, that Sunday afternoon would provide an overcast day with unseasonably cool temperatures.

Instead, the Packers most likely will have to deal with temperatures pushing 90 degrees. The average high in Jacksonville for the month of September is 86.1 degrees.

Related: Packers to open season at Jaguars, Vikings

It's something for coach Mike McCarthy to keep in mind as he prepares his team throughout training camp. The benefit, perhaps, is the Packers will play the Jaguars fresh out of the most grueling time of their calendar year. Average highs in Green Bay for the month of August are 78.5 degrees.

The climate change would've been more extreme in November, where average highs are 42 degrees in Green Bay and 72 in Jacksonville. In theory, a November trip to Jacksonville could have presented a worst-case scenario in which the Packers practiced in the 30s all week only to play in an unseasonably warm 80 degrees down south.

They will not have to face that kind of adjustment, but beating the heat is still the biggest challenge as the Packers prepare for their opener.

Here are three things to know about the Jaguars.

» A long stretch of futility: It's good to be spoiled in the NFL. It's good to gripe about the Packers not returning to the Super Bowl in five, going on six years. Because the alternative is much worse. The alternative is the Jaguars, a team that hasn't been to the conference championship game since the first month of this millennium. They've won only one playoff game since 2000, with two postseason appearances. Their lone win came in 2007, and they haven't been back to the playoffs since. Bottom line, it's been a while since the Jaguars played a meaningful December game, much less January.

» Big-play Bortles? There are plenty of aspects in Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles' game that need refining. Start with his 18 interceptions, most in the NFL last season. Take his 58.6 completion percentage, which ranked 31st. But with a team starved for any decent play at the quarterback position — seriously, their previous three starters were Chad Henne, Blaine Gabbert and Luke McCown — Bortles also showed enticing potential. He had 35 touchdowns (tied for second in NFL) and 4,428 yards (seventh) in only his second season. As he grows, the rough spots in Bortles' game should start to smooth out. There's a chance he could be the franchise quarterback Jacksonville has been desperate to find.

» Not the Packer Way: Desperation is the key word in Jacksonville, and not just at the quarterback position. The franchise yearns to be relevant. Their desperation turned into aggressiveness on the part of general manager David Caldwell this offseason. Caldwell committed $64 million guaranteed (as much as $153.5 total) in signing defensive tackle Malik Jackson, safety Tashaun Gipson and running back Chris Ivory in free agency this spring. Compare that to Packers GM Ted Thompson's big — actually, his only — free-agent splash, signing tight end Jared Cook to a one-year deal worth $2.75 million with only $825,000 guaranteed. If the Jaguars typically win free agency, the Packers win the regular season. Caldwell hopes that's about to change for his team, which scored big in the draft, landing coveted cornerback Jalen Ramsey and outside linebacker Myles Jack.

Packers schedule glimpse

Sept. 11 at Jacksonville, noon, Fox

Week before: Preseason finale vs. Chiefs, Sept. 1

Week after: at Vikings, Sept. 18

On the horizon: Home opener vs. Lions, Sept. 25

Full 2016 Packers schedule

Jacksonville Jaguars

Coach: Gus Bradley (12-36, fourth season).

2015 record: 5-11, third AFC South.

Scoring offense: 23.5 points per game (18th in NFL).

Total offense: 348.8 yards per game (18th).

Scoring defense: 28 points allowed per game (31st).

Total defense: 375 yards allowed per game (24th).

Series: Packers lead 3-2.

Last meeting: It was closer than expected, but the Packers beat the Jaguars 24-15 on Oct. 28, 2012, at Lambeau Field. They led only 14-12 at halftime and needed 10 points in the fourth quarter to avoid what would have been a major upset. With receiver Greg Jennings injured, there was a big-play element missing from the Packers' offense. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made enough plays to win, completing 22 of 35 passes for 186 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Rodgers' 4-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver early in the fourth quarter was the difference.

rwood@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ByRyanWood.

[pierre]

The heat will be no joke. I know it has not meant much in recent years as the team has been terrible. But I remember a Super Bowl team in Seattle wilted in the heat in 2005. The key is to move the chains and keep their defense on the field. I would expect a lot of Yeldon and Ivory that day.

[BridgeTroll]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/07/05/denard-robinson-found-asleep-in-car-after-driving-into-pond/

Denard Robinson found asleep in car after driving into pond

Posted by Josh Alper on July 5, 2016, 8:38 PM EDT

Jaguars running back Denard Robinson's July 4 weekend took a turn for the worse early on Sunday when the car he was driving took a turn into a retention pond.

The Florida Times-Union reports that Robinson was found asleep behind the wheel of a car by police responding to reports about a car crashing into a pond early on Sunday morning. Neither Robinson nor his passenger were hurt.

Per the responding officer, Robinson woke up and then went back to sleep after a knock on the window before eventually being roused from his slumber. The police report adds that both Robinson and the other passenger were reluctant to exit the vehicle despite the officer telling them that the car was sinking into the pond.

According to the report, Robinson was screened by two officers and found not to be intoxicated. In a post to Twitter, Robinson indicated that he fell asleep at the wheel.

"I just wanted to let everyone know that I was involved in a single-car accident on Saturday night, and thankfully, everyone was safe and remained unharmed," Robinson said. "I thank God every single day for the opportunities he has presented me with and I'm grateful every morning to wake up healthy. I should not have been driving that late or when I was that tired, but again, I'm just glad that everyone was safe. God Bless."

The Jaguars said in a statement that they were aware of the accident and are "thankful" no one was injured.

[Westside Guy]

I'm inclined to believe that Denard fell asleep at the wheel. If he was in any way intoxicated or high, he would have been charged already. Especially on the 4th of July weekend. Plus Denard is a great guy who has never been in any trouble in college or the NFL. If it were another player on the team who has a history of off the field issues, I would be more skeptical, but I'm will to give Denard the benefit of the doubt.  Yes he made a big mistake driving when he was too tired to do so, but he didn't hurt anyone, came away without any injuries to himself or the passenger, and I think learned his lesson.

[Steve]

^Because someone says they talked to someone?

[Steve]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/17121960/greg-hardy-works-jacksonville-jaguars-team-no-plans-sign-source-says

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

^Because someone says they talked to someone?

If Hardy was not here, I would have expected a denial by the Jags by now.

As someone who gives this organization thousands of dollars a year, I have chosen to express my displeasure with them considering signing someone who beat the shit out of a woman. I realize he can sack the QB and for many, it does not matter. To me it does. That is all.

I totally agree and disagree with you at the same time.

Yes.  I believe Hardy to be a POS and that he should never play another down in the NFL.  If the team were to actually sign him I would sincerely hope that the fans' voice was loud enough for them to void the contract.

On the other hand, he is a proven player and the team would be doing themselves a disservice by not at least kicking the tires so to speak.  He's a free agent and could bring a much needed, immediate impact to the defense.

Do other companies hire people with past records?  Sure they do, especially if that person brings immediate impact to the company's bottom line.   We lose sight of that due to the high-profile nature of the NFL.

[KenFSU]

Jags weren't/aren't making him the face of the franchise, just scoping out an unsigned athlete.

Nothing wrong with a little due-diligence.

[Steve]

^Amen. I guess it's a different point of view. I have two club seats (So I understand giving the Jags thousands of dollars annually), but I see nothing wrong with this. Heck, the entire purpose of the workout could be to compare to their current roster.

If a contract is signed, I think people would have a bigger complaint.

[johnnyliar]

It has been widely reported that the Jags brought in Greg Hardy for a visit and I have never been more disgusted as a long time Jaguars season ticket holder. I have contacted the Jaguars and let my feelings known and I encourage anyone who feels the same to do so as well. Yeah, I know it is probably pointless, but as fans we have to take some responsibility for this garbage.

I have lost respect for the entire organization and am just hoping they come to their senses.

Holy overreaction Batman!

[thelakelander]

Lol, you could probably shut down the Jags, the entire NFL and every other sports league if fans revolt against wife beaters, drunks, drug addicts, criminals, etc. being on their rosters. Sports are played to win, not peach and deliver morality.

[Tacachale]

Lol, you could probably shut down the Jags, the entire NFL and every other sports league if fans revolt against wife beaters, drunks, drug addicts, criminals, etc. being on their rosters. Sports are played to win, not peach and deliver morality.

Says the Miami Canes fan.

[thelakelander]

Well it was the famed Jimmy Johnson who once said he'd hire Charles Manson if he ran a 4.0 in the 40.

[funwithteeth]

I'm a Sports Consumer taking a stand on violence against women! Hilarious!

I think you can both do this and recognize people who have engaged in abhorrent behavior still have a right to employment.

That said, I'd be happy if Greg Hardy never played professionally again.