The Jacksonville Jaguars

[Adam White]

I'm well aware of how expensive London is.  I think the players were hustled.  The savvy owner knew he could charge them whatever and with a game the next day they could settle for a big payday.  This goes on all over the world, not just London.  For what it's worth, I don't know why these guys were out partying at 4 am the night before a game.  I bet they ordered a few hundred quid worth of drinks and the bar's management ran up their tab.  Must have been a shock to 4 guys who are used to their bar tabs being much lower at Wacko's.

Uh...I was joking. I would've thought the Simms-baiting 'haircut' comment made it clear enough.

In any event, I am not sure the owner of the club was hustling them anymore than he or she hustles the idiots who are willing to pay those sorts of prices. Of course, being a mere pleb, I've no idea how clubs like this operate.

[Snaketoz]

I'm well aware of how expensive London is.  I think the players were hustled.  The savvy owner knew he could charge them whatever and with a game the next day they could settle for a big payday.  This goes on all over the world, not just London.  For what it's worth, I don't know why these guys were out partying at 4 am the night before a game.  I bet they ordered a few hundred quid worth of drinks and the bar's management ran up their tab.  Must have been a shock to 4 guys who are used to their bar tabs being much lower at Wacko's.

Uh...I was joking. I would've thought the Simms-baiting 'haircut' comment made it clear enough.

In any event, I am not sure the owner of the club was hustling them anymore than he or she hustles the idiots who are willing to pay those sorts of prices. Of course, being a mere pleb, I've no idea how clubs like this operate.

Sorry.  Your comment zinged right over my head.  I'm sure they hustle everyone they can.  There is a term for this, but I can't remember it.  It big with some Russian owned bars in NY.  Many times a female shill in cahoots with the owners coax the "marks" to buy expensive drinks and to add many drinks unknown to the credit card holder.  Probably something on that order in London.  Glad I can trust the people at Main and 6th.

[Adam White]

I'm well aware of how expensive London is.  I think the players were hustled.  The savvy owner knew he could charge them whatever and with a game the next day they could settle for a big payday.  This goes on all over the world, not just London.  For what it's worth, I don't know why these guys were out partying at 4 am the night before a game.  I bet they ordered a few hundred quid worth of drinks and the bar's management ran up their tab.  Must have been a shock to 4 guys who are used to their bar tabs being much lower at Wacko's.

Uh...I was joking. I would've thought the Simms-baiting 'haircut' comment made it clear enough.

In any event, I am not sure the owner of the club was hustling them anymore than he or she hustles the idiots who are willing to pay those sorts of prices. Of course, being a mere pleb, I've no idea how clubs like this operate.

Sorry.  Your comment zinged right over my head.  I'm sure they hustle everyone they can.  There is a term for this, but I can't remember it.  It big with some Russian owned bars in NY.  Many times a female shill in cahoots with the owners coax the "marks" to buy expensive drinks and to add many drinks unknown to the credit card holder.  Probably something on that order in London.  Glad I can trust the people at Main and 6th.

What you describe sounds like a 'clip joint'. Those supposedly still operate in Soho (or so I have read). But they are waaaaay more downmarket than the club these guys were at.

[ProjectMaximus]

I'm well aware of how expensive London is.  I think the players were hustled.  The savvy owner knew he could charge them whatever and with a game the next day they could settle for a big payday.  This goes on all over the world, not just London.  For what it's worth, I don't know why these guys were out partying at 4 am the night before a game.  I bet they ordered a few hundred quid worth of drinks and the bar's management ran up their tab.  Must have been a shock to 4 guys who are used to their bar tabs being much lower at Wacko's.

Somewhat insignificant detail but just to correct you it was 4am on Saturday morning, so two nights before the game. Apparently the Jags had no curfew that night, although the Eagles did.

And yeah, high end bars/clubs have a minimum spend for VIP so it's entirely possible they didn't order that much but still got charged a lot. I haven't read that that happened at all, just saying it's possible.

[copperfiend]

Not a whole lot to say on the field.

Bortles just isn't good enough. They can't run the ball. The receivers have too many drops. And when they are catching it, they are getting taunting penalties or fumbling. The offensive line is atrocious. A line that features one of the league's highest paid guards and centers.

The defense played good at times. But the pass rush disappeared in the second half. And that was mostly against backups at both tackle positions. And how many times is this team going to have defenders out of position with opposing receivers running wide open downfield. Or end up with a huge mismatch like a linebacker covering a receiver or an undrafted corner covering one of the top tight ends in the league.

Just an absolute trainwreck all around. The team will be lucky to get to 5-11.

[Wacca Pilatka]

It's hard to argue with very much of Copperfiend's assessment right now, but

1) I have no clue why taunting was called on Westbrook - what'd I miss?
2) I think an undrafted corner was covering Ertz not because the Jaguars thought this was a brilliant plan, but because of being severely depleted with the secondary injuries.

One can only hope that the bye and better health (e.g., the return of Bouye, and the fact that a couple of the offensive linemen seem to be playing hurt) will help the team get its house in order, and having four division games down the stretch certainly means the brass ring is still there. 

But it's hard to be optimistic given that the shambles of a left tackle situation could be the finger on the button shutting the entire operation down.  Having a turnstile there means having to keep tight ends and backs in to chip, limiting any sort of imagination the offense can deploy.  It was encouraging that they found some semblance of a rhythm in the second half on Sunday, I guess, but it's hard to imagine that being a sustainable approach.  Then, of course, less effective offense means defense left on the field more and worn out, etc. etc.

In the Jaguars' defense, no team has a dandy option at third string left tackle and few would hold up well under those circumstances.  See, e.g., the game where Tyron Smith was out last year and Dallas went completely to pieces and let Adrian Clayborn get 6000 sacks.  The fact that Jacksonville has a serviceable second string left tackle in Wells is better than a lot of teams can say.  It's cold comfort now.

[Wacca Pilatka]

P.S. congrats to SMM on yet another championship

[Snaketoz]

P.S. congrats to SMM on yet another championship

This calls for a rippah. That was wicked good. Pahk your cah and have a tonic.

[ProjectMaximus]

1) I have no clue why taunting was called on Westbrook - what'd I miss?
2) I think an undrafted corner was covering Ertz not because the Jaguars thought this was a brilliant plan, but because of being severely depleted with the secondary injuries.

1) I don't really know either...the only thing I could imagine was if he tossed the ball onto the defender on the ground. But it was hard to really see.

2) It was insane. AJ Bouye out. DJ Hayden out. Tyler Patmon out. Quenton Meeks did a pretty good job (except for holding onto interceptions) and then he went out. Right before the TD I told my dad I don't think Tre Herndon has seen any regular season action and they're probably gonna pick on him.

[MusicMan]

Seems they traded former No 3 Overall pick Dante Fowler Jr to the Rams.

[JaxJersey-licious]

Dante Fowler to the Rams for draft picks. So much for team identity...

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2791985-report-jaguars-trade-dante-fowler-to-rams-in-exchange-for-3rd-5th-round-picks

[pierre]

Personally, I am surprised they were able to get a 3rd and a 5th for Fowler.

He's done next to nothing here, can't stay out of trouble, and appears to be a less than ideal teammate.

[KenFSU]

^4th and a 6th is probably a more realistic way to look at it.

Sad to see him go, but it was probably inevitable at the end of the year.

[pierre]

^4th and a 6th is probably a more realistic way to look at it.

Sad to see him go, but it was probably inevitable at the end of the year.

Not really. Sure it's likely to be near the end of the rounds. But before the compensatory picks that are added to the end of the round.

[KenFSU]

^Good point!