The continuing meltdown of the 2008 Jacksonville Jaguars: Out of the Fryer and into the Fire

by River City Rage on Nov 6, 2008 4:41 PM EST in News Comment 22 comments

[Note by River City Rage, 11/06/08 4:39 PM EST ]From the department of credit where it's due: Michael Wright of the Florida Times Union broke the Peterson story. Other folks aren't giving him credit for reporting it, but I certainly will. Thanks Mike for the hard work!

What. Is. Happening. In. Jacksonville. Seriously. All I want to do is enjoy my post-election-victrory hangover and instead I'm getting bombarded with emails and phone calls about the meltodwn and destruction of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not to mention the strange turn of Big Cat Country into a political blog. Which will never, ever, ever happen again.

I don't even know where to begin.

1. The Locker Room Shuffle: Justin Durant and Daryl Smith got moved out of the "linebackers corner". Unless George Wrightster is moving from tight end to linebacker, Jack Del Rio is breaking up the cliques in the locker room. Then again, Daryl Smith was moved between Matt Jones and Jerry Porter, who really inspired confidence in the seriousness of the team with their giggling and laughing during the post-game press conference. About damn time. The play of our linebackers has been a disaster from day one. Especially Mike Peterson.

Speaking of...

2. Mike Peterson's dismissal: Long story short. Mike Peterson celebrated a sack that a: was caused by the Quarterback tripping over his linemen and b: was actually credited to Derrick Harvey. He's not been with the team, and frankly, should be cut. Mike's been a distraction with his contract and will not be with the team next season. I don't see a compelling reason to keep him on the roster if he's going to be a problem in the locker room. Cut him and move on.

3. Injuries: John Henderson and Fred Taylor are more hurt than they've let on. Henderson has an MCL issue, which might help explain some of the lousy push on the defensive line.

But let's be frank. This team is cascading toward irrelevance. Jack Del Rio is secure for obvious contractual reasons, but James Harris and the rest of the front office should probably think about updating their resumes. I'm not a "fire X" kind of fan, I know how unpredictable the NFL is and that calling for someones head won't help prepare the team for playing the Lions on Sunday. That said, a team that was playoff bound during the preseason is now on the doorstep of making NFL history. The Jagaurs could very well be the first team to lose back-to-back games against winless teams.

There's a lot to muck through here. None of it is good. If you told me three months ago that by November 5th I'd be starting to think about blowing up this team and starting over, I'd laugh in your face.

The NFL. Not. For. Long.

-Chris

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Alright, Jags.com says that Peterson has been dismissed... Is he gonna play Sunday?

The article seems to hint that Peterson won’t be playing this weekend and Freddy T. addressed the issue by saying that it shouldn’t effect the rotation to much because those other guys are ready to step up.

Is Mike P really done with the Jags, or do you expect that this is a one week expulsion?

-Collin

by silencecs on Nov 6, 2008 2:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Some interesting moves

I don’t know if this is a conspiracy theory or not. Brady Quinn is starting after it is assurred he can’t make his incentives.

I think this is the week you can cut a player and not have to pay the remainder of the salary for the year. That is why the Raiders acted like they did.

Mike P is a high paid player. I wonder if this is a million dollar savings if he were cut.

I haven’t researched this much, so I could be very very wrong.

by Tkopa on Nov 6, 2008 2:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It all depends on the guarenteed salary or not.

A salary can have one of two types of Guarantees. A skill guarantee, which means that they receive all of their salary even if cut

An Injury Guarantee means that the player receives all of his salary guarenteed even if he is injured for the year. (On IR a player only receives 75% of their salary)

Hope that clears it up. I don’t think mike has either guarantee, but if cut I think he will still get his entire salary for the year.

-Collin

by silencecs on Nov 6, 2008 3:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you Collin

Mike P makes about $3 million per year. I think he knows the Jaguars are not interested in signing him again. It seems he has some issues to work out.

If Jack Del Rio doesn’t maintain control, he will lose respect and the team. I believe in Jack and think this is a major learning year for him. This will be a different team after this year.

by Tkopa on Nov 6, 2008 9:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One interesting possibility I just thought about. The Jags could feasibly suspend Peterson for actions detrimental to the team...

and dock his pay until he straightens up his act. I doubt they’ll take this approach though.

by silencecs on Nov 6, 2008 9:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're right about this being a learning process for JDR. He's still a young coach and you just know he's gonna right the ship.

This hard-line approach is about showing the players who’s boss. He got a little lax in his disipline and it’s showing. However, I think you’re seeing him adjust and take control as he should.

This team better respond this week or I think heads will ROLL.

by silencecs on Nov 6, 2008 9:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

It just seems to me that this is the last piece in the JDR learning process in building a championship team. Understanding that it can all fall apart if you are not vigilant.

This is the type of season hat burns into the coach for ever. He will not want to go back here ever again. No more Lax training camps. No more openning day losses. This will change him forever.

It is also a test for the fans. I am going to the games with mor esupport now, knowing this will all be corrected soon.

by Tkopa on Nov 6, 2008 9:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't say blow everything up yet.......................

But it’s clear that something has gone wrong. I’m even beginning to wonder if Del Rio’s job is at stake. This season has been a much larger representation of how the Jags have been since he’s been coaching. We climb up and almost reach the top then come crashing down. Whether it’s been trying to beat the Colts consistently or making it to the playoffs back to back years, things have never gotten well.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your f***in' mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Nov 6, 2008 3:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bleh hitting the Post button to soon AGAIN

As for Shack Harris, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him let go in the offseason. Ironically, outside of Mike P, what big name free agents have we signed to any affect? Hopefully this team catches fire and makes a 8-0 run to the playoffs. Hopefully the FSU Cowgirls will walk into my apartment bottles of Patron in hand.

-John

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your f***in' mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Nov 6, 2008 3:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jacks staying here probably

He has been a good coach and has a winning record. If we go less than .500 next year, he will really be on the hot seat and on the way out.

by kujo24 on Nov 6, 2008 3:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jack will stay

He is a good coach. Wayne is a good owner. We need to be good fans. Everything is on the right path to a championship season… later. After we learn this lesson, stay loyal.

by Tkopa on Nov 6, 2008 9:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tkopa you're definitely my favorite poster

I always agree with what you have to say. This is a personnel issue and it’s time for Jaguar fans to back their team through the tough year or years and we’ll wait for the problems to be fixed by an organization that has made many good decisions for the team.

by SoCalStites on Nov 7, 2008 12:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A very nice comment, thank you

by Tkopa on Nov 7, 2008 10:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Freddy T

What type of knee injury is he dealing with? I’m aware of his 2 concussions but this seems to be something new

by reems28 on Nov 6, 2008 4:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Mike P

I’m a bit surprised and disgusted about the way Mike Peterson has been acting. I always thought he would let his playing on the field speak for him, be a team leader, and not cause distractions. He understands how this league works. It’s a young man’s game.

I’m glad Del Rio is cracking down on his players even if people in the media and certain fans are starting to talk shit. What is he supposed to do? Just not care and let these guys keep dicking around? We all know the Jaguars are a better team than they’ve played lately. Something needs to be done to get them back on track.

I personally loved it when we were always the underdog/darkhorse team. We need to go back to that.

by jimbrophoto on Nov 6, 2008 5:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

By the end fo the season

We’ll be the team that ruins others chances at making the playoffs. I remember enjoying watching those games. Not as much as I enjoyed watching a playoff-run, of course. Some teams are born to dash the hopes of others. I think once we get it together this season, that will be our identity.

by Pyrofish on Nov 6, 2008 5:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

"The Spoilers"

I like that! Especially with whom we finish our schedule against. If the Colts are in a wild card contention spot, wouldn’t it be nice to be the team that just keeps them out! I could get some satisfaction from that and reduce my disappointment about the Jags not making it in, which they won’t, sorry to all of you optimists out there! I was one of you until all of the news this week about the team’s self destruction.

by jagsfanbrunell on Nov 6, 2008 5:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs