NFL Wants Wireless For All Fans
There are some NFL owners meetings going on this week, which means everyone is all in one place, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. One of the things the NFL is looking to do soon is make the game day experience better for the fans, which is always a good thing.
One of the ideas is to make wifi accessible to all fans in the stadium.
"We believe that it is important to get technology into our stadiums," Goodell said at a press conference on Tuesday. "We have made the point repeatedly that the experience at home is outstanding, and we have to compete with that in some fashion by making sure that we create the same kind of environment in our stadiums and create the same kind of technology. ...
"We want to make sure our fans, when they come into stadiums, don't have to shut down."
I'm sure most of you have felt the frustration of trying to send a text or tweet from the stands, only to have the cell signal jammed with 50,000 cell phones. This would be a much welcomed addition.
Blaine Gabbert's Footwork Already Improving
We all know one of the big issues with quarterback Blaine Gabbert is his footwork in the pocket. Gabbert doesn't always seem to set his feet when he throws, can take a bad stride, and/or doesn't keep his shoulders level. He's been working with the coaching staff this season on working out those kinks, because we've seen when he does it right he can make some great throws.
Gabbert has been drilling keeping his shoulders level in his drop back and throw. At times last year he would dip his shoulder when throwing the ball which effects accuracy. Gabbert has also seemed to already correct something in his stride, as noted by color analyst Jeff Lageman on Jaguars This Week Wednesday night.
Shockingly enough, Gabbert is improving as he has time to work on the mechanical flaws the coaches want fixed. Imagine that?
Justin Blackmon, Andre Branch Begin Contract Negotiations
Some NFL teams already have their entire rookie classes under contract already and others have just begun rolling in the contracts. The Jacksonville Jaguars on the other hand haven't signed any draft picks to a contract yet, but should be doing so rather soon. The team has opened up negotiations with first-round pick Justing Blackmon and second-round pick Andre Branch according to a report by Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union.
Talks that have started include, but aren't limited to, first-round draft pick Justin Blackmon, who was the fifth overall selection, and second-round pick Andre Branch. Negotiations with Branch's agent had made progress by Wednesday.
Now that negotiations have started, it should move rather quickly thanks to the new CBA and the rookie wage scale. Justin Blackmon's deal might take a little longer than normal, as only Top 10 draft picks signed are Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Hill Gilmore and Carolina Panthers Luke Kuechly. Typically you don't want to set the baseline for the contract in the Top 10, so it's possible Blackmon's deal won't come until another Top 10 pick signs.
Mike Thomas Is Due Around $6 Million Guaranteed Through 2013
After the Jacksonville Jaguars OTA practices on Wednesday, Mark Long of the AP tweeted that the more he watched the harder time he had seeing fourth-year receiver Mike Thomas making the Jaguars roster. Long noted that compared to some of the other receivers, including all three new receivers and Cecil Shorts III, Thomas looked just average and wasn't separating himself. I've written and noted in the past I think Mike Thomas could be a casualty in final cuts if his game doesn't pick up with all the new talent, but this also led to a bit of a craze in people thinking Mike Thomas would be cut.
As Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union points out, if Mike Thomas is going to be on the chopping block, it's going to be an expensive cut.
Amy K. Nelson and Dan Rubenstein have a little more fun at the NFLPA rookie premiere event.
Jacksonville Jaguars Roundup
Why the Jags expect better pass protection - AFC South Blog - ESPN
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Weapons and protection. Protection and weapons. In any fair-minded conversation about what around Blaine Gabbert needs to improve for him to fare far better in his second season as the Jaguars' quarterback, those have been the two huge themes. And the weapons have been upgraded. The team brought in free agent receiver Laurent Robinson and traded up to draft receiver Justin Blackmon fifth overall. But they did nothing of note on the offensive line outside of adding undrafted free-agent center Mike Brewster, who shouldn’t see the field on offense if he makes the team.
Jaguars Mike Thomas On The Bubble?
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a logjam at the wide receiver position and already had to release Jarett Dillard. There is another veteran Jaguars receiver however who might find himself off the roster come the regular season, just for the fact that they're the fifth best receiver on the team and their salary would be too much for that spot.
Jaguars wide receiver Mike Thomas doesn't seem to be helping himself so far in OTA practices.
The more I watch the Jaguars practice, the less convinced I am that WR Mike Thomas will be on roster after training camp
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) May 23, 2012
This discussion has been brought up before and I noted to Mark Long that I've felt that for a while, but the big issue was Thomas' three-year extension that he signed last season. According to Long however, Thomas has struggled catching the football and falling down in his routes. Not only that, but Long noted that Thomas looks just "average" compared to how Laurent Robinson, Justin Blackmon, Lee Evans, and even Cecil Shorts III look in practice.
Action shot of Justin Blackmon at practice (h/t @tdjaxtim)

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