Elliot Harrison obviously thinks Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver is a bold faced liar. Either that, or Elliot Harrison refuses to ever actually read anything regarding the Jaguars, yet he has the audacity to state a clearly ignorant opinion about the Jaguars and Los Angeles.
I know we're all tired of the "Jaguars and Los Angeles" garbage (because that's exactly what it is, garbage), but Elliot Harrison absolutely takes the cake. NFL.com recently polled it's writers on what team they think will make the eventual move to Los Angeles. Each writer gave a well thought out reason for each team they thought would move to Los Angeles.
Each writer, except for Elliot Harrison it seems. First and foremost, I've never even heard of Elliot Harrison so I'm not even sure who he is. Jason La Canfora, Pat Kirwin, Steve Wyche all picked the San Diego Chargers to move North, which makes perfect sense considering they need a new stadium and the prospect for one in San Diego right now is uncertain. Vic Carruci thinks it will be the Minnesota Vikings for the same reasons, they need a new stadium and the prospect of one in Minnesota looks bleak right now. Albert Breer thinks it will be the Oakland Raiders, which also makes sense, since Al Davis still considers Los Angeles his turf. Breer makes mention of Jacksonville, but Breer is also a diligent reporter and mentions their lease being difficult to get out of (it runs until 2030). Charles Davis thinks no team will move there, but the NFL will simply expand.
Elliot Harrison however, delivers us with this gem:
The Jaguars, unfortunately. It seems like that franchise just can't buy a break lately, except for a rebounded Hail Mary. Fans haven't shown up enough the last couple of years (especially 2009), and the club would surely make tremendous gains financially with a relocation to the nation's second-largest market. Another issue working against Jacksonville is public sentiment. Few people want to see the Vikings or Chargers move. They have much in the way of tradition and strong rivalries, while the Jags do not, at least on a nationally recognizable level. I just don't see a huge outcry from the rest of the NFL cities if they move, meaning it's not a black eye for the league the way the Browns' departure was. That said, I also don't see a club moving to L.A. by 2012. But the Jags could wind up there by 2013 or 2014.
Oh, well those are great reasons to uproot a team with an owner who's repeatedly said he has no interest in going to Los Angeles. Either Elliot doesn't know that fact, or he thinks Weaver is lying to all of us.
He cites the token "fans haven't shown up enough the last couple of years", but he only cites the single anomaly season in 2009. Hey, shouldn't the Buccaneers move then? Their 2010 attendance was worse than the Jaguars 2009 attendance... right?
Here's my favorite: Few people want to see the Vikings or Chargers move. They have much in the way of tradition and strong rivalries, while the Jags do not, at least on a nationally recognizable level.
Oh, well that's a brilliant reason. If "few people" want to see the Vikings or Chargers move... why don't they build them a damn stadium then? Wouldn't you think the proposals to build new stadiums wouldn't get constantly shot down?
What are the Vikings and Chargers "nationally recognizable" tradition and rivalries? We're not talking Bears/Packers here, Elliot. Give me a break.
Next time, at least show you TRIED to at least research what you're talking about. I'm a lowly blogger, yet I have more decency to actually research a topic I write about. I'd appreciate it if you showed the same courtesy, since you used to be a "research analyst". Try actually you know... researching next time.
Here, I'll even do the research for you in-case you happen upon this post:
"I have no interest [in Los Angeles]," Weaver told the Florida Times-Union. "I have been consistent in saying I am committed to Jacksonville and have no interest [in moving]."