(02-13-2018, 09:42 AM)JUNGLE CAT 2017 Wrote: I've been throwing the name of A. J. McCarron around hoping that Tom will do whatever is necessary to secure his services.

The key date for A. J. is February 15th. That's when the decision concerning his grievance filed against the Cincinnati Bengals is in. 

If he wins, it means the league office has granted him a year of service which he feels the Bengals took away from him. The good news for the Jaguars is he immediately becomes a unrestricted free agent with a favorable outcome. We can hopefully make him a Jaguar.

If he loses, the Bengals will still be in a tight spot and we may be able to trade a second round pick for McCarron. A. J., drafted in 2014, is unhappy the Bengals spoiled his rookie season by listing him as injured for many weeks - something he disputes in his grievance. As a result of being injury listed by the team, A. J. lost a year of accrued service so that entering this season, his fifth season, he is a restricted free agent.

This is why the Bengals attempted to unload McCarron on Cleveland for a second and third round pick last November. However, the league office nixed the trade claiming the paperwork was transfered to them too late. 

Why McCarron? 

1. He's a better quarterback than other options which are being discussed. His experience in championship football. His awareness on the field is very good. He has a very high completion percentage on throws that travel OVER 40 yards. He won two NCAA Division I titles. 

In limited action in the 2015 playoffs he subbed in for an injured Andy Dalton and led the Bengals including a solid, 16-point fourth quarter rally capping it with a pretty amazing 25-yard TD pass to A. J. Green, for what would have been a game-winning drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Had it not been for a pair of absolutely bone-headed defensive penalties by the Bengals' defense, McCarron would have given Marvin Lewis an actual playoff win. Before that I believe he finished off the regular season steering Cincinnati to a 2-1 record as the starter.

2. He has been groomed by the Bengals. He has a solid grasp on how to play quarterback in the NFL. He will step in to a Jaguars' uniform and be the starting franchise quarterback for the next ten years.

3. In that McCarron has still to prove he is the franchise quarterback we all know he can be, he represents immediate value in contract terms. He signs with the Jaguars. He is given a modest three year deal with a understanding that if he is what both sides believe he can be the deal will be torn up and a better, higher salary - more years contract will be drawn up.

At this point don't be surprised if New England has a lot to say about where A. J. McCarron will land. Tom Brady figures to lure McCarron in and work him into the Patriots' system. 

While this is possible, let's not stand on the sidelines and watch New England reload at quarterback prior to extending their NFL supremacy for the next ten years. Let do what we need to do to land A. J. McCarron right here. Right now.

Wow. Are you A.J.'s agent? If not perhaps you should be.

Of course, most of what you wrote is pure conjecture, with a positive spin - but that's what agents do.

If Bortles is released and McCarron is signed (assuming he becomes a free agent; I'm also assuming he wouldn't be signed to be Bortles' backup. I sure don't think Caldwell would give up a second rounder for a backup) why would McCarron accept a "modest three year deal" - especially if he's going to be the franchise QB for the next ten years.

If Bortles is retained I think Coughlin/Caldwell bet on Bortles' durability and select a QB in the third round or so.

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