(04-09-2022, 02:55 PM)NYC4jags Wrote:

(04-09-2022, 01:49 PM)TheDuke007 Wrote: I think it was just coach speak by Pederson that he wanted Chark back.  By free agency standards, Chark signed for a very modest, low risk contract with Detroit.  The way the Jaguars were throwing around money, they could have easily offered a more favorable contract than what he got.  The Jaguars gave $14 million in guaranteed money to Zay Jones.

I also don't see much support for the theory that Chark didn't want to be here.  If it was Urban Meyer, he's no longer the coach.  If he just wanted to play for a winner, why go to Detroit?

I think Pederson/Baalke had low interest in Chark.  That's too bad because I think Chark is under-rated.  His stats are low in part because of injury and also because he mostly had awful quarterbacks throwing to him.  I could easily see him bouncing back to his pro-bowl alternate level or even exceeding it.  It wouldn't surprise me if down the road that Chark is added to the list of former players where Jaguars fans say "Why in the world did we let him go?!?".

Pederson brought it up in three separate meetings with members of the press. 

I don't think he does that if he's just paying lip service.
 I think he wanted to get it done, and being vocal about it may have been his way of pressing Baalke to make it happen.

If the Jaguars had high interest in Chark, why isn't he on the team?  Actions speak louder than words.  The Jaguars had a ton of salary cap space and were clearly very willing to spend it and even over pay for players they wanted.  Chark's contract was very reasonable.  I think it was one of the better values in free agency this year.  If the Jaguars didn't outbid that offer, I would consider by definition that the Jaguars didn't have high interest in him.

The other hypothetical scenario is that the Jaguars did outbid Detroit, but Chark turned it down because he didn't want to stay in Jacksonville.  However, I have not seen a single report of this.  An agent would likely brag about a higher offer if it existed as agents earn their livelihood on their perceived ability to get their clients the best contracts.  I'm also having a hard time finding a motive, not mention evidience to support that motive.  Urban Meyer?  He's no longer the coach.  To play for a contender?  He signed with a team that was 3-13-1 last year.  He just prefers living in Detroit over Florida?  Really?  Particularly from a player who has always lived in the South and chose to go to college in the South?  I won't say it is impossible that he has some secret motive, but I think the most likely scenario is simply the Jaguars didn't outbid Detroit.

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