There is an axiom that everyone is a contender in March.

 

The axiom speaks to the hope-often false-that is a new season, with the chance to add that missing piece or two that will lead to glory in the fall and early winter.

 

However, this particular off season-the free agency period in particular-will be more reflective of the degree of hope this team actually has than past free agency periods.

 

The obvious reason for hope is that a successful free agency season for this team will be an acknowledgement that ownership and management are willing to spend what it takes to attract big name players here.  Too often, fans and outside observers have dismissed the Jaguars as being too cheap/broke to spend money on talent.  One can only wonder what impact this perception has had on players who may have otherwise been interested in playing here.  However, while this may reflect a reason to hope, and while money is a huge factor, I don't think it is the most important factor in this analysis.

 

To me, the most important and not so apparent reason has little to do with money.

 

One of the great fears fans have of free agency expenditures is what I call the Hugh Douglas factor.  One the signed player has his lucrative deal, his incentive to play hard for the team disappears.  He mails in his effort, wrecking an otherwise healthy salary structure and offering nothing on the field or in the locker room to the team.

 

It stands to reason, then, that the kind of player fans would want in free agency are those who are not necessarily motivated by money.  While they want to be paid, their competitiveness and desire to win are not extinguished by the big payday.  Ultimately, they bust their butts on the field, and are good in the locker room.

 

There is a challenge, however, in luring the guys in this desired group to come here.  They have to be convinced they have a shot to win here.  They have to be convinced the team wants to win, and they have to be convinced the team is headed in the right direction.  Jaguars fans were absolutely giddy in the immediate aftermath of last year's draft.  We landed what we believe to be a franchise QB, some good young WRs for him to throw to, a couple of good interior OLs, a 5th round steal at LB in Telvin Smith, and Aaron Colvin, who, after returning from the torn ACL flashed some of the ability that had him projected to be a first round pick before the injury.  Outside observers in the media almost universally lauded the Jaguars for their draft.  But despite all of the enthusiasm and optimism spawned by the last offseason, it did not translate into a winning season for the team-resulting again in another top 3 draft choice.  I think players that want to win want to share in the enthusiasm the fans had last year.

 

However, if the winners that hit the market come here, it would be something of a confirmation of the excitement the fans had.  These guys may have played against them at some point, and saw how hard they played despite the bad record.  They may have seen first hand the potential some of these young guys displayed, or they may have heard from their friends in the league about those things.  Whereas they may have cringed at the thought of playing with Gabbert, they may be more open to playing with Bortles.  

 

If that plays into the decision at all, it would be a rousing endorsement of the direction Khan, Caldwell and Bradley have taken this team.   To me, that is the exciting possibility this free agency period represents.  The possibility that the hope every fan entertains about this team winning in the season to come is actually legitimate hope.

 

 

 

 

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