Quote:McCourty re-signing with New England illustrates, from the negative perspective, the point I made in my initial post that the free agent signings would be a reflection on the outside perception of the Jaguars.

 

The difference between the Jaguars offer and the Patriots was less than the difference (real or perceived) between the Patriots as World Champions and the Jaguars status as non contenders.

 

For those players who value immediate winning/contention more strongly than money and building for the future, the Jaguars status as bottom dwellers for so long tipped the scales away from Jacksonville.

 

It is my deepest hope at this stage that Julius Thomas is a Jaguar.  Ditto with Murray.

 

But given the disparate cap room between Jacksonville and Seattle and Dallas, if Thomas and Murray sign with Seattle and Dallas respectively, I think it's because they perceive Jacksonville as still being too far away from contention to make it not worth the difference in contracts.

 

I guess from that perspective, Gene Smith still deserves some blame.

 

But we don't know the details...

But I said before... if I'm an NFL player... if Oakland offers me 15 mil a year and GB offers me 12, I'm taking the 10.


More money wins out when all else is equal.

Can't fault anyone for thinking that way. Some guys go for the money because the hometown discount is too far away.... I.E. Oakland offers 20 mil a year and GB offers 10... Rodgers or no... you kinda HAVE to take that extra ched.

 

When J-Ville is winning often enough though, we won't really have a need (hopefully) for all these superstar free agents....

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