Jaguars sponsor sues to have name removed from 'clown game'
The title sponsor for Jacksonvilleโs season finale against Indianapolis is suing the Jaguars in hopes of having its name disassociated from the game during which disgruntled fans are planning to dress as clowns to protest team owner Shad Khanโs decision to retain general manager Trent Baalke.
Jaguars sign QB Beathard, setting up potential Minshew trade
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed former San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, giving them an experienced backup if they trade Gardner Minshew. Beathard signed a two-year contract with Jacksonville on Wednesday, giving the Jaguars an experienced backup if they trade Gardner Minshew. He started 12 games over four years in San Francisco, throwing for 3,469 yards, with 18 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. That also makes him a potential trade option, especially with the Jaguars looking to rebuild under Meyer and new general manager Trent Baalke.
Jaguars poised to spend big, rebuild quickly in free agency
Free agency feels a lot like recruiting to new Jaguars coach Urban Meyer. It certainly should help that the Jaguars have more salary cap space (nearly $73 million) than any other team. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Free agency feels a lot like recruiting to new Jaguars coach Urban Meyer. Clemson star Trevor Lawrence is the presumptive choice, and the Jaguars will use free agency to build around him. โThatโs a room thatโs going to have to be rebuilt in some ways,โ said Meyer, who could sign Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith or Gerald Everett when free agency officially begins Wednesday.
AP Top 25 Podcast: Sarkisian's road from rehab to Texas
Sarkisian is the new head football coach at the University of Texas. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)Steve Sarkisian was out of college football five years ago, having lost a dream job because of his struggles with alcoholism. Now Sarkisian is a head coach again, landing the job at Texas after helping Alabama win a national championship as offensive coordinator. Plus, Urban Meyer's first misstep as an NFL coach and Gus Malzahn lands at UCF. Ad___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Jaguars split with accused racist strength coach Chris Doyle
FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2018, file photo, Iowa strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle walks on the field before an NCAA college football game between Iowa and Northern Illinois in Iowa City, Iowa. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer defended the hiring of former Iowa assistant Chris Doyle on Thursday, Feb. 11, 20201, by saying he vetted him thoroughly along with our general manager and owner. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)The Jacksonville Jaguars and embattled strength coach Chris Doyle parted ways Friday night, a few hours after a respected diversity group blasted the team and called the recent hiring โsimply unacceptable.โCoach Urban Meyer and general manager Trent Baalke said Doyle resigned and they accepted. โChris did not want to be a distraction to what we are building in Jacksonville,โ Meyer and Baalke said in a statement. AdHiring Doyle rekindled memories of Meyer protecting assistant coach Zach Smith for years at Ohio State.
Expected top pick Lawrence throws for Meyer, NFL teams
FILE - Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence passes against LSU during the second half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans, in this Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, file photo. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)CLEMSON, S.C. โ Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence worked out for several NFL personnel including his expected future pro coach, Urban Meyer of the Jacksonville Jaguars. While 16 NFL teams attended, the 6-foot-6 Lawrence with the cannon arm and flowing air doesn't figure to get past the Jaguars. Lawrence threw for 3,153 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions while missing two games after testing positive for COVID-19 in October. He said he wanted to perform for NFL teams to show he's no different than anyone else applying for a job.
Jags' Meyer defends hiring ex-Iowa coach accused of racism
FILE - Ohio State NCAA college football head coach Urban Meyer answers questions during a news conference announcing his retirement in Columbus, Ohio, in this Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, file photo. A lawyer for 13 Black ex-Iowa football players has filed a lawsuit alleging his clients suffered racial discrimination under longtime coach Kirk Ferentz. Hiring Doyle rekindled memories of Meyer protecting assistant coach Zach Smith for years at Ohio State. AdMeyer also made former Louisville, Texas and South Florida coach Charlie Strong his assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach. Meyer kept seven holdovers from fired coach Doug Marroneโs staff, including veteran offensive line coach George Warhop, cornerbacks coach Tim Walton, nickel cornerbacks coach Joe Danna and assistant linebackers coach Tony Gilbert.
Jags hire ex-49ers exec Baalke as GM, removing interim tag
The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Trent Baalke as general manager Thursday, removing the interim tag from his title and pairing him with new coach Urban Meyer. Khan interviewed five minority candidates and Baalke for the teamโs open GM job. Baalke spent a dozen years with the 49ers, half as GM. Before moving to Jacksonville, Baalke spent three years (2017-19) working as an operations consultant for the NFL. Adding to the appeal: Khan, a billionaire businessman, has shown a penchant for patience and a willingness to spend big.
Meyer believes Jacksonville 'is the place' he can win in NFL
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Urban Meyer first started thinking about the NFL about a decade ago. โI wonโt do that.โHereโs a rundown of Meyerโs first news conference with Jacksonville:โ Meyer plans to monitor his health, which was instrumental in him walking away from Florida and Ohio State. Itโs something Iโm going to watch very closely. We did that at Ohio State. Ohio State is home to those guys now.โ___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Urban Hire: Meyer returns to sidelines with NFL's Jaguars
FILE - Ohio State NCAA college football head coach Urban Meyer answers questions during a news conference announcing his retirement in Columbus, Ohio, in this Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, file photo. A person familiar with the search says Urban Meyer and the Jacksonville Jaguars are working toward finalizing a deal to make him the team's next head coach. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Urban Meyer has won everywhere heโs coached. "Urban Meyer is who we want and need, a leader, winner and champion who demands excellence and produces results. โIโve analyzed this decision from every angle โ the time is right in Jacksonville," Meyer said in a statement.
Bama's Waddle back practicing, status for title game unclear
Now the question is will he be able to play in the title game Monday night against Ohio State? โI think you absolutely have to prepare as if he's going to play,โ Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs said. Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson posted photos on Twitter showing her visiting with coach Ryan Day and the team in the school's indoor practice facility. WEST COAST EXPORTSThe West Coast will be well represented in the national championship game among the players, if not the football programs themselves. Alabama All-America tailback Najee Harris, Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave and Buckeyes All-America guard Wyatt Davis are all from California.
Jaguars fire Marrone; owner Khan plans to be more involved
Now, after nine NFL seasons and little success on the field, the Jacksonville Jaguars owner is taking a more hands-on approach to fixing the franchise's most glaring problems. Khan is handling the search for his next coach and general manager mostly alone, with some help from Jaguars President Mark Lamping. โThis time around, I think I have a much better sense myself,โ Khan said Monday after firing coach Doug Marrone. โWhat's evaded the history of the Jags really has been a franchise quarterback,โ Khan said. Khan kept Marrone in place after firing general manager Dave Caldwell in late November, but ultimately decided on a clean sweep.
1-year sentence for angry fan who made football game threat
Federal Judge Algenon Marbley had harsh words for Rippy during Tuesday's sentencing done via video conference because of the coronavirus pandemic. An indictment unsealed late last year in federal court in Columbus accused Rippy of โelectronic communicationโ threat from California during the game between Ohio State and the University of Michigan on Nov. 24, 2018. The game was played in Columbus that year, and Ohio State won 62-39. Instead, Rippy's threat during the Ohio State game sent authorities into a panic as they tried to figure out where he was and whether he posed an imminent threat to a stadium filled with 100,000 people, Knight said. Rippy, a Michigan fan who grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, moved at age 27 to California, where he worked in fast food but couldn't maintain a residence, the government said.
Man behind threat to football players gets sentencing date
COLUMBUS, Ohio โ A California man who used Facebook to threaten a shooting at Ohio State University and vowed to hurt players on the football team and then-head coach Urban Meyer has been scheduled for sentencing later this month. An indictment unsealed late last year in federal court in Columbus accused Daniel Rippy of making the โelectronic communicationโ threat from California during the game between Ohio State and the University of Michigan in 2018. The game was played in Columbus that year, and Ohio State won 62-39. In separate messages, Rippy also threatened โto injure or kill specific players, their family members and the head coach,โ the document said. Federal Judge Algenon Marbley on Thursday set an Oct. 27 sentencing date.
Joe Cool: Burrow confident in adapting to Bengals offense
CINCINNATI Back in pads for the first time since he won a national championship at LSU, Joe Burrow got a baptism in NFL red-zone defense. The new Bengals quarterback fumbled a snap a steady rain contributed and had trouble completing passes in tight quarters. Asked if he's nervous in adapting to the NFL, Burrow responded:Absolutely not," he said. Burrow got to run the offense in short-field situations for the first time with the scheduled season opener less than a month away. It wasn't what you'd like to see on a red-zone day, but it was the first one, Burrow said.