04/19/24
December 16, 2021
Headline of the day, from Lawyers Guns & Money: URBAN MEYER DISCOVERS IT'S MUCH HARDER TO WIN WHEN THE OTHER TEAM GETS PAID TOO
posted by NoMich at 09:33 AM on December 16, 2021
But seriously, what is the likelihood of the Jaguars replacing Urban with Byron Leftwich?
posted by NoMich at 09:35 AM on December 16, 2021
Pretty sure Meyer took the job with the intention of getting an early boot for the $MMs payout. Kicking the kicker in preseason was a little too on the nose.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:43 AM on December 16, 2021
Seemed the whole time the media was out to get him. So many articles that were trying to put him in a bad light of things that happen on most teams, and especially, on one's that are losing and trying to change the culture. But, the video's from the bar in Ohio, embarrassed the franchise. Now, this. Which, those outside of Jacksonville, have to understand that Lambo is a stand up guy, and did a lot in the community, this wasn't just some washed up kicker. The fact that the team knew about this since the incident and then the videos is not a good look. The next coach needs to be "squeeky" clean without any baggage (so, Bienemy at KC, is out). It should be a sought out position, though. High draft pick, a lot of cap space for free agency, franchise QB in place, a low bar set by predecessor, and a owner with deep pockets. The one negative, GM Baalke, which could be a big negative to certain candidates.
posted by jagsnumberone at 01:21 PM on December 16, 2021
The national media was enjoying the idea he would fail. The local media was supportive until the dysfunction and the losing and the weird disinterest in his own roster and the downturn of Trevor Lawrence became too much to ignore.
A question I kept having to ask myself was whether Meyer really wanted to be here. That shouldn't be in doubt in a new coach's first season when he just got Lawrence with the first overall pick.
I didn't think Shahid Khan would fire him after he kept Gus Bradley for 62 games while he was amassing a record so dismal that his winning percentage is the third-worst of all-time among NFL coaches.
But after the Ohio adulterous shenanigans on a weekend he didn't fly back with the team, I can see why kicking the kicker was the final nail in the coffin.
Even though, oddly, it occurred in August and Lambo's agent told the team's legal counsel a day later -- which the team has confirmed.
posted by rcade at 02:05 PM on December 16, 2021
Personally, I was rooting for the guy to succeed in Jacksonville because of the narrative of college coaches sucking in the NFL was overwhelming before he even started day one. I think rational folks were expecting this to be a lost season for the Jaguars, but it seems that things were rocky right from the beginning. He hired that racist weight lifting coach and things just kinda went downhill from there.
Hopefully Jacksonville can find themselves a guy that can stabilize the franchise and build a winner there. Their cousin franchise, the Carolina Panthers, seem to be in the same condition right now.
posted by NoMich at 02:29 PM on December 16, 2021
What do you expect? Have you ever watched high-paid college coaches on the sidelines during games? They scream at players and assistants routinely. They have no people skills. They're used to lording it over young men whose college education could be terminated on the coach's whim.There's no venue other than sports where this kind of behavior would be tolerated.
Then the guy gets to the NFL, where he's dealing with players with power: contracts, a union, independence. And the poor guy doesn't know how to adjust. Just desserts, if you ask me.
posted by hexagram at 02:51 PM on December 16, 2021
I expected Meyer to adjust his approach for the NFL at some point after taking his lumps.
I didn't think he would throw tantrums over losing, which to my amazement he began doing in the preseason.
I'm used to team execs making bad decisions in Jacksonville. I'm not used to them being emotional wrecks who become disengaged from the job.
Meyer is a weird dude.
posted by rcade at 03:29 PM on December 16, 2021
Urban Meyer is a lock as a future Republican Senator.
posted by cixelsyd at 07:51 PM on December 16, 2021
Shad has to fire Baalke and start over. Even better, Duval should take a page from the Green Bay book and try to buy the franchise.
There was a time when I thought that Khan was on his way to being one of the better owners in the NFL. He's done a lot since then to change my opinion.
If the Jags go after McDaniels, all that Kraft and Belichick have to do is offer Josh more money, then hold up a photo of Khan and say "ownership".
If you like the franchise and know some nice people in the greater Jacksonville area, you want the team to land a good coach.
If you have hate in your heart, you want the Jags to go hard after Lane Kiffin.
posted by beaverboard at 10:44 PM on December 16, 2021
Lane Kiffin OMG. Maybe give Steve Spagnola another shot?
posted by billsaysthis at 11:29 AM on December 17, 2021
Here's the thing - it's not as if Meyer turned into an arrogant narcissistic pos over night. The organization knew exactly what it was getting when they hired him. The organization did nothing when the kicker event first happened and would have done nothing now if Meyer had the Jags looking like they could become competitive any time soon. It's only because the product on the field has showed no signs of improvement that they decided to can the guy. Happens in every sport.
posted by cixelsyd at 12:45 PM on December 17, 2021
I don't know if Khan realized that he was getting a coach who would commit public acts of adultery and kick a player, because I didn't expect Meyer to do those things.
I have 1010XL on all the time and that sports radio station is full of UF graduates and journalists who covered Meyer there. A lot of them had concerns about his past antics but they've acted like the incidents here were on a new level.
The one major thing they brought up often was him looking the other way while an assistant at UF and then Ohio State was a domestic abuser who had sex toys sent to his work address and took dic pics of himself at every major event the team attended (including a White House visit). The book on Meyer, according to them, seemed to be that he was a bit of a phony who could be willfully blind to things going on at his program but was talented at building teams.
Khan should have known what he was getting though. It's another strike against an organization that has been deeply flawed in his tenure.
posted by rcade at 03:51 PM on December 17, 2021
Khan should have known what he was getting though.
I think that's process is called "due diligence." I guess it slipped his mind to do that. And honestly, I had no idea about these things as well, but then again, I don't pay that much attention and I don't own a professional sports franchise.
posted by NoMich at 04:11 PM on December 17, 2021
It's pretty clear that Meyer will never coach again, unless he takes a mid level Petrino type college gig.
But Baalke should absolutely not be a NFL GM anywhere. Couldn't believe that Khan hired that guy given his track record. This is team building, not truck bumpers.
"Our organization is excited to have Jim Tomsula leading this football team," said 49ers general manager Trent Baalke. Case closed.
posted by beaverboard at 10:40 AM on December 18, 2021
If there was a NFL fairy godmother who could make magical things happen, Trevor Lawrence would have been the Jags QB in 2017 and Blake Bortles would be the Jags QB in 2021.
posted by beaverboard at 10:44 AM on December 18, 2021
After this trainwreck of a season I can't believe Urban Meyer won anywhere.