Orlando Sentinel

Tank for Trevor? No way, despite the roster purge

- By Mark Long

JACKSONVIL­LE — Attention shoppers: There’s a fire sale going on in Jacksonvil­le.

Starters. Team leaders. Pro Bowlers. Up to 50% off. Hurry. Supplies are limited. Time is running out.

The Jaguars might as well place fliers on windshield­s in every NFL parking lot: “Got a hole? Have an injury? Need help? Call now! Make offer!”

General manager Dave Caldwell and coach Doug Marrone are clearly cleaning house, trying to make their salary cap and locker room more manageable just three years removed from being a few plays away from the Super Bowl. They have dumped six potential starters, including three former Pro Bowlers, in the last six months. Three of those players — defensive end not how we feel.” ity,” said linebacker Joe Yannick Ngakoue, running Minshew went on to Schobert, who played for back Leonard Fournette echo Marrone’s comments the 0-16 Cleveland Browns and safety Ronnie Harriabout reputation­s and cain 2017. “In the NFL, everyson — were sent packing reers being on the line. body got here, everybody this week. “Realistica­lly, I know if deserves to be here who is

Reactions have ranged we’re tanking, coach Marhere, and when you are from “good riddance” to rone, Dave Caldwell and slighted in terms of pre“what are they thinking?” me are probably going to season expectatio­ns or The most common perbe out of jobs,” Minshew what people think of you, I ception: Jacksonvil­le is insaid. “So I know us three mean, that puts a chip on tentionall­y tanking in and a lot of those other your shoulder. hopes of getting the No. 1 guys in the locker room are “As competitiv­e individdra­ft pick in April and setnot going to let that crap uals you want to prove ting itself up to select happen. everybody wrong, so that’s Clemson quarterbac­k “I feel very confidentl­y definitely something that Trevor Lawrence. in everybody’s desire to we’ll be able to take and

It’s a seemingly different win and that’s absolutely use to our advantage.” feeling inside the facility not anything that we enviThe Jaguars accumulatw­here players, coaches sion happening.” ed three more draft picks and front-office personnel Las Vegas disagrees, from their moves in the last roll their eyes at the mere dropping Jacksonvil­le’s week. They now have 11 semention of such a notion. odds of winning the Super lections in 2021, including

“I think more than anyBowl from 150-1 to 175-1. nine in the first five thing it really just shows The revamped Jaguars are rounds. They made 12 that people aren’t watchthe league’s ultimate picks this past April, the ing us very closely,” underdogs heading into start of the team’s makeover.quarterbac­kGardnerMi­n-nextweek’sseasonope­ner shew said. “I think people against Indianapol­is. More dramatic changes see it from afar and see, “I think there’s a lot of could be on the way before ‘Oh, they’re losing their guys on our team that Saturday’s deadline to set biggest names.’ But that’s thrive off of that mental- 53-man rosters.

 ?? PHELAN M. EBENHACK/AP ?? Jaguars quarterbac­k Gardner Minshew II insists the team isn’t tanking for the chance to draft Clemson quarterbac­k Trevor Lawrence.
PHELAN M. EBENHACK/AP Jaguars quarterbac­k Gardner Minshew II insists the team isn’t tanking for the chance to draft Clemson quarterbac­k Trevor Lawrence.

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