Category: Shad Khan

NFL owners to hold virtual meeting Thursday to discuss social justice, 2020 season

The league’s owners will be having a virtual meeting Thursday and on the agenda will be their plans for training camp and social justice.

With the nation going through a strong movement for racial equality and battling the coronavirus, the NFL’s owners will be meeting virtually Thursday to discuss a plan for both subjects, according to USA Today’s Mike Jones. NFL insider Ian Rapoport added on to the report by stating that the league’s plans for training camps will also be on the agenda.

This news comes after it was announced that the league will be doing without its annual Hall of Fame Game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ preseason schedule has yet to be altered as they will start it off against the Carolina Panthers Aug. 13 (for now), though many feel the preseason will be shortened.

As for the battle against inequality, the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Elijah McClain are just a few that have sparked protests around the nation. Many organizations have stepped to the plate as a result to give money to many key organizations within the black community, including the NFL who will be donating $250 million to fight systematic racism.

Of course, the meetings will include Jags owner Shad Khan, who is one of the league’s two minority owners, and wrote an essay stating that racism will bring the country down. Earlier this month, it was reported that he had been meeting with players from the team for advice on a plan to address racial issues going forward.

Podcast: Jags march for Black Lives matter, Dave Caldwell’s top-5 worst picks

In episode 19 of the “Bleav in the Jags” podcast, Phil and James compiled a list of Caldwell’s worst draft picks and the latest in team news.

After a week off, Jags Wire contributor Phil Smith and I got back in the booth to record another episode of the “Bleav in the Jags” podcast. To follow up our last episode where we looked at Dave Caldwell’s best draft picks, we wrapped up our two-part series by previewing his five worst in episode 19.

However, before getting into our main topic, Phil and I discussed the monumental march that took place off the field as the Jags protested for the Black Lives Matters movement Friday. We also discussed Shad Khan’s essay against racism and what we’d like to see from him going forward to help against the battle inequality.

All of that and more was tackled in our latest podcast!

Feel free to listen to the archived episodes of “Bleav in the Jags,” too, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.

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Shad Khan on current issues in America: ‘Racism, in all its forms, will kill’

Shad Khan, one of two minority owners in the NFL, weighed in on the issues that George Floyd’s murdering has shed light on Wednesday.

As the first minority owner in the NFL, many have been awaiting a statement from Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan as the nation is dealing with protests in each state pushing for justice for George Floyd. Wednesday morning, that statement finally came via Jaguars.com.

In the essay, Khan elaborated on dealing with racism as a Pakistani American who came to the nation in 1967.

“I came to the United States from Pakistan in 1967 with $500 in my pocket and faith in the American Dream,” said Khan. “Opportunities to learn and succeed were abundant, and more than 50 years later I am forever grateful and proud to be a citizen of the United States. Nonetheless, while I pursued my goals as a student and later in the workforce, being a Muslim-American made me a frequent target of prejudice, discrimination and hatred. I won’t claim to know what it means to be a young African American today, but I can speak honestly and painfully to my own experiences as a person of color for the past 53 years in this country.”

“Even recently, I have had people spew racist language in my presence when talking about other people of color — apparently ignorant of my ethnicity. Change for all people of color in the United States is long overdue, and it must happen now.”

Khan also said that the video which surfaced on Floyd’s death was horrific evidence of the injustices that are unfortunately too common in America. In the video, Floyd was shown being arrested by Minneapolis officers Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thoa. Chauvin, the only officer who has been arrested, was recorded with his knee on Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes as he stated he couldn’t breathe. After being taken to the hospital he was pronounced dead by what medical examiners and a family-commissioned autopsy confirmed to be asphyxiation.

Khan added that he’s going to do his part to help address inequity heading forward and added that he would continue to meet with his employees both with the Jags and from his other businesses.

“In Jacksonville, I frequently meet with Jaguars players to better understand their experiences and concerns,” said Khan. “I can only imagine their range of emotions today in the wake of all that has unfolded in 2020.  I know they are hurting, yet also committed to doing good in Jacksonville and the communities where they were raised and will always consider home. Mindful of this, I will listen to the players in the days ahead with an exceptionally keen ear so we can work with them to make the transition from conversation to actionable plans in the name of lasting change. And I will do the same with employees and associates throughout my various businesses, where the interests and concerns on this matter are no less vital.”

Some in the league like Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and Dak Prescott have both donated $1 million to social justice reform and more will undoubtedly join the cause. As mentioned earlier today, both players and fans will hold Khan to his word and watch how he attempts to make a change as one of the NFL’s two minority owners.

Former Jag Peyton Thompson says he’s spoken with Doug Marrone since statements on kneeling

Former Jag Peyton Thompson wasn’t impressed by the NFL’s statements on inequality and his voice was heard by his former coach who called him.

In wake of the murdering of George Floyd which was a result of police brutality, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and several NFL teams have released statements to call out racial inequality and send their condolences to the Floyd family. However, it has led to a lot of backlash due to the league’s history with peaceful protesting.

Fans and players have called out the league as a result and among them was  former Jags defensive back Peyton Thompson, who revealed that Doug Marrone and former front office leader Tom Coughlin told players they couldn’t kneel in 2017 during the international series. That seemingly prompted Marrone to reach out to his former player, who was visibly upset about it, and talk things over.

In the end, there were both players who knelt and some who stood in 2017’s game against the Baltimore Ravens in London, but all linked arms including owner Shad Khan to show solidarity. Later, Khan revealed to Sports Illustrated that he wouldn’t personally kneel but would not ostracize those who wanted to because America was about freedom.

“The essence of America is freedom to express yourself,” said Khan. “If somebody does that by kneeling, God bless them. I mean, it’s not something I would do but that would be a personal choice. There shouldn’t be any way to punish, ostracize, or in any way make them feel bad.”

As many are aware Khan became the league’s first ethnic minority owner in the NFL in 2012. A few years later, he was joined by Kim Pegula, the first minority female president/co-owner as her and her husband, Terry Pegula purchased the Buffalo Bills in 2014.

Both franchises can play a big part in helping America with the current racial issues that players are shedding light on. One member from the Jags’ front office, Tony Khan, has already voiced his support for the black community via Twitter and has also shown in his actions by banning those with racist views from his wrestling league known as All Elite Wrestling.

Heading forward, it will be interesting to see how/if Shad and Marrone do to help the league get on better footing with the fans and players on these issues as locker rooms will undoubtedly be affected by what’s going on in America.

Update 11:08 AM ET: Shad Khan released his own statement this morning which highlighted the country’s current issues with racism.

Former Jaguars DB Peyton Thompson says players were told they couldn’t kneel in 2017

Former Jags DB Peyton Thompson wasn’t impressed by Rodger Goodell’s statements on police brutality.

With the recent murdering of George Floyd shaking the nation, many athletes have stepped up to speak about police brutality in African American and minority communities. A few Jags have spoken on the issue, including linebacker Joe Schobert, safety Ronnie Harrison, running back Leonard Fournette, and Jags front office member Tony Khan. 

As commissioner of the biggest sports corporation in the world, Roger Goodell also released a statement on the death of Floyd and the country’s issues with racism.

“The NFL family is greatly saddened by the tragic events across our country,” said Goodell. “The protesters’ reactions to these incidents reflect the pain, anger and frustration that so many of us feel. Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr. George Floyd and to those who have lost loved ones, including the families of Ms. Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and Mr. Ahmaud Arbery, the cousin of Tracy Walker of the Detroit Lions.

“As current events dramatically underscore, there remains much more to do as a country and as a league,” Goodell continued. “These tragedies inform the NFL’s commitment and our ongoing efforts. There remains an urgent need for action. We recognize the power of our platform in communities and as part of the fabric of American society. We embrace that responsibility and are committed to continuing the important work to address these systemic issues together with our players, clubs, and partners.”

As expected, the NFL’s message wasn’t well received by many who recall their history with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who started a peaceful movement by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016. The message also didn’t do much for former Jags defensive back Peyton Thompson, who says he recalls former Jags front office executive Tom Coughlin and coach Doug Marrone telling players they couldn’t kneel during their 2017 international game.

Khan spoke on his players expressing themselves by kneeling via Sports Illustrated and said that while he personally wouldn’t do it, he felt that America was all about people being able to express themselves. 

“The essence of America is freedom to express yourself,” said Khan. “If somebody does that by kneeling, God bless them. I mean, it’s not something I would do but that would be a personal choice. There shouldn’t be any way to punish, ostracize, or in any way make them feel bad.”

As Thompson pointed out, there were players on the Jags side who knelt, but all locked arms alongside owner Shad Khan to show solidarity. 

It’s been a week since Floyd’s death, and the former Minneapolis officer charged in Floyd’s death, Derek Chauvin, was just arrested Friday. Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. However, Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thoa, three officers who were also a part of Floyd’s detainment, have yet to be arrested. As a result, protests have taken place for several nights all over the nation, including in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington D.C.

NFL Network’s Mike Silver praises what the Khans are building

Some have been critical of the Khans during their time in the Jags’ from office, however, NFL Network’s Mike Silver likes what they’re done.

If there is one thing fans already know about the Jacksonville Jaguars it’s the fact that the team has more than enough critics. However, NFL Network’s Mike Silver is one of the few who believes in what the Khans are building — at least in the distant future.

The veteran writer joined Jags senior writer John Oehser for his latest episode of the “O-Zone Podcast” to discuss the Jags’ outlook. Unlike many of his other comrades in the field, Silver praised the Jags’ leaders in Shad and Tony Khan as the two have made some drastic personnel changes since 2019.

“I’m a big fan of what the Khans have done,” Silver told Oehser, later adding that the Khans are committed to winning.

“I know the Khans want to win and want to do it the right way, and I know their instincts are good,” Silver said. “I know they’ve made a lot of decisions for the right reasons. I think like any new owners in the NFL, sometimes they make decisions they think are right and say, ‘OK, maybe they’re not.'”

The Jags will look drastically different than the one fans watched in 2019 (on and off the field). They got rid of executive Tom Coughlin before the season could end after the NFLPA singled them out for the treatment of certain players. Afterward in the offseason, they released nose tackle Marcell Dareus, then traded veterans Calais Campbell, Nick Foles and A.J Bouye. Each move had its critics, but losing the aforementioned players made fans especially concerned about the teams management.

While many will disagree with Silver, he is one of the journalists who has followed the Jags closely over time and has covered the league for three decades. That being said, he’s seen more than enough football to form such an opinion of the Khans.

When going into details about some of the positives to take from 2019, Silver pointed out the Jags comeback victory against the Oakland Raiders, another team he watches closely.

“People looking at it from afar may not have appreciated how important those last few games were,” Silver said […] “Beating the Raiders in Oakland was not a small thing. That was a huge, huge, huge game thing for the Oakland Raiders. They really, really wanted that for the fans they were abandoning. It meant a lot to the coach and to the players.

“That was a pretty impressive thing for them [the Jaguars] to do, and then to win again at the end and to have Minshew look good […] They came out of that saying, ‘You know what? Maybe we have something to build around here.'”

Even dating back to general manager Dave Caldwell’s and coach Doug Marrone’s first offseason presser, it felt like the Jags thought there was something in Minshew as Silver stated. They stuck to the plan to build around him throughout the offseason, and in a matter of months, they will get to see if he’s the franchise’s guy (if there is football). If so, the Jags can get trending in the right direction and the Khans will be well off to proving their doubters wrong.

Jags to purchase, distribute 45,000 team-branded masks to help fight COVID-19

Shad Khan and the Jags have once again stepped in to help fight COVID-19 in the community and will be distributing masks late next week.

Jacksonville Jaguars legend Tony Boselli gave the football community a scare after battling with COVID-19, but in the end, he was able to overcome it and is making a strong recovery. Now, after hearing his inspirational words, the organization has once again stepped in to aid with the fight against COVID-19 and will be purchasing 45,000 Jaguars-branded protective masks and distributing them locally.

According to the team’s press release, the masks will be distributed through companies that are currently operating and interacting with the public while the nation tries to slow down the spread of COVID-19. Also, the Jags will distribute masks to not-for-profit groups who are helping with the battle against COVID-19.

The Jags’ latest involvement with COVID-19 is just one of many that support the #Masks4Jax movement. According to the Jags’ official page, distribution of the masks will begin late next week.

Last month, it was announced that the Jags’ home stadium, TIAA Bank Field, would serve as a drive-thru testing site for those concerned about potentially having the coronavirus. Afterward, Jags owner Shad Khan also joined the fight against COVID-19 by donating $1 million locally towards organizations that are helping protect the community against the coronavirus. One of his automobile plants from Flex-N-Gate is also helping by manufacturing ventilators.

Jags cornerback Tre Herndon and his girlfriend Treyleanna Robinson have also contributed in the battle against the coronavirus as they recently donated 10,000 meals to organizations helping with coronavirus relief.

Shad Khan joins fight against COVID-19 with a $1 million donation towards Florida relief funds

With the world and United States dealing with a very serious battle with COVID-19, several NFL owners have done their part to help their respective communities. Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan decided to join that battle Tuesday by donating $1 …

With the world and United States dealing with a very serious battle with COVID-19, several NFL owners have done their part to help their respective communities. Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan decided to join that battle Tuesday by donating $1 million towards multiple charities and relief efforts in the North East Florida area.

“I want to say thank you to every group or individual who is personally stepping up for the people of Jacksonville during these uncertain times,” Khan said in a statement released by the team today. “It’s my privilege to help.

“However, the most important gift is the one everyone in Jacksonville can share with one another, and that’s to heed the direction of our health authorities here and nationally so we can get past this safely and successfully. Let’s get through this together but let’s do it by staying home. We’ll catch up in Jax soon, in good health and spirit, and I look forward to that day.”

Khan’s donation isn’t the first time the Jags have gotten involved with the battle against COVID-19. Their home stadium, TIAA Bank Field, has been used as a drive-by test site for those who feel they may have the corona virus.

Organizations who will be receiving help from Khan’s donation includes Feeding Northeast Florida ($75K), The Clara White Mission ($75K), The Jacksonville Public Education Fund ($50K), The American Red Cross (Ja chapter) ($50K), and Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund ($400K).

Shad Khan says he’s ready to take full responsibility for whatever results 2020 brings

A lot of fans weren’t happy with Shad Khan’s decision to keep coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell last month as both have come up short of expectations in 2018-19. However, with the success they had in 2017 still in mind, Khan …

A lot of fans weren’t happy with Shad Khan’s decision to keep coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell last month as both have come up short of expectations in 2018-19. However, with the success they had in 2017 still in mind, Khan didn’t want to shake things up too much this offseason and elected just to get rid of front office executive Tom Coughlin, giving Caldwell and Marrone more freedom with just ownership over them when it comes to personnel decisions.

“My feeling is that we can return to that place [the success of 2017] and go much faster to where we want to be if we can keep some things intact for 2020,” Khan said this week in his interview with Black News Channel. “The results are going to speak for themselves a year from now, and we will all know if this is the right approach I took, and I will take full responsibility for it.”

The decision to keep Caldwell is especially baffling to fans as the veteran general manager will be entering his seventh season. Since being named general manager in 2013, the 2017 season is the only season in which he has put together a winning product while the rest have been double-digit loss seasons.

As for Marrone, he doesn’t deserve nearly the amount of blame of those in the front office and Khan, however, some of his decisions haven’t benefited the team all that much like the swing and miss on offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. Under DeFilippo, the Jags offense finished 26th in points (18.8 PPG) and 20th in yards (341.8 YPG) last year, which caused Marrone and him to mutually part ways last month.

The Jags’ defense also hasn’t really shown the growth fans would like either under one of Marrone’s lieutenants in defensive coordinator Todd Wash. Although the case could be made that injuries hurt the Jags’ defense last year, there has been a lack of adaptation on Wash’s part, yet, somehow Marrone has let him stick around.

When looking at the combination of all these issues fans feel Khan would’ve clearly been better off cutting his losses and starting over, but obviously, he feels making it back to the postseason is easier than they do. Ultimately, time will tell which side is truly right, but if Khan is wrong, fans will be sure to remind him of his promise to admit it come January of 2021.

Mark Lamping says Jags’ most important priority is to bring a Super Bowl to Jacksonville

Jags president Mark Lamping joined Sirius XM Radio to explain Jags’ decision to play an additional game in London.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ fanbase has been on edge the last few days after the team announced an additional 2020 game in London, and the fallout has made Jags president Mark Lamping a busy man this week. On Thursday, Lamping went on air with SiriusXM NFL Radio to explain the reasoning behind the organization’s decision on a national stage and to reiterate what Jags fans have frequently been told: the team will remain in Jacksonville.  

“Shad Khan’s been very clear,” Lamping said about the team’s owner to SiriusXM NFL Radio. “The most important thing he wants to do is bring a Super Bowl to Duval County, and obviously we have a lot of work to do on that front. But the other thing he wants to do is ensure that there’s NFL football in Northeast Florida for many generations to come.”

Lamping continued to mention the Lot J project, which has been in the works for many years and is nearing a point of a funding and construction agreement according to him. He said that the project will basically be “Patriot Place on Steroids,” and that it would be another unique stream of revenue to help both the Jacksonville community and the Jags. 

Even with the city and team working on its own localized version of Patriots Place, fans have expressed that they don’t think another game in London is the answer for the team’s revenue problem. Instead, they’ve argued that a team that can win consistently would be the answer, something Lamping seems to disagree with. 

Until Lot J can get done, it appears that Khan and Lamping feel trips to London are the best supplement for revenue. However, even if Lot J thrives, some fans have concerns over whether it would be enough to prevent a two-game commitment to London in Khan’s eyes — or more games being played there in the future.