Tag: tony brackens

All 10 times the Jaguars have used the franchise tag

The Jaguars appear set to use the franchise tag for a fifth straight offseason.

As of Tuesday, NFL teams are allowed to use the franchise tag or transition tag to retain one player due to become a free agent. And for the fifth straight year, the Jacksonville Jaguars are likely to make use of the tag.

The likeliest scenario is that pass rusher Josh Allen will get the tag after posting a career-best 17.5 sacks during the 2023 season. But even if the Jaguars manage to get a deal done with Allen ahead of the March 5 deadline (which seems unlikely), they’d probably instead use the tag to keep wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

The franchise tag is a tool that guarantees a player, at minimum, a one-year fully guaranteed deal that makes them one of the highest paid players at their position. Teams also have until mid-July to sign a multi-year extension with a tagged player.

While Jacksonville has used it in four straight offseasons, the team only used it six times in the more than two decades prior. Here’s the Jaguars’ entire history of using the franchise tag:

Josh Allen on Jaguars’ sack record: ‘I think about it too much’

Josh Allen is ready to be done chasing the Jaguars’ single-season sack record.

Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen only needs one more sack to tie Calais Campbell’s single-season franchise record and 1.5 sacks to take the title for himself.

It’s a record he’s ready to claim and be done chasing.

“I think about it too much,” Allen said of the record this week. “I’ve got to stop thinking about it. I’ve got to stop thinking about it, just go out there and play football.”

Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell is also ready to see Allen get the job done.

“I wish he got it last week, it’s time for him to get it,” Caldwell said Thursday. “Let’s go get it out of the way. Hopefully he gets it and gets it early, once that happens, I’ll be happy for him. At the end of the day, he understands that’s something special for him. But getting a victory will mean more to him I think.”

Getting sacks and a victory have gone hand in hand for Allen. The Jaguars won all four times the pass rusher recorded at least two sacks this season and six of the seven times he finished with at least a half sack.

In losses to the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens in the last two weeks, Allen was held to zero sacks.

With 13.5 sacks through 14 games, Allen has already passed Tony Brackens and Yannick Ngakoue, who were tied for the second most sacks in a Jaguars season, with 12 each.

Allen, who is scheduled to become a free agent in the offseason, is 14 sacks behind Brackens for the franchise’s career record of 55 sacks.

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Jacksonville Jaguars’ history with the franchise tag

The Jaguars have used the franchise tag nine times in their history. Here’s every player franchised by the team:

The Jacksonville Jaguars are approaching three decades in the NFL and that has meant using the franchise tag a few times along the way.

If the Jaguars use it this offseason — perhaps to retain tight end Evan Engram or right tackle Jawaan Taylor — that’d make it four straight seasons of designating a franchise player.

But prior to the current stretch of tagging players, there were significant stretches where the Jaguars didn’t use the tag at all.

Altogether, Jacksonville has used the franchise tag nine times and has never used the rare transition tag. Here is every time the Jaguars have designated someone a franchise player:

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Travon Walker: ‘It has to be more than just one sack, one pick’

Travon Walker is seemingly the only one who doesn’t think he did enough in his NFL debut

The Jacksonville Jaguars surprised many when they took Georgia’s Travon Walker with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he looked every bit worth the selection Sunday when he recorded a sack and an interception against the Washington Commanders.

The only one who wasn’t satisfied with the performance was Walker himself.

“It has to be more than just one sack or one pick because obviously we didn’t win the game,” Walker told reporters after a 28-22 loss in Week 1. “A player like me that they drafted number one is supposed to make plays like that, so I need to continue to make plays.”

While Walker holds himself to a high standard, his debut put the rookie pass rusher in rare company. He joined Kevin Hardy as one of two Jaguars to record a sack and an interception in their NFL debut. Walker also became the first player in the league in four years to accomplish that feat in their first career game.

“I mean thought he, for a first game, thought he did some great things,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said of Walker. “A huge turnover there in the second half to get some points for the offense. Pretty good performance.”

Oddsmakers listed Walker’s over/under sack total for the season at 6.5 and he’s been commonly listed at 8-to-1 to be named Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Colt McCoy and Tony Brackens inducted into Texas High School Football Hall of Fame

The two Longhorn legends are now forever enshrined in the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.

Two former Longhorns will have their names officially cemented in the history books, as quarterback Colt McCoy and defensive end Tony Brackens were both given the nod by the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.

There were nine inductees into the illustrious hall of fame for the 2022 class, and as explained by Dave Campbell, it is broken down by the player’s respective decade.

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Both McCoy (2000’s) and Brackens (1990’s) had amazing football careers that saw them star at Texas and both get chances to play in the NFL.

Brackens (Fairfield High School) was a longhorn from 1992-1995, the former menace at defensive end was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American while also being selected to the first-team All-Southwest Conference team. When his career as a Longhorn wrapped up, he finished eighth on the all-time list with 24 sacks.

He then parlayed his successful college career into a very impressive NFL stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, in which he was selected in the second round. Brackens finished his professional career with nearly 300 tackles, 55 sacks, and 28 forced fumbles.

McCoy (Tuscola Jim Ned High School) is not only the last elite quarterback Texas has had, but was apart of the teams and era that Longhorns fans so badly went to get “back” to as he led the Longhorns to their last championship appearance.

He finished his career as the second all-time winningest quarterback of all-time, while also breaking countless records as a Longhorn. He finished his career as a two time All-American, Heisman Finalist, and the MVP of three bowl games. McCoy accumulated over 13,000 passing yards, 112 touchdowns, while completing 70% of his passes.

McCoy was drafted in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. His NFL career has consisted of him being somewhat of a journeyman, and very solid backup quarterback for teams like the New York Giants, Washington, and currently the Arizona Cardinals.

He has over 7,000 passing yards while also throwing for 32 touchdowns.

Both McCoy and Brackens went down as Longhorn legends, and their latest achievement recognizes them for the success throughout their careers.

Countdown to Texas Football: Greatest 99 and 98 in Longhorns history

In a countdown to the 2020 season, we remember the best players in Texas Longhorns history. Who were the best to wear 99 and 98?

College football is set to kickoff the season on September 5th. For the Texas Longhorns they are scheduled to host the South Florida Bulls at Darrell K. Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin. That kickoff is set for 98 days (at time of publishing) from now. In a kickoff series we remember the best players in Texas Longhorns history.

Continue reading “Countdown to Texas Football: Greatest 99 and 98 in Longhorns history”

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