I used to be a huge Jaguars fan. Over the years, I’ve drifted away—not just from the Jaguars, but the NFL altogether. The game feels watered down now, a shadow of its former self. I get it, rules had to change to protect players from constant injuries. But at what cost? If you strip away the integrity, is it really still the same game? I can’t watch it anymore.
That said, I’m glad to see the Jaguars doing well this year, sitting at the top of their division. A winning team is good for the city. I’ll probably tune in for the playoffs if they make it—let’s say they will. It always makes things interesting.
I miss the old days, watching the early Jaguars—’96, ’97. Those teams were something else. So much fun going up there, seeing Mark Brunell, Natrone Means. I remember when we upset the Broncos—it was a rush. Then came that heart-breaking ’99 season. I lost three games to the Titans that year. I was at both home games. Fun and painful at the same time. And yet, we had highs too, like watching them destroy the Dolphins. I was never a big Dan Marino fan, so that one was especially sweet.
Really, though, going back into the heyday, watching football as I grew up—John Elway, Joe Montana, Bernie Kosar—oh geez. That was real football, in the 80s and 90s. The hits, the chaos, the unpredictability—it had it all. That’s what hooked me. The early Jaguars had that same spirit, and I loved every minute of it, even the painful losses.
Still, seeing the Jaguars succeed today is a thrill. Good for the fans, good for the city. And yeah… Go Jags.
#Jacksonville #Jaguar #GoJags
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