Jackson Out For A Few Weeks

Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson made headlines a few days ago when he displayed his confidence.

“I don’t think no one can guard me,” Jackson told reporters on Monday at training camp, via ESPN.com. “It’s how I feel about myself. I don’t feel no one can stop me. You can get Darrelle Revis, Richard Sherman — whoever you want to get.”

It didn’t take Revis or Sherman to stop Jackson, but a blocking sled during Thursday’s practice.

According to various reports, Jackson suffered a Grade 2 separated shoulder and will likely miss a few weeks.

With Washington’s opening day matchup against the Miami Dolphins roughly five weeks away, Jackson’s timetable puts him on target to play in that game.

The Redskins will need Jackson at full strength to play against a Dolphins team that has loaded up in the offseason and should be one of the NFL’s most improved.

In the meantime, Washington is dealing with their own strife as a recent report spoke to the fact that head coach Jay Gruden was begging team owner Dan Snyder for permission to bench quarterback Robert Griffin, III last season (which he finally ended up doing).

Griffin is apparently being asked to do less entering his pivotal fourth season.

“They are not asking me to be Superman,” Griffin told SI.com’s Peter King after practice on Friday. “They are asking me to be basic and take the plays that are there. If that’s what Jay wants me to do, that’s what I am going to do. It doesn’t mean you take everything out of your game.

“When those opportunities come up to make plays out of the pocket I will do it and not think twice about it. But if they are asking me to do the ordinary, that’s what I am going to have to do.”

Jaguars Making Fantasy A Reality

The Jacksonville Jaguars may not have experienced a lot of success on the field in recent years, but they continue to be the NFL leaders in innovation.

The Jaguars have embraced a “home away from home” in becoming London’s team for one game per season, which has lessened the financial burden for their season ticket holders.  They will also play in the first NFL game with will be broadcast solely online via Yahoo Sports.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan, one of the world’s innovators in business and sports, has invested heavily in Everbank Field putting the world’s largest scoreboards and high definition replay screens, along with pools in the North End Zone.

The Jaguars have teamed up with Fan Duel to launch FanDuelVille, the ultimate home of fantasy football.

From the Jaguars press release–

This first-of-its-kind environment for fans in professional sports and entertainment exemplifies the Jaguars’ and FanDuel’s progressive thinking to integrating in-stadium entertainment with the booming daily fantasy sports industry. FanDuelVille will allow all fans at EverBank Field access to the space, which can comfortably hold 3,000 fans at once, with the ability to watch the live game experience from any area in FanDuelVille on the world’s largest video boards.

Once they enter FanDuelVille, fans at EverBank Field will have access to unique free daily fantasy football games and experiences, live fantasy football statistics and scoring updates.  FanDuelVille will also give fans entry to the biggest and best party scene in professional sports, including multiple bars with signature cocktails, a live DJ and emcee, as well as significant promotional opportunities for fans to win all-inclusive premium hospitality experiences.

The Jaguars and their fans are excited about yet another amenity at their home games.

“We asked the question, ‘Where is fantasy football’s utopia?’ The undeniable answer was here at EverBank Field, with the perfect mix of live professional football, unparalleled entertainment, and one of the best fan experiences in the National Football League,” said Jaguars President Mark Lamping.  “FanDuel agreed and FanDuelVille was born.”

Give the Jaguars credit where credit is due.  They are often blasted in the media for poor attendance figures and fan apathy, but the team hasn’t experienced a home blackout in seven years, despite being mostly unsuccessful on the field.  The organization is finding ways to constantly improve the fan experience and it’s certainly paid off.

Teams Missing The Mark

Although the Jaguars seem to be getting things right off the field, their neighbors to the southwest in Tampa, and their division rivals in Indianapolis appear to be missing the mark.

It’s important to note that both the Buccaneers and Colts have the best intentions with their latest releases.

Starting in Tampa, the Bucs have started their “RED” campaign, targeting their female fans.

“RED is a groundbreaking women’s movement designed to recognize and celebrate our female fan base,” said Glazer Family Foundation Co-President Darcie Glazer Kassewitz. “Through exclusive offerings and experiences, our female fans will have the opportunity to not only add to their knowledge of the game they love, but also to help create a community through RED and own the way they enjoy football.”

What they are trying to do is maximize the experience for the female fan.  There’s nothing wrong with that.

The problem is that it comes off really condescending to the legions of women who know the actual rules of the game…better than a lot of men.

There’s nothing wrong with their “Insiders Tips” from general manager Jason Licht, but when they go into “gameday style tips from local area experts, and even a RED Lifestyle Lounge session to educate attendees on the art of incorporating their passion for the Bucs into their other lifestyle interests such as tailgating and home entertaining,” things go downhill quickly.

When the current face of the franchise is alleged rapist Jameis Winston, and the former face of the franchise is none other than Warren Sapp, I guess there’s a lot of PR work to do in gaining the female fan’s respect.

Another issue coming from the “our heart is in the right place” department comes from Indianapolis where the Colts are legitimately trying to do a good thing as referenced by this tweet.

Bring unused or expired Rx prescriptions for safe disposal to #ColtsCamp on 8/9 & receive the 2014 highlight DVD! http://t.co/1iZAPMg60c

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 6, 2015

This is a great promotion for the team, but perhaps a little self awareness is in order.  Just over a year and a half ago, Colts owner Jim Irsay was charged with four felony counts of drug possession.

Now the Colts are asking their fans to bring in their unused drugs.  The joke opportunities here are limitless.

For a league that’s so concerned with controlling their message, they sure do a great job on their own of fumbling it.