In the last couple of seasons, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has received the brunt of criticism for his performance on the field that has only grown louder.
It is something that he has gotten used to over that time, which he has pointed out during an interview with The NFL Network that it has never truly bothered him about what the outside noise has been about. (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk)
“There’s times when I deserve it,” Bortles said. “And I don’t have a problem admitting that I didn’t play good. And I don’t have a problem with people critiquing me when I don’t play good. It’s just never really bothered me. I love going to work every day. I love playing football, and the locker room, so why let something affect me that I have no control over?”
Bortles has become an easy target over the last couple of years as he has struggled to break through as he has instead shown regression in his play on the field. He was able to silence that chatter a bit last season by helping lead the Jaguars to a playoff berth and a trip to the AFC Championship game.
However, he had struggled in various parts along the way where his production wasn't exactly key to helping lift his team to that success that was more so due to their stout defense and strong running game led by rising star running back Leonard Fournette. This may have been the case throughout much of last season; he was able to earn a three-year, $52 million extension to be the long-term solution under center for the Jaguars.
The criticism may continue to follow Bortles when he has a rough outing, but his main focus lies with helping lead Jacksonville to success on the field that appears to be well beyond all that noise around him.
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