Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue made a point to mention — long before the team placed its franchise tag on him this offseason — that he has absolutely no intention of signing a long-term deal with the franchise. While Ngakoue has remained adamant that the Jaguars should trade or release him, Jacksonville head coach Doug Marrone was once again asked about the ongoing matter early this week.
However, Marrone did his best to play the diplomat while expressing that the disgruntled Ngakoue has been agreeable throughout the offseason.
“Yannick has been great,” Marrone said during a Tuesday conference call, via NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk. “He’s done everything I’ve asked him to do as a head coach and everything Todd Wash has asked him to do on the defensive coordinator. When the business starts getting involved, it’s tough. As a coach, you always want your players to be happy. You want the best for your players. From that standpoint, I understand the challenges that are going on for Yann. When you look at our whole organization and how much we appreciate and love him, I think the organization and the rules of the league and the CBA, I think the players have rights and the teams have rights and what you do as a coach is hope all this stuff can be resolved in a positive way for everyone.”
While it remains to be seen as to where exactly the prolific pass rusher ultimately plays his football next season, it seems as though Jacksonville is actually the least like destination for Ngakoue as it stands today.
“I’m just hoping that somewhere down the line or somehow all this stuff can be resolved in a way, but again I understand both sides to it,” Marrone continued. “It’s a part that I’ve always struggled with, the business end of it. It’s just tough; it really is, especially with a player that has done everything we’ve asked. I’m hoping that somewhere down the line we can get this situation resolved.”
The 6-10 Jaguars finished in last place in the AFC South division last season.
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