Let's go ahead and call this the “understatement of the century”. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone let it be known that Nick Foles needs to deliver on the field.
“You have to be able to deliver results on the field,” Marrone said. “There’s a difference between personality in the locker room and then, all of the sudden, the business aspect of what you’re doing on the field. I look at those two things separately. And I think that, from the business sense, it’s a results-oriented business. If you’re able to have results and prove yourself, then I think people will follow you. That’s my experience, having been a former player and in all my years in coaching.”
The Jacksonville Jaguars made a big move this offseason by signing free agent quarterback Nick Foles. His contract is a four-year deal worth $88-million. Of that, over $50-million is guaranteed.
Basically, the Jaguars are putting their trust in Foles to get the franchise back to the winning ways it showed in 2017. Not only that, but they're trusting him for four years – and a lot of money.
If things don't work out, this is the kind of contract (at the exact worst position) that could bury a franchise for years to come.
Therefore, it's really no surprise at all that coach Doug Marrone said this. If Foles doesn't produce, the Jaguars likely won't win. If the Jaguars don't win, a lot of people (Marrone probably included) will be out of a job well before this contract runs out.
These also aren't unfair statements by Marrone. Although Foles did have that magical postseason run in the 2017 season (2018 playoffs), this is still a gamble.
The QB put up average numbers last year, and that was mostly due to one monster game. In five regular season games, Foles threw seven touchdown passes (four against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). He also had the luxury of playing some lower-tier defenses in those games.
Then in the playoffs, this year Foles actually threw more interceptions than touchdowns while throwing for less than 500 yards combined between two games.
The Jaguars are clearly hoping that Nick Foles magic can shine through again and he can be their franchise quarterback. It's no stretch to say this is a gamble though – especially with that contract.
Due to that, Doug Marrone saying that Nick Foles has to deliver on the field is something you might not have expected to hear him say – but only because it's so obvious.
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