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Jaguars never said they were bringing in competition for Blake Bortles

Nobody inside the Jaguars organization ever said publicly that the team wanted, or needed, to bring in another quarterback to compete with Blake Bortles. Logan Bowles/USA TODAY Sports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Got questions about the Jacksonville Jaguars? I'll answer several each Saturday morning. Submit your questions via Twitter to @ESPNdirocco. Please use the hashtag #jagsmail. There were a lot of good questions, but unfortunately I can't answer them all.


@ESPNdirocco: This is a great question, because it'll help clear up a misconception about the Jaguars wanting to bring in competition for quarterback Blake Bortles this offseason. That was entirely media (myself included) and fan driven. Nobody inside the organization -- GM Dave Caldwell, coach Doug Marrone or executive VP of football operations Tom Coughlin -- ever said publicly that the team wanted, or needed, to bring in another quarterback to compete with Bortles. It was logical to assume that it would happen after Bortles struggled in 2016, and when Coughlin didn't exactly give Bortles a ringing endorsement in a two news conferences, it seemed all but a certainty. However, it's apparent now that the Jaguars' hierarchy was more committed to Bortles in 2017 than those of us outside the organization realized. The Jaguars didn't sign any free-agent quarterbacks and didn't draft one last weekend, either. Caldwell, Marrone and Coughlin concentrated on beefing up the run game with running back Leonard Fournette and offensive tackle Cam Robinson. They drafted with an eye on special teams, as well, and are going with the play defense, win the field position battle, and ball-control, conservative offense approach, which they believe will help Bortles be better in 2017.

@ESPNdirocco: If that were to happen, the first thing that would happen is that Coughlin would become very angry at him. That's not an ideal situation for Albert. Seriously, though, the Jaguars could fine him for every day he misses. Albert not being here in Jacksonville for offseason conditioning and organized team activities is not that big of an issue because they are voluntary. The thing that's really aggravating the Jaguars is that Albert and his agent have not returned calls.

@ESPNdirocco: Just to clarify, the Jaguars haven't given Bortles an extension. They exercised the fifth-year option, which means they would owe him a little more than $19 million in salary for the 2018 season. It's guaranteed for injury only until the first day of the 2018 league year, which means the Jaguars could cut Bortles after the 2017 season ended and not owe him anything (provided he passes a physical first if he were to be injured during the season). As for Allen, it doesn't impact him at all. He may get a chance to play this season if Bortles really struggles, but that would be the case even if the Jaguars didn't pick up Bortles' option. Caldwell, Marrone and Coughlin have all said the Jaguars need to win now and if Bortles plays poorly, he will be benched.

@ESPNdirocco: I'm hoping your comment about no mustard uniforms this year means you hate them as much as I do. Anyway, rumor had it that owner Shad Khan was not a fan of teal so that's why it has been somewhat phased out of the color scheme. Never been confirmed, however. I do know the hallways at EverBank Field had a lot of teal in them but were painted over in black within the past year or so. Personally, I don't think teal should be a primary color. Accent color, only. As of last December, equipment manager Jimmy Luck told me he wasn't aware of any impending redesign.