Trivia

Beginning on Tuesday, February 18, NFL teams may designate franchise- or transition-tagged players until Tuesday, March 4.

The last Jaguars player to be franchise-tagged was Josh Hines-Allen in 2024 (though he ultimately agreed to a long-term contract extension).

Who was the first Jaguars player to be franchise-tagged?

• A: Tony Boselli (1999)

• B: Tony Brackens (2000)

• C: Donovin Darious (2003)

• D: Marcedes Lewis (2011)

View the answer in the “Feedback” section

Stocks

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• 🏈 (NFL) Importance of the trenches. If this year’s Super Bowl teams taught us anything, it’s that championship-caliber rosters are built through the trenches. Philadelphia captured its second Lombardi Trophy in eight seasons by (once again) consistently generating quick pressures with a four-man pass rush; Kansas City lost its second Big Game in five seasons by (once again) failing to provide answers for its superstar quarterback. Expect the Jaguars to invest in the offensive side of the ball this offseason, considering its commitments to quarterback Trevor Lawrence and offensive-minded head coach Liam Coen. But if “help our own quarterback” will be priority 1A in Jacksonville, you can bet priority 1B will be “hunt the opposing quarterback.” -Gus Logue

• 🏈 (CFB) The SEC and the Big 10. Usually, we don't do two-for-ones in trending up, but it's not hyperbole to say that the two major conferences are about to run college football. A bombshell report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellinger confirmed that the two leagues will have near-full control over what the next iteration of the college football playoff looks like come 2026. The 10 FBS conferences and Notre Dame came to this extremely controversial decision after the SEC and the Big 10 threatened to succeed from the CFP and create their own playoff between the two superleagues. Among the many changes being proposed for 2026? The SEC and the Big 10 and getting DOUBLE the number of automatic spots in the CFP than their “Power 4” counterparts in the ACC and Big 12. -Trent Osborne

• 🏀 Mac McClung. The Orlando Magic guard etched out a space of his own in NBA Dunk Contest history by becoming the first player to win the competition in three consecutive seasons. In addition, his most recent showing may have been one of the top-five greatest individual performances in the event. While the Dunk Contest has lost its popularity for some time now with minimal stars actually taking part in the event, McClung has added a spark back to it. His greatness over the last three years seems to have grabbed the attention of the NBA’s aerial superstars, who may want to participate in the showcase event next season in Los Angeles. -RJ Saunders

• ⚾️ Braves P Spencer Strider. The ace of Atlanta’s pitching staff is back on the mound 10 months after having surgery on his right elbow. Strider underwent the internal brace procedure — a new operation that allows for a much quicker recovery than Tommy John surgery — last April. He spoke to reporters last week at spring training in North Port and said he’s making steady progress towards a return. While no timetable has been given publicly, the general expectation is late April. Will he be the same pitcher who racked up a jaw-dropping 281 strikeouts in 2023? Time will tell. Braves fans can’t wait to find out. -Andrew Gibson

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• 🏈 (NFL) Jaguars trade rumors. While NFL trade rumors are back in full force, Jacksonville is unlikely to fish for prize catches. They are not “a player away” from competing for a Super Bowl, and there’s plenty of youth on both the depth chart and the coaching staff to develop in the short-term future. Browns DE Myles Garrett would look great in teal — but does he align with the team’s timeline for true contention? Bengals WR Tee Higgins is another hot name, though he’s expected be franchise tagged by Cincinnati. The Jaguars may be better off assessing their roster in 2025 before starting to swing for the fences in 2026. And no, Trevor Lawrence is not available for trade. -Gus Logue

• 🏈 (CFB) Everyone else. Many fans of schools within the SEC and the Big 10 aren’t happy about the reported playoff format, so you can imagine how livid the rest of college football is. In defense of the alleged format, the ACC and the Big 12 have undoubtedly sagged behind the leagues in the Midwest and Southeast over the past two decades. That said, this new format — added onto the Big 10 and the SEC scooping up Oklahoma, Texas, and the best teams from the former Pac-12 — may have killed any chance of the ACC and the Big 12 catching up ever again. Truly a devastating week for those who long for the days of the BCS and how college athletics used to be. -Trent Osborne

• 🏀 NBA All-Star format. If we’re being honest, the All-Star Game and the weekend itself wasn’t competitive nor entertaining in any way. LeBron James and Anthony Edwards skipping the game all together tells you everything you needed to know about their thoughts on the newest implementation of the All-Star Format. Now, the league isn’t going to get rid of All-Star weekend anytime soon, but you can clearly see they’re grasping at straws to make this event somewhat entertaining. And if the players were not a fan of it, maybe this could start a turn of the players becoming more competitive concerning the exhibition game. -RJ Saunders

• ⚾️ Rays pitching staff. Damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton has forced the Rays to play their home games this season at Steinbrenner Field — the home venue for the Single-A affiliate of the Yankees. The Tampa stadium has identical dimensions to Yankee Stadium in New York which figures to have an unfavorable impact for the Rays pitching staff. With a short porch in right field of just 314 feet, expect home runs to be flying out with regularity this season in Tampa. -Andrew Gibson

Find more written content, including Hays’ Blog and Gus’ Tiers, here.