JACKSONVILLE, Fla.: Trevor Lawrence has never experienced this much drama in a football season. Not in college. Not in high school. Not as a kid growing up in Cartersville, Georgia.
Jacksonvilles starting quarterback is ready for it to end, too.
I do think that has to change and thats something that we need to work on for sure, Lawrence said Wednesday. You cant always be in the headlines. You just got to go play football, and thats where were trying to get, and I have no doubt well get there.
No one expects it to happen anytime soon.
The Jaguars (2-11) have been mostly a punchline since hiring coach Urban Meyer in January. Meyer has created headlines and headaches for just about everyone inside the teams football facility, and team owner Shad Khan said Monday whats different about this thing is you have losses and you have drama.
The latest one involves an NFL Network report which said Meyer created tension with multiple run-ins with players and assistants. Citing unnamed sources, the report detailed a heated exchange between Meyer and receiver Marvin Jones that seemingly stemmed from Meyer criticizing receivers by saying they werent winning enough one-on-one matchups or getting enough separation.
I would just say this: There was something that was brought to my attention that I didnt like too well, said Jones, who spoke publicly for the first time since the report was published Saturday. I approached him about it and we talked and we handled it like grown men. And thats all I have to say about that.
Jones denied threatening to leave practice over the argument.
I mean, shoot, when you lose, youre always going to be the center of attention in a negative way, Jones said. That just is what it is. Thats all I have to say.
Meyers biggest issues in recent weeks focused on running back James Robinson getting benched twice following fumbles, and the coach seemingly not having any clue whos in the game at certain times. Meyer has repeatedly struggled trying to answer nearly every question about substitutions.
Lawrence stepped in after Robinson was benched the second time and made it clear to coaches, including Meyer, that the teams most consistent offensive player needed to be on the field more.
Meyer also has raised eyebrows for hiring and then firing alleged racist strength coach Chris Doyle; getting fined for having too much contact during offseason practices; signing 2007 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow to play tight end; holding a fake QB competition between Lawrence and Gardner Minshew; being the subject an NFL Players Association investigation after Meyer said vaccination status factored into the teams roster decisions; and for getting caught on video behaving inappropriately with a woman at an Ohio bar.
Obviously theres been a lot of drama, Lawrence said. Like whatever has caused everything, who even knows at this point. But theres been a lot of drama, and for me, I think its important to be truthful, but with that, like I said, you cant say everything thats on your mind. You have to have a filter and youve got to be careful.
The Jaguars have lost five consecutive games, the longest current skid in the NFL. They also have dropped nine straight against AFC South opponents and seven in a row against Houston (2-11).
Its critical right now, this last stretch, Lawrence said. Youve got to finish with some momentum. Youve got to feel good about where youre at at the end of the season. Going into the offseason, we need a little bit of momentum.
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