Apparently, Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew wasn’t the only one angry about the anonymous rip jobs on quarterback Blaine Gabbert this offseason.
And Gabbert is willing to admit, to the team’s official website, that he took it personally.
After he was referred to as “Blame Gabbert,” by anonymous teammates, and an anonymous former coach said “Nothing’s ever his fault,” Gabbert fired back.
“It pissed me off quite a bit, just because you learn to trust your coaches because you spend so much time with them,” Gabbert said. “That’s starting now. April 2 through whenever your last game is, you’re with them countless hours every day, six or seven days a week. You learn to value their opinion, trust it. It’s a close-knit grip.
“When you have an anonymous source saying something that couldn’t be further from the truth, it pisses me off. Like I always said, ‘Put your name on it.’ If you’re going to say something to the media, say it to me. Say who said it. No need to hide behind a computer screen or an anonymous source name when you’re trying to make a point.”
That’s all well and good, and noble, but not the reality of how the NFL works. For one thing, if Gabbert had played to the level he was drafted, he wouldn’t have had as many former coaches saying ugly things about him to choose from.
But Gabbert denied it was motivation.
“When it’s not the truth, it doesn’t really motivate me, although you do have external motivators,” Gabbert said. “You want to prove every person wrong who says you can’t do your job at a high level. We’re just competitive guys. That’s what makes this job fun.”
The competition begins soon for Gabbert, as they’ll find someone (or two) to go with him and Chad Henne soon.
“The third year is an important year for any quarterback,” Gabbert said. “It’s where you make the jump. You start playing at a high level. There are still going to be ups and downs. Some guys have off seasons and they’ve been playing 10 years in the NFL. You have to eliminate the peaks and valleys. You have to play at a high level consistently. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing.”
And that’s what the Jaguars are looking for, from Gabbert or someone else.