I know, I know. Jaguars owner Shad Khan said after Thursday night’s more-hideous-than-their-jerseys loss to the Titans that he’s not making a coaching change.
But let’s think about this one for a second. What else under those circumstances could Khan have said?
“Yes, I am. Now please don’t tell Gus until I get a chance to”?
“Maybe. Maybe not”?
Even a “no comment” would have sparked widespread speculation that the bell is tolling for Gus Bradley, without Khan having the chance to give his head coach the courtesy of a meeting at which Bradley doesn’t already know what the message will be -- or without Khan having the chance to make sure the preferred interim coach will take the job. Which means that “no” was the only possible answer, regardless of whether it’s the true answer.
Maybe the hint came via this succinct elaboration from Khan: “Actions speak louder than words. Very little for me to say.”
The words are what they are. The actions are what matters, and Khan in the immediate aftermath of one of the ugliest games of Bradley’s 55-game tenure really can’t say anything more on the topic of a possible coaching change than to deny it.
Change or not, wins will be hard to come by for the Jaguars over the final nine games of the season. At Kansas City is next, which means 2-5 becomes 2-6. A visit from the Texans means 2-7, probably. Then, back-to-back games at Detroit (2-8) and Buffalo (2-9) are on the docket.
Next up, visits from the Broncos (2-10) and the Vikings (2-11).
Tennessee comes to town on Christmas Eve, which could be the next game in which the Jags are possibly favored. A season-ending trip to Indy could be the difference between 2-14, 3-13, or 4-12.
Either way, the wheels have flown off the wagon, and it will take a major turnaround to get this one back on track -- especially after the effort or lack thereof that anyone who had the misfortune of watching last night’s game witnessed.