USA TODAY Sports
Former Ohio State and Florida coach Urban Meyer met with the Jaguars on Friday. It is believed for days that the coaching job there is his if he wants it.
The fact that the Jaguars made no effort to push back against the conviction tends to confirm this, and all eyes remain on whether Meyer will decide to take the position.
In anticipation of a final decision, he gets his ducks in a row. According to a league source, it is believed that Meyer would appoint interim Jaguars GM, Trent Baalke, former Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, former Browns GM Ray Farmer, or Jets assistant Rex Hogan to become the new GM in Jacksonville.
Baalke would be an interesting choice, since Meyer coached in Ohio State and Jim Bbke, the coach of Baalke and Michigan, are mortal enemies and date from their time together in San Francisco. Pioli has been named CEO of the Year several times during his tenure with the Patriots.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Meyer was already composition of a coaching team if he decides to accept the position.
Earlier this week, we reported that Meyer wants $ 12 million a year. At least one other reporter tried to push back and called the number ‘irrelevant and untrue’. Which means Meyer may want $ 12 million a year, but he’s not getting it.
So the question is whether Meyer will take what he can get – and whether he will keep pushing for $ 12 million a year.
Again, $ 12 million a year is not unreasonable. Last year, the Panthers’ former Baylor coach Matt Rhule paid $ 9 million a year. If the Jaguars really believe Meyer is the answer, they should be happy to pay the amount. That said, unless another team is campaigning for Meyer’s services (and apparently not), and if Meyer has decided he’s ready to make the NFL a turnaround, Jacksonville may be the best he’s going to get.