Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell yesterday said that Owner Shahid Khan realized firing coach Gus Bradley was the "right move" while the two were at the NFL owners' meeting last week in Dallas, according to Hays Carlyon of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. Caldwell also confirmed that Bradley "would’ve still been fired even if the Jaguars had won" on Sunday against the Texans. Caldwell: "It became regrettably clear towards the end of last week. We realized this was the direction that we were going to have to go. After we decided that, we decided that after the game on Sunday we would relieve coach Bradley of his duties.” Caldwell also said that the timetable "was influenced" by the Rams' firing of coach Jeff Fisher on Dec. 12. Caldwell: “There are some dynamics that when the ball started rolling we didn’t want to be left behind. It started our conversation, mine and Shad’s conversation about it" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 12/20). In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette notes Caldwell yesterday also acknowledged "just how fortunate he is to still be in the GM chair." Caldwell: "Gus is not the only man to blame here. When you find yourself as an organization where we are right now, there’s a lot of blame to go around, including myself.” Frenette writes the GM "doesn’t get a free pass, and in no way does Caldwell deserve one." Caldwell "better not miss with this next hire," or the "next pink slip from Khan will have his name on it" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 12/20).
