JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars will wrap up another abysmal season on Sunday at TIAA Bank Field against the Indianapolis Colts.
When the teams take the field on Sunday at 1 p.m., it’s expected that there will be hundreds of fans in the stadium dressed in various clown attire as a form of protest against team owner Shad Khan and some of the recent personnel decisions he has made.
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The fan-led movement started after a report that Khan plans to retain General Manager Trent Baalke next season, a report that has not been confirmed by the team. Fans were quick to criticize that decision and many Twitter users changed their avatars to a photo of a clown emoji with a mustache, a clear shot at Khan and his signature facial hair.
Fans said they planned to take their protest to the game on Sunday and wear red rubber noses, face paint and colorful wigs.
Last one of the season #dtwd pic.twitter.com/DxgPEGp20F
— Bold City Brigade (@BoldCityBrigade) January 9, 2022
The fan backlash has also led to legal consequences for the team.
A Jaguars sponsor who said they want no part of the “clown game” on Sunday is suing to get out of a sponsorship agreement with the team, saying the “toxic environment” around the franchise is now a “detriment” in doing business together.
According to a suit filed on Thursday in Jacksonville’s Circuit Court, RoofClaim.com said its interest in the Jaguars was tied to ex-coach Urban Meyer’s tenure with the team and it attempted to opt-out of its agreement following Meyer being fired shortly before 1 a.m. on Dec. 16. The suit said that the Jaguars were insistent that the deal continues.
The Colts visit the Jaguars in need of a win to reach the playoffs. The Jaguars need a win to avoid picking No. 1 overall for the second straight season and the dubious distinction of losing 15 games in back-to-back seasons.
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Indianapolis is favored by 15.5 points, an astounding margin considering it hasn’t beaten the Jaguars in Jacksonville since 2014 and barely beat the team when they met in mid-November (23-17).
The Colts have everything to play for and the Jaguars have only pride to play for. Do the Jaguars actually have a shot in this game? History says yes.