Small Business Marketing News Update - Jacksonville Jaguars' New GM Makes PR Blunder

As the saying goes “You only have one time to make a good first impression.” And the new general manager for the National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars missed his.

On Thursday, the Jacksonville public was introduced to Dave Caldwell for the first time at a news conference at Everbank Field. Going into the presser, he knew he was going to be asked some sensitive questions, including one about his feeling on acquiring Tim Tebow.

He should have handled it like he did when asked about other NFL personnel, specifically about potential coaches. He said the season was not over and it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment at this time.

But when asked about Tebow he didn’t hesitate to say, “I can’t imagine a scenario where he would be a Jacksonville Jaguar.”

Whether you are a fan of Tim Tebow or not, I speculate that at least half of the North Florida market, the home of Tim Tebow, really likes the former Gator quarterback. So why would you start out your tenure as general manager offending half of your audience?

We just had a general manager who for years upset Jaguar fans with his unusual draft and free agent selections.

Some people are saying Caldwell did the right thing by putting an end to the Tebow situation in Jacksonville. But most of those people are anti-Tebow anyway. It may put the issue to bed for them, but not for the many who follow and support Tebow.

Instead of outwardly dismissing Tebow in what was a fairly blunt statement, Caldwell should have left it that he would evaluate the best available players, along with input from the new coach and then make the most appropriate decision for the Jaguars’ future. This approach would have shown that he is open to ideas, where his predecessor wasn’t, and he would make a decision at the right time.

But what has been done is done. Regardless of the Tebow haters, there are people who are upset. WTLV reported a statement by a fan the night of the news conference that said “I can’t imagine a scenario where I would renew my season tickets.”

That is not a very good way to start off a new Jaguar administration. Hopefully Caldwell will be better at selecting coaches and players than he is handling public relations.