After the 0-3 start and the overwhelming defeat, Trevor Lawrence's pre-draft comments are coming back into focus

A lackluster performance Monday night, followed by an unsolicited email to PFT from a former NFL offensive coordinator, has brought Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence's pre-draft comments back into focus.

The former offensive coordinator said: “(Lawrence) doesn't play the game with passion… when he was first drafted by the Jags he mentioned that football wasn't his priority in life, and yet generously and undeservedly, in the second contract he plays definitely like football wasn't a priority. His game doesn't match his abilities. I don’t see that the leadership, the emotions, the excitement and going through the motions and doing the weekly check-up is a disservice to his teammates, the organization and the fans.”

Lawrence's comments in question landed before the 2021 draft. And Lawrence didn't say football wasn't his “priority in life.”

Instead, he said this: “It's not like I need this for my life to be okay. I want to do it because I want to be the best that I can be. I want to maximize my potential. Who wouldn't want that? If you don't, you're kind of wasting it. . . . It's hard to explain because I want people to know that I'm passionate about what I do and that I really care, but… . I don’t have the big problem of everyone coming after me and I’m trying to prove everyone wrong,” Lawrence said. “I just don’t have that. I can't make that. I don't want to. . . . I think that’s unhealthy to a certain extent, just always thinking that you have to prove someone wrong, that you have to do more, that you have to be better.”

Lawrence later addressed the comments in a three-part tweet.

“It seems as if People misinterpret my opinionsaid Lawrence. “I'm internally motivated – I love football as much or more than anyone else. It's obviously a HUGE priority in my life. My motivation is to do my best and maximize my potential. And to WIN. I have great confidence in my work ethic, I love working hard and pursuing my goals. You can ask anyone who has been in my life. Other than that, I am confident in who I am and what I believe. I don't need football to feel worthy as a person. I love the game and everything that comes with it. The work, the team, the ups and downs. I firmly believe that there is a plan for my life and that I am called to do my best in everything I do.”

With Lawrence signed to a $55 million contract in the offseason and the Jaguars sitting at 0-3 and reeling from a 47-10 loss in Buffalo, now is the time for Lawrence to get a bigger one Achieving performance level leadership. Now it's time to prove to everyone that football is his priority and that he can and will make a living.

Now it's time for Lawrence to put a chip on his shoulder.

As Devin McCourty and I explained on Tuesday PFT LiveMany players are motivated by real or perceived slights. Devin admitted that he was pushed out of Boston College for years because he thought he wasn't as good as his twin brother Jason.

Others have turned external doubts into ambitious careers. Tom Brady's commercial for his new Fox job focused on people telling him what he couldn't doFor example.

It may not be healthy, but it's normal for elite athletes. And it's very hard for someone who doesn't have this unhealthy, but hardly unusual, drive to compete with someone who does.