Join jaguars.com senior editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
Debra from Jacksonville
I thought the Jags said they were going to wear their teal jerseys because they are asking the fans to do the same?
Vic: The problem is that teams have to make their uniform decisions in the spring and provide that information to the league by the middle of June; before OTAs end and coaches leave for vacation. The team tells the league what uniforms it will wear for its home games and then the league sends back a confirmation. The Jaguars had decided way back in June to wear their First Holy Communion uniforms this Sunday.
Lee from Jacksonville
Does Tony Romo's five-interception victory prove your theory that a quarterback's success should not be based on the number of interceptions he throws, or were the Cowboys just plain lucky? Also, what did you think about Wade Phillips staying with Romo?
Vic: I didn’t say interceptions should be ignored. I said a few here and there have to be tolerated because any aggressive pass-offense is going to be intercepted on occasion. What the Cowboys did the other night was a fluke. All it proved is that the Bills couldn’t win even when the other team throws five interceptions and allows a kickoff return for a touchdown. As far as staying with Romo, benching him shouldn’t have even been a consideration. A good coach knows that such situations provide an excellent opportunity to show his confidence and commitment in his quarterback. Good coaches also see the big picture.
Skip from Jacksonville
If fans don't turn out for this game, we don't deserve an NFL team here. I remember the early days; the winning years, when there would be 60-70 thousand fans at a preseason game. The stadium was packed. There was excitement. Fans stood up and banged on the backs of the seats in front of them. It sounded like thunder; you could hear it coming around the stadium toward you. There was excitement there I haven't felt since. Football was fun. You felt good as you left the stadium. You wanted to go out and buy more tickets. Can we ever get that back?
Vic: Your memory is either failing you or you’ve chosen to romanticize the past. I have covered every Jaguars home game in history and what you’ve described never occurred. If we’re going to discuss this situation, then let’s at least represent it accurately. I remember, for example, a game against Cincinnati in 1996, in the midst of the Jaguars’ seven-game run to the AFC title game. It was raining and the stadium was empty. The official attendance for that game is 57,408 but the Jaguars just eyeballed the crowd back then and, I assure you, there were closer to 57,408 eyeballs in that stadium than there were people. The truth is the novelty of having an NFL team wore off very quickly and winning didn’t produce more fans. Attendance began to decline in 1999 when the team was 14-2 and had the best record in the league. The truth is the Jaguars have a more stable season-ticket base now than they had then. The truth is the Jaguars are closer now to having the kind of season-ticket base they need than they were then. The truth is the Jaguars are only a few thousand season-ticket holders shy of being sold out; no Winn-Dixie giveaways or a zillion different ticket prices. The situation is much better now than it was back then. The stadium has been sized to fit the market and what playing in this league demands in the way of ticket revenue. Now, it’s just a matter of finding a few thousand more fans. That’s reality, not fantasy.
Mike from Jacksonville
I was at the Steelers game Sunday and would like to make an observation. First, it was 88 degrees at kickoff and 95 percent of the seats were filled, many by fans wearing black. Second, a seat in the second row from the top of the stadium was $60. Finally, everyone was extremely happy with a 21-0 win. I didn't hear one complaint about not scoring more. So, please, fans of Jacksonville, stop complaining about the heat, the cost and the lack of points. It's professional football. It is what it is.
Vic: The Steelers are also celebrating their 75th anniversary, which means that what you experienced this past Sunday was built over a long period of time. That’s what it’s going to take in Jacksonville. It’s going to take time.
James from Jacksonville
Will the Jags wear all black on Monday Night Football? If so I want to have a blacked-out stadium, too. Teal-out this Sunday and black-out the next. That is an awesome look for a night game and a game that could mean so much to the season.
Vic: Yeah, they’re going to wear all black for the Colts game. Teal-out, black-out? How about sellout? That’s the look this team needs most.
James from Jacksonville
Don’t get me wrong, I like flying low under the networks’ radars, but how many more wins do you think it will take before the Jags get taken seriously? Even after shutting down two teams on the road, we still get ignored like escargot at the Middleburg Sonny's BBQ.
Vic: Try the possum belly. It’s delicious.
Josh from Jacksonville
Maybe they should give the stadium wheels and before the game just drive it around picking everyone up.
Vic: People would complain that it left an oil stain in the driveway.
Robert from Green Cove Springs, FL
I'm paraphrasing here, but recently you expressed an opinion that interceptions are sort of a necessary evil and that great quarterbacks, when trying to make great plays, should always be expected to throw one from time to time. I'm excited for Garrard and the way he's progressed thus far, but does the fact that he hasn't thrown a single interception through four games indicate that perhaps he's playing the game a little safe? Could our lack of point production be partially attributed to this?
Vic: Yes, I think it can. I think the Jaguars have played it safe offensively and that’s a reason points production hasn’t been high, but the Jaguars have played it safe for two reasons: 1.) They had a significant lead in each of the last two games and there was no reason to take unnecessary risks. 2.) Ball-control offense goes best with a strong defense. Clearly, not throwing interceptions has been stressed to David Garrard. Clearly, he’s being asked to walk before he runs, so to speak. I think he has another gear in him. I think he can be a prolific passer, but I don’t wanna see that because I don’t think that’s what wins. Balance between run and pass is what wins. Just look at the league offense rankings. The top teams in the league have top 10 running games, with the exception of Green Bay.
Tim from St. Louis, MO
It is really funny how your opinion of building a fan base is so far removed from the reality of the business of football. TV is how the salary cap got over $100 million per team, not butts in seats. You can share all the radio stories you want, but TV revenues is where the NFL power, parity and popularity has come from. I know you won't post this one but I would love to hear your antiquated thoughts?
Vic: TV revenue isn’t going to save this franchise. Butts in the seats is what’s going to secure the future of professional football in Jacksonville. You wanna know what my antiquated thoughts are? Here’s one: Buy a ticket, cheapo.
Josh from Bowling Green, OH
How many more yards does Fred Taylor need for his 10,000?
Vic: He needs 280 more yards. Run, Fred, run.
Scott from Newtown, PA
Why are the Jaguars not wearing their teal jerseys?
Vic: It’s too hot.
Mac from Jacksonville
In your opinion, did Larry Johnson quit early in the game?
Vic: I don’t know if it was early in the game but, yes, I believe he shut it down at some point.
Sam from Jacksonville
Did the Raiders offer Randy Moss for a fourth-round pick deal to everyone in the league? If so, were the Patriots the only ones that accepted? It seems like it would have been in the Raiders’ best interest to trade Moss back to the NFC.
Vic: I’m going to go over this one more time, then I’m done forever. Randy Moss was in control of this situation because he had a $9.75 million salary no team was going to accept. He had to accept a significant cut in pay, which he did with the Patriots. Until he agreed to accept that kind of a pay cut with a new team, there could be no deal and Moss wasn’t going to accept a pay cut with just any team. He wanted to be with Tom Brady and the Patriots because he wanted to have a big finish to his career, which he’s having. There was no way the Jaguars were going to entice Moss to accept a pay cut and a trade to them.
Stuart from St. Louis, MO
Is a gunslinger someone who will throw the ball downfield and risk interceptions, while a game manager just checks down to tight ends and running backs in the flats?
Vic: I think the definition of a gunslinger is someone who throws the ball 40 times a game, and a game manager is someone who throws it 20-25 times a game. The whole thing is ridiculous. They’re terms that have been invented and advanced by the passing game sissies. Just win, baby.