Vic: I dislike it. I dislike the idea of a pitcher being able to throw at batters and not have to worry about retaliation. I wonder what kind of pitcher Roger Clemens would’ve been had he not been protected by the designated hitter rule.

Vic: That’s what we’re going to find out. Is it the Patriots? The Colts? The Browns? The Chargers? Or how about the Jaguars?

Vic: The media is to blame. A significant portion of the media invited angry commentary because anger sells. FAN radio is nothing but anger. A certain TV news channel is nothing but anger. Anger is beginning to permeate every aspect of our media, even that aspect that doesn’t invite it. Hey, it is what it is. If taking it out on me keeps someone from taking it out on his kids, then please take it out on me.

Vic: I think Fred has a better chance than Jimmy because Fred is still playing and, therefore, has a chance to push his numbers higher and increase his overall career achievements.

Vic: Ticket sales are usually, by far, a team’s second-greatest source of revenue. That’s the case with the Jaguars.

Vic: Top news stories fall into one of two categories: the sublime or the ridiculous. Favre may be on the verge of moving into the second category.

Vic: All of the “A” tee slots are full. We’re now filling the “B” groups.

Vic: As I’ve said several times, I think this franchise has a chance to become a monster. In a town that doesn’t have another major league team, I think the Jaguars will become an easily renewable entity in Jacksonville. That day hasn’t arrived. We need more time. The question is: How much more time?

Vic: The NFL recently instituted a rule forbidding team owners to have gambling interests. The five Rooney brothers each own 16 percent of the Steelers and three of those brothers have gambling interests and must divest themselves of their interest in the Steelers. Those three brothers account for 48 percent of the Steelers ownership. Thirty-two percent of the team belongs to brothers Dan and Art Jr., and 20 percent of the team is owned by the McGinley family. Dan Rooney would like to fund the purchase of the 48 percent in question, for the obvious reason, but the Steelers franchise is valued at somewhere between $800 million and $1.2 billion, which would make for a very pricey funding project. All of the brothers know their father’s wishes, above all, would be for ownership of the team to remain within the family. Making this happen could be difficult. Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue is assisting Dan Rooney and his son Art II in their quest. I was talking about this with one of the guys who has covered the Steelers for a long time and he said he remembers when Art Rooney Sr. pointed to the team’s original purchase certificate, which was in a frame on a wall in Rooney’s office and displayed a purchase price of $2,500, and said: “We were all better off when these teams were only worth that much money.” That was more than 20 years ago. He could’ve never imagined his team would be worth a billion dollars. The NFL has not imposed a deadline for the divesting of the three brothers’ interest in the Steelers.

Vic: Do you actually believe that crap? Playing smart football is a big part of winning, but I’ve never known a team to have swagger without being physically dominant. The truth of the matter is that swagger is a result, not a cause. First you win, then you have swagger.

Vic: Well, Mike, the Jaguars spent a lot of money in free agency to upgrade their wide receiver corps and defensive backfield. They also signed a backup quarterback, Cleo Lemon, and threw a lot of money at fullback Greg Jones. Then they aggressively addressed need at defensive end with their first two draft picks. They signed their starting quarterback, David Garrard, and their head coach, Jack Del Rio, to rich, long-term contracts. Wayne Weaver spent a lot of money, Mike, on addressing needs and providing for the long-term future of the franchise. Wadda ya think?