Join jaguars.com Senior Editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
Matt from Savannah, GA:
What happened to the "Reporters' Corner?" Besides reading "Ask Vic" nightly to keep current with Jaguars news, I have also come to rely on the "Reporters' Corner." I was disappointed to see another week go by without a new clip. I try to listen to you on Wednesday evenings but I am usually in my car and the nightly electrical storms interfere to the point that AM radio is nothing but static.
Vic: This is a seasonal business and this is the vacation season, and it's that way all across the league. All I can tell you is that the start of training camp is rapidly approaching, and when it starts a couple of weeks from now there will be lots of new information every day.
Sonny from Holiday, FL:
With the talent pool crowding at RB and WR on the Jags roster, and the severity of the injury, do you think Jermaine Lewis can make the comeback and be our kick-returner? Any word on how he has been recovering /running this spring?
Vic: He's not all the way back. He's not even a year removed from the ACL, which is widely considered to be a two-year injury. Expectations for Jermaine Lewis should be adjusted accordingly.
Jon from Ocala, FL:
Have you ever heard of a player not having an agent and negotiating his own contract?
Vic: In the "old" days it happened quite often. I can remember Ray Mansfield talking about how he always negotiated his contracts, and relating some of the funny stories that resulted from those negotiations. But these are very definitely not the "old" days and they haven't been that way for a long time. There are a handful of players currently in the league who've negotiated their own deals – the most prominent of whom is Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi – but the vast majority of players have agents and that's a trend that's going to continue. Remember, agents do more than just negotiate contracts. They also shop their players' services around to other teams when that player is out of work. That's when an agent really earns his money.
Mike from St. Augustine, FL:
It's good to be back home. I have spent the last six weeks in Colorado and I have been out of touch with your column. My question is how is the renovation of the scoreboards coming along? Will the project be completed for the start of preseason?
Vic: Work began this week and the Jaguars maintain their belief that installation will be complete for the preseason home game against Tampa Bay on Aug. 20.
David from Orlando, FL:
In the past our star players have led by example and usually didn't say much, like say a Ray Lewis or Steve McNair. Who are the best candidates to step up and be the vocal leader that all great teams must have?
Vic: I wouldn't consider Steve McNair a vocal leader. I think he's clearly a do-as-I-do-not-as-I-say guy, and McNair's has expressed his leadership skills loudest with his willingness to play hurt. That's when a player really becomes a leader; when he plays hurt. How can you not respect that? How do other players on the team not do the same when the star of the team, who could easily take the money and run, puts it all on the line. If Ray Lewis wasn't that kind of player, all of that song and dance stuff wouldn't be worth a thing. The real truth of the matter is that most players don't like mouthy teammates, and any player who wants to be a mouthpiece better command a high degree of respect and affection from his teammates or his words may only serve to divide the locker room. The Jaguars had some vocal "leaders" who expressed themselves at halftime of the AFC title game in January of 2000. You might recall that the second half didn't go well. I'm sorry, but I couldn't agree with you less. Great teams don't require words; they require actions.
