Join Jaguars Inside Report Senior Editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
Mikayl from Providence, RI:
I was going to write you about the supplemental draft when someone else wrote you about it. Now that we all know what it is, do you think it's a good way to find players, or is losing a pick for the next year's draft too big of a price? Also, what star players in the NFL have been acquired via the supplemental draft instead of the regular April draft?
Vic: It's obviously not a good place to acquire talent; the price is too high for players who, for the most part, would not have carried draftable grades in the April selection process. The most notable player to have come through the supplemental draft process is Bernie Kosar, a first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns. It was very controversial. The Browns were accused of collusion with Kosar, who didn't declare eligibility for the April draft. The Browns then jockeyed into position to select Kosar in the supplemental draft.
Michael from Jacksonville Beach, FL:
I didn't see the outcome of the joint gift. Was it the tile and grout cleaner?
Vic: No, it was the comforter. Fortunately, it wasn't the golf club membership to an out-of-the-way place with a men's-only grill and a lot of guys who sit around all day playing cards and watching sports on television. I'm figuring the tile and grout cleaner will be a good candidate for Valentine's Day.
Charles from Jacksonville:
In reference to Scott's question about the record passing yards for a rookie in a season, how does Byron compare if you only use the average for games in which the rookies were a starter?
Vic: All of those guys mentioned – Peyton Manning, Chris Weinke and Rick Mirer – were starters in their rookie seasons. Manning and Mirer started all 16 games, and Weinke started 15 games. Byron Leftwich was the Jaguars' starting quarterback in 13 games this season.
Bill from Jacksonville:
This question is more for Wayne Weaver but hope you can answer. If most of the funds for the Jaguars come from TV and not from attendance at games, why can't the ticket prices be lowered to say $5 for upper levels in order to fill the stadium and stop the blackouts?
Vic: You're right, that is a question for Wayne Weaver, but you might be underestimating ticket revenue. It's an enormously important revenue stream. When you factor in luxury-suite and club-seat revenue, what a team can earn from its gate is near the equal of what it receives from television. If it wasn't important, we wouldn't have had the explosion in stadium construction that has occurred over the past several years.
O'Neil from North Lauderdale, FL:
Throughout this season, you've stressed your policy of being patient with a team in rebuilding such as the Jaguars. But I don't support this one bit, for the simple fact that the Jags have had plenty of opportunities to win. All season long the Jags have driven the ball into the red zone, and most commonly come out with a field goal or empty-handed. There have been picks thrown in the red zone, missed field goals, turnover on downs, etc. Either the play-calling has been horrible in the red zone or the players aren't executing. Overall, this whole patience thing is just an excuse for losing. What do you think?
Vic: Let me get this straight: You tell me what I think, then tell me I'm wrong for thinking that, then ask me what I think. I think you need to be patient because the season is over.
Troy from Murrieta, CA:
Can you please let us know what slot we will draft in this year?
Vic: Ninth.
Hicham from Dubai, UAE:
I have to say, Sunday's game was an extreme disappointment for me. I felt Jacksonville really went into the game as the better team and was shocked to see we were down 21-7 at halftime. I guess it really does come down to stopping the run, but this team has some serious problems scoring when we get into the red zone. What's it gonna take for the Jaguars to score touchdowns? To score points, Leftwich has to throw the ball, but when he does, he throws interceptions.
Vic: It's gonna take patience because there's no other option. That's the answer nobody wants to hear because patience requires strength and discipline; it's a tough thing to do in a country that's grown very accustomed to getting what it wants now. But it doesn't work that way with young quarterbacks. When you cast your lot with a rookie quarterback, you commit to patience. That's the way it is. If you can't handle that, this may not be for you.
Sharon from Port Charlotte, FL:
I was watching the new NFL channel when they had a program on the Bisons. It's an all-deaf college football team. They stated how deaf football teams invented the huddle. Can you give me info on where to read more about this?
Vic: I have a feeling you were watching a film entitled "Football in America." It was released in the mid-1990's and it's a wonderful production; a must-see for all football fans. One of the segments in the film is dedicated to football at Gallaudet University, a school for the deaf in Washington, D.C. What a great place. If you want to feel good about something, get "Football in America" and watch the segment on Gallaudet. In that part of the movie, it is described how a large bass drum is used by the Gallaudet team to execute its snap count. Though the players are deaf, they feel the drum's vibration. On the second bang, if that's the snap count, off they go in unison. Don't like the play-calling? Put down your Madden for a minute and watch "Football in America." Allow yourself some perspective. As far as more information, do a search on the web for Gallaudet.
