Join jaguars.com Senior Writer Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
Lucas Hernandez from San Antonio, TX: |
Vic: The Jaguars pushed money onto future caps, which, in effect, allowed them in past years to play with a roster that was worth considerably more than the cap limit allowed. Of course, that catches up with you one day, which it has this year and probably will for a couple of years after that. How does a team push money onto future caps? One little trick is to convert salary into bonus money, which can be amortized evenly over the remaining years of the contract. Salary must be declared on the cap in full in the year it is paid. I think you can figure out the rest. |
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Robert Bartles from Baxley, GA: |
Vic: A limit is set for each team's draft class, but setting a limit for free agents would severely restrict player movement in free agency, therefore, it would be unacceptable to the players union. You must remember that salary cap figures are not arbitrary amounts. They are the result of a defined percentage of the league's gross revenues, as provided by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The cap is working. There are definite signs that it is regulating the NFL in a responsible and positive way. Now is not the time to find ways to defeat it. The cap is our friend. Take care of the cap and it will take care you. |
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Scott Walden from Columbus, OH:
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Vic: I don't think it's realistic to expect Nickerson or Lake to be Pro-Bowl candidates in 2001. Once a veteran player has a down season, or a season lost to injury, it's next to impossible for him to reclaim public perception. Immediately, media and fans begin looking for the next Hardy Nickerson or the next Carnell Lake. It is realistic to expect Nickerson and Lake to be contributors in 2001; veteran leaders who still have enough left in the tank to justify their presence in the lineup. Of course, all of that hinges on their ability to recover from their injuries. Can they do that? We won't know until training camp. |
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Bret Lanston from Jacksonville: |
Vic: You can't honestly think the players would accept that. Remember, the salary cap is a product of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. |
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J.R. Comer from Orange Park, FL: |
Vic: The greatest improvement last season was realized on the offensive line. That's why the Jaguars want to re-sign Todd Fordham and Jeff Smith, which would leave the Jaguars in a less desperate situation on their offensive line in the draft. Fordham is a perfect example of player development, which I believe to be the only way to win long-term in this salary cap era. You better have "jars on the shelf," if you're going to overcome the inevitable losses in free agency. And you're right, the middle and late rounds are very important, because that's where you find players you may commit to development. I think it's obvious the Jaguars spent too much money in free agency, and didn't develop enough of their late-round picks into long-term contributors. |
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Eric Chan from Jacksonville Beach, FL: |
Vic: Raiola is a special talent at center and is one of the few players at his position in recent years who warrants a first-round draft selection. Polk is a top-rated inside linebacker who is being projected to be drafted late in the first round or early in the second round. Both players would be nice fits for the Jaguars, especially Polk, but the 13th pick overall may be a little high for either player, and they'll probably be gone be the time the Jags pick in the second round. |