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Not in my glass house

Join jaguars.com senior editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.

Joe from Jefferson City, MO:
I was just wondering how many Heisman Trophy winners have made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Vic: Seven Heisman Trophy winners have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The seven men, in order of the year they won the Heisman Trophy, are: Paul Hornung, Roger Staubach, O.J. Simpson, Tony Dorsett, Earl Campbell, Marcus Allen and Barry Sanders. What a great collection of players. Theirs is a rare and great distinction.

Joe from Corning, NY:
Now that you have had a chance to see Maurice Drew, do you think he has what it takes to be starter?

Vic: We can't know the answer to that question until we see how he holds up over a whole season. At 5-7, that's going to be the issue with him. He needs to prove he's durable enough to carry the load. He wasn't asked to do that at UCLA and may not be asked to do that with the Jaguars, either.

Jonas from Jacksonville:
I don't like the NFL overtime rules. I think both teams should have the ball at least once. Why won't they change it?

Vic: I like the NFL overtime rules. The thing I like about the system is that it's real football that includes a kickoff and punting. The college system, in my opinion, is a scrimmage. Here's the way I look at it: If after three-plus hours of football – which includes two-point conversion attempt opportunities – two teams can't come to a verdict, then it's time to seek a sudden end to the game. I don't want a regulation game that ended in a 10-10 tie to have a 48-45 final score. That's laughable.

Gary from St. Augustine, FL:
I think our color combination is among the worst in the NFL. What do you think, Vic?

Vic: I don't agree. Teal can be a difficult color to feature, but the Jaguars uniforms are distinctive. I will tell you that had I been asked for a color suggestion, I would've suggested navy blue as the team's base color. Jacksonville is a navy town and I think it would've been an appropriate tribute. Plus, I love a navy blue blazer with my khaki pants.

Dan from Washington, DC:
Your comment about nicknames got me to thinking. Do you think it's a coincidence that the team with "Fast Willie," "Big Ben," "The Bus" and others did so well? Maybe other teams should note the power factor of the nickname. What are some of your favorite nicknames over the years?

Vic: I'm sorry, but I can't answer your question because I got an e-mail from a reader who took me to task for the column I wrote last week for which the web design boys used a picture of Bill Cowher. The reader was furious that Cowher's picture appeared on jaguars.com. The reader wants no mention of the Steelers. Apparently, the reader's kind of fragile and I don't want to further anger or offend him, so, I'm sorry I can't answer your question because my favorite nickname is "Mean Joe," but I can't say that, for the obvious reason.

Andy from Jacksonville:
Since OTA's are starting, what should we, as fans, be looking for? What should stand out to us? Are OTA's open to the public?

Vic: OTA's are not open to the public, so, you got that going for you. A few years ago, my buddy Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union complained that OTA's weren't open to the media, which caused them to be opened to the media, which caused me to complain angrily to Vito because I don't want to spend all spring standing in the sun watching the same boring thing: The ball is thrown, the ball is caught. That's why they call it passing camp. There are no shoulder pads, no threat of contact on the receiver and no pass-rush. If you can't complete passes in that environment, then it's time to install the single wing. As fans, you should be looking for nothing in OTA's because nothing is going to stand out in OTA's. Have you ever watched pre-game warm ups? That's what OTA's are. So why do they have OTA's? So the players can learn the playbook. That's the value of OTA's. I'll let you know if anyone gets hurt or if anything significant happens.

James from Grand Ridge, FL:
Do you think it's wise that the Jags keep acquiring players that seem to be unable to control their off-the-field behavior?

Vic: I hesitate to comment on the behavior of others because of that old "glass houses" saying. We all live in them, to a certain degree, and as soon as we start throwing stones at others, look out! If you wanna do it, go ahead, but I don't feel comfortable doing it. I understand that some of these guys have done bad things. I think they should be made to atone for their sins, pay their debts to society, but I also believe in second chances. Jack Del Rio put it very well on Monday when he spoke of a "shortened leash." That's what you get when you screw up and I think that's fair. Each person has to decide where they stand on this issue. I can tell you the Jaguars have very capable means of examining a player's background. Del Rio has obviously reviewed those backgrounds and believes a second chance is warranted. I can tell you this: If it was a member of my family, I would be grateful.

Paula from Jacksonville:
Byron or David? While Byron gave it a good run, it was David who propelled us to the postseason. When will Jack wake up and smell the jock straps?

Vic: Couldn't you have used another metaphor? Are you comparing David Garrard to a jock strap? Why not roses or flowers. Jock straps? Paula, come on. Would you want to wake up and smell jock straps?

Chris from Stafford, KS:
Why get an old veteran punter to take up a roster spot when we have a young star in Chris Hanson?

Vic: This is not the time of year when you cut the roster. There's a long time between now and then and a lot of footballs will be punted between now and then. Do you wanna burn out Hanson's leg in the spring? This is an opportunity to get another leg on the field and, at the same time, evaluate that player for future reference. What happens if Hanson gets hurt? Everything is done for a reason.

Larry from Jacksonville:
In regards to Ryan's question about the fan poll on the draft, it appears that you, like most sportswriters, evaluate the draft based solely on what a team did to help itself.

Vic: If you're saying what the team did to address needs, you're absolutely wrong. When I evaluate a draft, I grade a team on its ability to have acquired value. For example, I think the Texans got great value in selecting Charles Spencer and Eric Winston in the third round. I think Winston Justice was a great value pick for Philadelphia in the second round, and Chris Gocong in the third round and Max Jean-Gilles in the fourth may have been even better. That's why I think Philly had the best draft, because it got great value. The next time, ask me and I'll tell you, instead of telling me and I tell you you're wrong. Tom Coughlin used to say the draft is all about needs. I couldn't disagree more. In my opinion, the draft is all about value.

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