JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL

John: It took former Jaguars left tackle Tony Boselli a number of years to get into the Hall of Fame. I read an article that Jared Allen is upset that he's not in yet. He had a great career. Thoughts?

I think former NFL All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen will be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame sometime very soon and when he is elected, I think he will be very deserving. There has been a trend in recent years of Hall-of-Fame worthy players becoming upset if they are not elected to the Hall "quickly enough," perhaps because we as collective of NFL observers have in recent seasons attached some magical value to being a "first-ballot" Hall of Famer. There is no special color of bust for first-ballot Hall of Famers. A Hall of Famer is a Hall of Famer. There are many Hall-of-Fame-worthy former players. Not all of them get elected every year. I understand Allen being frustrated and perhaps upset. He's a human being and humans are emotional. I expect the frustration to be quickly forgotten when he is inevitably elected.

Gibran from Aledo Area

Hey, John. I was curious about the discussions concerning poor tackling. Do you think it may be due to the continued push for player safety and good/bad calls during games that have caused many defensive players to become overly cautious about tackling?

My sense is that the lack of live tackling in NFL practices contributes the most to this issue. There's also no question that – in specific instances – a worry over drawing penalties contributes to some very glaring missed tackles. Have the rules skewed so far toward safety to make these specific instances somewhat more common? Yes. That's safe to say.

Gator from Gainesville, FL

Do you ever sit around and think about how cool I am?

I don't. Sexton does.

Ray from Newport News, VA

When looking at OTAs (volunteer), minicamp (mandatory) and training camp (mandatory), how much time during each phase is spent on the field, weight room and classroom (I understand this might change a little via coach preference)? If you could provide a generic number of hours players spend doing each activity it would be appreciated. Does the NFL/NFLPA regulate any of this?

I'll quote the Collective Bargaining Agreement here: On OTAs: "During the ten days of organized team activity, players may be (1) at the Club facility no more than six hours per day; and (2) on the field no more than two hours per day." On mandatory minicamp: "Two-a-day practices shall be permitted on two of the three practice days of the Club's one mandatory minicamp, subject to the following rules: (i) minicamp may be held for a maximum of twenty-four hours over three days; (ii) players may be on the field for a total of no more than three and one-half hours per day; (iii) players may participate in one practice for no more than two and one-half hours of on-field activities under Phase Three rules." On training camp: "Following a five-day on-field acclimation period, two-a-day practices shall be permitted, subject to the following rules: (i) players may be on the field for a total of no more than four hours per day; (ii) players may participate in no more than one padded practice per day, which shall be no longer than 2.5 hours of on-field activities; (iii) there must be at least a 90-minute interval between practices; and (iv) the second practice on the same day may only be for a maximum of the remaining four-hour on-field time, and shall be limited to only walk-through instruction and drills and plays conducted at an acceptable walkthrough pace. On days on which either a padded practice or a full-speed, non-padded practice is scheduled, but no second practice is scheduled, the padded practice or the full speed, non-padded practice remains subject to the 2.5-hour time limit for on-field activities." Meetings and strength-and-conditioning sessions are scheduled around these guidelines. Players can't be at the facility more than 11 hours early in training camp and they can't be there more than 10 hours after the second preseason games. The NFL/NFLPA absolutely regulates and monitors this.

Roy from Jacksonville

Re: No. 1 receivers, here is Jordan Love speaking:

He's a quiet sort, isn't he?

Rob from Jacksonville

Mac Jones is no slouch and I believe his best days are ahead of him. I also believe Trevor is our guy. With that said, the Jags have two quarterbacks with almost identical resumes (college and pro). I can almost hear the boo birds now if Trevor has a few bumps or even worse, he has to sit for a game or two and Mac lights it up. This feels like it could be a strange moment looming in this organization's already strange history.

If Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence plays poorly in 2024, there will be a lot of "noise in the system" because that's how NFL quarterbacking works. Could some of that noise be premature calls for a former first-round selection such as Jaguars reserve quarterback Mac Jones? I wouldn't call it likely, but stranger things have happened.

Richard from Jacksonville

Mac Jones is saying all the right things. Does the organization have rights to his fifth-year option or do you see this as a one and done if Lawrence stays healthy all season? RIP Silkie's. You will be missed.

Mac Jones is saying the only thing there is to be said – and that's the truth. The truth is that he is a backup quarterback, with his role this offseason therefore to learn the offense and to be as ready as possible to play should Lawrence not be available. The Jaguars did not exercise Jones' fifth-year option. Silkie's indeed will be missed. I didn't frequent it enough. Add this to the list of things that make me less of a person.

Brian from ROUND ROCK, TX

Do you think Doug Pederson is a great leader of men? I doubt he would honestly describe himself that way. I think he's a scheme guy, a strategy guy.

I think Pederson's leadership absolutely is his biggest strength as an NFL head coach. I would put play-calling second. He's a very good play-caller and offensive mind. But you don't lead teams to Super Bowl victories and playoff appearances as a head coach if you're not a high-end leader. And from my view, Pederson absolutely is a high-end communicator and leader.

Jacksonville aka DUUUVAL

Every time Trevor Lawrence mess up at the home games I'm gone yell put Mac "Attack" Jones in the game! #IBelieveInTheHomeTownKid #HesAWinner #BringTheJagsTheirFirstSuperBowl

Are you?

Bo from Winter Springs

"Who signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft, will be placed on injured reserve and the injury almost is certainly season-ending." Does this count against 2024 cap space. If so, how much? Not to be insensitive. I feel bad when any of these guys gets a season ending injury.

The top 53 salary-cap hits count against a team's cap space. An undrafted collegiate free agent who is not on the roster therefore has little-to-no effect on the cap.

Tom from Sanford

Let's put "generational talent" in context. It's a pre-draft claim. There have been only two other quarterbacks who were called that, John Elway and Andrew Luck. Both were excellent quarterbacks that any team would have been glad to have the chance to draft, but neither was the best quarterback of their era. If that's what the Jags have with Trevor Lawrence, then the fans should be grateful.

Yep.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

Listening to the O-Zone Trevor Lawrence podcast, talk about a guy who seems to be on rails in what your want to hear from your quarterback. How impressive is he on this front in your estimation? When you factor his tape and trajectory from last season before the perpetual injuries, along with the offseason additions around him … yeah, I'm ready to run through a few walls.

Lawrence from the moment the Jaguars selected him No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft always has been very impressive in all off-field intangibles such as poise, leadership, command and understanding what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. He has "it."

Jonathan from Formerly of Jax Beach

So, are you saying guys like Ronnie Lott, Louis Oliver, Ed Reed and Sean Taylor weren't concerned about keeping themselves healthy for the season? Lott cut off the tip of a finger to get back in the game. It's more that today's players play for different reasons or reason and it's the Almighty dollar.

I don't know that I was saying what you thought I was saying though I suppose it's possible. Still: Lott, Reed, Taylor … and Oliver?

Daniel from St Johns, FL

Jeff Lageman, Tony Boselli, Fred Taylor, Oehser … the rest I can take or leave … Thanks, John!

Lageman, Boselli, Taylor … and Oehser?