JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

What's your opinion on the dispute between the NFL and the referees' union? The latest reporting I'm reading is the NFL is saying it wants to make the referees full-time, increase referee salaries and push for further accountability ... and that the referees' union doesn't want to play ball. I see nothing from the referees' union refuting that notion. It has always been ridiculous that NFL referees are not full-time employees. Why would the officials, who dictate the outcome of your contests, not be trained year-round? If referees are rejecting being made full-time, what would prevent the league from onboarding replacement officials and training them to become their new official officials? If a proposed rule change that allows the league office to overrule any egregious calls by the replacement referees while they're being brought in and trained passes, why would they not consider that? That takes all the leverage from the referees' side out of the equation, because games would no longer hang in the balance while the impasse they're at continues.

Negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement indeed reportedly thus far have been unsuccessful, with sources recently saying a deal by the May 31 deadline seems unlikely. NFLRA executive director Scott Green in a Monday Associated Press story dismissed much of the reported information as inaccurate – and with the stories about this issue typically relying on anonymous sources, it's difficult to know exactly what's true. My thoughts on NFL officials remain what they always have been – that making them full-time is unnecessary and any move to do so would be more to win popular opinion than to implement any real change. Contrary to Twitter and quick-trigger opinion, the reality is NFL officials are very good. And whatever calls they do miss, "working year-round" won't fix them. When NFL calls get missed, it's not because officials aren't trained or that they don't understand the rules. It's because the NFL is a fast-moving, high-impact sport involving 22 players on a 100-yard field – which makes it difficult, if not impossible, to officiate perfectly. Remember, too: National Basketball Association officials and Major League Baseball umpires are full time. I'm guessing it has been a while since the last perfectly officiated game in those leagues.

Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville, FL

In response to Roger from Jacksonville's position regarding Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone having traded away two first-round selections for the No. 2 overall selection to draft Travis Hunter being a failure if Hunter only plays cornerback (a valid question), I in turn have a question. Would it not be fair to at least consider the notion that the current regime was placing a discount on the 2025 and 2026 draft classes and therefore devaluing the higher draft slots? Haven't we heard for a number of years now that the COVID-19 exemptions have thinned out the talent and made these recent classes weaker than historical trends? It feels like there might be something to this but it's hard to qualify it.

Teams absolutely factor projected strengths and weaknesses in draft classes – either draft-wide or specific to positions – when making decisions about trades and acquisitions. These projections don't dictate everything a team does regarding a specific draft. But those projections do often factor into decisions.

Bradley from Death Valley, CA

If you ran a team, would you rather have a young stud quarterback on a rookie contract (Drake Maye of the New England Patriots, Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders, Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears, etc.) or a high-priced veteran All-Pro type (Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, etc.).

We overthink things sometimes – and we can get lost in salary cap ramifications, rookie contracts and roster machinations. Yes, all those things matter. But ultimately the NFL is about the best players – particularly the best quarterback. So … who's the best quarterback in the NFL? That's who I want.

Chris from Mandarin

Who's the real fool, the fool or the fool that follows him? Alas, I keep reading.

No fooling?

Armand from Jacksonville

On the players' exit interview at the end of the season, what gets discussed?

The specifics of this vary from team to team, coach to coach and player to player because ultimately "exit interviews" are conversations between coach and player. NFL end-of-season exit interviews therefore are typically what you would expect in that player and coach discuss the season that just ended and the offseason at hand – with the focus on what the player did well and what the player can improve upon moving forward.

Daniel from Johnston, IA

I know you don't typically comment on other teams, but what were your thoughts on the Bills parting ways with Sean McDermott? Maybe it's just the years of Jags losing, but if we had a coach that continually got us to the playoffs, I'd be pretty thrilled with that...

This is not specific to the Buffalo Bills, but NFL owners from this view too often fire successful head coaches for not being successful enough – and for circumstances beyond their control. I didn't like the Bills firing Head Coach Sean McDermott because I, like you, believe a head coach and quarterback should ultimately be judged on what they can control – and while head coaches and quarterbacks typically can control whether they get into the postseason, it's harder to control whether you win a Super Bowl. McDermott from this view is one of the better head coaches in the NFL. If I owned a team, I would strongly consider hiring him. Not that I own a team. At least not yet.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Enjoy reading your daily Q&A. Are you still enamored with our current offensive line or do we need an upgrade? Line was better last year but still needs to do better! What are your thoughts??

I don't know that I was ever "enamored" with the Jaguars' offensive line. Enamored means filled with deep, irrational love – and I always try to be rational when discussing the NFL and answering questions here in the O-Zone. Rationally speaking, the Jaguars' offensive line was good last season. It was better than the previous season and needs to keep improving.

John from Pinehurst, NC

For the first time ever, I agree with Gary (re: tennis).

People ask questions. I answer. This is the premise of the O-Zone. Always has been. I expect it always will be.

Anita from Springfield

Let's say Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is a second-team All-Pro level cornerback – never the best, but always good. And let's say he's good for five touchdowns and some splash plays on offense every year. Combined with his intangible qualities and how he elevates the space around him "by being himself," I would say that is worth the picks. And that doesn't feel unrealistic given what we've already seen.

This probably wouldn't make everyone happy. Then again, I don't know that Hunter – the No. 2 overall selection by the Jaguars in the 2025 NFL Draft – ever will make everyone happy. And I don't know that he ever will "live up" to the "hype" around him because the "hype" around him as been so insanely high that many observers will never believe he's good enough. This is why he and the Jaguars are best served not worrying about what he's "worth" or whether he's fulfilling potential. Is Hunter good? Is he helping the Jaguars win? Is he making difference-making plays? Is he key to the organization? Those are some of the questions the Jaguars will ask regarding Hunter.

Ken from Jacksonville

Since you have been covering the NFL, has the "if we are losing, it must be the coach - so we fire him" mentality always been or is that a relatively new phenomenon in the last 10-15 years? I agree with your "it's always coaching in the NFL" sentiment — and wondering if these short-term coaching gigs have always been the norm (as opposed to more tenured coaches like former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin or former Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy of five-plus years)? Thanks O!

It always has been always coaching in the NFL – though the trigger in this quick-trigger profession does seem quicker than ever these days.

Fred from Naples, FL

I am looking forward to this year's draft. While I don't think the Jags have enough ammo to get back into Round 1, I do think they will trade up to go higher in Round 2. One thing you can count on is that because we have no pick in the first round all the so-called "media experts" will go us no higher than a "C" grade no matter who we choose with all 11 picks.

There's truth to this. It would really be a major concern except for the fact that draft grades really aren't concerning at all.