Join *Jaguars Inside Report *Senior Editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
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Jim Zambelli from Jacksonville:
I recognize Boselli's huge reputation as an offensive tackle, but he's only one great player on a mediocre team at a position that hardly makes a truly significant difference during a course of a game or over a season, as the Jaguars' record proves. The way Brunell plays without Smith and McCardell, the same can be said for him. Why not consider trading both to alleviate the cap problem and begin to think about rebuilding the team as a whole? By the way, the importance of Boselli in the clubhouse is overrated. You don't win games in the clubhouse, and, so far, the Boselli/Brunell Jaguars haven't been doing it on the field, either.
Vic: Trading Tony Boselli and Mark Brunell would not alleviate the Jaguars' salary cap problem; it would worsen it beyond repair. When you trade a player, his bonus amortization does not go with him. The trading team retains the amortization money. Boselli's and Brunell's remaining amortization is $10.39 million and $14.35 million respectively. In the trade scenario you've presented, the Jaguars would realize a combined $24.74 million hit in what's called "dead" money, and "dead" money is the almighty cap killer. Nothing is worse than off the roster and on the cap.
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Bob Blades from Redlands, CA:**
The Jaguars don't seem to be a high-paying team, now. How come more teams are not in the same mess when these huge contracts are signed? Is it a remnant from the free agents?
Vic: In terms of salaries, the Jaguars are one of the lowest-paying teams in the league. That's because the Jaguars have converted all of their salaries above minimum wage into bonus money. Why do that? Because salary must be declared on the salary cap in the year the money is paid, while bonus money may be amortized over the remaining years of the contract. That's the formula it took for this team to get under the cap limit this season. It's also the formula that helped put this team in the cap situation it's in, and, yes, signing free agents was the motivation.
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Tanner Hopkins from Salt Lake City, UT:**
I saw the Giants game last Thursday and I was upset to see that Alvis Whitted did so bad. He dropped two balls and fumbled on the end-around that was blocked so nicely. He made those same mistakes last year and he still played more than I thought he should. Has he ruined his chances with the Jaguars? And why have they kept him for as long as they have? The Jaguars should have solid backups in the wide receiver position because of the injuries to their two starters.
Vic: Tom Coughlin, like all coaches, loves speed. That's why the Jaguars have remain committed to Alvis Whitted. Last summer, he caught everything thrown to him in training camp, and it appeared as though Coughlin's faith and patience in Whitted was being rewarded. However, this summer has seen Whitted struggle at catching the football, much as he did as a rookie. I have to believe he's damaged his job security, but, remember, the Jaguars will be very thin at wide receiver until Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell are fully recovered from their surgeries.
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Doug Salmon from Carbondale, IL:**
With cap money going to players no longer on that particular team, do you think it is possible that teams can get away from signing bonuses? Can teams be competitive in your view by just spending the cap per year and not large bonuses that go against the cap for the length of the contract, even if the player has been released? Do you think the Texans could start their contractual policy by not providing signing bonuses and provide more toward the actual contract for the 16-game regular season? I have read that some teams have as much as 20 percent of their cap going to players no longer on their roster.
Vic: What you're describing is a "hard cap." That means that all money paid in a year is declared on that year's salary cap, and, yes, that would be the best way to ensure the financial stability of all of the teams and maintain competitive balance. However, signing bonuses are here to stay because that's guaranteed money and that's what the players want most. Let me put it this way: When a player's contract is high in salary and low in bonus, the team's got him; when a player's contract is high in bonus and low in salary, he's got the team. Levon Kirkland had reached the end of his amortization this year and he was due to make $4.7 million in salary. The Steelers cut him. If he had $4.7 million remaining in amortization and was due to make the minimum wage in salary, he'd probably still be with the Steelers. The Texans won't be able to change the system. The key for all teams is to be as conscientious as possible in paying guaranteed money, because players can't guarantee performance.
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Brandes Morris from Peoria, IL:**
I'm just wondering when will the Jaguars' organization realize they need to be more physical and stop trying to arm-tackle other teams? The preseason performance against the Giants turned my stomach. If this is any indication what the 2001-2002 season is going to be like, then maybe I should choose a real football team.
Vic: It always starts with blocking and tackling. If you can't do that, it won't matter what plays you call.
Stan Holt from Irvine, CA:
It seems Tom Coughlin is really concerned about the way the team played against the Giants. Sometimes coaches overstate how concerned they
are to motivate their players. Are the Jaguars making mistakes that are easily correctable, or are they really playing as poorly as he says they are? Also, how serious do think the Jags will take their next preseason game against the Chiefs?
Vic: Tom Coughlin has painted a very accurate picture. For that reason, the Jaguars will approach this Thursday's preseason game against the Chiefs with more of a regular season attitude. They've got to execute the basic stuff.
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Vic Ketchman is the Senior Editor of Jaguars Inside Report, the official team newspaper of the Jacksonville Jaguars. One-year subscriptions may be purchased by calling 1-888-846-5247.
