Join jaguars.com Senior Editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
Ryan from Charlotte, NC:
What exactly are you referring to when you refer to "share the burden of other teams' high-revenue ways?"
Vic: The salary cap figure is determined by the league's total football revenue. The higher the league's revenue, the higher the salary cap, which means the greater each team's player costs are for that year. So, when a team such as the Redskins drives revenue, it's driving up the financial liability each team in the league will incur in the way of player costs. In other words, the Redskins share all of the cost, but very little of the revenue.
David from Charlotte, NC:
"Goodell: Jaguars are among 12 NFL teams facing blackouts this season." This scrolled relentlessly on the bottom of ESPN and ESPN2 all day/night on Tuesday. Why do you think they chose to name only us out of all 12 teams facing the same situation?
Vic: It's likely for two reasons: 1.) The problem here is graver than it is in other places. 2.) The news value is greater because the threat is imminent.
John from Arlington, VA:
Peter King released his season predictions and he put the Jaguars at the bottom of it with a 6-10 record. I just wanted to warn you of the flood of e-mails you might be seeing on this subject.
Vic: Thanks for the warning but I don't see where that should be of any alarm to anybody. This is rebuilding. Fans should be able to understand and accept that as a cyclical fact of life in the NFL.
Bob from Neptune Beach, FL:
Do you have any Y.A. Tittle stories and where would you rate him as a QB?
Vic: I think everyone knows about the cracked head, but few people know that it inspired the final scene in an awful football movie entitled "Number One," which starred Charlton Heston in a performance that fits somewhere between Heston's work in "Ben-Hur" and "Bowling for Columbine." I remember Tittle for what he did late in his career with the Giants. He was outstanding. He was a very intelligent quarterback who was tough to rattle and knew where to go with the ball and was a very accurate passer. Had he played his entire career with the Giants, where he would've been surrounded by offensive firepower such as Frank Gifford, Kyle Rote, Alex Webster and Del Shofner, he may be ranked in the same class with Johnny Unitas. Even though he wasted the prime years of his career in San Francisco, one of the great trades in NFL history brought him to New York for a grand finale that earned him a place in the Hall of Fame.
Mark from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
"Socially, we've been trained to think the quarterback is the most beautiful person on the team," says professor VanGilder. This was a quote in a recent "Wall Street Journal" article about cute quarterbacks. Don't you think this flies in the face of your tough game for tough guys mantra?
Vic: Professor VanGilder obviously never saw Y.A. Tittle.
David from Tuscaloosa, AL:
Do you think Florida should be required to play out-of-state games other than the conference slate?
Vic: Does Charleston Southern even have a stadium?
Jeffrey from Elgin, SC:
What would be the advantage for small-market teams if the NFL did not have a salary cap? Wouldn't it create the massive expenditures that we currently see in baseball?
Vic: The advantage is that teams wouldn't be required to spend to a minimum level which, in some cases, would guarantee the team will lose money that year. Without a minimum cap, teams could spend according to their earnings, which is sound business strategy. That system hasn't worked well in baseball because the pool of talent isn't large enough to support that kind of a system. In other words, the high-revenue teams are able to corner the market on talent. That's why you've seen baseball really hit the Latin market in recent years. There's an overflow of baseball talent in Latin America and the have-not teams can hit that market and find the talent that can make them competitive. You're going to see more and more of that as time goes on. The NFL doesn't have to go outside this country to find talent. America is loaded with football talent and, in my opinion, small-market teams with good scouting departments can find the overflow talent they need and be competitive, as long as they have enough money to spend on a quarterback. In other words, put Tom Brady on any team and they're in the hunt.
Greg from Jacksonville:
After three preseason games I am wondering where are the hot-shot, young receivers the Jags drafted? Were they abducted by aliens, too?
Vic: After three whole preseason games? That's unacceptable. Crucify them, crucify them.
Mike from Jacksonville:
I was listening to "Jaguars This Week" last night and, at the end of the broadcast, I could hear the frustration in your voice in regards to terrible ticket sales. In your honest opinion, why do you think the Jaguars are having a hard time selling tickets?
Vic: Mike, we've plowed this ground enough. You're right, you detected frustration in my voice. I left the radio show depressed. It bothered me all night and I decided I must surrender or I'll go nuts; maybe it's too late. Anyhow, I've got to declare a moratorium on this subject because it's become emotionally disturbing for all of us. It is what it is. It always makes me feel better to say that. Whatever anybody thinks or says, they're right. I'm not going to try to reason with people on this subject, at least for a couple of weeks. I know it won't go away, but we at least need a temporary ceasefire. So, at this time, I agree that it's the team's responsibility to put a winner on the field, provide a cheap ticket for the fans to buy and market that ticket to the fans. The fans bear no responsibility and I accept any and all excuses. Just, please, don't write to me on this subject for at least a couple of weeks. I know people will continue to write to me about this, so I'll warn everyone now that as soon as I see that the subject is about ticket sales, I will immediately delete the e-mail. I love you all. You are great fans. See you at tonight's game.
Marion from Jacksonville:
Three years ago, you talked me into buying Jags season tickets, and going to Jags games in person is the most fun I have ever had. The tickets are a bargain for the year-round enjoyment. Friends and family take turns going to games with me. I fly my elderly father in for one big weekend. The memories are priceless. When I found out in January that I got a promotion but our office was moving to Atlanta by summer, the first decision I made was to renew my Jags tickets. I kept my home in beautiful Jacksonville, rented a little efficiency in Atlanta and planned my vacation days around Jags home games. Eventually, I will figure out how to work and live in the city I love, but it will be a sad day if the Jags are no more. What can I do to help people understand what a bargain and delight it is to own season tickets?
Vic: This is a joke, right? You're just doing this to make me feel better, huh?