Join *Jaguars Inside Report *Senior Editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.

John Andreoli from Orange Park, FL:
You have stated you believe if the expansion draft goes in the Jaguars' favor they could be out of their problem this year. Does that mean in 2003 they will be under the cap significantly or will they still have a large amount of "dead" money on that cap as well?
Vic:
That would depend on what happens this spring. If the Jaguars choose to cut players after June 1, for the purpose of assigning a portion of their remaining amortization onto the 2003 cap, then "dead" money will be moved into '03. They will almost certainly have to do some of that, but I expect they will keep that to a minimum. The point I was making is that, given the prospects for salary cap relief from the expansion draft, the Jaguars may have a chance to fix their cap situation this year, depending on how aggressive they are in cutting their roster. That remains to be seen.

Steve Ducharme from Jacksonville:
In responding to a question from Ryan Glenn, you stated that Wynn's and Hardy's contracts are set up in such a way that the Jaguars "would receive compensatory-pick consideration for having lost them to another team." My question is: How does the NFL decide what round the pick is going to be in? Is there a set formula a coach or GM can apply so that he can adjust his draft strategy, or is it more or less up to the whims of the NFL management?
Vic:
First of all, a team isn't awarded compensatory picks for players lost in free agency until a year later. For instance, the Jaguars received compensatory picks in the 2001 draft for players they lost in the 2000 free agency period. That gap in time makes it a little difficult to adjust draft strategy according to what a team might expect in the way of compensatory picks. There is a formula for awarding compensatory picks. It involves net loss in free agency; how valuable are the free agents a team lost relative to those free agents they signed. It is a subjective process. In this year's draft, the Jaguars expect to receive some kind of compensatory-picks award for having lost Mike Logan, Bryan Barker and Daimon Shelton in free agency last spring.

Trip Stanly from Jacksonville:
How is draft-choice compensation determined for having lost a restricted free agent? For example, if we lose Jason Craft, do we get a fifth-round pick since he was drafted in the fifth round?
Vic:
It all depends on whether or not the player's original team tenders an offer, and what kind of tender it is. There are four levels of tender. A low-tender offer sets the player's minimum salary at about $560,000, if he doesn't receive a contract offer for more money from another team. The other three levels of tender offers are all considered to be high-tender offers. The first guarantees a minimum salary of $1.2 million, the next provides for $1.6 million, and the third high-tender sets minimum at $2.1 million. Why the differences in salaries? Because the compensation increases. A low-tender offer grants the original team right of first refusal and original draft-choice compensation. For example, if the Jaguars low-tender Jason Craft, they would receive right of first refusal and, if they failed to match another team's offer, the Jaguars would receive a fifth-round pick as compensation. The first type of high-tender offer provides right of first refusal and a first-round pick, the second high-tender type provides right of first refusal and first and third-round picks, and the fourth type of high-tender grants right of first refusal and a first-round pick, but the player can not have a "franchise" or "transition" tag placed on him when his contract expires. Those are the tender rules for a restricted free agent. Aren't you glad you asked?

Dave Armbruster from Jacksonville Beach, FL:
With the expansion draft and all the other rumors floating around, we have hardly heard a thing about John Pease. Any idea as to what personality the defense may take on or if the scheme will change?
Vic:
The only thing I can tell you is that John Pease was an assistant coach in New Orleans when Dom Capers was there, which would make Pease one of the "apples" from the zone-blitz tree. But I don't expect that scheme to be the Jaguars' dominant personality under Pease. What you want to do and what you can do are distinctly different. Let's wait until we know who the players are. That'll determine the defensive personality.

Robert Bloch from Neptune Beach, FL:
If the Jaguars lose Tony Boselli to the Texans in the expansion draft, will the NFL issue us a compensatory draft pick?
Vic:
No.