Join Jaguars Inside Report Senior Editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
Michael from New Boston, NH:
I had the honor of having Jack Del Rio completely demolish me (accidentally) by running through the Metrodome concourse after giving a pregame interview, back in 1994-95. I was knocked to the ground: hot dogs, beer and all. I got a smile and a, "Sorry, man." Think you could parlay this into a free trip to see the Jaguars?
Vic: You're my kind of guy.
Dave from St. Augustine, FL:
With all the speculation about Mark Brunell and the fact the Jags do not seem to have the caliber of backup QB of some of the top teams, wouldn't it behoove the Jags to keep Mark around even if they were to start Garrard and use Mark as a backup QB/assistant coach. Mark has too much experience for the Jags to lose and I am sure they could use this in their favor. Of course, I know it all depends on his contract and what he is willing to agree with. Players contracts are confusing to say the least. If he wants to stay in Jax, make a deal he can't refuse.
Vic: Whoa! Dave. Mark Brunell isn't making assistant coach or backup QB money, and he's not likely to agree to a major cut in salary. If the Jaguars decide to keep Brunell as their quarterback and absorb his $8.75 million salary cap hit, then he must produce at a star-quality level. That's the decision the Jaguars must make this spring. Do they believe Brunell can make an $8.75 million difference in this team in 2003.
David from Orlando, FL:
If you were named head coach of a new NFL team and were allowed to take any five Jaguars players with you, who would you choose?
Vic: Well, since I'm the coach of an expansion team, I obviously would want youthful players. I would take: Marcus Stroud, Akin Ayodele, Maurice Williams, David Garrard and Mike Pearson.
Bharat from Jacksonville:
Vic, a history lesson please. I'm a big Brunell fan and want to know what prevented him from being a higher-round draft pick in 1993. I can't understand why he lasted until the fifth round. The guy had the arm, mobility, accuracy and intangibles to be a higher pick in my opinion. The only thing that seems to separate Brunell from a place in Canton is a Super Bowl ring. What are your thoughts?
Vic: I have to rely on memory here. I recall it being an issue that a lot of quality quarterbacks lasted into the late rounds of the 1993 draft. What I remember is that it was the first year of the salary cap era and the draft was reduced from 12 rounds to eight (the following year it went to seven, where it stands currently). Everybody was trying to get a handle on the new format, which included a cap for the rookie pool. The fear in '93 was that if you drafted a quarterback too high, he might eat up too much money in your rookie pool. As a result, teams downgraded the bulk of the quarterback crop. If a quarterback didn't fit the prototype, he fell to the late rounds. For example, Brunell was taken in the fifth round and Alex Van Pelt was an eighth-round pick and they're both still playing. Brunell was downgraded because, at 6-1, he was considered too short to be a pocket-passer. Remember, scrambling quarterbacks were still the exception, not the rule.
Jon-Michael from Starke, FL:
If Tony Boselli can not play any more, has he done enough to go to the Hall of Fame? I have heard "experts" say he was one of the best left tackles ever.
Vic: Tony Boselli is the finest offensive tackle I have ever covered. I fully expected I would one day cover his induction into the Hall of Fame, but now that's unlikely to happen. Longevity is one of the prime considerations for selection to the Hall of Fame, and it's especially an issue for offensive linemen. Six years (he missed almost all of the 2001 season) won't get Tony into the Hall. He'd need to return to his former level of play and stay there for at least four more seasons. I sincerely hope that happens.
Jason from Olympia, WA:
I think I finally understand your philosophy on drafting now. If you post this I think other people would understand, too. You believe to pick the best available player no matter what the situation is because this league has become unpredictable. Look at the Rams; some would say that if the best available player was a QB, they would be a fool to pick him because they already have Warner and Bulger, but then look at the Eagles, they had to go all the way to their third string QB. You never know what's going to happen in this league and for that reason you can never have too much depth at any position. Did I finally get this right?
Vic: Guys, I'm sorry for ever bringing this up. Please, everyone stop obsessing about this. No more questions about best available player, OK?
