Examples of sportsmanship
Glenn from Savannah, GA
Word is “Big Brown'” is just a couple of clicks slower than Witherspoon in the 40.
Vic: I was watching the Kentucky Derby and as the horses were coming down the home stretch I saw a guy running through the grandstands and he was running faster than the horses. When I got a good look at the guy, I recognized him: It was Witherspoon.
Jeremy from Jacksonville
Are the Jags gonna get Jason Taylor?
Vic: Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.
Chris from Wichita, KS
There was one thing more horrifying than Mel Kiper: Keyshawn's suit on day one. How many kitchens had to die to make his suit?
Vic: I think you’re referring to his shirt. It used to be a table cloth at an outdoor café in Newport Beach.
Nate from Jacksonville
Can you please explain to me why the Jags passed on Geno Hayes in the fifth round and took Thomas Williams instead? Everyone says Hayes is undersized but he is exactly the same height and weight as Williams, not to mention that he is a proven college player and not some third-string backup.
Vic: I have a feeling that if Thomas Williams had played for Florida State and Geno Hayes had played for USC and the Jaguars had drafted Hayes, you’d be complaining that they didn’t draft Williams.
Jeff from Jacksonville Beach, FL
Being that we are entering the dead zone, can you give us your funniest golf tournament story that can be repeated on-line.
Vic: I’ve got a ton of them, but here’s a quick one. I have a media buddy with whom I was covering the U.S. Open. He’s a guy who could fall asleep on a bed of nails in the middle of the day during a bombing raid, and the force of his snoring is so powerful that once, when the two of us were rooming together on the road, I had to sleep in the bathtub so I could get away from the noise. Well, he was sitting green-side under a blistering-hot sun when he decided to lie down in the soft grass during a break in the groups. He fell asleep, of course, and began to snore. The next two-some came onto the green and by now people around the green were laughing at the amazing snoring man. He had to be awakened because the golfers couldn’t concentrate on their putts.
Logan from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
To add to Patrick's question about grading the previous draft classes, how would you rank our division foes over the same period of time?
Vic: The Colts had a strong class in 2003: Dallas Clark, Mike Doss, Steve Sciullo, Robert Mathis, Cato June. The ’04 class produced Bob Sanders, Jason David and Jim Sorgi. The ’05 class is just so-so. Considering where the Colts have been drafting, I’d give them a grade of A-. The Titans’ ’03 class was a dud. Chris Brown did some things for awhile but the class didn’t produce anything lasting. The ’04 class, however, produced a lot of depth: Ben Troupe, Travis LaBoy, Antwan Odom, Randy Starks, Bo Schobel. That’s exactly what the Titans needed at that point in their cap recovery. The ’05 class gets an F based solely on Pacman Jones. Overall, I’d give the Titans a B-; the ’04 draft saves them. Houston got a star in Andre Johnson in ’03 but their pick of Tony Hollings in the supplemental draft was a major goof. They got Dunta Robinson in ’04 but the Jason Babin pick was bad and there’s nothing else to like. The ’05 draft is highlighted by the Jerome Mathis pick in the fourth round but the trade of a second-round pick for Phillip Buchanon is an embarrassment. If you asked me about the Texans’ ’06 draft, I’d give them especially high marks for the DeMeco Ryans and Owen Daniels picks, but from the period of ’03-’05, they really dropped the ball. Johnson and Robinson save the overall grade, a C-, which is kind, considering where they were drafting.
Damien from Jacksonville
Will you let us know when the Oklahoma drills are set to be run? I think it is becoming one of the offseason favorites of fans and a great tradition.
Vic: The Oklahoma is conducted in the first full-pads practice. That’s the tradition. It’s a tone-setter.
Taylor from Norfolk, VA
So are we to assume the Lito Sheppard trade will never happen?
Vic: It looks that way. The Eagles wouldn’t budge on their dry-cleaning demand.
Don from Heathrow, FL
As you always say, it's about players not plays. Would you please shed light on why Gregg Williams is so well-known for defensive stunts and blitzes? Specifically, what does he try and do?
Vic: He tries to bring one more rusher than there are blockers, and he tries to bring that rusher from an undetected place so the quarterback is unable to overcome his confusion quickly enough to get the ball to the right guy. It’s a great play, but only if it has a player capable of executing it.
Pete from Trabuco Canyon, CA
I notice that colts.com is totally dodging the Marvin Harrison story. What's your opinion on it?
Vic: Sports team websites don’t have police reporters; maybe they should but they don’t. When you’re dealing with something this sensitive, it’s not about opinion, it’s about facts and colts.com doesn’t have a reporter capable of gathering the facts. I don’t view it as trying to ignore a negative story. It’s just a simple matter of the site not being equipped to cover such stories. In these matters, you need to get your news elsewhere. In time, the Colts may be forced to comment and/or act on the situation and that’s when colts.com becomes a capable source of news on the subject.
Kevin from Jacksonville
How come we don't draft kids in our own backyard as much as we do outside of our own state? There are some kids from Florida, Florida State and Miami that should have been drafted to our team. These schools have speed and, as we all know, speed kills.
Vic: I’m stunned by your question. The Jaguars currently have 12 players on their roster who are Florida natives and they have 11 players on their roster who played collegiately at a Florida college or university. You need to broaden your horizons. Hopefully, one of these years Florida will play a game north of the Mason-Dixon Line and you’ll see that America is a big place with a lot of football players.
Luis from Fruit Cove, FL
What is your take on the coed softball player who hit a ball over the fence, got injured running the bases and was carried around the bases by members of the opposing team?
Vic: I also read a story this past weekend about an 18-year-old boy who is in the final stages of his bout against cancer, and how he pinch-hit in his high school’s baseball game and somehow found enough energy in his 93-pound body to line a single into rightfield. Players on the opposing team then removed their gloves and applauded him. Nice stuff, huh? I guess they decided to not protect their house. I applaud them.
Trey from St. Francis, KS
I love our site. I tried to do some research on Dennis Dixon and the Steelers were charging $6.99 for a team pass. I love the insight you give. Keep up the good work.
Vic: Free’s a good price, isn’t it?
Dustin from Jacksonville
Have you ever been pepper-sprayed? If so, was it for politely resisting arrest?
Vic: I’ve never been pepper-sprayed but in college I fell over a garbage can as I attempted to run from a tear-gas canister. That was right after I told my girlfriend I’d protect her.
Margaret from Baltimore, MD
If you had to be stranded on a desert island with one present NFL player (excluding Tom Brady) for six months, who would you choose?
Vic: Well, I’d want somebody who likes to talk, so that would rule out Rob Meier. Fred and I get along pretty well, but I don’t know what his survivor skills are like. I have no survivor skills so I would need someone who knows that stuff. Does Lageman count?
Jared from Orlando, FL
You always surprise me with your obscure references. Yesterday’s brought back memories for me. My dad used to always call my older brother Chauncey because of how much TV he watched. It wasn't until we all sat and watched “Being There” that it all made sense.
Vic: They say art imitates life, but I see evidence that life is beginning to imitate “Being There.”
