I wouldn’t call it a competition,” Ross said. “We’re just both out there competing trying to help the team. Whatever decision coach makes at the end of the day I’m sure both of us, we’ve been in the league long enough, been through ups and downs so we’ll be able to deal with whatever happens. . . . You want to be a starter. You want to be out there playing and helping the team but if you’re not you don’t want to hurt the team by pouting. Whatever coach decides.

We'll be cheering too. Just from much, much farther away. Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

While Ross may be downplaying the importance of his competition with Mathis in order to start opposite Derek Cox, there’s no doubt that he has the right attitude.  Going out and playing to the best of your ability for the team is highly important.  His humility is the right approach since he is going to London from August 3-6 to watch his wife, Sanya Richards-Ross, compete in the Olympics.

He’s approaching his new role with the Jags in exactly the right way.  After leaving a team that won two Super Bowls, he knows that getting down to work and approaching the game from a team standpoint is of the utmost importance.

His approach is appreciated by myself as well as the Jaguars front office, I’m certain.  I hope when he gets back from London he and Mathis will both be at the top of their games to give us a display of how great the Jags’ secondary is going to be in 2012.

- Luke N. Sims

Terrance Knighton guarantees to be spectacular.

There has been a lot of hullabaloo about the Jaguars defensive tackle as he trimmed down during the offseason to make sure that he was ready for the season.  General Manager Gene Smith guaranteed he’d be set for life if he showed up ready for the season in shape.

His weight has been an issue for a while, but since he’s been working hard all offseason to be in shape for training camp, the biggest concern actually became a freak eye injury.  Knighton was hit with a bottle during an incident at a night club.  Eye injuries have been notoriously difficult for some NFL players to come back from.  We worried that this would derail his fitness routine, his offseason, and the entire defense for the Jaguars.

All our worry appears to be for naught.

Knighton has reported for camp, is ready to go, and looks straight mean.  Coming in at under 330 pounds (his lightest ever during his NFL career), Knighton is a slimmed down version of the overweight man who has reported for camp the past three years.  He is fitter and appears to have recovered from poor eating habits and eye surgery.  While not at 100% with the eye, Knighton says that he’s ready to start and get back out on the football field.

The doctors appear to be pretty thrilled with his recovery (as are we!) and he has been medically cleared to participate.  It’s good to have Knighton back, even if there’s a little bit less of Pot Roast.

- Luke N. Sims