"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Larry from Goldsboro, NC
With the owner's meeting coming up, do you anticipate any major rule changes for the coming year?
I get the feeling the overtime rule is going to be changed again, this time to ensure a possession for each team. If and when that happens, the words "sudden death" should never be used again to describe overtime.

Rosco from Oshkosh, WI
Vic, what does Tony Pauline think of Jaylon Ferguson and the prospects of him becoming a Packer? What round does a guy like that fall down to? Is his character issue overblown, or is he the kind of guy that is destined for a team like Dallas or Cincinnati?
"Great pass rusher, great athlete," Tony said. I sensed some reservations in commenting beyond Ferguson's physical abilities. What round? "Top of round two," Tony said. The Packers? If Ferguson is the best available player, I say pick him, but wouldn't that make signing two high-priced pass rushers in free agency look foolish?

David from Minneapolis, MN
Watched "A Football Life" on Don Shula. Watching documentaries on older coaches and players helps us younger generations see how different the game has become. What are your thoughts on Coach Shula? Where do you rank him among the best?
He became a hot coach following the 1962 Thanksgiving Day Packers-Lions game, as Shula was the defensive coordinator for the Lions. Shula was all about attention to detail; that was his coaching strength. He wasn't a great evaluator of talent; he was a great coach. Joe Thomas built the great Dolphins teams. Shula and Chuck Noll were former teammates and best of friends. Noll was Shula's defensive coordinator in Baltimore. When Shula was considering drafting Dan Marino, Shula called Noll for advice. Chuck was intensely loyal to his friend. I never heard Chuck speak of Shula in any way but respectfully. If Shula had a Joe Thomas-like GM during the Marino years, I'd have to believe Shula would've won a few more Super Bowls. He's a top five coach.

Steve from Hudson, WI
If you had to pick a rule to be a point of emphasis this year, which would it be? If you could change one rule, which would it be?
I don't like the touchback rule on fumbles through the end zone. I think the ball should belong to the team that fumbled and at the point of fumbling. I'd also favor a five-yard penalty from the point of fumbling, to discourage "throwing" the ball at the pylon.

Tina from Neenah, WI
When was your first time being published? What was the article? For me, it was an article in my local paper on how to gather aid for college. I was the first female out of nine kids to go to college. Write about what you know, I guess.
My first byline was an eye-witness story I did on the shootings at Kent State, where I was a student.

Nate from Neenah, WI
What is the craziest thing you ever wrote about?
As an intern at a newspaper, I was assigned to write a story about a Bigfoot sighting. I interviewed and quoted the man who claimed Bigfoot looked in the man's bedroom window. He said it had red eyes and smelled bad.

Richard from St. Augustine, FL
In all your years of covering the NFL, please give your insights and opinion regarding when there is a cancer in the locker room that becomes untreatable and the talent is tops in the league. When do you keep putting up with it and when do you trade?
I think the Steelers just answered your question. They put up with it through a long period of sustained winning. They stopped putting up with it when Antonio Brown walked out on his teammates. As I've written, this wasn't precedent setting. The Steelers traded Ernie Holmes during the 1978 draft, after he walked out on his teammates in the 1977 season. Chemistry and locker room camaraderie are difficult to validate and are often overrated as to their importance. I was in the Jaguars locker room the Monday in 1996 when that room was completely divided into two parts, and the divide had a racial quality to it. The Jaguars had just cut Andre Rison, who had become a divisive player, much as Brown had for the Steelers. The Jaguars were 4-7 and coming off a miserable performance in Pittsburgh. I remember feeling uncomfortable in the Jaguars locker room. There was a suspicious silence, almost as though the media had walked in on an argument. There was a collection of players in the back-left corner of the locker room, known affectionately as "the ghetto," and the same was true of the front-right corner of the locker room, which didn't have a name but I would've described as "suburbia." I distinctly remember thinking to myself "this team won't win another game." As it turned out, that team didn't lose again until it played in the AFC title game. I think the stories about discord in Pittsburgh are overblown. They're being written because fans love stories of discord. The Steelers didn't fail because they didn't like each other, they failed because their defense couldn't hold a lead.

Mike from Mount Prospect, IL
Vic, how has NFL free agency changed in the past 25 years?
There was a point during that time when it appeared to me teams were doing a much better job in finding value and spending responsibly in free agency. As the cap pushed higher in recent years, the ridiculous spending begun again.

Dan from Madison, WI
What do you think of the draft this year?
I think it's ordinary. I see a lot of manufactured prospects, guys who didn't show me much in college but are now appearing among the top prospects at their positions. I think that's especially true at the quarterback position. Most of these guys don't have the size or arm strength to have made a training camp roster in the '70's.

Brian from Baltimore, MD
You said Ted Thompson blocked the media from building a relationship with his scouts. I understand that. Still, I'm confused about your role with the Packers. I would have thought you were "part of the team," not an outsider with possible loose lips. So, how did your job function in that environment? How deeply into the "football side" were you allowed to go?
I was media, nothing more, nothing less. I wasn't about to sacrifice my integrity and reputation to be "part of the team." I have too much respect for my profession and for my readers to blur the line between myself and the team I was covering. I'll never understand why fans just don't get it.

Tom from Bismarck, ND
Vic, at the risk of tackling a touchy issue, I would like your thoughts. The Packers, perhaps more than any franchise, have tended to bring in players that were perceived as fits for the team, rather than the best athletes. Unfortunately, football just doesn't reward that kind of thinking/approach. I am suggesting this has been the case in Green Bay. Might you agree on this?
I had to chuckle a few years ago when the Packers led the league in suspended players. I'm calling baloney on the goody-two-shoes stuff, except I'm not saying baloney.

Donavon from Beaumont, TX
Vic, I'm trying to be new, but the turnover from the GM all the way down to the grounds crew might be a bit too much for me. I barely know the team I'm pulling for. I understand it's a game of replacement but, the last two years, following the Packers has me lost and troubled. Am I just getting old?
I'm old and it doesn't bother me.

Vincent from Seattle, WA
At this point in the free agency period, which of your three teams is ahead?
I think the Packers have the best chance of success. The Jaguars got the biggest upgrade, since it's the quarterback position and they were so awful at that position last season, but the Jaguars also have taken the biggest risk. The Steelers' acquisitions aren't exciting but they represent less risk.

Nathan from Neenah, WI
Ted Thompson's pick of Aaron Rodgers will likely define Thompson, but don't you think the 2009 first round was more important for their significant run of dominance? Trading up, not a Thompson hallmark, to draft a small DE who only really played one year in major college football was a major risk that paid off.
My understanding is Dom Capers deserves a major share of credit for the Clay Matthews pick. The Packers promised to get Capers a pass rusher to be the centerpiece of his 3-4 defense, and Matthews was Capers' guy.

​Mike from Somerset, WI
Vic, Robert Kraft has officially made a statement admitting his guilt. He stated he hopes to remain an owner of his NFL team. I believe women in our society deserve better. The NFL’s personal conduct policy will lose all credibility if he remains an owner with a simple fine or loss of draft choices.
Now that Kraft has effectively admitted his guilt, albeit in a shrewdly crafted, strategically evasive and largely disingenuous apology, I'll offer my opinion on the matter. What Kraft did was the equal or worse than what forced Jerry Richardson to sell the Carolina Panthers, and it wasn't to a family member. The NFL must, in my opinion, require Kraft to divest himself of his ownership of the Patriots, and he must not be permitted to transfer his stake in the team in any way to a family member or any person with whom Kraft is associated. In other words, a person other than a Kraft family member or a Kraft family associate must become the new controlling owner of the Patriots. Furthermore, until that transfer of ownership is complete, the Patriots will forfeit their first pick of each year's draft and are forbidden to participate in trading draft picks with other teams. The cheating was bad enough. This is outrageous.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Matt from Delafield, WI
Did you always record player and coach interviews? Do you have any note-taking tips?
I never used a recorder. I was raised on note-taking and I was taught to save my notebooks because they were admissible as evidence in a libel case. I think we waste space on making sure we get every word the subject said into the quote. I was schooled to get the key words, phrase and meaning of what was said correct. Also, recording interviews requires re-listening to the interview and transcribing what was said. That's a killer for writing on deadline. My note-taking tip is to devise your own system of short hand. That's what I did and it worked for me for 45 years. Not once in my career did a player or coach accuse me of misquoting them.

Nicholas from Appleton, WI
"There also has to be a concern that playing on the edge for the Ravens juices pass-rushing stats because the team so often wins before the snap with play calls." -- Gregg Rosenthal. What are your thoughts on that statement about Za'Darius Smith?
So, the Ravens are smarter than everybody else? If they were smarter than the Chargers in the regular season, why weren't the Ravens smarter than the Chargers in the postseason? If you're looking for reason to doubt Smith's stats, you might consider he played in front of a killer secondary that held coverage longer than any secondary I saw last season. That secondary also allowed the Ravens to max out in pass rushers.

Tyler from Augusta, GA
Specific to the teams you've covered, who would you pick for the following positions: owner, president, GM, head coach?
Dan Rooney, Mark Murphy, Dick Haley, Chuck Noll.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, what are the greatest challenges for a first-time NFL head coach?
His greatest challenge is winning the respect of everyone in his command, and that happens by displaying a strength of leadership that instills in everyone a feeling the coach knows the way.

Stephen from Jacksonville, FL
The Jaguars currently have five selections (rounds 1-4 and six) for the 2019 draft. What positions should they address with those picks to help Nick Foles and improve their putrid offense? Two offensive linemen, a tight end and a running back are on my wish list.
Tom Coughlin is a needs picker. He once said to me, "The draft is all about need." Be that as it may, he did a pretty good job finding value in his picks. I expect him to go hard toward offense, to find players who can help make Foles successful. I think he's looking for a play-making receiver, and Coughlin's tendency is to draft the same guy twice or more when he's looking to address need at a position. The Jaguars might catch wide receiver fever this spring.

Matthew from Madison, WI
If the Packers are going to go offense in the first round, what position do you think they are going for? Something I found interesting was of the final eight teams in the playoffs this past year, five had a first-round running back.
Big guy first, receiver second. That's where I see the value lining up according to the Packers' needs.

Geoff from Beaver Dam, WI
What does the coach tell his GM regarding players he likes?
Every coach has a wish list. The GM does the best he can to give the coach what he wants, but coaches with a personnel acumen appreciate the need to remain committed to value.

Chris from Lexington, KY
Vic, after free agency (so far), I think the Packers' biggest need is now ILB followed by TE. How do you think the draft looks for those two positions?
Those aren't true need positions. Those are positions where you fill in when the talent available at the premier positions doesn't fit the pick. You can always find guys at inside linebacker and tight end. Packers fans worry too much about the grunt positions. You find those guys along the way, unless you truly believe they are special.

Dave from Savage, MN
I'm a bit confused by the OBJ narrative. Everyone seems to be predicting a dire situation for the Giants without him. Can you tell me what was so great about the Giants with him? What will they be missing? What am I missing?
I refuse to believe that was John Dorsey's decision. The John Dorsey I know would never make a trade as stupid as that one. That's got owner written all over it.

Dave from Madison, WI
Vic, what was your relationship like with Ted Thompson? Was he easy to get along with? How much interaction did you have with the GM and was it different at your other stops?
I didn't have a relationship with Thompson. He wasn't a media kind of GM. Be that as it may, my personnel philosophy of draft and develop made it easy to defend and support Thompson because I believed in what I was writing. If I have one regret from my time in Green Bay, it's the failure to achieve a relationship with Thompson and the Packers' scouts. I'm a scouts kind of writer. I've always enjoyed their stories and appreciated the information they provided me, and I was always respectful of their need for stealth. Thompson blocked the media from that kind of relationship, and I understand why. I wish it hadn't been that way, but much about the game has changed since I began covering it and enjoyed nearly unobstructed access.

John from Neptune Beach, FL
Should baseball outlaw the shift?
Absolutely not. Batters need to Google Wee Willie Keeler: Choke up and hit 'em where they ain't.

Erik from Sweden
I’m with you, Vic. I’m all about the cap, but signing Foles might not be the same mistake as you are saying happened in 1999. Isn’t the explosive increase of cap space allowing a contract such as Foles’ to just be considered a bridge quarterback contract? The cap has grown from $112 million to $188 million in just eight years.
If memory serves me correctly, the cap was at $36.1 million the year I went to Jacksonville, 1995. They're giving that to part-time pass rushers now.

Jack from St. Louis, MO
Was Clay Matthews a good interview? Any good stories?
He's a good guy and a very good football player. The one thing that jumped out at me about Clay is he got it, which was no surprise coming from his esteemed football-family background. He was taught well. He was a good interview and helpful for reporters. He'd always give me a wink as he walked down the aisle while boarding the plane. I'd smile. I think he knew I knew he got it.

Ben from Alameda, CA
What are your thoughts on the Randall Cobb and Clay Matthews contracts? I'm happy they found nationally televised teams to call home.
I have no thoughts on their contracts, but seeing they signed with the Cowboys and Rams made me think about the turnover on the Packers' roster in the last year: Nelson, Randall, Clinton-Dix, Montgomery, Perry, Matthews, Cobb, etc. Wow! What's that tell you? It was only two years ago Packers fans were obsessing about what number Montgomery was going to wear.

Isaac from Nashville, TN
Vic, most folks will remember Cobb's time as a Packer for the kickoff return TD in his first pro game, or the touchdown in the 2013 season closer against the Bears. I'll always think of the 2015 Cardinals playoff game. Cobb made a one-handed catch, but took a hard fall on his back and looked unsteady when he got up. The camera cut away from him, but not before he grabbed both knees and spat blood onto the turf. It was one of those football moments when the violence of the game and the bravery of the men who play it comes home to you.
An old-school scout would say Cobb played too big for his body. His body began showing signs of stress early in his career. I remember him for being one of the best punt returners I've ever covered, but he was moved out of that role early in his career and I think that was the first indication of stress. He's a good guy and a very good football player, and he gave us great moments to remember.

Nate from Tucson, AZ
You mentioned again how a team's poor drafts will move them into a position to draft better. Is No. 12 in the draft order early enough to make a difference? How many drafts from the top does it take to re-stock?
The Packers are positioned well. A total rebuild usually takes 3-4 years to complete, but the Packers have "The Man" and Thompson left them with lots of cap room to spend in free agency, so I think the Packers can complete the roster makeover this year, if they draft well.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Samuel from Phoenix, AZ
Percentage on the Packers signing Jordy Nelson?
It would be a feel-good move, not something that would make the Packers a better roster. The Packers have young receivers and more on the way. The collection and development of that talent will make the Packers a better team. My hope is the Packers are 100 percent committed to that pursuit.

Don from Oak Creek, WI
Do you think a large part of the reason the Packers jumped into first-day free agency was due to the poor drafts of 2013-16 (2017 and 2018 have potential)? Years '13, '14 and '15 were particularly bad, especially for a team dependent on draft and develop. Poor drafts caused desperate action.
Yeah, or those poor drafts will cause a team to move up in the draft where they can select better players and become a good team again. It's all a matter of what train you want to ride, the slow one or the fast one. Tickets for the fast train are very expensive.

Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, so many fans think their team is one player away from greatness, but few contemplate the opposite. What team right now would you say best fits the description of being one injury away from disaster?
I think you know the answer to that question.

Adam from Madison, WI
What is your take on the idea the Packers just replaced the second contracts for their 2015 draft?
It makes sense, but had their '15 draft class produced the same caliber of players as the four the Packers just signed in free agency, the team would've seen that coming and been able to use the system to spread the hits out more equitably, instead of sustaining one big bang. A player coming through your draft will almost always be more affordable for you to re-sign than signing a player in first-day free agency. Plus, you will have had the opportunity to observe the player you drafted every day of his life as a professional football player, so your knowledge of his talent, his dedication and his character will give you much greater security in re-signing him than in signing a guy about whom you know little more than the team he's leaving didn't feel a need to keep him.

Torry from Colorado Springs, CO
Are there any facets of your life where you aren’t a bargain shopper? It seems like golf clubs, khakis, free agency, you always prefer bargains. Maybe it’s tools for your current home renovation or it was college tuition for a child? Is there anything you feel as though spending as much as you can reasonably afford on something is worth it?
Hey, I'm a sports writer. Excuse me, sir, could you please direct me to the most expensive pair of pants in the store? The reason I live on Edisto instead of Kiawah isn't that Edisto has better shrimp. A pick up truck? Mercedes aren't good for hauling tree limbs to the dump. Torry, free is me and I'll take three.

Dan from Madison, WI
If the Vikings are saying "All aboard" and the Packers are saying "All in," what are the Bears and Lions saying?
The Lions are saying "All new" and the Bears are saying "All the way, baby."

Jason from Austin, TX
How much different do you think the free agency period would be if the NFL didn't have a salary cap? Do you think teams that are typically quiet (like the Patriots) would be more active on day one?
The big-market/deep-pockets teams would dominate the signings. Be that as it may, I still believe there's enough football talent in America for the "poor" teams to be competitive. The draft, in my opinion, is a far better forum for talent acquisition than free agency. In fact, I think there's a chance the "rich" teams would over-use free agency and spend their way into a level playing field. Nothing beats good drafting.

Saif from Washington, DC
Is Tom Coughlin making the same mistake he did in his last stint in Jacksonville by giving Foles such a huge contract?
If Foles is a bust, the answer is probably yes. Coughlin is big on upgrades. He clearly believes Foles is the upgrade the Jaguars need or he wouldn't have accepted the risk signing Foles represents.

Shawn from Kissimmee, FL
Free agency isn't over, yet, but where do you think the Packers might use their first-round picks?
I get the sense the Packers already know who they'll target in the draft, and I also get the sense the targets are going to be on the offensive side of the ball.

​Bob from Kennesaw, GA
With the Packers now being all in -- having signed two premium edge rushers in free agency -- what happens at pick No. 12 if the top of their board is another edge rusher? Do they trade down or stay and pick the edge rusher?
It doesn't work that way anymore. To succeed in today's personnel climate, a team needs a comprehensive strategy that blends free agency and the draft. In my opinion, if the Packers believed a pass rusher would be at the top of their board with their top pick, they wouldn't have signed two of them in expensive free agency. I have to believe their draft board reflects a different position in the pick No. 12 range.

Kirsten from Madison, WI
What's your final assessment of Ted Thompson's GM tenure?
It's defined by arguably the best draft pick in Packers history.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI
Does the Packers' season hinge on whether or not Aaron Rodgers can be new?
I think he needs to become a less mobile quarterback, and that would represent a style change for him.

Bret from Mililani, HI
What do you think of the Packers' current cap situation and what do you think it will look like in a few years?
If the players they signed are productive and if the Packers draft well, the Packers' cap won't show any signs of damage or strain. That is my official expectation.

Jim from Huntertown, IN
Vic, did we just spend by over-compensating for not getting Kahlil Mack?
The Packers didn't have to trade away draft picks to acquire the two pass rushers in free agency. What the Packers did was sign Adrian Amos because the Bears traded for Mack.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, what grade would you give Gute on the free-agent signings?
I give him an A for targeting young, ascending players. I like that profile. I'm not crazy about having signed two pass rushers to big contracts in a year when the draft is thought to be deep in pass rushers, so I'll give him a C for over-reacting to what the market offered. I have to wait before I grade him on how he blends free agency with the draft. Until then, his grade is a B.

Paul from Green Bay, WI
By the Packers signing all these free agents and releasing Nick Perry, doesn't this prove the roster lacked talent, not head coaching?
I think that goes without saying. Matt LaFleur will be coaching a much better roster of players than Mike McCarthy did last season.

​Randall from Sun Prairie, WI
People talk as if Antonio Brown owed something to the Steelers; loyalty or something. I think he owed them exactly what the Chiefs owed Justin Houston when they cut him because they didn't want to pay him what they owed on his contract. Le'Veon Bell did himself no favors, but people talk as if it's his just desserts. What's your take on players looking out for No. 1?
I only have one problem with what Brown did: He walked out on his teammates. Otherwise, he gave the Steelers as much or more than any receiver in the Steelers' glorious history, and that includes great players such as Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and Hines Ward. Brown made big plays and tough plays. He took the best cheap shots Vontaze Burfict could dish out, and Brown never complained, he just kept making big plays. Brown was great for the Steelers and the Steelers were great for Brown. They got the most out of each other and it was time for them to part. I'm not big on hugs and kisses. That's not Steelers football. It's time to move on. Next!

Adam from Chicago, IL
Are the Browns for real?
As I predicted as last season was coming to an end, the Browns are the AFC North favorites in 2019. Yes, they're for real, but only if Baker Mayfield truly is "The Man." Ben Roethlisberger won a lot of games with a lot of big plays and fourth-quarter comebacks during the Steelers' long run at the top. Now we'll find out if Mayfield can do the same. Being a rookie sensation is one thing, delivering on expectations is something else.

Ben from Columbus, OH
What do you think about the Jake Ryan pick up by the Jags? He seemed to be playing well for the Packers before his injury.
I don't think Ryan is the next Paul Posluszny, but I think he has the ability to be the sure tackler the Jaguars need to complement Telvin Smith's and Myles Jack's free-wheeling ways.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Pat from Collierville, TN
Vic, has your laptop exploded yet? What are the Packers up to in free agency? Do you think they improved their roster enough and is it worth the money they spent?
At the end of last season, I was asked what the expectation should be for the Packers in 2019. My answer was to ask me after free agency begins. Well, free agency has begun and I'm prepared to answer the question: The expectation for the Packers in 2019 is to compete for the division title. Rebuilding was concluded on Tuesday. If the Packers don't make it into the playoffs next season, 2019 will have been a disappointment and the cap room the team spent in free agency will have been wasted and difficult to recover.

Dave from Lake Elmo, MN
The Packers feel the need to sign four new starters while their free agents don't even get a sniff, confirmation of what you've been saying for quite some time, that it was a weak roster. Are these signings an indication of too many holes to fill through a single draft, combined with a sense of urgency to turn this around in a hurry before Aaron's window closes?
The obvious answer to your question is yes. The Packers weren't willing to ride the slow train to recovery. They chose to ride a much faster train, and tickets to ride that train are very expensive.

Ethan from Ontario, Canada
You stated you like the bargain approach to free agency more than all-in spending, so how do you feel about the moves the Packers have made? I specifically like the Adrian Amos move. He always seemed to be around the ball when we played the Bears.
All four of their first-day signings are ascending players. I love that about the players the Packers targeted. Pass rushers are especially expensive, and I'm not a big spender, but I love the Za'Darius Smith signing. I'm surprised the Ravens let him go; that's the only thing that bothers me, because the Ravens know defense and how to rush the passer and I'm shocked they didn't value Smith more than they did. I think the Ravens got this one wrong. I'm not as familiar with Preston Smith. I'm more than a little surprised the Packers chose to sign two pricey pass rushers, what with this year's draft said to be deep in pass rushers. Amos is the signing I don't especially like. He was a fifth-round pick out of a big school. Hey, that's where you find non-elite safeties, in the fifth round and at big schools, where they played against top competition and in big games.

Ryan from Green Bay, WI
Do you believe the Vikings made a wise choice in re-signing Barr? I believe I can hear the train whistle.
The Vikings? If you open your window, you might hear, "All aboard!"

Dave from Franklin, WI
As the green and gold faithful sing the praises of free agency and celebrate Rome being rebuilt in one day, I must ask, did the Packers overpay to fill some holes?
Of course they did. There are no bargains on the first day of free agency. The real question is: How badly do you want to win? Or, as Coach Noll might've asked, "How do you wish to die?"

Dan from Madison, WI
Has the push begun for the Packers?
Yes. This is it. This is the aggressiveness in free agency for which Packers fans have been begging for all the years Aaron Rodgers has been the team's quarterback. The Ted Thompson era of Packers football came to a close on Tuesday. These are the new Green Bay Packers.

Paul from Jacksonville, FL
Well, the Jags are apparently all in on Nick Foles. He's an upgrade over what we've had, but is he enough?
The Jaguars' quarterback play last season was so awful, so dreadfully pathetic, the upgrade the addition of Foles represents makes him, in my opinion, the most significant signing in all of free agency. Jaguars fan claimed the team would've been a Super Bowl contender if they only had an average quarterback. Well, now they have a player who, at worst, will be average. I'm calling out the defense: Stop talking and start getting it done. You didn't get it done in the AFC title game in New England, and you didn't get it done against the Chiefs, Steelers, Bills or Titans last season.

Michael from Eau Claire, WI
Vic, help an old man understand. What is your take on these defensive acquisitions by Green Bay?
In my opinion, they are savvy personnel decisions that dovetail with a green light from Mark Murphy to spend the money to sign them. I can't think of two better words to describe the Packers' approach to free agency than the words "all in."

Mike from Fort Wayne, IN
Vic, when does spring cleaning begin for those living in your area of the country and what specific spring cleaning tasks do coastal people do?
Spring cleaning has begun and we do it with a power washer. My porch and rocking chairs are covered with yellow pine pollen. It will worsen over the next couple of weeks. The oak leaves have begun to fall, as the old leaves are pushed off the tree by new growth. The shower of leaves will leave my driveway covered by an inch of what was new only a year ago. It's a wonderful cycle of re-birth. I celebrate it with a leaf blower.

Steve from Hudson, WI
Can you share your thoughts on the free agency work done by the Packers, Steelers and Jaguars?
The Packers and Jaguars swung for the fence. In the Steelers' ongoing attempt to strengthen a persistently weak secondary, they signed an unremarkable cornerback who can also play safety, which gives them some versatility in sub packages. By and large, however, the Steelers have completed their cycle of success and have begun the process of reconstituting their ranks and clearing their salary cap. They've added three draft picks by trading Antonio Brown and Marcus Gilbert. The Steelers will get a big cap credit for Bell from last season, and trading Bryant will provide a lot of room following 2019. The Steelers will recover quickly if they draft the right players. They rode the train as far as it would take them.

David from Washington, DC
Peer into the abyss of these contracts and tell us what the numbers mean. I see a lot of money loaded into the first two years of these free-agent contracts. Is that what the Packers are expecting to get out of them, two years and then see what happens?
As Bill Cowher would say, "that's an accurate statement," and I might add that if two years from now these contracts are judged to have been a mistake, this column will be full of "fire everybody" questions.

Eric from Hudson, WI
Do you think pride forced Le’Veon Bell to sign with the Jets? That situation won’t end well.
He ran out of options. He didn't listen to his agent two years ago when Bell was advised to accept the contract the Steelers were offering. It was better than the contract he got from the Jets, and so was the contract offer Bell got from the Steelers in 2018. Between his childish tweets, his stubbornness and lack of business sense, Bell looks foolish. The Steelers are the clear winner. The money they're not paying Bell and the cap room they'll be credited is worth more than the yards Bell didn't gain and were affordably replaced by James Conner and Jaylen Samuels.

Taylor from Amarillo, TX
Vic, the Steelers have $21 million in dead money after trading Brown. How does that work?
It's bonus amortization that must pass through their cap, but the Steelers will get a cap credit for the roster bonus and salary they won't have to pay Brown this year, so the offset is about $6 million the Steelers will have to eat, and that's not a big deal. In 2020, the good times roll.

Eric from Lansing, MI
Besides being new, what is the best thing about being old?
It's the sweet surrender. All of a sudden, it's OK to be ordinary.

Robert from Chicago, IL
Nick Foles going to the Jaguars. I want to be excited about it as a fan, but why don't I believe? He's a Super Bowl MVP, he directed late-season winning runs two times. When you read that stuff, it seems like he is the answer, so why don't I believe it? What did you see in Foles?
I see a guy who can convert third down. Bortles couldn't convert third down. Against the Steelers, they didn't even let him try to convert third down. The key to belief, in my opinion, is to pin your expectations to the defense and Jalen Ramsey. If Foles can give the Jaguars a 2007-like David Garrard type of season, he will have more than equaled reasonable expectations for him.

​Jim from Madison, WI
My Jaguars just signed Nick Foles. While I believe they have improved as a team, I still don't believe they signed "The Man," nor should we expect for them to consistently compete for the playoffs with him at the helm. What is the silver lining for the Jaguars' season?
He shouldn't have to be "The Man." Vic to Ramsey: Facta, non verba.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Isaac from Nashville, TN
Vic, over the years I've come to the conclusion teams should only spend money or invest serious draft capital in quarterbacks, pass rushers and positions where the ideal player is a physical oddity, such as offensive linemen or corners. Safeties, receivers, off-ball linebackers and running backs are great if they fall into your lap, but you shouldn't chase them. I think I learned most of this from you. My question is where do tight ends fit in this picture?
Their supply is ample. A team in need of a tight end should be able to address the position in any year's draft. I think of tight end as a rounds 3-5 type of position. Gronkowski is a two. Kelce is a three.

Jim from Monroe, WI
Vic, if the Packers do manage to trade for Dee Ford, do you think that would be a good move?
He's a one-trick pony, but it's a very important trick. This draft is loaded with pass rushers. I think the Packers can find their guy in the draft and probably even find better for less money.

Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, do you have any good John Kuhn stories?
Kuhn and Aaron Rodgers sat in the row behind me on a Packers flight, and they had me laughing with their humor for the whole flight. Kuhn is an accomplished football player and a bright man who, I have no doubt, will be just as successful in his post-football life as he was during his productive and popular career with the Packers.

Randy from Medicine Hat, AB
As it relates to life, what does "always buy, never sell" mean?
It means don't quit, keep living by finding new ways to enrich your life.

Derrick from Rockaway, NJ
Did Antonio Brown get rewarded for acting like a brat? I hope this doesn't set a bad precedent.
Going to the Raiders is a reward? By the way, this  isn't the first time in Steelers history something like this has happened. Ernie Holmes walked out on his team in 1977 and was traded following the season. Brown has spent his entire career to this point playing with one of the best deep-ball, big-play quarterbacks I've ever seen. He may come to regret his temper tantrum.

Dave from Savage, MN
Do you have any Dan Jenkins stories? I loved his stuff.
Jenkins was in the Orange Bowl press box when Raquel Welch made her Super Bowl X appearance. We all shot each other a look. I love his writing. He was old-school football and his writing helped give the game the toughness that made it the most popular professional sport in America. "Semi-Tough" is not-so-semi genius. It embodied the personality of the game I loved and miss. I was in awe of Jenkins; I still am.

Mark from Nashville, TN
I have used your BAP philosophy to recruit physicians into our quaternary care medical center, where previously we hired for specific need. It has worked extremely well and I thank you, Vic. I even have our senior leadership talking best available player.
Who doesn't want the best available doctor?

Aaron from White Hall, AR
Vic, if there is one thing in football I hate to hear, it's when I hear a team is in win-now mode. I feel if the Jaguars sign Nick Foles, then Tom Coughlin will be putting the team in salary cap hell for the second time. Am I off base with this?
That's the risk and it appears the Jaguars are prepared to take it. Look at it this way: They have a good team, but they don't have a good quarterback. That won't work.

Tom from New York, NY
NFL success at which positions can be most realistically predicted by college football performance? I see college and the NFL as two completely different sports.
I think the interior line positions translate to college and the NFL equally well. Aaron Donald, for example, has been as dominant in the NFL as he was in college football. The scheme positions are where it gets most unpredictable.

Dan from Richmond, TX
Vic, aside from best player available and move to where the value fits a position of need, are there any other draft philosophies you think are good practice?
Coach Noll was fond of saying "never fall in love with a guy." His point was another team could draft that player and leave you lost to find a prospect you love as much. That happened to Bill Belichick with Kyle Brady.

Brian from Yakima, WA
The Packers have a decent amount of cap space this offseason. Would you favor them signing a starter type or two, or going for 4-5 players that cost much less but would add depth and plug in for a year or two?
I prefer the bargain-shopping approach.

Pete from Minneapolis, MN
What is the best thing about free agency?
It creates offseason enthusiasm and helps teams create change where they need to change the most.

Johan from Pembroke, IN
Is the biggest challenge facing Matt LaFleur whether or not his team will be able to maintain a lead with four minutes left in Seattle?
The biggest challenge facing LaFleur is getting to those last four minutes in Seattle.

Ben from Alameda, CA
How do teams ascertain leadership qualities in a combine interview? What would you ask in a combine interview?
I would ask a prospect what he thinks I need to know about him. If he doesn't understand I know everything there is to know about him, and he doesn't voluntarily address any particular issues in his background, he's either too stupid or too unaccountable to play for me, unless he's really good. If he's really good, I'll probably make an exception for him.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
Vic, you said the Steelers would be lucky to get a third-round pick for Antonio Brown. How did you know?
Picks, not players. Some things never change.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Kelvin from Kenilworth, UK
Vic, how is it that once again we see the Patriots prepared to let players walk at the same time many teams seem to be overly concerned at keeping everyone through use of the franchise tag and top-dollar contract extensions. Why is this lesson not learned after nigh on 20 years of New England bucking the trend and being successful?
The Patriots are the best at replacing talent, and this is very definitely a game of replacement. Bill Belichick's true genius is his ability to identify affordable players that can execute specific roles, and then fit those players into a design built around Tom Brady. Why doesn't every team do that? Because they don't have Belichick and Brady. I've been over this a million times. When I covered the Steelers, no player on their Super Bowl XIV championship team had ever played on any team other than the Steelers. Why didn't other teams build a roster the same way? Because they didn't have Chuck Noll, Art Rooney Jr. and the Steelers' commitment to home-grown talent. Just because one team can do it doesn't mean every team can do it. Be creative. Be unique. I'm tired of this obsession with the Patriots. Vic to everyone else: Stop whining and beat them!

John from Fitchburg, WI
"I'll wait for a verdict on this subject. Once the truth is clear, and if it's bad, I won't hold back." Two separate videos with Kraft, and laid out in graphic detail by police reports, aren't enough of a verdict for you? And Jussie is also not guilty? Please stop with the "innocent until proven guilty" that is reserved for the court systems and not people with a brain.
OK.

Mike from Fort Wayne, IN
Vic, I was looking at some scouting reports for edge rushers the Packers may be interested in. What does tight hips and no bend mean?
He's a stiff.

Anthony from Milwaukee, WI
Of your time covering the Packers, is there any player they released or you feel they didn’t attempt to resign that left you scratching your head? Anyone they signed that left you in disbelief?
Jeff Saturday is the only one. I know they wanted insurance at the position and the contract was cap friendly, but it kind of felt like welfare for the rich. Saturday was over the hill and the signing was unnecessary. Look how easily the Packers were able to address the center position with Corey Linsley.

Kirsten from Madison, WI
If you have "The Man," as the Packers clearly do, how good on average does the rest of the team have to be in order to be championship caliber? On a scale of 1-10, I'd say the Packers average a 5-6, with a few eights in the ranks. Clearly that wasn't nearly enough last season, but if Rodgers is playing at "The Man" level, do you think that'd be sufficient?
I think you can win with a roster that averages to a seven, maybe even a six if your quarterback stands on his head. Eights? I don't think even Aaron Rodgers played to an eight last season. I think the Packers roster averaged out to a four.

Bill from Good Villbell, Germany
Vic, if the verdict is bad, would you consider an asterisk next to massage?
Instead of "cheated in one game," it would be "had illicit sex before one game?"

Monty from Seattle, WA
In regards to Kraft, I agree a full opinion can't be properly formed until the evidence is released, however, I find it implausible a man of such great resources didn't know exactly what he was purchasing.
Some men wake up on Sunday morning and take their family out to brunch. Others get a massage in Miami from young, captive Asian women and then fly to Kansas City to watch a football game.

Spencer from Wrightsville Beach, NC
In what ways have your views on society changed from when you were a young adult to now? Do you think you have changed in material ways or, conversely, have your views from early adulthood been cemented and validated by your experiences throughout your life?
I've softened with age, the result of having witnessed my increasing unimportance and frailty. Cancer and a couple of heart attacks will back you off the plate. I don't take myself nearly as serious as I did when I was young and of immense significance. I'm calmer now knowing I don't matter. I feel peaceful, loving.

Dale from Palmyra, NE
I've been reading and enjoying your writing for several years. I have a much greater understanding of football due to "Ask Vic." More importantly, my wife and I are getting on in years and nearing retirement. When she asked me what retirement will be like, I quoted you: "When you stop being new, you start getting old." It's become her new mantra. Thank you.
I'm remodeling my house and I'm doing all kinds of new things, such as eating my meals in the bedroom and using a refrigerator that's parked in the middle of the living room. I'm writing this column with the laptop "mouse" perched on the arm rest of the chair. When this is over, I think I want to be old for a while.

Tim from Madison, WI
In the spirit of the NFL combine, who is the most impressive athlete you ever covered?
Rod Woodson.

Brice from Vancouver, BC
If you were Arizona's GM, what would you do with the first overall pick?
Trade it.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
If it was your job to do so, how would you approach your evaluation of a player like Montez Sweat in the draft? He has obvious athletic gifts, but also some off-the-field issues that put his character into question. Personally, I like defensive players who aren't choirboys.
You do your homework, talk to his coaches, and then you look him in the eye and you ask him if you can depend on him. You listen to the answer and make your decision. It comes down to that. There are examples of hits and there are examples of misses, but isn't that what the draft is, a series of hits and misses? I think you have to ask yourself this question: Would I be acting responsibly to bring this person into my team's community? Putting a million dollars into a man's pocket doesn't usually make him a better person.

John from Peoria, IL
The Vikings extended Zimmer through 2020. I guess that makes me feel a little more secure they won't hire Mike McCarthy after 2019. OK, not much more secure.
For whom the horn blows. It blows for thee.

Connor from Greenville, SC
How did the Patriots win six Super Bowls with a QB with a lower career postseason passer rating than Blake Bortles, Mark Sanchez and Alex Smith?
Passer rating? How about crunch time rating? Brady gets it done when it counts.

Ben from Chicago, IL
Vic, a while back you said you would wait and see on Kyler Fackrell. What is your current thinking on his pass-rush abilities?
He flashed against the Seahawks, but then disappeared again. He strikes me as a quiet kind of pass rusher. The Packers need a noisy one.

Kabir from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Does a runner like Le'Veon Bell require different blocking schemes compared to a standard one-cut runner? His hesitation move seems to force blockers to hold longer.
I think he fits best with a pass-blocking offensive line. He's a draw runner who hesitates and bounces. He's not a pounder. I thought the Steelers got soft up front as a result of Bell's style of running. They couldn't convert short yardage with any regularity. They became a stand-and-punch front, and I think that's because it favored Bell's style of running. Pouncey and DeCastro are powerful, mobile run blockers. I thought their talents were largely wasted with Bell in the backfield. The Steelers got back some of their natural personality last season, and they need to continue that pursuit.

Mike from Bridgeport, CT
A lot of buzz about Kyler Murray being the first overall pick of the 2019 draft, while I imagine there are teams who don't even have him on their board due to his height. Would you have him on your board and, if so, where?
I don't have a problem with his lack of height. I don't like his long throwing motion. I wouldn't have a first-round grade on him.

​Dan from Madison, WI
Mock drafts can’t decide what the Packers' biggest need is. Looks like the football world is coming to a consensus about your belief the Packers have a weak roster. Will the fan base take the hint?
No. I had Packers fans in my inbox who wanted a first-round pick for Vic So'oto.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Mondays and Thursdays through the offseason.

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
Has anyone really ever shot up a draft board because of a combine performance?
Mike Mamula is the definitive answer. Dontari Poe and Bruce Irvin exploded up boards. Nick Perry was a combine star. Aaron Donald used the combine to confirm the talent he showed during the season and at the Senior Bowl. I think the combine is best used to support evaluation, not change it.

Isaac from Nashville, TN
Vic, someone I respect once told me the Shanahan offense was dirty and it injured defenders. Could you give any insight on why someone might feel that way?
It's because of the backside cut-blocking in Alex Gibbs' zone-blocking scheme.

Ted from Clarkes Beach, Newfoundland
Glad you are still sharing your insights. Outside of the QB, what position group on offense and defense respectively, do you see as a strength on the Packers going into the draft?
The Packers are strong at cornerback and quarterback. Everywhere else, help would be welcome.

Travis from Indianapolis, IN
Vic, what’s the cure for wide receiver fever?
Big guy pills. Take two and call me in the morning.

Andy from New York, NY
Will the day ever come the Packers are bought by a billionaire?
I don't know what the legalities would be for changing the public ownership structure, but I'm sure the NFL would favor private ownership. It's expected the secrecy of the Kaepernick settlement will end as soon as the Packers release their financials.

Bryan from Neenah, WI
Vic, I was very surprised to see the news on McCarthy having an altercation with prep basketball refs. He handled himself with dignity, even going out of his way to help the ref who messed up the "Fail Mary." What changed with him?
He became a fan. It's much more difficult being a fan than it is being a coach.

Peter Benton City, AR
Vic, your son is wrong. We are exiting a 50-million-year cold period. Warming is a good thing.
OK.

Joey from Venice, CA
What advice would you give someone who is uncertain about what career path to follow?
Mike McCarthy had a sign in his office that read: "Find something you'd die for and then live for it."

Jacob from Green Bay, WI
What was free agency like before 1992? What would happen when contracts were up?
Free agency was restricted. The compensation was so high, teams wouldn't sign free agents. Walter Payton is the perfect example. The advent of unrestricted free agency changed the game. Chuck Noll said he retired because he didn't want to coach a game that had a graduating class every year. Chuck wanted to work with a player through his career and develop his talent, instead of seeing his work benefit the competition. I covered the game in restricted and unrestricted free agency. I think unrestricted free agency has been good for the game and the players. It's allowed for options and creativity. It's demanded change and I think change can be a good thing.

Ben from London, England
Vic, which two presidents, past or present, would you most like to see perform an Oklahoma drill against one another?
Obama vs. Trump. Just think of the crowd that would attract. The TV  ratings  would be  bigger than the  Super  Bowl's.

Eric from San Francisco, CA
I'm not sure if you were the one who called this development, but I saw an article today that Pop Warner football is banning the three-point stance for the youngest divisions. Does change bubble up from the bottom? Are we not too far away from such a ban in college or the NFL?
It's just a matter of time. One more wave of CTE exposes or an on-field catastrophic could result in another major player-safety emphasis. Hands off the ground could be the next move.

Josh from Tucson, AZ
Vic, would an appropriate justification for the Jags signing Foles be they don't think the top QBs in the draft are worth where they are picking?
The most appropriate justification would be the belief the Jaguars are built to win now and Nick Foles is the guy who can take them to a title. The money they'd have to pay to sign Foles would probably cause the Jaguars to push it out and/or restructure contracts to create more room. The irony of that situation is that's exactly what the Jaguars did in 1999 when they went all in for the Super Bowl and created a cap mess that cost Tom Coughlin his job and the team an era of repair. Will they try it again?

Vincent from Seattle, WA
Vic, did you ever ask a question that noticeably made the person angry or defensive? If so, what was the question?
It happened so often I can't remember a particular incident or question. It's what we do in press conferences. The media asks questions, the answers to which the person being interviewed doesn't want to fully reveal, so an evasive answer results. It's ritualistic. When is the last time a reporter got an honest answer to a question about a player's injury? I have a greater recollection for the questions that didn't result in the coach becoming defensive. Chuck, what are your thoughts on Atkinson's hit on Swann? I didn't expect that question to be answered as honestly as it was. The result was a lawsuit.

Mike from Somerset, WI
Vic, prostitution and sex slavery is a horrible thing that results in rape, domestic violence and slavery of women. Prostitution's darkness being supported by an NFL owner should not be tolerated by the league or its fans. I don't get why there is no outrage on this topic, yet, people went bonkers on Kaepernick. Robert Kraft has committed a much worse injustice in my eyes.
I'll wait for a verdict on this subject. Once the truth is clear, and if it's bad, I won't hold back.