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

Robert from Rotterdam, The Netherlands
What do you make of the Jaguars having 12 draft picks but not being involved in any trades? Did they feel they had enough positions of need to require all 12 picks, or could it simply be a case of not considering any player to be good enough to move around for?
It means they didn't target anybody. Their needs and the depth of talent in this draft allowed them to sit and pick.

Roger from Auburn, CA
Vic, I’m guessing that with the Packers going into rebuild mode and your support of the decision, your real opinion of the team is the 13-3 season was a complete fluke and their talent level is closer to 9-7 or 8-8?
Why is this just hitting you now? We talked about this all last season, Roger. The Packers were getting all of the breaks -- remember that hands to the face game? -- and they were eking out wins against backup quarterbacks. Their offense/defense rankings were befitting a bottom-half team and they ended the regular season with an uninspiring win in Detroit that, in my opinion, should've adjusted our expectations accordingly. The Packers were a will-o-the-wisp and we followed them willfully into the darkness. With all due respect to Bill Parcells, you are not always what your record says you are. Sometimes, the record lies.

Matt from Madison, WI
Do you have any stories about Hugh Green at Pitt? I was 13 when I used paper route money to buy a Pitt windbreaker after reading about and then watching him on TV. He changed my football viewing. I really loved great defenses. Still do.
Green once used his legs to tackle a guy. He scissored him and twisted him to the ground. Green is another example of finding a player while scouting another one. Jackie Sherrill found Green while recruiting a star running back named Rooster Jones. Jones never equaled expectations for him; Green instantly became a star.

D.C. from Virginia
"When Dillon and Deguara are in the game together, Rodgers better not change the play, if you know what I mean." No, I don't know what you mean. Will you please spell it out for me?
I didn't know it had gotten this bad. I am sad for a fan base that was once defined by a play known as the "Packer sweep." Too much play-calling, not enough pounding. It means just run the ball.

Kevin from Silverdale, WA
You're right, we absolutely need to toughen up. I just don't understand why we haven't gotten any help at WR two years in a row. And more importantly, our run defense still has not gotten help. Mostert is still running and I want to know why.
You can't draft everybody, Kevin. This was a shift-in-philosophy draft. Transformation takes time. It begins now. Be that as it may, this year could end up being a two-draft year. I was talking to my most trusted scout friend yesterday and he said he thinks this summer's supplemental draft class could be the best ever. Would you draft a player you like in this supplemental draft and give up a corresponding pick in next year's regular draft, which could become one of the weakest ever? I would.

Ben from Hilo, HI
If months pass and the season still seems in doubt, do you see a major push by the NFLPA for the games to be played, since most players' careers are so short?
No. Based on what I've read, the players will be paid their salaries should the season be canceled. It's professional football, Ben. It's about the money, and everybody loves free money.

Jon from Cedar Rapids, IA
Am I the only one excited about the Packers drafting a big power back? Running the ball controls the clock, makes the other team's defense tired and gives your own defense a rest. We missed out on all of this last year. Give me more of this new way of thinking, please.
Statistically, the Packers had a decent running game last season. It was No. 15 in total yards. Be that as it may, I have long believed you aren't running the ball unless you're running with power. Why? It's because defenses use the same light-in-the-pants defenders to stop speed backs those defenses use to stop the pass. A finesse running game is an extension of the passing game. When you run with power, however, the defense has to get bigger bodies on the field, and now the defense is at a disadvantage against the pass.

Steven from Summerville, SC
What did Mike Shanahan do for John Elway during his Super Bowl runs with the Broncos and are there any similarities to what the Packers are looking to do with their new approach on offense?
Shanahan's power running game extended and crowned Elway's great career. It would be wonderful if that happened for Aaron Rodgers.

Jared from Sugar City, ID
Vic, how do you feel about the drafts of the Packers' opponents in the NFC North?
Cole Kmet will make the Bears' passing game better. The Lions got decidedly better with their first four picks (Jeff Okudah, D'Andre Swift, Julian Okwara and Jonah Jackson). The Lions quietly assembled a nice big-guy draft and I think Okwara is outstanding pass-rush value in the third round. The Vikings went hard for defense and Mike Zimmer's acumen for evaluating talent on the defensive side of the ball must be respected. On offense, they got a big-time receiver to replace Stefon Diggs and a second-round tackle to address need up front. I think the Lions and Vikings are big winners in this draft.

Aaron from Forest Grove, OR
Vic, I have not gone soft. The most balanced and best team the Packers have had in recent memory was the 2014 squad. Vital to that balance was a seasoned offensive line and a true pounder in his prime, Eddie Lacy.
Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang were tough-guy guards, and Lacy was the pounder that made defenses focus on stopping the run. Opponents didn't dare play two-deep safeties against the '14 Packers, and that played right into Rodgers' wheelhouse.

Joshua from Milwaukee, WI
I thought the Packers were dead wrong when they moved on from Favre, and though Rodgers proved I was incorrect, I think they’re dead wrong now as well. Hall of Fame caliber QBs, even past their prime, are so rare. What do you think is a safer gamble: Riding out a proven franchise QB into their late 30's or early 40's, hoping their skills don’t erode too quickly, or moving on to an unproven young QB in the hopes he evolves into a MVP talent?
How do you wish to die? I can tell you this: If you try to hang on, you almost surely will die. Young is good; old is bad.

Chris from Kitakyushu, Japan
The game that told the tale as to why change was needed was Week 17 in Detroit. In the first half, Rodgers was awful and the Packers went down 17-3. In the second half, Rodgers was great and the Packers eked out a win. Sure, the quarterback is the guy, but a truly good team is not so dependent on one player.
You're describing "Little Girl With A Curl" football. Power teams don't play that way.

Rich from Manitou Springs, CO
Why would the FBI railroad Gen. Flynn? It’s going to come out.
OK.

Paul from Blufton, IN
"We're trying to get a seal here and a seal here and run this play in the alley." You understand that Aaron?
Imagine Lombardi saying, "We're trying to get a hut here and a hut here and make them jump offside."

Curt from Portland, OR
Does this end ugly, Vic?
Unitas was wearing lightning bolts, not horseshoes. Marino lost 62-7. Montana was in Kansas City; Namath in Los Angeles; Favre in Minnesota. Tittle's head was cracked like an egg. Bradshaw was begging to be allowed to go on road trips. Kelly was carted off in a home playoff loss. The Broncos had to play around Peyton Manning. Brady was left to leave in free agency. Starr's mailbox was being knocked down by angry fans. Sad endings are common.

Attention readers: "Ask Vic" will return this week to its Monday and Thursday offseason publishing schedule.

Malthe from Copenhagen, Denmark
I am usually one to preach patience and trust in the front office after a draft choice or personnel movement that seems odd. Could you please help me see the bigger picture in the Packers draft picks in rounds 1-3?
Jordan Love is a shift-in-philosophy pick. That's what you do when you pick a quarterback in the first round because quarterback is the centerpiece, the foundation on what you're attempting to build. Aaron Rodgers was that player for Ted Thompson and Love is that pick for Brian Gutekunst. In my opinion, the message in the Love pick is the Packers are moving on. They're not going to continue to throw money and picks at the defense in a desperate attempt to give Rodgers what he needs to win one more Super Bowl. They've done that seemingly forever and it hasn't worked. The Packers are preparing to step into their future with a new way of playing football and selecting talent. The A.J. Dillon pick cemented that opinion for me. He's one of my favorite players in the draft. He is a true pounder and I think he's the best back in the draft. D'Andre Swift looked wimpy in the loss to South Carolina. Dillon never looks wimpy. Josiah Deguara is a blocker. He's a block-a-lot, catch-a-little tight end who also offers scheme potential as a fullback or H-back. When Dillon and Deguara are in the game together, Rodgers better not change the play, if you know what I mean. You want me to help you see the bigger picture? OK, here it is: I get the sense the Packers wanna play big boy football. After that embarrassing performance in San Francisco, it's about time.

Paul from Vienna, VA
A few people have argued that, with this draft, Gutekunst is trying to shift the team away from McCarthy's West Coast offense to LaFleur's offensive philosophy. What are your thoughts?
I agree.

Chad from Layton, UT
What’s the fastest you’ve ever seen the wolves call for a GM’s job? After that draft, it’s hard to find any Packers fan happy with Gutekunst’s picks.
Cash the checks and send out the tickets. A tough football team begins with a tough front office.

Jamie from Brooklyn, NY
If the Packers let Williams go next year, will they have the cap space that it makes sense to keep Jones?
In the salary cap era, it's Hornung or Taylor, not both. It's a game of replacement, Jamie, because maintenance is too expensive.

Tony from Onalaska, WI
Is trading up really trusting your board and letting the players come to you?
Trading up is what you do when you've targeted a player. The Packers targeted Love. I have concerns about the pick because Love is coming off a bad season and I see a long throwing motion and a terminal stare, but I'm not a scout and scouting is a crystal ball business focused on what a player will do, not on what he has done. Brian Gutekunst is a pro. He sees something he likes and he likes it enough to risk his career on it. I respect that kind of courage and conviction and I believe it deserves patience and support.

Barry from Ireland
What are Tony's thoughts on the Love pick?
"Outstanding. Won't have to play in 2020. Physically talented but needs coaching and to get his game back to where it was in 2018."

Cliff from Washington, DC
I'm a big fan of the Love pick. 1. We have no competent backup behind Rodgers and need one. Competent backups in the free-agent market aren't cheap. 2. If this guy sits for four or five years and then we determine he's good enough to take over for Rodgers, we can sign him to a much cheaper first contract than would be possible for a fifth or sixth-year quarterback who had played for those years and proven himself. 3. This is a smart pick for the future which shows Gutekunst knows the Packers are not one player away.
Four or five years? Cliff, pack a night bag and meet us at the airport.

Dan from Winchester, CA
Do you think Aaron Rodgers will mentor Jordan Love to the bench?
Will he even have the chance to do it? If the Packers hadn't been manic to do a new deal with Rodgers, they could've traded him going into this draft. What do you think the 49ers would've given the Packers for Rodgers? Both ones? How about Jimmy Garoppolo and both ones? The 49ers would've had to get rid of Garoppolo's $24 million salary. The Packers could've done a new deal with Garoppolo and tailored it to their rebuilding strategy. He would've been perfect for a team in transition. Clean cap, fresh roster, let's go!

Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, what position was over-represented and which position was under-represented in the first round?
Too many receivers, not enough big guys. Regret will result.

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
If you've got the guy, you don't hedge your bet. Go all in on winning now. A Super Bowl win forgives 10 years of losing.
The Jaguars went all in on winning now in 1999. Some would say they've never recovered.

Craig from Cedarburg, WI
I'm not going to pretend I know more than the Packers, but some head-scratching picks. I swear, I don't have the fever, but not a single WR? A second-round RB? Felt like the Packers are looking to rebuild rather than make another playoff run. What is your take on their overall strategy?
Position needs were not addressed because the greatest need of all, the need for talent at any position to improve a roster of average strength, was the specific intent of this draft.

Wally from New Richmond, WI
Apparently, Gutekunst doesn’t have the fever. What are your thoughts on the Packers not picking any receivers in the draft?
You're not getting it. The Packers are moving on, and that speaks volumes about Gutekunst's opinion of the Packers roster. Do you think a wide receiver was going to change what happened in San Francisco twice last season? My inbox was shocked at my angry reaction to that eight-pass rout in the conference title game. I was shocked at how accepting Packers fans were of it. That was humiliating. That was a this-must-never-happen-again kind of game. The days of hard counts and soft defenses must end. A pounder, a center and two guards? What's that tell you? Vic to Packers fans: What you witnessed this past weekend was meaningful change.

Eric from Tenvik, Norway
Vic, according to every draft analyst I’ve read, the Packers had the worst draft haul in the league. What is your final assessment?
It's a tough-guy draft. Instead of drafting a bunch of pass-blocking left tackles who are limited to walling up in the run game, the Packers drafted interior linemen who can move the line of scrimmage. Again, it's a shift in philosophy.

Todd from Van Dyne, WI
Do you think Aaron Rodgers or Aaron Jones will demand a trade and want to leave Green Bay after this head-scratcher of a draft?
Wait a minute, I'll get my violin.

​Todd from Fond du lac, WI
Absolutely the worst draft I have ever seen the Packers have! We still have not filled the void from Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb when we were just one win away from making it to the Super Bowl! Why would you not draft and add the final offensive pieces to get us there and win it all? We all know Davante Adams is the only consistent wide receiver the Packers have. Double-cover him and the Packers have to win ugly or lose!
What has happened to you people? Why have you gone so soft?

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Mike from Kronenwetter, WI
Better a year early than a year too late.
What's the rush?

Andrew from Fort Bragg, NC
Does the passing on Jordan Love by the Saints two picks prior (with an older starting quarterback) reflect Mickey Loomis' opinion on his team's ability to win it all now compared to Gutekunst's? Or is it just their differences on Love's projection?
Jordan Love is coming off a terrible season. There's a lot not to like and, yes, that could've colored the Saints' evaluation of him. On the flip side, he's a major talent and he expressed his physical ability at the Combine. I'm reminded of Dan Marino, who was coming off a bad season at Pitt but his talent was undeniable and he expressed it at the Senior Bowl. To draft Love is a leap of faith and the Saints preferred to go all-in on the Brees era one more time.

Amis from Norwich, UK
Are we stepping into our future now or three years from now?
When a team makes this kind of decision, it steps into its future in one way or another immediately.

Eric from Minneapolis, MN
Now that we know Rodgers' expiration date, do the Packers lose salary cap flexibility?
I'm not sure I know what you mean. What I can tell you is Aaron Rodgers' current salary cap structure makes 2022 the obvious potential out year because his dead money dips significantly. Be that as it may, I can't help but notice his cap hit exceeds his dead money for the first time in 2021, which causes me to think the Packers could trade Rodgers prior to the '21 draft and actually save money on their cap. As wild as this might sound, if the virus ends up canceling the 2020 season, Rodgers might've thrown his last pass for the Packers.

Ryan from Freedom, WI
How will Rodgers react to the picking of Jordan Love? Will he help try to teach and develop him? Or will Rodgers go into rebel mode?
It was my first thought when I saw the pick. Rebel mode? No. Sulk? I hope not, but I think it would be a natural human reaction by someone who has been the face of the franchise for more than a decade and whose pride and feelings have to be on the tender side following this development.

Mark from Portland, OR
Will Brian Gutekunst forever be connected to Jordan Love? The message I get is we're not a couple of players away from winning the Super Bowl.
Gutekunst will forever be tied to Love, just as Thompson is to Rodgers. The Love pick is a very bold move. It's not the kind of pick you make on the clock. Gutekunst didn't just pick from the top of his board. This kind of pick requires a decision made and strategized well in advance of draft day.  Love is Gutekunst's guy. Love is the future of Packers football or Gutekunst's future will be in doubt. More than ever, I'm convinced the Packers have the right guy. I love Gutekunst's courage and conviction.

Tom from Yulee, FL
What are your thoughts on the Jaguars' two first-round picks?
The Jaguars traded Ramsey and Fowler, and last night they picked Ramsey and Fowler. It's sensible, though a bit underwhelming.

Jon from Green Bay, WI
Did Noll know about Gilliam?
Suspect? Yes. Know for sure? Probably not until that night. There was no testing back then. I can remember a story about a warning Chuck had given Joe. "Joey, you like to have fun, and you're going to fun yourself right out of the league." That was so Chuck the story had to be true. The game in the LA Coliseum was the final game of the 1975 regular season. Following the postseason, Chuck tried to trade Joe but the word was out on Joe and the Steelers had no choice but to cut him. The big concern with having a troubled player on your roster is it could lead to a drug culture within your locker room. It collapsed the Chargers. I can recall at least two examples of Chuck trading players who were suspected of using marijuana.

Mike from Fort Wayne, IN
I always liked Fred Couples' swing that seemed so effortless. Why do you think Fred didn't win more majors?
He had an unreliable putting stroke.

Sam from Nashville, TN
It looks like Tony Pauline's board is largely influenced by grinding the tape and making qualitative assessments of players, whereas PFF's board is crafted from a much more analytical approach. Which do you tend to favor and why?
I rely on Tony and no one else because that's the way it has to be. Too much information on draft prospects causes waffling and indecision. You live with the mistakes. If there are too many of them, you find a new guy.

Michal from Sacramento, CA
I always enjoy your writing but some days are just gems. Wednesday definitely fits that description. I wonder, is it a single question that inspires you?
The answers are only as good as the questions.

Justin from Trabuco Canyon, CA
The logic of trading back applies to a scenario of having multiple players with the same grade and your goal is to only move far enough back that you can still get one of those players, along with acquiring an extra draft pick. I know that scenario doesn't always play out perfectly, but don't you think that is a worthy decision?
I understand the concept. If you can move back a few spots and still get the guy at the top of your board, it's absolutely the right thing to do. If you can move back more than a few spots and still get the guy at the top of your board, you probably need a new board.

Frank from Lilington, NC
What is it about football players that allows Favre to be regarded as one of the best ever, even with the number of interceptions he threw? I would guess it was his competitiveness and humility.
It was his suddenness. When a player has the rare ability to be sudden, you live with his flaws.

Leo from Gilbert, AZ
Do you have any stories/quotes from Bum Phillips? What was that rivalry like in the late '70's?
I loved Bum. He was a great interview. As different as Bum's cowboy hat and Chuck's glib personality were, they were perfect for each other, the teams they coached and the great games they played because they were real men coaching real football teams. I was down on the field for the final seconds of the late-season game in the Astrodome in 1980, when a 6-0 Oilers win ended the Steelers' playoff chances and their Super Bowl run. The Oilers had the ball on the Steelers' goal line and broke the huddle with a play formation. Bum came charging down the sideline yelling, "No, no!" The Oilers then took a knee to end the game. That's respect. That's how real men play the game.

Aiden from Jacksonville, FL
How does an owner like Khan gain trust back? Everyone realizes the NFL is about the bottom line, but it should also be about the city.
The Jaguars franchise wasn't awarded to an owner, it was awarded to the City of Jacksonville. The agreement is the owner of the team will care for it and the fans will support it. Trust must be shared.

​Jake from Eden Prairie, MN
Vic, what are your thoughts about Gronk returning?
It's more proof these guys don't play for fans or for the city the fans love. They play for themselves.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
Who are the players Tony Pauline thinks fit for the Packers in the first round.
Tony thinks DEs A.J. Epenesa of Iowa and Marlon Davidson of Auburn, and WR Denzel Mims of Baylor are three players who address need and fit at or above the 30th overall pick. Tony thinks if Epenesa makes it past the Patriots he could make it down close to the Packers at 30. Tony says Davidson is a pass-rusher who can two-gap.

Tom from Yulee, FL
Has Tony given you an idea of what he thinks the Jaguars will do?
He likes South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw at No. 9 and a cornerback such as LSU's Kristian Fulton at No. 20. Tony said he's heard Kinlaw might be falling on a cavalier attitude in interviews and wonders if he'll make it down to No. 20, which would allow the Jaguars to draft a cornerback such as Florida's C.J. Henderson at No. 9.

Alex from Wisconsin
You once responded to a question: "One day, when I don't have to write anything else and I don't have to worry about saving anything for later in the game because I'm at the two-minute warning, I'm going to sit down and write for fun. I'm going to write about what a joy it has been to cover the great teams, players and coaches I've had the pleasure to watch, and I'm going to tell stories that belong in books." Although we are going through some trying times in the world right now, are you still having just as much fun telling stories as when that was written in 2012? I think I have the same joy reading them as I did then.
I think I'm enjoying it even more.

Chris from Wauwatosa, WI
How do individuals in this country become more accepting of differences, more accountable for their actions, and find more common ground?
It begins with eliminating or at least overcoming our anger. Anger is a powerful human condition that exists naturally in all of us and is easily stimulated. Manipulative people prey on our anger. Please, don't allow it.

Barry from Portage, WI
A flimsy answer you gave Wayne.
It's time to let a great quarterback walk when you're stepping into your future and he's stuck in his past. It's all about eroding skills. Injury and age are the causes, and you'll know it when you see it.

Jeff from Miami, FL
Are the skill sets of Rashan Gary and A.J. Epenesa similar when projected to the Packers defensive scheme?
Epenesa is said to be a point-of-attack player. Based on having moved Gary to linebacker, I get the sense the Packers believe he's a space player. Those traits couldn't be more dissimilar.

Kyle from Phoenix, AZ
Who has your favorite golf swing? We all have that one person we wish we could emulate.
It's Henrik Stenson. There is a balance, crispness and firmness to his swing that allows me to feel the pinch of his irons on the ball.

Nicholas from Toronto, Ontario
Despite having the most dead money in the league this year, the Jags have some of the most salary cap space in 2021. And the teams with more space all have fewer players under contract. Things seem kind of bleak right now, with all the veteran departures and the Ngakoue circus. But if Minshew isn't the man, and 2020 is a bad year, you figure they'll at least be in a good position to get their guy in 2021 with potentially two higher first-round picks. With such good draft capital and cap space on hand, do you see a quick turnaround?
If Minshew is the man, yes. If Minshew isn't the man, it'll take longer.

Jerry from Littleton, CO
How significant are position coaches in the overall success of an NFL team?
Position coaches teach technique, and technique is at the heart of a player's development.

Robert from Claypool, AZ
"That's Bob Dylan, Robert." Touché! I'm laughing out loud! I give up!
"I was just trying to capture the spirit of the thing." That's Dickie Dunn from Slap Shot, Robert.

Jeff from Ogden, UT
Vic, I like your guy Epenesa. Looking at the landscape, it looks like the Packers may have to move up to draft him. If they don't, It looks like they trade out of the first round. If we give up the 30th pick, what would we expect in return?
I don't see the logic in trading back. The Packers need better, not more.

Mackie from McKinney, TX
I have always had a fascination with Joe Gilliam, the Steelers QB in the '70's. I saw some site rated him the eighth-best Steelers QB ever. Do you have any stories on him?
He threw a beautiful pass. I could tell which quarterback's pass it was without looking. Hanratty's passes made a slow, low-pitched sound. Bradshaw's passes sounded like they were wearing a heat shield. Gilliam's passes had a high-pitched hiss to them. He had a buggy whip arm and he made the ball look long and thin. One of the saddest things I've ever seen was Ray Mansfield throwing Joe out of the huddle in the LA Coliseum. The locker stalls in the visitors clubhouse had doors on them for privacy. Joe pulled the door shut and didn't talk to the media following that game. The career of one of the greatest natural passers of the football was over, lost to the demons of his soul. So sad.

Pete from Rescue, CA
Does the smell of burning leaves in Western Pa. evoke your childhood memories of football on weekends?
It wasn't the burning leaves, it was the smell of damp ground. I've never smelled that anywhere else. The soil in Western Pa. is loose and dark, shale-like from the coal beneath. Maybe that's what gives it its unique scent. Following a backyard game when I was a kid, the ball would bring that smell into my bedroom and the game would continue. In Western Pa., football comes from the ground up. You feel it under your feet, you taste it in your nose and you wear it in the grass stains of your youth for the rest of your life.

Margo from Redondo Beach, CA
Does Robert from Claypool not realize your affinity for movie quotes?
I don't know, Margo.

Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, what team do you expect to make the most out of this year's draft?
The Jaguars.

Joe from Dundee, IL
I recall Ted Thompson told a story about noticing Jordy Nelson when he was actually there to view another player at Kansas State. Do you know of other Packers players (or even Steelers or Jaguars) who were the guy who caught the scout's eye in the modern era?
It's common. The Steelers went to Eastern Kentucky to scout a defensive end named Aaron Jones, who they drafted in the first round. While scouting Jones, the Steelers liked what they saw in an offensive tackle named John Jackson, who they would pick in the 10th round. Jones was a bust. Jackson played 14 seasons.

Marty from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Vic, I spend a lot of time now watching older NFL and college games. I really wanted your opinion on something in the '83 Jets-Steelers game. That game was interesting on many levels, being that it was the Jets' last game at Shea and what would turn out to be Terry Bradshaw’s last NFL game as well. When Bradshaw threw that last pass, a TD to Calvin Sweeney, and seeing Bradshaw come off the field the way he did, were you aware that was the end of his career before you heard anything about the injury?
His arm problems were well-documented. He had elbow surgery in the previous offseason and hadn't played a down until that game in Shea Stadium. His return was the big story. It included a mynah bird sitting on his arm early in the week. The game was on a Saturday and I went to Shea on Friday for the walk-through. Bradshaw sat down next to me on the bus. I think he wanted to get the news out his arm was shot. "I can't throw at all," he told me. I watched him at the walk-through. He never threw a pass. The next day, they shot his arm up and he played through two possessions, each of which ended with Bradshaw throwing a touchdown pass. We all hoped the offseason would magically heal his arm, but I think we all suspected we might've seen him play for the final time, and we had.

Joe from Milwaukee, WI
Would you rather support a team that had an offense that could consistently put up 28 points per game or a defense that could hold opponents to 14?
I think holding opponents to 14 points is worth more in this era than scoring 28. In the '70's, scoring 28 was worth more than holding opponents to 14.

​Ben from Indianapolis, IN
Vic, one GM was quoted as saying there are more than 32 prospects with a first-round grade this year. A first in that GM's career! What does Tony have to say about that statement?
Tony says he can make a case for 20-25 players with a first-round grade. "I know one team that has only 16 first-round guys," Tony added.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Wayne from Beavercreek, OH
At what point would you let a Ben Roethlisberger or an Aaron Rodgers walk?
You'll know it when you see it.

Robert from Claypool, AZ
"No more than 10-20 million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks." You lifted that response verbatim from a scene in the movie, Dr. Strangelove. You appear to be a take responsibility guy, so, please correct this oversight and attribute the source of your response.
Anybody who believes I would advocate the death of 10-20 million people (depending on the breaks) should stop reading this column immediately. The "If we die, we die together" answer was also lifted. It's from a Lou Saban pep talk made famous by NFL Films. These are tough times; humor can be therapeutic. Give it a try,

Bret from Hertel, WI
Vic, I watched an NFL Films "Did You Ever see Him Play?" on Sonny Jurgensen. His style of play seems like he would have been greater today with his talent. Do you have any Sonny Jurgensen stories?
So often when I went to a game when I was a kid, Jurgensen or Norm Snead was the quarterback of the team the Steelers were playing. Yeah, I often saw Jurgensen play, and he was good, especially when he was teamed with Bobby Mitchell in Washington. I got a special appreciation for his talent when I was working in Green Bay and Cliff Christl told me a story about the year Lombardi spent as Jurgensen's coach. Cliff said Lombardi came back to Green Bay for a visit following the season, and Lombardi raved about Jurgensen.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
Do you think there will be a football season this year?
If after the country is re-opened the virus is kept at acceptable levels, I believe the league and the players will find a way to agree on a format for providing a football season, though it isn't likely to be football as we know it. On the flip side, if after the country is re-opened the virus re-ignites and the country has to be shut down again, our problems will be much greater than not having football to entertain us.

Bob from Kennesaw, GA
"What's important for fans to understand is the order of prospects has been decided." Would you estimate if we were able to see each team's draft rankings/board they'd look very similar to each other?
Yes.

Zachary from Jacksonville, FL
Epenesa will help the Packers? Isn't he pretty much just another pass rusher?
Tony Pauline says Epenesa can two-gap.

Sam from Nashville, TN
How much stock does GM Vic place in Wonderlic test scores?
I think it's a meaningful tool for evaluating quarterbacks, and for getting a feel for the personality of the players you're drafting. At a position other than quarterback, I wouldn't assign the Wonderlic much weight.

Tracy from Sioux Falls, SD
Why all this talk of playing in empty stadiums? There will be numerous recoveries by the beginning of the season and those who choose to (attend) take the risk and attend regardless. My concern, as far as this season of football is concerned, is if a team has an outbreak and will be unable to field enough players. Will the league have extra bye weeks and adjust the schedule accordingly?
That's an interesting perspective; I hadn't thought of it in those terms. I guess the league would need to build extra down time into the schedule so teams could get all of those dead fans out of the seats. Maybe the league could hand fans masks as they enter the stadium, to keep the fans' breath from blowing onto the field. The players must be protected because the games must go on.

Patrick from Indianapolis, IN
Vic, one of your responses in Friday's column piqued my curiosity. What specifically is it you like about A.J. Epenesa?
He is said to be strong at the point of attack and can play end in a 3-4 or 4-3, which tells me he's an every-downs player. That is a description of exactly what the Packers need on defense. In my mind, this is the guy the Packers should target.

Rik from Vancouver, WA
How are you spending your time during this stay at home social distancing?
I write the column, I ride my bike, I hit golf balls, I watch Fauci and the scarf woman.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
What did you think of barefoot kickers?
I never understood the concept. Fortunately, I only covered one, a punter, and he wasn't very good and was cut.

Daniel from Arcola, IL
What did you mean by, "No more than 10-20 million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks?"
It was intended to be a humorous jab at what I think has become a distasteful reducing of virus victims to numbers we update hourly. "How many deaths will it take till he knows, that too many people have died?" That's Bob Dylan, Robert.

​Marvin from Oakleaf, FL
Would GM Vic trade Fournette? GM Marvin would. Fournette is going into his fourth season. The Jags are not likely to pick up his fifth-year option. Even if they do, it’s highly unlikely he’s in Jax past his rookie contract. Given his heavy workload and lack of production, I say trade him while he has maximum value.
He has reason to be motivated. Keep him and burn his wheels off.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Randy from Medicine Hat, AB
Who is the best little quarterback you ever saw play?
It's Russell Wilson. I interviewed him at the Senior Bowl. We were standing and I was struck by how short he is. He's an amazing quarterback.

Paul from Apalachicola, FL
Will someone have to die? Vic, given our nation’s multiple-front wars on truth, reason, humility and grace, over 23,000 (it was more than 33,000 this morning) Americans have already answered that question.
No more than 10-20 million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks.

Pete from Hudson, WI
I was reading an article about the passing of the great Willie Davis and it made reference to the Playoff Bowl, aka the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl. I'm 41 and I had never heard of this game before now. Do you have any stories you could share about this chapter in league history?
It was a money-making idea that lasted only a few years in the early-'60's before it was discontinued because it didn't make much money. I think it was best known and remembered as the Runnerup Bowl, as it pitted the second-place teams from the league's two conferences. The game has one great significance. It was the game in which the Steelers switched from their traditional yellow helmets with a black stripe to the black helmets with the yellow stripe they've won ever since. It was late that season, 1962, the Steelers put the steel logo on the right side of their helmet.

Pat from Seneca, SC
Do you think there would be benefits to having games without fans? For example, might it decrease the juvenile TD celebrations?
No, and it would make them look even more ridiculous, which I think would be entertaining. Change creates new ideas and I have no doubt that would happen should the league decide to play games without fans in the stadiums. Change would likely occur in how TV presented the game. I continue to give a lot of thought to this subject. A part of me thinks playing games without fans will be a bad look and it might be best to allow absence to make the heart grow fonder.

Mark from Bettendorf, IA
Your thoughts on Willie Davis? Any personal stories?
He was a great player and a great ambassador for the Packers and the Lombardi era of the team's great history. I have no personal stories to relate other than attending Packers functions at which Willie was in attendance. It always touched me that he fought through his physical struggles with age to celebrate the game and the team he loved. Seeing Willie in a wheelchair always reminded me of how punishing the game is. The old guys gave so much. Their memories made them rich because football certainly didn't.

Ken from Arlington, VA
The thing I remember about Roman Gabriel's games against the Packers was his fakes with the football. You couldn't tell if he had handed it off to the running back or still had it to pass. That must have made a difference in the pass rush, how open the receivers were, etc. I personally never saw anyone as skilled at that. I wonder why more quarterbacks don't hone that skill. Or maybe it doesn't give as much benefit as I'm thinking.
Boomer Esiason is the best at it I ever saw. It's a lost art.

Paul from New Mexico
Mike Singletary impresses me with his bearing in the interviews I have seen. Do you have any impressions of him that you would like to share?
His personality is too mercurial for him to be a head coach.

Malthe from Copenhagen, Denmark
“A lot of readers are expressing a desire for the Packers to trade up and get the guy they need, and it makes sense to me.” But who is the guy they need? In your opinion, who are a couple of prospects they could grab for where it would be worth the cost?
A.J. Epenesa of Iowa is the guy I like. I don't think the Packers would have to move up much to get him, which means the cost would be minor. I think he can be a difference-maker; he has that kind of talent and toughness. He might be the last guy on the board in the first round that can address what the Packers need on defense.

Wayne from Beavercreek, OH
Would you have let Tom Brady walk?
Yeah, it's a no-brainer. The Patriots need to rebuild. The sooner they begin, the sooner they'll finish.

Bob from Taycheeda, WI
Vic, the Packers' offensive line philosophy seems to be drafting guys who played LT in college and moving them to the team's positions of need. This got me thinking: Do you remember when the Steelers drafted centers (Jon Kolb, Jim Clack) and moved them to tackle or guard?
Gerry Mullins and Larry Brown were tight ends that moved to guard and tackle respectively, and Justin Strzelczyk and Carlton Haselrig were defensive linemen who also moved to tackle and guard. Coach Noll was a former offensive lineman who knew how to identify players who had the potential to play on the offensive line. It began with pad level and light feet.

Dave from Savage, MN
If the Packers draft a RB, would you want a guy with similar physical traits as the two they have now or want a different kind of runner?
I like backs with a big butt and a flat head.

Roy from Mt. Pleasant (pick a state)
Given there is a chance the NFL season might be canceled for 2020, does GM Vic consider trading all of his 2020 draft picks for 2021 picks?
No. If there's no college football this year, next year's draft class will be weak.

Dan from Green Bay, WI
Vic, you asked if someone will have to die. Well, the Wisconsin legislature told us we would have to risk our lives and get out there and vote. The turnout was "extraordinarily high," according to the "Washington Post." Given how many people were clustered into common places over the course of a dozen hours, it's likely someone will die. I'm curious how the rest of the country views what happened here. Do you have any coments for your winsome friends?
If we die, we die together. You can get it done. And what’s more, you’ve gotta get it done.

Clark from Boise, ID
My dad grew up on a farm in Wisconsin during the Depression. According to him, the two pieces of legislation that had the greatest positive impact on his life were the GI Bill and the REA (rural electric; farming became easier). My father-in-law was a gold miner in South Dakato. The two things that had the greatest impact on his life were the deregulation of gold and the arrival of the union.
For me, it's social security.

Nate from Pueblo, CO
How much does this year's WR class validate your “dime a dozen” opinion.
It looks like the run on wide receivers will begin right about where the Packers are picking in the first round. Talent at the position is plentiful.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
What’s going through your mind these days about the future?
It appears we're going to re-start our economy and accept the fact a lot of people are going to die. I don't blame anyone for this decision. It has to happen. The blame is for having treated this virus dismissively in the beginning.

Rodney from Hershey, PA
How do teams let other teams know they are open to trading someone?
They work the phones. Everybody in the draft room knows somebody in another draft room. They call their friends and let them know of the desire to trade up or back. The word gets out. What's important for fans to understand is the order or prospects has been decided. The draft isn't as much about picking players as it is about fitting yourself to where the player you want fits. We saw that with the Packers in 2018 and we saw it with the Steelers last year.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Gabe from Jacksonville, FL
What do you think the chances are Yannick Ngakoue is traded before or during the draft? If you were Dave Caldwell, what is the minimum you would require in a deal?
If this was a typical offseason, I would expect the Jaguars to seek and get a first-round pick for Ngakoue, but nothing about this offseason is typical. If I'm a team owner, I don't want the cost or the headaches Ngakoue would pose for a season that could be canceled. I suspect the Jaguars will still find a team reckless enough to trade for Ngakoue, and I would expect the Jaguars to get a low one or a high two for him, but I think the current circumstances will limit the number of teams interested in trading for him.

Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, at what point in the draft would you expect the Packers to take a running back?
It's a position for which depth must be addressed in nearly every draft. I would expect the Packers' interest in addressing the running back position would begin with round four. Prior to round four, I would expect the Packers to draft or move into position to draft players at positions of need.

Tommy from Seward, AK
What would happen to the 2021 draft if the NFL didn't play this season?
There will be a draft, but it'll be of a very different flavor if there's no college season. I would expect the NCAA to grant this year's seniors another year of eligibility, and underclassmen might be less likely to opt for the draft, and the combination would greatly reduce the size of the draft pool.

Ryan from Indiana
The question of Washington’s team name got me thinking. You suggested Washington Redshirts. I thought of just naming the team the Washington Americans.
That franchise has been irrelevant for a long time. A new name would be a good way to hit the re-set button.

Lynn from Riverside, CA
Vic, your comment about the GI Bill resonated. The Serviceman's Readjustment Act, as it was called, changed this country as few pieces of legislation did. I'm a retired "U.S. History" teacher and I would show my classes a PBS documentary entitled "The Law That Changed America," and it led to great discussions on the subject., i.e. Levittowns, affordable college, etc. Thanks for your perspective. The law enabled my parents to buy a great home and realize the dream. It was one of the things he fought for.
Danny, are you for good entitlements or bad entitlements?

Kira from Bitumen, PA
Do the Steelers have the ability to be a serious title contender this year?
I don't see this as a championship season for the Steelers. I think this is a cap repair year that should put the Steelers in position to turn the page in 2021.

Matthew from Madison, WI
A lot of mock drafts have the Packers picking Mims. Who is the favorite in your inbox?
There isn't a name on which fans have focused. A lot of readers are expressing a desire for the Packers to trade up and get the guy they need, and it makes sense to me.

Jared from Sugar City, ID
Vic, how do you feel about the Packers' running back group?
Aaron Jones is the Packers' feature back and Jamaal Williams is their complementary back. I don't see need other than for roster depth.

Craig from Sheboygan, WI
I know this has been debated before but, just for kicks, who was more responsible for the success of the Packers in the '90's, Mike Holmgren or Ron Wolf? I like them both immensely but I would have to vote for Ron Wolf.
I think the Packers under-achieved. Wolf built a powerful roster.

Alex from Orlando, FL
Vic, what part of your golf game needs the most attention and what drills are you currently practicing to improve it?
I don't do drills, I hit golf balls, and every swing I make is focused on one thing: an on-time release. I want to feel the club release at the ball so the strike is on time and on the middle of the clubface between the fourth and fifth scoring lines from the bottom. I routinely look at the clubface to see where the stain is, though the feel of the strike gives me a pretty good idea. For me, the keys to an on-time release are grip pressure, staying down and through, tempo and full finish.

Travis from New Market, TN
Where do you turn to read solid articles instead of the highly sensationalized clickbait that seems to dominate in so many places?
I "live" in the news app on my phone. I probably spend the greatest part of the day reading stories on my news app. I think the coronavirus coverage has been fabulous. I know what sites to read from experience; a good read brings me back.

Brendon from Santa Maria, CA
Every time there is a minor football league, no matter how abbreviated its life, it puts people back onto NFL rosters. What is this telling us?
You find football players where you find football players.

Kevin from Grand Rapids, MI
Thank you for extending your column during this time. With all the video tape, combines, senior games and campus workouts, what are some of the main reasons top picks still don't pan out?
They're at top speed. They can't play any faster.

Margeaux from Tallahassee, FL
Thank you, Lori and Vic, for an inspiring story. Not having been privy to many others, how about another? I imagine I'm not the only one in need of it.
I know, Margeaux.

Chris from Goddard, KS
Where do you rate Roman Gabriel compared to other quarterbacks of his era and what do you most remember about him?
In his prime, he was a top-third quarterback. More importantly, he's the guy I envision when I think of the Rams' white uniforms with the blue trim and blue helmets with the white ram horns.

Craig from Weare, NH
Vic, I apologize for my Pitt/Penn State remark. It was distasteful and disrespectful of you. I don't comment very much, but you banning me has, for some reason, been unsettling. I've enjoyed your column since you first started with the Packers. I'm also from Western Pa. and I'm 63 years old, so I can relate to a lot of what you say. I am very sorry. If you take me off your banned list, I promise you will not have to be even slightly concerned I would do anything disrepectful again.
I didn't want to do it; I felt I owed it to you. Actually, I didn't even know I did it. If I did, it was by mistake and I don't know how to fix it. I'm sorry.

David from Seattle, WA
How would you compare this time period to the late 1960's/early 1970's?
Then, it was about social injustice and war, and it took deaths at South Carolina State, Jackson State and Kent State to effect change. Now, it's about political opinion. Will somebody have to die again?

​Joshua from Milwaukee, WI
You frequently discuss how pro football has changed during your lifetime. How do you think pro baseball and basketball have changed in the past 25-30 years?
Forgive me, please, but I'd like to take this opportunity to discuss how all of sports might change in the next year or two. We have this opinion all of this is going to end and life will go back to normal. What if it doesn't? What if social distancing becomes a way of life? Will we ever be able to put 80,000 people shoulder to shoulder inside a football stadium again, or are we destined to live our lives six feet apart? I never thought I'd have to take off my shoes to board an airplane. Life evolves in strange ways.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Mark from Eau Claire, WI
What is something about you that would surprise us?
I can't think of one thing about me that would surprise anyone.

Douglas from Binghamton, NY
What is the greatest single-season outfield of all time: 1975 Red Sox vs. 1971 Pirates. Who comes out on top?
Rice/Lynn/Evans and Clemente/Stargell/Oliver were good outfields. There have been lots of good ones. I like the '61 Reds' Robinson/Pinson/Post. I think the best is the '61 Yankees' Mantle/Maris/Berra. That's 137 home runs.

Cliff from Idaho
Vic, you have mentioned several times over the past couple of years the Saints' arrow is pointing down because of cap space, yet, they always make a deep run in the playoffs and keep most of their stars. Would you say they are one of the favorites in the NFC next year? What have they done the Packers have not?
They made a deep run last season? They lost their first game. Since 2010, they've won four postseason games, never more than one in any one season. During that same time, the Packers have won 10 postseason games. The answers to your questions are no and nothing.

Ryan from Thorp, WI
Who were the biggest early-round draft busts for each of the three NFL teams you covered during your time with each team?
Steelers -- Huey Richardson. Jaguars -- R. Jay Soward. Packers -- Datone Jones.

Bob from Green Bay, WI
I have always admired the Steelers for their stable management. They hire good people and stick with them for a long time. How do they handle the howling wolves?
They cash their checks and send out the tickets.

Damian from Point May, Newfoundland
What are the chances the Packers get either Derrick Brown or Javon Kinlaw? Think they could drop to where the Packers pick or will they have to trade up?
I asked a scout for another team what he thought would be available to the Packers at pick 30. Defensive lineman? Wide receiver? He said no to defensive lineman and yes to wide receiver.

Jesse from Anaconda, MT
If you owned an NFL team named the Texans, would you give your head coach final say on roster decisions?
I would not. Managing a football team is too big of a job to entrust to one man. Plus, I think managing personnel requires a vision for the future; coaches should focus on the present. If I owned a team, I would work closely with my personnel man and my cap man. I'd let the head coach do his own thing.

Nathan from New York, NY
It didn't surprise you Witten missed the all-decade team?
Gronkowski and Kelce were more impactful players. Their big plays defined the position.

Jake from Knoxville, TN
Vic, I don't know if you've heard, but the NFL has made its "Game Pass" service free through the end of May. I'm taking the opportunity to see all the Packers games from before I found your column and learned how to really watch football. Are there any Jaguars or Steelers games since 2009 you would recommend or would want to go back and see again?
I think the Steelers-Jaguars game of 2018 is one of the zaniest games and most shocking outcomes I've ever seen.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, you are a wonderful story teller. What is your favorite non-football tale?
My father was born in 1925, the youngest of three sons of poor immigrants. Four years later, the country went into the Great Depression. At age 18, he was in the Philippines in World War II. Two years later, never having known anything but poverty and war, he returned home with little more than the uniform on his back and something called the GI Bill, which he used to become the first person in his family to set foot on a college campus. He graduated in three years as a hitch-hiking commuter. Since then, every one of his children and every one of his grandchildren have graduated from college, and a few years ago one of his grandchildren got his PhD from his grandfather's alma mater. My father and the GI Bill changed the course of history in my family. His story is an example of what can happen when will gets help.

Jamie from Thunder Bay, Ontario
Vic, will we ever see a top draft pick take a stand and refuse to sign with Washington because of their disparaging team name?
I don't think that'll happen, but it wouldn't surprise me if players refuse to refer to the team by its nickname.

Jason from Morrisville, NY
With the league year in question, would you be less likely to take a developmental project in the first round of the draft or take someone more polished with potentially a lower ceiling?
If there was ever a draft to pick the best available player, this is it.

​Mike from McFarland, WI
Pick one moment from each decade that, if it goes slightly differently, the history of football is dramatically changed.
1950's -- The Giants hire Vince Lombardi instead of Jim Lee Howell, or Weeb Ewbank doesn't become the head coach of the Colts and Paul Brown signs Johnny Unitas. 1960's -- Joe Namath signs with the Cardinals instead of the Jets. 1970's -- The Bears win the coin toss for the 1970 first overall draft pick, or Paul Brown names Bill Walsh head coach of the Bengals instead of Tiger Johnson. 1980's -- The Steelers pick Dan Marino. 1990's -- Judge David Doty doesn't rule in favor of free agency. 2000's -- With the 198th pick of the 2000 draft, the St. Louis Rams select Tom Brady one pick ahead of the Patriots. 2010's -- Packers reserve tight end Brandon Bostick recovers Seattle's onside kick attempt in the 2014 NFC title game.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Samuel from Milwaukee, WI
Vic, what do you think of the Bucs' and Falcons' new uniforms?
I like the Bucs'. They're a huge improvement. The Falcons'? Not so much. The throwback is OK, although I'd like to see a little more red in it; there's way too much black in all of the Falcons' models. The Falcons' three modern looks are all Joe's Bar.

Jim from Maple Grove, MN
If the talent drops off at about pick 22, what do you think it would take for the Packers to move up to the edge of the cliff?
It would probably cost them their two. If they have their eye on a guy they believe can be a difference-maker, go get him. Otherwise, I think quarterbacks and pass-rushers will be overdrafted and that'll push a good player down to where the Packers are.

Jeff from Miami, FL
Can the Packers "stop the run" with a dominating offensive line and running offense of their own, or must they spend a top draft pick on the defensive line?
I don't think the Packers can get better on defense by merely trying harder.

Ryan from Thorp, WI
Which teams besides the Kansas City Chiefs are set up for a long run of success?
The Ravens and 49ers immediately come to mind. I could make a case for at least another four or five teams, but long runs of success aren't as many as they once were. More and more the NFL is a one-year league; circumstances are flipping the arrow very quickly. The Falcons are the classic example. How about the Rams? The Bears' arrow was pointing up two years ago.

Richard from Clearwater, MN
A few teams are almost always updating their jerseys in significant ways, while other teams stick with or close to their past. Do you have a preference, and does it ever really make sense to always be re-branding?
When you achieve an identity, stop.

Alfonse from Taos, NM
If the Packers were lured to trade Aaron Rodgers for many draft picks this spring, what would be the cap hit of such a move?
If the Packers traded him on draft day, they would suffer a nearly $40 million dead money hit to their salary cap.

Lucas from Buenos Aires, Argentina
Vic, who do you think will have more success, Brady without Belichick or Belichick without Brady?
I don't think you're asking a fair question. Chuck Noll never won a Super Bowl after Terry Bradshaw retired. Paul Brown never won a pro championship without Otto Graham as his quarterback. Does that mean Noll and Brown were overrated coaches? What it means is even great coaches need great quarterbacks. Bill Belichick is a great coach, but he was 5-13 and on his way to being fired when he made Brady his starting quarterback. I'm very interested in seeing Belichick rebuild the Patriots; it'll further define him as a coach. Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time, but I'm not sure what he has left in the tank.

William from Savannah, GA
Vic, could you envision the Jags shipping a late-round pick to the Bengals for Andy Dalton?
At the least, Gardner Minshew is the equal of Dalton. Why trade for another one? I'd like to see them draft a top prospect to compete against Minshew.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
Who is the last great QB to play his whole career for a single team? I think Roethlisberger will do it. Was the last one Aikman?
​It's a good trip down memory lane: Bradshaw with the Steelers, Anderson with the Bengals, Marino with the Dolphins, Fouts with the Chargers, Elway with the Broncos, Simms with the Giants, Brodie with the 49ers, and Starr.

John from Yakima, WA
What surprised you the most about the recent "All Decade Team" announcement?
All the picks are sensible. I didn't find anything surprising or controversial.

Lane from Orlando, FL
What do you think will be some of the unintended consequences of the Covid-19 virus? I’m thinking handshakes may be a thing of the past.
Bat should be more affordable.

Geoff from Beaver Dam, WI
Brandin Cooks has now been traded three times for a total of two firsts and a second. He was also a first-round pick in 2014. If he is so valuable, why is he on three teams in six years?
Fever in the morning, fever all through the night.

Andy from Dane, WI
I watched the 1979 strong man competition with Jon Kolb and Bob Young. Did you cover Kolb? Any good stories you could share?
I was asked to do a Gameday program story on Kolb; I think it was in '79, which would've been the second year of the rules changes. I was interviewing Jon when he decided to show me his punch move. He punched me in the shoulder and a pain shot through my shoulder and up into my neck. He saw the look on my face, but I told him not to worry and I finished the interview and then walked down to the Steelers PR guy's office. "How'd it go," he asked? "I think I separated my shoulder," I said.

Ben from Palto Alto, CA
What was watching Otis Taylor like?
He was Calvin Johnson before Calvin Johnson was Calvin Johnson.

​Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, what is your funniest football story?
I have too many of them to rank, but here's one you might enjoy: The Steelers had a young nose tackle named Gary Dunn. At this point in his career he was just trying to stick on the roster. He was involved in some hijinks during a late-season road trip to Seattle, which resulted in the hotel complaining to Coach Noll. "They call him Arthur," the hotel said; it was a nickname Dunn's teammates had for him. Noll addressed the issue with the team when it got back to Pittsburgh. "I don't know who you are, except they call you Arthur," Noll said. Dunn figured he was toast, but nothing more was said about the issue, the season ended and Dunn thought he was in the clear. The following summer, at training camp, Dunn and Noll passed each other in the dormitory hallway. "Chuck," Dunn said. "Arthur," Noll said. Nothing more was said.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Kelvin from Kenilworth, UK
Vic, where does Tony think the drop off from elite talent is in round one?
He said there's a cliff at about pick 22.

Keith from Racine, WI
I was just wondering if you have any idea why the Packers consistently fail to stop the run. It really irks me. It has been their Achilles heel since Rodgers started playing, maybe before. It seems odd, with the amount of players that have come and gone, and coaches, too. What's the deaI?
They haven't drafted well for defense. We've talked about this ad nauseam. Drafting at the bottom of the order is an explanation, but I think there's more. Ted Thompson seemed to have a great feel for offense, but not for defense. Rodgers, Jennings, James Jones, Finley, Sitton, Lang, Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Lacy, Bakhtiari, Linsley, Aaron Jones were great picks, and there have been even more on offense. Defense is littered with busts. When something plays out as consistently as that trend did, I think it's fair to label it a track record. Not passing on Rodgers and passing on T.J. Watt are the symbols for Thompson's track record: great on offense, bad on defense.

Sean from Longmont, CO
What attributes will make David Tepper a dynamic owner?
He's a self-made man, similar to Mark Cuban's background. Tepper grew up in a gritty inner-city Pittsburgh neighborhood. He worked his way through Pitt and then did his graduate work at Carnegie Mellon, to whom he would later donate $67 million and see the school name its school of business after him. Tepper will be a dynamic owner because he's a dynamic person.

Mike from St. Johns, FL
Vic, we had a great run with the "Ask Vic" golf tournament for years in North Florida and then in South Georgia. Let's crank it back up.
Memories make us rich.

Jack from Jacksonville, FL
Nick Foles agreed to restructure his contract so he could be traded. Does the move the Bears made seem more reasonable now?
No. They lowered the cap hit but $21 million remains fully guaranteed. I hear a train whistle in the distance. GMs who think in terms of cap hit and try to ignore the reality of real money are just fooling themselves and their owners, and I'll never understand why fans and media celebrate this kind of behavior. Eventually, the car is going to stall on the tracks.

Mark from Saukville, WI
Lots of fun to see you on screen again! Nice touch with the blurry background.
The picture on the wall behind me is of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on Sept. 3, 1995, the day of the Jaguars' inaugural game.

Mitch from Winston, GA
GM Vic is on the clock with pick 30. The top three defensive players he covets are available, a DL, ILB and CB. All can shed blocks and don't shy away from confrontation. Your pick?
The one who doesn't like his mother.

Jim from Monroe, WI
Vic, the Packers of the '60's, then the Steelers, 49ers and Cowboys in the next decades. I wonder what made them win. Were the players just that much better than other teams'?
Yes.

Jimmy from Vero Beach, FL
I wanted your opinion on compensatory draft picks. I feel they fly in the face of Bert Bell's inverse-order draft. Good teams are able to let free agents go, while struggling franchises pay outrageous amounts in an attempt to reverse their fortunes.
The owners wanted a system for compensating teams for losing players they had identified and developed, and the players would not accept a system that  would discourage teams from signing free agents. This system serves both purposes. Plus, it doesn't disturb the talent flow in the important early rounds. I think it works.

Ben from Alameda, CA
If the NFL season is canceled and you could choose one single season to televise instead, which do you choose?
I think it varies according to the teams. Packers fans might want to see the '96 or 2010 seasons. Jaguars fans would probably opt for 1996. Steelers fans might go for 2008, though I'd like to see 2015 just so I could watch that playoff game in Cincinnati again. It's a cool idea. Let each market pick a season and then show it. I like it!

Jake from Chippewa Falls, WI
Vic, can you share your thoughts on where Drew Brees fits in with the all-time greats?
Right next to Aaron Rodgers.

​Craig from Cedarburg, WI
My immediate family is taking the stay-at-home orders seriously, but I have loved ones acting irresponsibly. How would you convey your concern?
I'd lock the door.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Zoltan from Budapest, Hungary
Great to see "Ask Vic" back online! Sorry I need this long time to didcover it. Do you see any draft prospect, who is flying really under the radar right now, or people barely speaking about him, but if he can stay healthy you think he'll be a household name/star in the league?
The next Tom Brady, Zoltan? I don't think anybody has a crystal ball good enough to make that kind of prediction. How about some sleepers? I asked Tony Pauline that question and he gave me L'Jarius Sneed (DB La. Tech), Jason Strowbridge (DL North Carolina), Jack Driscoll (OL Auburn), Colton McKivitz (OT West Virginia) and John Daka (pass rusher James Madison).

Joshua from Milwaukee, WI
You seem to like Joe Burrow. What’s your opinion of Tua, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love?
Tua throws a great deep ball, and I think that's always No. 1 when evaluating quarterback prospects. His underneath skills are suspect, but I have to believe they can be developed more fully. The hip injury is a big concern. Mobility is a big part of his game. Herbert comes out of that great Oregon tradition for producing high-pick QB busts. I saw him late in the season and he was underwhelming. His measurables are out of this world but I thought he played meekly in the games I saw. If he goes to a run-the-ball team, he'll have a chance to grow into his body. Love? He was terrible in the games I saw. He was scatter-armed and that was likely the result of terrible mechanics. He has an under-and-up delivery and he's this year's winner of the Colin Kaepernick stare-down-your-receivers award. So why is he zooming up boards? Is it the result of his Combine workout? Jacob Eason interests me. I think he's the cleanest-looking prospect, other than for Burrow. Jake Fromm took a step back in 2019, but that might make him a bargain pick.

Spencer from Redondo Beach, CA
Let's say the NFL decides to play the season without fans and they add artificial crowd noise to the broadcasts. Who decides to increase the cheering for a big play? Would the games still be played in the stadiums, or would it be better to play the games in smaller venues since there are no fans to fill the seats?
If playing games to empty seats begins to look likely, the league and the TV execs are going to brainstorm the issue; they might already be doing it. How might they maximize the entertainment value of the telecast? That's what they'll ask themselves. I don't think they'll use artificial crowd noise. That was something I just threw out there for fun talk. Artificial crowd noise would be cheap and tawdry; neither the NFL nor the networks want that kind of image. I think the TV execs will opt for enhanced audio of the players and coaches. It would offer a unique look inside the game and I think it would distinguish what I believe would be huge TV ratings next season. Players and coaches would have to clean up their language, but I think it's doable. Again, these are out-of-the-box thoughts. There are no details at this point.

Bryan from Thatcham, UK
Having just watched the Chicago at Green Bay game from 1985, I was surprised to see the referee stop the game because of crowd noise. Was this common back in the day? Why and when did this change?
Yes, it was common. The worst I ever saw was at a Steelers-Cardinals game at Three Rivers Stadium in that same season. Neil Lomax had to step out from under center several times and after several delays the PA announcer was instructed to warn the crowd a penalty would ensue if they continued to delay the game. It became something the league couldn't control so it just quit enforcing the crowd noise rule and put the onus on visiting teams to deal with it.

John from Rock Hill, SC
Do you think the new coach for the Panthers can create a consistent winner? How many years to rebuild?
David Tepper will be a dynamic owner. That's what's most important. I expect the Panthers to become one of the league's premier franchises. How long will it take? That depends on how many quarterbacks they have to draft to get there.

John from Garnet Valley, PA
My first baseball game was in Baltimore in the early 1970s. Standing along the dugout rail before the game, I asked Earl Weaver to sign my program. His reply was, “Get lost, kid.” Brooks Robinson, perhaps having heard this, came over and spent what now seems like 10 minutes with me asking about my life and how school was going. I still cherish that experience (a long time later, I named my son Brooks). Any similar childhood memories?
No, but I got Buzz Nutter's autograph, so I have that going for me, which is nice. I can add this about Robinson: He helped Johnny Unitas get back on his feet financially. He got Unitas appearance money for golf outings, endorsements, etc. Robinson and Unitas will forever be Baltimore's favorite sons.

Mike from Berlin, WI
The Packers just hired a team psychologist. Why do I picture the guy from "The Natural" droning on about how losing is a disease?
The Packers don't need a psychologist, they need an Oklahoma.

Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL
Great video interview with Brian Sexton on jaguars.com. I loved seeing you back with the Jags, even if only for 12:53. Does doing things like that bring up any particular memories of your time there?
It causes me to remember the day Wayne Weaver asked me to create content for jaguars.com. A door opened and I stepped into the best years of my professional life. Thank you, Wayne.

​Wyatt from Jacksonville, FL
The Chiefs look set up for a long run of championships with a great coach and QB. Do you think the Jaguars would be in that position if they'd taken Mahomes when they had their chance?
Yes.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Jason from Austin, TX
What would you classify the Patriots' run? Would they not be considered a two-decade dynasty in your opinion? You didn't include them in "the days of the '60's Packers, '70's Steelers, '80's 49ers and '90's Cowboys are over."
Those teams largely retained the same cast of players. The Patriots were Tom Brady and a constantly changing supporting cast. The Patriots were many teams. I don't view the Patriots the same way I regard the other teams. The other teams were pre-cap. The Patriots will likely forever be regarded as the greatest franchise in salary cap history.

Matt from Georgetown, TX
Is it wise to spend a first-round draft pick on an interior offensive lineman?
High first-round pick? Usually, no. Late in the first round? Yes, because that's when you begin having to look deeper for value.

Howard from Homestead, FL
Vic, on a scale of 1-100, how certain are you the Colts were pumping in crowd noise?
I'm 100 percent sure of it because my friend Ed Bouchette reported it and told me who his source was. They are each unimpeachable.

Nick from Owego, NY
I'm rewatching all of Seinfeld due to isolation. What are your top Seinfeld moments?
5) "Let's take it up a notch." 4) George is a marine biologist. 3) Festivus for the rest of us. 2) Elaine's Christmas card. 1) "I work for the Yankees." "They stink."

Chris from Maple Ridge (wherever that is)
I got married in September and in my vows I told her I felt like a rich man because "memories make us rich." That’s when she started crying. Thank you.
Good start. You have a chance. Now, go to the local florist, give them your credit card numbers and tell them to send her flowers on her birthday and on Valentine's Day every year until she has divorced you or you are dead, whichever comes first.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
So, which is it, health or wealth?
Jonas Salk answered that question more than 60 years ago when he sacrificed patenting his polio vaccine so it could immediately go into production and begin saving lives. What if he had chosen wealth?

Carl from Blue Mounds, WI
Seems like the Packers have 6-10 NFL receivers during camp and we are worried about how to keep them all. Then, during the season, it seems like we only have one receiver the other team needs to worry about.
When the Packers have 6-10 NFL big guys during camp and the fans are worried about how to keep them all, what happened in San Francisco won't happen again.

Samantha from Marion, IA
Can you shed some light on the Texans trading Hopkins to the Cardinals for David Johnson? I just can’t see where they got any kind of good deal, even with a second-round pick.
Apparently, Hopkins had become Bill O'Brien's Antonio Brown and O'Brien wasn't willing to live with Hopkins' antics as Mike Tomlin had endured Brown's. The second-round pick is the prize in the trade. It's the 40th overall pick in a draft in which the Texans don't have a first-round pick, and that helps make the trade a little more understandable. This draft is deep with talent; it'll reach well into the second round. If O'Brien uses the pick to replace Hopkins with a star-quality player, no one should complain about the trade.

David from Vancouver, BC
If you were working for the books in Vegas, where would you set the line for the number of games that will get played this year?
Unless there's a cure for this virus or it magically disappears before the football season begins, I have to believe major alterations and adjustments would have to occur for any kind of meaningful football to be played next fall. Be that as it may, I have this very strong feeling, or maybe it's just hope, next winter's Super Bowl is going to be a star-spangled celebration of America's victory over coronavirus. How will it happen? At this point in time, I see no training camps and no preseason. I see a special one-year CBA, the negotiations of which will be the story of the summer. Through the first two months of the season, I see each team playing four games, with games being scattered about the schedule so they can maximize TV coverage. Hopefully, by November the league can go full speed. Please, don't ask me to elaborate or provide details. These are just out-of-the-box thoughts about a season no one could've ever imagined. We all want the same thing, a cure. As it stands right now, I think there's a distinct possibility this draft will be the highlight of 2020.

Eric from Colorado Springs, CO
The Green Bay Packers fill the stadium for their preseason games. What kind of an economic impact would it have on the community losing those preseason games?
It would hurt but, even worse, what if the season was canceled? The Green Bay economy would be crushed.

Dave from Chippewa Falls, WI
Are you a big Andy Warhol fan, another Pittsburgh guy?
Warhol being from Pittsburgh is like me being from Paris. "Yinz got some ketchup I can put on this souffle?" Pittsburgh is a many splendored thing. The same place that produced Ditka has given us Warhol, Gertrude Stein, Stephen Foster, Henry Mancini, Fred Rogers, Gene Kelly, Mark Cuban and too many others who've achieved fame in careers other than sports to name. By the way, Pitt held a press conference on Thursday, during which they announced their belief they've found a coronavirus vaccine. It would be administered by a small bandage applied to the fingertip, and it would be easily mass produced and doesn't require refrigeration. It was the best news I've read or heard in weeks. Google "Pitt vaccine" if you're interested. Let's go Pitt!

​David from Madison, WI
What's one of the most beautiful scenes you've seen in sports?
The most beautiful thing in sports I've ever seen is Forbes Field in the late innings on a summer night, having moved down into the box seats after the ushers had left, and knowing I don't have to go to school in the morning.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.

Jon from Omaha, NE
Vic, I'm starting to get defense fever again. I'm quite curious about what the Packers will do on the defensive front. I'd love to have a starting three that would scare offensive lines. Any big guys we should be looking for in this draft or late in free agency?
Tony Pauline thinks the Packers will need to trade up to address their defensive line in the first round, but I'm not so sure. Quarterbacks and pass-rushers are always overdrafted and push good players down at other positions.

Ryan from Wausau, WI
You said Pop Warner was the first father of modern offense, but also mentioned there were several. Who are the others?
Sid Gillman and Bill Walsh immediately come to mind, but there were a lot of innovative coaches between Warner and the modern wave. One of them is Clark Shaughnessy, the father of the T formation. Football's history is every bit as fascinating as baseball's, but not nearly as publicized and chronicled. If you love football, research men such as Shaughnessy and how they helped the game evolve.

Scott from Alaska
I do not understand this question: "Is it moral to place wealth above life?" Isn't wealth the source of life? Isn't wealth necessary to sustain it?
Thank you.

Drew from St. Paul, MN
Have you watched any Gophers football games in the last couple of years? If so, what’s your take on P.J. Fleck?
Carnival barker.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, what events during your lifetime have fundamentally changed American culture besides 9/11 and the current pandemic?
Jonas Salk's discovery of his polio vaccine, Kent State, Watergate, FOX News, Seinfeld and the 2008 financial crisis come to mind. There are many more, of course.

Caleb from Brookfield, CT
Vic, do you feel like a member of the media needs to try and limit their internal bias? You always emphasized you were not a fan when you reported for the Packers and I appreciated that. Do you feel like that sense of professionalism is lost now?
I've known newspapers named the such and such Republican and the so and so Democrat. Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" was a biased publication. The media has always had a bias. Media outlets have long taken a position and defended it. All of a sudden, we can't handle it; it's divided us. Why? Why have we become so intense about opinion we have no tolerance for anyone's but our own? The problem isn't with the media. The problem is with the reader and the viewer. Stop blaming the media and begin being accountable for your reaction to it.

Joshua from Cable, WI
Vic, hard counts, catching 12 men on the field or any type of trick play are all fine until they get cute. It's good to make the other team pay for their mistakes, but if a team gets cute they are admitting they can't win straight up. I would like to see the Packers be a bit less cute.
Bingo!

Doug from Union Grove, WI
Vic, I'm retiring on Friday. I'm turning 71 on Sunday. I still have part-time work as our village president, but what am I supposed to do with the rest of my time? Is there a book on this somewhere? I'd come sit on your porch but the commute would wear me out.
Ask yourself, do I have enough and am I enough? If the answer to both is yes, relax and enjoy it; you've achieved contentment. If the answer is no to either, don't retire; you've got work to do.

Alex from Vienna, VA
I understand there are different physical requirements, but why is it more difficult to find a safety than, say, a linebacker? It was the only ranking you gave that surprised me.
In this age of four and five-wide, and with offenses going no-huddle and forbidding defenses to substitute, safeties have to possess cornerback-like coverage skills.

Damian from Superior, WI
I just finished "Kent State" by James Michener and found the reaction of the residents of Kent more horrifying than the shootings themselves. What a dark time.
Within a few years after the shootings, Nixon had ended the draft and the United States had withdrawn from Vietnam. Often, people have to die to effect the change they seek.

Jake from Eden Prairie, MN
With OTAs and training camp most likely being canceled, will this lower the amount of injuries throughout the season due to less contact early on, or increase injuries due to lack of proper technique and being in football shape?
We could be headed for a very different kind of football season. Should it begin late and lack a preseason, comparisons will be made to the 1982 strike season, which saw the cancelation of seven games and resumed in late November.

Pat from Seneca, SC
What are your thoughts on Bruce Arians as a coach? Tampa seems to have some good skill-position players (but perhaps questionable pass protection). All things considered, is Tampa a good fit for Brady?
I think the bigger question is: Can Tom Brady still play? I love Arians as a coach -- I thought he would've been a good hire for the Packers -- but when Bill Belichick gives up on a guy, I have to believe his skills have clearly eroded.

Matthew from Madison, WI
A few weeks ago, you said having NFL free agency was a bad look. Are you disappointed they didn't delay the draft?
No, because I think the draft is a good look, especially at a time like this. The draft is re-birth. It's young men excited for their new life. It's heart-warming stories of human victory. On draft night, it's a game of the heart. The greed comes later.

Will from Julian, CA
Vic, what are your thoughts on playoff expansion?
I love it. I hope a 7-9 team wins the Super Bowl. Why would that be an outrage? Folks, the days of the '60's Packers, '70's Steelers, '80's 49ers and '90's Cowboys are over. There are no more true teams of the decade. That ended with unrestricted free agency and the salary cap. This is the era of true parity, and nothing defines this era better than an unlikely champion.

Morgan from Little Chute, WI
Jameis Winston to the Packers in a Teddy Bridgwateresque role?
I don't think he's a good fit for the Packers, but he'll be a good fit for somebody, and I'm not referring to a team looking for a No. 2. Winston is a huge talent. He's a lion that needs to be tamed. I think he'd be a great fit in Jacksonville.

Bret from Mililani, HI
Did all those Tom Brady “discounts” finally catch up to the Patriots?
Are you referring to contract restructurings? Of course they caught up to the Patriots. Belichick is a great manager of personnel and the salary cap. He's going to take his medicine and heal as quickly as possible.

Chris from Lexington, KY
What are your thoughts on Jonathan Taylor? Some mocks have him in the top 25 while others have him in the third round. Where do you see him going?
I love him. I asked Tony Pauline for his opinion on Taylor and I also asked Tony for the negatives on Taylor. "Powerful between-the-tackles, downhill ball carrier with breakaway speed," Tony said. The negatives? "Purely a north-south running back with no ability to run laterally or turn the perimeter," Tony added. That's not a negative for me, that's a pounder. Taylor is a perfect fit in Pittsburgh. Let's pound, baby.