"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Andrea from Magenta, Italy
I know you wrote that provocatively, but the worst performance against the run you have seen has to be the Colts' in the 2006 game against the Jaguars, in which the Colts allowed 375 rushing yards to Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew, etc., right?
It was until I went back and looked at video of the Packers-49ers game, specifically of the running plays. I had expected to see the Packers getting caught in blitzes and stunts, being out of position and being creased -- that's what I would normally expect when a runner breaks into the clear untouched -- but that wasn't the case. The Packers were playing run all the way, in their 3-4 base and with a safety down in the box. I saw guys being moved 5-10 yards from where the blocker engaged them. That's when I changed from the Colts to the Packers. The Colts were without Bob Sanders, the heart and soul of their defense; he would return and help lead the Colts to the Super Bowl title. It was a somewhat unimportant December game; Packers-49ers was for the NFC title and a place in the Super Bowl. Interestingly, the Jaguars and 49ers each ran the ball 42 times in those games. Taylor is a Hall of Fame candidate and Jones-Drew is an NFL rushing champion. Raheem Mostert? No, the Packers win the prize on this one. I've covered a lot of games in which teams rushed for more than 285 yards, but I honestly don't think I've seen anything like this.

Dan from Golden Valley, MN
Vic, not sure this has been discussed in detail, but what are your thoughts regarding a 17-game season?
I favor any plan that would reduce the number of preseason games.

Ben from Alameda, CA
When did you first begin to think of Eli Manning as an elite and possible Hall of Fame QB?
I don't think he belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, you keep saying WRs are a dime a dozen. If that’s the case, why weren’t the Packers’ WRs able to shine with an elite quarterback?
The Packers made it to the NFC title game with a receiver who was cut by the Jaguars and another one who was undrafted out of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Dime a dozen.

Andrew from Ettrick, WI
Aaron Rodgers or Mike McCarthy, who’s in a better position for their second Super Bowl?
I think it's McCarthy. He's the coach of a team with a young quarterback on the rise, a star running back, the league's No. 1 offense and No. 9 defense, and the Cowboys play in the league's weakest division.

Bob from St. Charles, IA
Vic, would you agree the Packers currently have the defense to get to the Super Bowl, if they have a two-score lead?
I get what you're saying but this is a bad time to try to sell the merits of the Packers defense. They were No. 18 overall and No. 23 against the run, and they just suffered through one of the most embarrassing defensive performances in franchise history. The Packers will almost certainly have to focus attention on the defense in, yet, another draft, and that's taking its toll on the offense. How are you going to consistently get a two-score lead if you don't draft offensive players? The last time the Packers drafted an offensive player in the first round was in 2011, tackle Derek Sherrod.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
Having the third pick, is it time for the Lions to draft the heir apparent and trade Stafford for more picks?
He'd be wildly attractive in a trade. He'd be $32 million dead on the Lions' cap, which means his proration would largely stay in Detroit but he'd still have three years remaining on his contract. I like the way you think.

Joe from Memphis, TN
When a team is winning, all its fans say "we," but when the team loses it's "they." I’m as guilty as anyone. Has it always been this way?
Probably, but it's never been that way for me. I don't think I've ever referred to a team as "we," not even when I was a kid. I think I've always been a sports writer.

Aiden from Jacksonville, FL
Jake Godbold passed this week. It seems he was one of the most important individuals in bringing the Jags to Jax. Do you have any stories about him or about the franchise early on from your days as a reporter?
I know the name and his contribution. They were some of the most wonderful days of my life. I was in Jacksonville recently for a reunion of sorts. It was an emotional time for me; the memories came charging back at me. Jacksonville will always have been the crossroads of my life.

Adam from Wausau, WI
Do you treat anything like a fan or are you always in the press box?
I am always in the press box and I will never leave the comfort, the safety or the calm of it. You can go there, if you'd like, and you don't have to be wearing ruby slippers. All you have to do is stop talking and start watching.

Patrick from Dallas, TX
Vic, you’ve hit it exactly right, in my opinion. This is a soft team and I appreciate the salty answers you’ve provided to the questions about what happened. This team talks and talks about togetherness and camaraderie and being a player-led team. That all sounds soft to me. How does a soft team turn around and become a tough team? Is that even possible without a major overhaul?
It comes from the top. If I was Coach LaFleur, there'd be a chill in the building this offseason. Accountability, right? Isn't that what the players council said the Packers needed?

John from USA (USA, USA)
Vic, where do you stand on the gun control debate? Does your experience at Kent State worry you about a society in which only the state is armed?
What if the Kent State kids had been armed? What if one kid had returned fire? What would the loss of life have been? I had never considered this until I read your question. Thank you for asking it.

Rob from Boulder, CO
Had the Packers won another Super Bowl under McCarthy, would their situation right now be any different? They’d still have an aging QB trying to chase another title. My point is, if you stick with your QB long enough, you will eventually have to go all in.
I'm not sure I agree. It's never been easier to play quarterback. I remember when it was widely believed it took five years to develop a starting quarterback; now they're making an impact as rookies. The Steelers were in playoff contention on the final Sunday of the season and they played nearly the whole year with two guys who had never previously played a down in the NFL. I think a team can transition at the position and remain a contender, unless it goes all in and has to cut and gut. If you can keep your roster strong and your cap clean, you need not go dark.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
In Pettine's introductory press conference, he said something along the lines of football is first and foremost a passing game. We will not be beaten by the pass. Do you think he's reconsidering his approach?
He was trying to emphasize the need to rush the passer. He got careless with his words and now fans are throwing those words back at him to make him look foolish. I promise you, Coach Pettine knows you have to stop the run or you won't have a chance to stop the pass.

Grant from Plymouth, MN
The Packers-49ers game, while depressing, was also fascinating on a couple of different levels. I hear the Pro Football Focus guys talk about how the 49ers were scheming the run game to some extent, mixing inside zone, outside zone and power-run concepts in a way that kept the Packers off balance, but I also hear Vic say the Packers simply got out-muscled and need to add tough guys.
Wasn't it Pro Football Focus that said the Packers defense wasn't as bad as its yardage rankings? Well, they were wrong. All of that scheming to which PFF is referring was meant to keep the Packers defense honest. The 49ers ran strong side, they ran weak side. They ran inside, they ran outside. They zone-blocked, drive-blocked and pulled linemen out in front of the ball. They froze the Packers defense in position so the 49ers knew exactly where every defender was on every play. When you put on the tape, what you see is a hat on a hat, and the gold hats are blocking the yellow hats out of the way for the ball carrier. Scheme? You bet it was. It was a scheme to win the one-on-ones.

Jrlena from Coffeyville, TX
Vic, certain teams, like the Steelers and Broncos, have an ability to find tough, punch-you-in-the-mouth linebackers out of nowhere. The Packers haven’t had one of those type guys in 30 years. Can you explain why?
Out of nowhere? Not hardly. The Steelers have drafted nine linebackers in the last five years and three of them were picked in the first round. If you're going to play a 3-4, you have to pick linebackers early and often because they are the stars of the show. The T.J. Watt pick was a critical miss for the Packers. He would've changed their defense and the Packers wouldn't have needed to spend all of that money on two Smiths.

Rich from York, PA
Who is your pick for the Super Bowl?
The 49ers are the better team, so I'll pick them. I acknowledge the greatness of Patrick Mahomes, but it was a down year in the AFC and the 49ers are a battle-tested team. I think they've earned the right to be the favorite.

Beginning next week, "Ask Vic" will publish on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Braden from Milwaukee, WI
I hear a lot of Packers fans saying cut Rodgers or trade him, without understanding the ramifications. I want to be able to intelligently and accurately argue these points. Can you go over the specifics of Rodgers' contract and how that would affect the team's salary cap?
First of all, because 2020 would be the last year of the current CBA, there'd be no June 1 rule. That means traded or cut Aaron Rodgers' dead money would have to fall completely onto the '20 cap. Traded, Rodgers would be a $45.9 million hit on the Packers' '20 cap. Cut, he'd be a $51.1 million hit. If that isn't enough to convince fans Rodgers is going nowhere, consider the fact the Packers just guaranteed $14.26 million in a conversion restructuring in December. That's money the Packers wouldn't have had to pay to trade or cut Rodgers had they not converted that money to signing bonus. Clearly, the team has no intentions of moving Rodgers. Given the degree to which they are committed to Rodgers contractually, I have to believe they are going to be aggressive in surrounding him with talent.

Jeff from Republic, MO
LaFleur called out the team. What's next? How does he implement change?
I think Coach LaFleur is ready to make it his team. I sensed his irritation during the game on Sunday. For the first time this season, he didn't look like "Young Sheldon."

Ben from Hilo, HI
What's your general feeling when thinking about how this year's playoffs have unfolded?
The best teams are in the Super Bowl.

Kyle from Phoenix, AZ
I sense you have great respect for Rodgers’ football ability, but your tone carries an edge when you write about him otherwise. Why is this? Am I misreading you?
He's the best quarterback I ever covered. He does things that amaze me and I think he's a clutch, big-game, crunch-time player. There's nothing about the way he plays I dislike. I think he's a strong leader; he's tough, courageous and his dedication is total. I don't like the big deal he made about calling audibles. I think he was over the top on that one. It also bothers me that one man can hold a team hostage, but that's the nature of the quarterback position due to its importance and grip on the team's salary cap.

Jake from Farmington, MN
What is your opinion on Blake Martinez? I know he gets a lot of tackles, but they always seem to be 4-5 yards downfield.
He's not a thumper. I see him as a weakside inside linebacker, which means he's more of a No. 2 inside guy. If he had a thumper (Kirkland, Farrior, etc.) next to him, he could be used more to chase the ball and play in space, and that would likely lead to making plays that would make him a fan favorite. He'll get a big contract in free agency -- they all do -- which leads me to believe the Packers have already decided to let him walk.

Brian from Waukesha, WI
Packers Coach Matt LaFleur said he "didn’t think we played with the same effort as what I had seen earlier in the season.” What do you make of this?
I think he put on the tape and what he saw disgusted him. I went back and watched some of Mostert's runs. It was as though the Packers defenders were on skates. Nobody was holding their ground. On one play, P. Smith tried to run around a block, dived at Mostert and never got a hand on him. I had trouble finding Z. Smith on a touchdown run. The defensive linemen were being moved around the field like the players in that vibrating football game I once threw against the wall when I was a kid; everybody was moving in different directions. Some guy named Goodson might've been the Packers' best run-defender. I didn't even know he was on the team.

Jason from Austin, TX
Would GM Vic of the Bengals draft a QB or trade it for more picks?
Seldom does fate bless a team as it's blessing the Bengals. They will suffer the seven plagues if they don't draft Joe Burrow.

Justin from Canton, NC
Vic, I think the Smiths can be shown what happened and taught to do better against the run; they have the athleticism to do it. I think they got too caught up in the sack this year and maybe what happened will bring them back down to earth. I'd rather them stop the run than have new sack celebrations each week.
I agree. In the old days, the bags would be sitting in the middle of the field on the first day of full-pads practice at training camp. The players would immediately know why: It's Oklahoma time. My high school coach called it Viet Cong training.

Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
Do you pay Ngakoue big bucks, given that he's a liability in the run game?
I'd negotiate with him. If I couldn't do a deal, I'd let him walk.

Kevin from Stillwater, MN
Most seem quite impressed by what Brian Gutekunst has done. I'm not so sure. He seems like he might have missed on a top 12 pick, and he signed two players who can't or won't play the run (as you said). That doesn't say success to me. Is it as simple as the Packers had a great year, so he's done well?
Gutekunst is the right guy for the job. He's an outstanding evaluator of talent and he has the courage to be aggressive in his acquisitions. It's too early to judge the Gary pick, but I will offer a criticism on signing the Smith Bros.: I think he should've just signed one of them. You can cover up a pass-rusher who's weak against the run by shading the strong safety toward his side of the field, but you can't cover up both sides. Gutekunst had to see it on the tape when he was considering signing them. I saw it early in the season and we discussed it in this column. I think the Packers got shopping fever. They went into free agency with a lot of money and it burned a hole in their pocket.

Ben from DePere, WI
What do I look for to tell if an edge rusher can stop the run?
You look for the same thing in any front-seven defender: Can he absorb a block and hold his ground? The old linebacker on a running back drill is a staple at the Senior Bowl. Scouts want to know if a back can absorb the charge of a pass-rushing linebacker. If he can't, he's probably not an every-down back. Apply that same logic to an edge rusher.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
When Rodgers became the starter, he had a handful of quality receivers. This year it was down to one. How to build a stable of serviceable receivers?
You draft them. Dime a dozen. Give Gutekunst some time. He had a roster to rebuild. Hey, the receivers weren't the problem against the 49ers. They played pretty well. Packers fans have to get off their obsession with wide receivers. The Packers need tough guys. They got enough pretty boys. They need some grunts.

Justin from Riverview, FL
Maybe the train hasn't left the station, but it's certainly fueling to leave. In that case, should the Packers mortgage their future draft picks to move up in the draft? If you're going to get hit by a train, it better be worth it. Or is the draft too important to treat in such a shortsighted manner?
I don't wanna die healthy. You know what I mean? When they hand me over to the funeral director, I want him to look down and say, "Which end is the head?" I wanna use it all. If the Packers are going to go "All in for Aaron," then they should go all the way in, everything. You know what I mean?

Adam from Wausau, WI
The Packers drafted 21, 18 and 12 in the last two drafts. Do all three of those players have to be stars over the next three seasons for the Packers to close the talent gap?
It would certainly help. As I said, give Gary some time. Alexander is the one who's concerning me right now. He had a sensational rookie season, but not so much this past season.

John from Minnesota
I'm curious how you achieve balance between your love of human confrontation and your apparent soft spot for the little guy (or gal). I detect a sensitivity about you, but also a fierceness. How do you come to balance in life? How do you avoid becoming an extremist one way or the other?
There's no cheering in the press box. Try it. You might like it.

George from Virginia
Wounded Knee was bad, but you shouldn't lambast white Americans due to their worst moment. How about inventing cars or electricity? Your generation's hatred for its own nation has left us young folk on our own to pick up the pieces and teach ourselves to respect our forefathers and the great feats they accomplished. Speaking of which, do you really think Khan's Arabic ancestors were innocent angels? Or the native Indians, do you think they never raped or killed other tribes? I didn't want to say anything because I love your football thoughts, but it really rubbed me the wrong way. You wouldn't have framed any other race as terrible, which I find cowardly.
OK.

Will from Julian, CA
Vic, if you were the GM of a QB-needy team, which of the available big-name QBs would you consider worth signing? Consider Brady, Rivers, Manning, Foles, Mariota and all available.
Mariota interests me. I think he's salvageable. I'd also be interested in Andy Dalton. Mike Brown isn't going to pay his $17.5 million salary to sit the bench. I like Dalton and I have a feeling you could acquire him for a bargain pick. Of course, you'd first have to reach a new contract with him.

Mike from McFarland, WI
If you board the train, you eventually have to pay, but is it possible to make that payment in one year? Could the Packers mortgage the future and then the year after Rodgers retires, pay off dead cap money and field a losing team of rookies, only to start new and fresh with a clean cap the next year?
I call it a "cut and gut," and I think the Packers might be headed there.

​Curt from York, PA
It’s a passing league, so the Packers signed two high-priced pass-rushers, drafted a bunch of defensive backs, and now we get clobbered twice by a running team. Are 49ers-type teams going to become a thing since most defenses today are built to try and stop the pass, or is this just a here-today, gone-next-season thing?
Yes, it's a passing league. The Chiefs are No. 26 against the run and they're in the Super Bowl. What the Packers did against the 49ers is off the charts. When your opponent can throw the ball a mere eight times and score 37 points, you can't expect to win in any era. In all of the years I've covered the NFL, that's the worst performance against the run I've ever seen. It looks even worse when you look at the tape of the game. The Packers had to know the 49ers were going to run the ball. Did they back down? 

Beginning next week, "Ask Vic" will publish on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Scott from Chapel Hill, NC
Seeing that game, it makes me reflect on what an equalizer the draft really is. The 49ers had five very down years and picked high for each of those. The Packers, with Rodgers, continue to be good (he tips the field) but not great. They, in turn, get low draft picks. What’s the answer? Free agency? Don’t look for a star QB, just one that can manage the game and not sink the cap? Something else?
Acceptance and patience are the answers. Ride the wave as long as you can, then accept the inevitable effects of the inverse order draft system and be patient through the down years and the rebuilding process. The Packers are in the process of riding the wave.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, should Green Bay fans be embarrassed by what happened in the NFC championship game?
No, I think Packers fans have distinguished themselves with their graceful acceptance of this loss. They astutely saw this coming, weren't fooled into eating the 13-3 pizza, and I sense no embarrassing howl for a loss that couldn't be avoided and for which the blame falls on no one. Is that what you mean?

Bob from Australia
Vic, according to nfl.com's Michael Silver, San Francisco's brain trust decided to tear up the playbook from the previous 17 games and attack the Packers' edge rushers. I must admit, I hadn't previously seen such a scheme where the tight ends, even those regarded as star receivers, were used exclusively as blocking personnel. In view of your statement the 49ers played a type of football where everyone knows what they're going to do but are unable to stop it, is there something you'd like to add in relation to that?
I would add this: The Packers have a problem. They have two star pass-rushers who either won't or can't play the run. They are, in effect, pass-rush specialists, not every-down players. You can scheme to cover up one of those guys, but not both. I am greatly impressed by 49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan. He schemed personnel, not schemes, and that's players, not plays. Good for him!

Mitch from Bettendorf, IA
Vic, you said "every team should aspire to play football the way the 49ers play football." I saw a lot of scheme, motion, misdirection with three guys running around the backfield a lot of the time. A no-name guy was running all over. It looked to me like it was more plays, not players.
Well, you're wrong. That was all window dressing. When a team throws just eight passes but scores 37 points, you were out-played. I made a comment in Friday's column that '70's football doesn't win in today's game. I was wrong! Bob Griese was six of seven for 73 yards and no touchdowns in a 24-7 win in Super Bowl VIII. Garoppolo was six of eight for 77 yards and no touchdowns. I didn't think I would ever see anything like that again in a postseason game. Mitch, you gotta put down your video game and smell the football. You're missing the real game.

Tom from Bismarck, ND
I think most of us are keenly aware of your admiration of coaches McCarthy and Capers, likewise, your disdain for anyone who would criticize them. If the fans became frustrated with the wasting of the prime years of an all-world talent at QB, so be it. Do you have an honest to goodness insight into what really was happening the previous 10 years? Is it too sensitive to talk about? This isn't the first Packers team to be run off the field by a far more athletic team.
You apparently weren't "hearing" me. I wrote it over and over. Drafting at the bottom took its toll on this team. Bert Bell beat them. The problem wasn't coaching. The problem was the inevitability of the inverse order draft. Looking back on my years covering the Packers, I think the Packers could've done more to try to trade up and get that game-changing player on defense (as they did when they moved up for Clay Matthews), make the shrewd kind of trade the Steelers did for Minkah Fitzpatrick, or patch in affordable free agency as the Patriots have done. Yeah, I think the Packers should've been a little more aggressive in personnel instead of sitting in their designated draft spot and accepting their punishment for winning. I've gone back and looked at drafts to see who was available after they picked and my research was underwhelming. Clearly, if you want better players, you need to trade up, not back. So, if you're looking for criticism of the previous regime, that's the best I can offer.

John from Sioux Falls, SD
Vic, the howl will be to address WR and TE to get Rodgers better weapons, but to me it seems they need help most at DT and ILB. It feels like they'd have to draft an impact DL, but is ILB a position where an affordable Belichick free-agent patch could be applied?
There is no howl. The wolves have been silenced. They get it now; the 49ers silenced them. Brian Gutekunst will be able to work his magic without interference. He needs better players but he's back in the draft order, again, and it's going to take magic to either find those players where he's positioned, or move to where they are. He can't do it all in free agency. He needs to hit home runs in the draft, at any positions.

Jeff from Ogden, UT
Coach Vic, what are your first three picks for the Packers in the draft? Defensive line, wide receiver, inside linebacker?
Tough guy, tough guy, tough guy; I don't care where they play.

Pat from Collierville, TN
Vic, it seemed the 49ers had a more aggressive attitude and played to that style against the Packers. How do the Packers change their attitude?
Attitude? Coach Noll's first team was 1-13. Late in that season, some of the older veterans sensed the inevitable and began lobbying to extend their careers. A newspaper story quoted them as saying attitude was the problem; they needed to get rid of their loser's attitude. Coach Noll quickly put an end to that baloney. "There's nothing wrong with your attitude," he told them, and then he proceeded to say the problem was a lack of talent and during the offseason the team would find players with the talent to "run these defenses." The Packers need to do the same thing.

Andrew from Vancouver, BC
Every time we play the 49ers, the announcers play up the commentary about Rodgers' chip on his shoulder for being passed over in the draft. I always thought it was silly filler material, but he does seem to have bad games against them more often than not. Do you think Rodgers has a mental hangup with the 49ers?
I think that chip is getting heavy.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
I don’t see this happening but what could the Packers get in a trade for Rodgers? Care to ponder how that might help the Packers?
They could get a one and a two for him, at the least. He would be super attractive in a trade, not only because he's Aaron Rodgers but also because all of his proration would stay in Green Bay. The recent restructuring would, in effect, have the Packers paying Rodgers' "salary" to play for another team. Do you really want to do that? It’s crazy to even consider it. The Rodgers train is on the tracks and rolling. It can't be stopped. The decision the Packers are facing is to what extent they want to expose the team's train. Do they restructure Za'Darius Smith by converting his $9.5 million roster bonus to signing bonus, for example, and make room for a free-agent acquisition? Between now and March, we'll have our answer. Now, we wait.

Colin from Lansdale, PA
Are things about to get ugly in Green Bay? What's next? What's our window of opportunity?
Rodgers will define the Packers' window of opportunity. He's lost some mobility, but he's still a top quarterback. How long can he stay at that level?

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, do you believe Aaron Rodgers when he says the Packers’ window will be open for a long time?
Two more years would be good.

Jeff from Dorr, MI
Now that the season is over, do you have an opinion on Rashan Gary?
Opinions of him begin being formed next season. At this point, my thought on him is where does he play? Could he move inside?

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
The Packers were manhandled, punched in the mouth. Is this one of those games you've referenced that can have a lasting effect?
It can have a lasting positive effect because it can be sobering and help guide the team in its efforts to fix what's broken.

David from Lafayette, NY
I'm thinking stopping the run will be the No. 1 upgrade priority for the 2020 season. Does stopping the run fall more on our defensive linemen or inside linbackers, or is it an everyone-fly-to-the-ball mentality?
In a traditional base 3-4 defense, and the 49ers forced the Packers to play a lot of base, the down linemen are two-gappers. Their role is to eat blocks and keep the big-body blockers off the linebackers. In that system, the linebackers have to be the stars of the show. They have to run to the ball and make the stop, not struggle to get off the blocks of tight ends, running backs and wide receivers.

Curt from Portland, OR
Vic, what would your approach be if you were in Brian Gutekunst's and Mark Murphy's shoes today?
I'd love to say "All in! Burn the boats!" but that would be a lie. It's just not in my natural personality to wreck my team's future. My nature is to preserve and protect. My approach in this offseason would be to draft as wisely and with as much impact as possible, and to patch in affordable free agency. Any other approach would be a betrayal of my beliefs. I don't think that'll be the Packers' approach, but it would be mine.

Matt from Hazelhurst, WI
When will toughness be part of Green Bay's DNA again?
I think you've asked the definitive question. It's the question Coach LaFleur has to address.

​Joe from Bloomington, IN
If the Packers hadn't played Rodgers on a bum leg, Nick Bosa would be a Packer.
It's an amazing dynamic. The system rewards losing, but the human spirit demands victory.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F this week.

Doug from Union Grove, WI
They are who we thought they were.
Actually, I think they are who we were afraid they were. The league yardage rankings were foreboding. There's no denying that now. The defense is a yardage failure. As I've repeatedly said, if you can't stop the run, you won't have a chance to sack the quarterback.

Tommy from Detroit, MI
Getting to the championship game with a new offense and team isn't too shabby at all.
I'm getting a lot of that type of sentiment in my inbox, which tells me expectations for this team weren't really that high. All through the season I sensed an undertone of surrender. Fans' emotions are intriguing. What they demanded of McCarthy, they're willing to excuse LaFleur. I sensed it all along. There was a perceptible shift in fan attitude.

Bradley from Charlotte, NC
Initially, I was optimistic about the Packers punching above their weight this year, but now I'm concerned. They had so much good luck, but that wasn't enough. With so much money committed to Rodgers, the Smiths, etc., and a low draft position, is it possible they can get that much bigger, faster and more physical in the near future?
They'll probably have to be major players again in free agency to do it.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
"A coach must have his team ready to play." The Packers haven't been ready to play on the West Coast in three trips this season. What's your analysis of the issue?
Coach Noll said geography has nothing to do with losing.

Russ from Castle Rock, CO
As you say, the run cures everything. What do you see in the Packers defense that has caused them to be so bad against the run most of the season? Are the Smiths not that great against the run?
The Smith Bros. were non-factors. You have to have pass rushers, but if they can't play the run, then you better get some grunts who can hold the point of attack. Playing the run is beneath no one. Snubbed? Now we know why.

Chris from Kitakyushu, Japan
Not bad for year two of what was clearly a three-year plan to rebuild the team. I assume your inbox is full of the usual negativity that comes after these losses. I see the fact the team made it so far with clear roster holes as an indication of bright things for next year if they can add at least one more reliable playmaker on both sides of the ball. Next year is probably Super Bowl or bust, though, because if they add those players via free agency, the whistle will not be far in the distance.
Ah, sweet surrender.

Nicholas from Superior, WI
Looks like the Packers closed the gap a little bit. What can they do to close it completely?
Closed the gap? I'll have to think on that one a little bit. The Packers have a better pass rush and Aaron Jones emerged to be a star running back this season. Otherwise, I don't see a big difference from past years' teams. The fall behind and pass it on every down thing is getting old. The dinks, dunks, drags, dumps, delays and checkdowns are nauseating scheme football. Every team should aspire to play football the way the 49ers play football. They almost tell you what they're going to do and then they do it. They take what they want. They line up and play like men.

Bob from St. Charles, IA
How soon before "you can’t keep them all” kicks in for SF?
The 49ers can choose to push out money for a long time. This team was built quickly, which means the front end won't be getting old when the back end arrives. They'll have to begin restructuring contracts within a couple of years. As much as I dislike that tactic, I think they've built something special that would justify restructuring. These aren't guys at the ends of their careers. These guys are just starting. The 49ers could dominate the NFC for a long time.

Greg from Danbury, CT
Just when I wondered if anyone had an answer for Derrick, it turns out the real question is whether anyone has an answer for Mahomes. Amazing game.
It was not an amazing game. It was very predictable. The gap between Mahomes and Tannehill was overwhelming. The Titans were trying to beat one of the elite quarterbacks in the league with a quarterback who was cast off by one of the worst teams in the league.

Roy from Chippewa Falls, WI
Vic, all due respect, but you’re wrong about the Jacksonville situation. Shad Khan represents the very worst of what’s wrong with America today. He’s a foreign-born immigrant who is trying to move yet another American asset overseas. This is the hijacking and molestation of the American dream set forth for white Americans by the founding fathers. You should not encourage your readers to support Khan’s plans to destroy the Jaguars.
White Americans, huh? Are these the same white Americans who slaughtered those "immigrants" at Wounded Knee?

Roman from Rome, Italy
Well, it looks like the 49ers are wiping their feet on the Packers. Your pick proves correct again.
Roman, and anybody else who didn't get it, changing my pick on Friday was about being playful. I genuinely believed the Packers would win this game. I guess I ate the pizza. I, too, am disappointed.

Fabio from London
After Mostert’s unchallenged stroll through our defense and 49ers dominating virtually without involving the QB, should Pettine’s job be under threat?
Are you kidding me? Didn't you learn your lesson with Coach Capers?

Jim from Monroe, WI
Vic, I am not feeling bad, as it was a heck of a year for a first-year coach and good moves by our GM. However, do you see the Packers being in this position again next year with a few moves and addressing the run defense. It does not seem impossible. What do they need to win the Super Bowl next year?
The Packers' big problem is they have an aging quarterback whose amortization is beginning to stress their salary cap. They have to make a decision, or maybe they've already made it: Go all in, restructure across the board and get Rodgers what he needs to win it all? I think the answer to that question is going to be yes. If it is, we'll hear the first sounds of the train leaving the station in March.

Jerry from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
The year of the penalty continues. Why do the refs want to be part of the show?
I'm really struggling with it. This has not been an enjoyable season for me.

Pete from Minneapolis, MN
Interesting to see Mike Pennel starting at nose tackle for the Chiefs. I remember years ago you suggested he could be the answer for Green Bay at nose. Didn't think he'd have staying power in the league after his time in Green Bay. What did you see in Pennel?
He reminded me of Ernie Holmes, one of the most underrated players in NFL history.

Chris from Winstom-Salem, NC
Do you think a guy like Levon Kirkland could find a role in today’s defense.
Kirkland would be an every-down defender in today's game, just as he was in the era in which he played. He stuffed the run and he covered receivers 50 yards downfield. He was Luke Kuechly, but better.

Tim from Sun Prairie, WI
What do you make of Mike McCarthy not calling plays in Dallas? This has Jerry Jones written all over it.
I disagree. I think he learned his lesson about play-calling back when he appointed Tom Clements to be the Packers' play-caller and then had to take back the duties late in the season to quiet the howl of the wolves. Play-calling is a lightning rod for controversy. I get the sense he wants to distribute his efforts more broadly. This is a chance to do it his way right from the start.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F during the football season.

David from Seattle, WA
Sticking your neck out and picking the Packers; like the guts! I hope the readers don’t pounce on you if you're wrong. I feel your picks add value to your thoughts. Everyone knows a person can’t always be right so, people, don’t jump down Vic’s throat if he isn’t this Sunday.
Blame me for losing? OK, I'm changing my prediction. The Packers are going to lose. The 49ers are going to wipe their feet on the Packers, mock them, laugh at them as they slink away in defeat. Feel better now?

T from Milwaukee, WI
It's weird, but after reading your column nearly every day since 2011, I feel like you're one of my friends, too. I just wish I could argue with you in person. Ever going to setup another meet and greet?
We could do it under my house. The mosquitoes would love some fresh meat.

Josh from Jacksonville, FL
So this week Mark Lamping said, “To sit back and say winning is going to cure everything -- not in this market." He also said it's possible two home games would be played in London. Vic, you wrote back in November a London team would be based in Florida and (could) play games in a two-home, two-away routine between London and the U.S. Obviously, there are still a lot of moving parts to make a move to London, but red flags should be waving for Jaguars fans. Shad Khan is already on record stating there is "limited demand" for football in Jacksonville. You're right, the owner is the steward of the franchise and Khan has made it clear what he wants long term.
Would a four-and-four, shared-franchise plan be a bad thing? A connection to London would drive a lot of growth in Jacksonville. Think about it.

Kevin from Whitehall, WI
"The shame that goes with that kind of performance goes to the soul of a team and can require purging.” Is this what the Packers experienced after the 2014 meltdown vs. Seattle and it just took four years to come to fruition?
It's possible the seeds of discord were planted that day.

Nate from Pueblo, CO
The Packers have struggled against teams that can rush with four and cover with seven. What’s different about the Packers now that’ll get them to overcome this vs. the 49ers?
You can't cover with seven against a team that can run the ball; opponents didn't cover with seven when Eddie Lacy was at the peak of his game. Rush four, drop seven is what a defense does against a one-trick pony, as the 2011 Packers were. I remember opponents playing single-high safety to stop Lacy. The Packers can run the ball. It's not what they want to do, but they do it often enough and well enough to make defenses respect it. The 49ers will be forced to keep their linebackers at the line of scrimmage; no deep drops.

Patrick from Indianapolis, IN
Vic, besides having them ready to play and helping them believe they can win, what's the most important thing Matt Lafleur can/will do for his team in preparation for the upcoming game against San Francisco?
Coach LaFleur has done a wonderful job of managing his football team. He's stayed in the background and allowed success to happen naturally. He was gifted a rebuilt roster and a great quarterback and he was smart in avoiding confrontations. He hasn't over-coached. A lot of coaches would've tried to put their stamp on this team; he didn't make that mistake. He allowed Aaron Rodgers to put his stamp on this team. It's similar to what Jim Lee Howell did with the Giants of the '50's. LaFleur turned the defense over to Pettine (Landry) and the offense to Rodgers (Lombardi) and intelligently assumed a low profile.

Travis from Tampa, FL
Regardless of Cowher's record and accomplishments, I'll always remember him as the idiot who wanted to tackle Chris Hudson.
Travis, he wasn't trying to tackle Hudson, he was merely making a gesture that expressed his frustration. In all of my years doing this column, the thought Bill Cowher might actually try to tackle Hudson following the blocked field goal attempt and touchdown return is, without a doubt, the most idiotic notion expressed to me, and you're just one of many who've done it. It explains how vulnerable fans are to being fooled.

Matt from Georgetown, TX
Vic, I'm a little too young to remember much of the Chargers under Don Coryell, but I was surprised he isn't in the Hall of Fame. Why do you think he hasn't made it?
They never won a title. They choked every time they had a chance. The worst example of it was in 1979. The Oilers went into San Diego without Earl Campbell and Dan Pastorini, and then "Air Coryell" turned into "Interception Coryell" as Dan Fouts threw five of them and the Chargers began their tradition of losing the big one.

Jack from Chicago, IL
Vic, lately I have seen a lot of complaining, chortling and attempts to call you out. Has it always been that way or has it gotten worse? To be honest, it's driving me nuts. I dont always agree with you or like your opinions, but that doesn't give me the right to be a jerk.
I don't like it, either, because I don't want this column to turn into point-counterpoint. Healthy debate is good, but the comments section is intended for that. If you don't like what I've written, go into the comments section and say I don't like what Vic has written.

Lenny from Rexdale, Canada
The opposing QB has only had a higher passer rating than Rodgers three times this season: against Philly, against the Chargers and against SF. Green Bay lost all three of those games! The Packers still go as Rodgers goes.
That's why I had previously believed the Packers would win this game. I still think Rodgers will outplay Garoppolo, but now I think the 49ers will win the game.

Andrew from La Crosse, WI
At some point during the LSU-Clemson game I became aware of how many pairs of khakis and matching jackets were roaming the sidelines. These top-level football programs are getting monstrous.
If you're a college football fan and you want to enjoy the game for its true intent, please read "Carlisle vs. Army." It's about pure confrontation. It's about a genuine cultural divide. It's about one man's vision and how he launched the game's popularity as we know it today. It's about Wounded Knee and our shame. It's about the innocence of competition, which doesn't exist today. I don't know what college football can do to fix itself, but it can begin by reading "Carlisle vs. Army."

Geoff from Beaver Dam, WI
Any thoughts on Luke Kuechly?
I think tanking for Trevor has begun.

Dan from Madison, WI
What is your favorite NFL playoff memory from this century and the last?
The "Immaculate Reception."

​Gabor from Budapest, Hungary
Vic, if you are Jerry Jones, what do you prefer, giving an extension to Dak Prescott or signing Tom Brady?
Gabor, I'd give a contract to Duck Hodges before I'd sign Brady. It's a young man's game. Seriously, I think Prescott can become an elite quarterback. He just needs coaching. He'll get it now.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F during the football season.

Travis from Oshawa, Canada
What were your overall impressions of the weekend of playoff football we just witnessed?
The Seahawks-Packers game was the best of the four. The Titans-Ravens and Vikings-49ers games were just OK, and the Texans-Chiefs game was dreadful. The Texans shamed themselves. They might not recover from that collapse. The Falcons haven't been the same since blowing that lead in the Super Bowl. The shame that goes with that kind of performance goes to the soul of a team and can require purging.

David from Seattle, WA
Are the wolves ever justified? LaFleur is not a genius. The Packers reaching the NFC championship game has nothing to do with LaFleur. However, clearly the Packers are better and McCarthy may have been the problem. Are the wolves justified?
I get the sense the Sports Illustrated story hit the mark and might've even been a plant. The Packers had a problem that was worsening and had to be resolved. The coach and the quarterback were pulling in opposite directions, it had reached crisis stage, and one of them had to go. That's the way I'm reading it. Let's look at the situation as it is: Aaron Rodgers has what he wants (ownership of the offense), Packers fans have what they want (winning), and Mike McCarthy has, in my opinion, a better job than the one he had. McCarthy has gone from being the head coach of an iconic franchise with an aging quarterback to the head coach of an iconic franchise with a quarterback just coming into the prime years of his career. Instead of working with a quarterback who was pulling against him, McCarthy will be working with a quarterback who needs coaching and is likely to warm to it. In the end, all is well.

Karl from Albuquerque, NM
Vic, what is the Packer's identity?
Aaron Rodgers is the identity. Nothing has changed. As Rodgers goes, so go the Packers.

Mark from Bettendorf, IA
Give me your thoughts on Bill Cowher.
Coach Cowher has the image of a tough guy who willed his team to win with fiery pep talks and the set of his jaw. What I came to appreciate about Bill is he's one of the best strategists of his era. He has a phenomenal record, 108-1-1, when his teams led by 11 or more points at any point in the game, which speaks to his ability to shape a game according to how he wanted his team to play it. It might be the most amazing record in all of sports. I think it's more impressive than DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. Cowher authored a lot of change from the Chuck Noll years and, at first, I thought it was a mistake and might backfire, but I was wrong. Bill did it his way and he made it work. I'm also impressed by how he's conducted himself in his career after leaving football. He's felt no need to get back into coaching. He moved into the media and he's embraced the role.

Craig from Cedarburg, WI
Some questionable calls, even after reviews, going both ways in the Packers/Seahawks game. What did you think of the officiating in this weekend’s games?
You're complaining? Clowney didn't grab the opening of the helmet, Jones didn't score and Graham didn't make the line to gain. It's still going the Packers' way!

Jack from Lincoln, NE
What are your thoughts on how the Hall of Fame surprised Bill Cowher and Jimmy Johnson to let them know they made it? While both guys definitely deserve it, it seemed tacky to me to shove a camera in their faces when they learn the news.
It's promotion. It's the league selling its product. If Cowher and Johnson don't want a camera shoved in their face, why take a job with TV? They signed up for this. The NFL is super at promoting its product, going back to the days when baseball was the national pastime and football was the college game. All of the coaches and players were cooperative with the media back then, and their willingness to promote the product helped make the NFL what it is. Lombardi was one of the best at it. That "seal here and a seal here" video is a classic example of it.

Tom from Waltham, MA
I can guess you prefer the Titans' power-run, grind-your-opponent-into-dust style of play over KC's new-age, mobile, pass-happy, QB-centric style. But how do the teams match up?
Yes, I like it, but this isn't the 1970's. The Chiefs will win.

Brock from Boston, MA
Still holding that stance against free agents, Vic? See Smiths. Fact remains, the Packers do not win the Bowl in '96 or '10 without free agents and this year's team goes nowhere without them.
You're right, this team would not be where it is without the Smith Bros. What if they had been busts? The Vikings spent a lot of money in free agency. So did the Lions. The bottom line on free agency is you have to hit a home run in it for it to be a success. If you goof, the effects are devastating. Le'Veon Bell? Nick Foles?

Patrick from Dallas, TX
Really enjoyed Micah’s question and your response. It was a very poignant conclusion to his story.
I think he did a great job of expressing himself. We owe him thanks for sharing his joy with us. Thanks, Micah.

Chase from Rapid City, SD
Well-deserved choice giving Jimmy Johnson a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. What are your thoughts on him being inducted into Canton? Do you have any stories with him?
I met Johnson at the 1977 Sugar Bowl. I was in the media hospitality room scavenging for food, along with my buddy Ed Bouchette, when Jackie Sherrill poked his head in the room, saw us and decided we were perfect for his needs. "Hey, boys, say hello to Jimmy Johnson. He's the new defensive coordinator at Pitt," and with that Jackie dumped Jimmy on us for an impromptu press conference that was probably with the intent of allowing Jackie to go down to Bourbon St. We sat there for a half hour listening to Johnson explain his philosophy of defense and feigning interest. Little did we know the fame that lie ahead for Johnson. What I like most about Johnson is no coach ever had greater appreciation for the value of talent and players, not plays. He was a great evaluator of talent and he knew how to collect it and use it. Johnson's pre-cap Cowboys are likely the last great roster in NFL history.

Aaron from White Hall, AR
Say they were both eligible for the draft. Would GM Vic take Joe Burrow or Trevor Lawrence?
Burrow. Lawrence overstrides and throws high. I can't imagine a more perfect fit than Burrow and the Bengals. He's an amazing talent. The Bengals are in a very good way with Andy Dalton. He'd be in the final year of his contract this year and he has no dead money. They can cut him or trade him and his $17.5 million salary would immediately become additional cap room. Good times are ahead in Cincinnati.

Steve from Racine, WI
Was the college football championship game a marching band competition or a football game? I turned the game off.
I muted the TV in the first quarter after shouting, "Turn off the damn band!"

John from Neptune Beach, FL
Clemson and LSU were playing 3-2-6 and 3-1-7 defenses for big parts of the game. With the proliferation of passing and more running quarterbacks in the NFL, how soon before we see these types of defenses on a regular basis?
NFL offenses aspire to balance. If you get too light in the pants, they'll pound you with power. All of those defensive backs in the national title game and both teams refused to run the ball. I didn't think much of the game or the coaching. Dabo Swinney made a miscalculation. Burrow overmatched Lawrence. Dabo should've never gotten into a shootout.

Ben from Hilo, HI
Given a draft containing all 79 Heisman Trophy winners in their respective primes, who would GM Vic pick first overall?
Roger Staubach.

​Randy from Billings, MT
Who has a better shot at an upset this Sunday, the Titans or the Packers?
I think the Packers are going to win.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F during the football season.

Adam from Thailand
Two third-down conversions to ice the game. The first conversion to Davante was a thing of beauty. Aaron Rodgers is still "The Man." I think Jimmy Graham quietly had a pretty good game as well.
What we witnessed last night was a masterpiece of quarterbacking. Rodgers did it all. He hard-counted, he made line adjustments, he rolled away from Clowney, he half-rolled toward Clowney and threw back into the flat opposite Clowney, he audibled with his voice and with his fingers behind his back. If you like scheme football, last night's game was your dream come true. Rodgers was a maestro, the football was his baton and the Packers offense was his symphony. A rested team beat a tired team, and an elite, somewhat-aging quarterback out-witted the Packers' tormentor. More than his ability to throw a football, what Rodgers displayed last night was superior command of how to direct a football offense. I get the sense it's what he's always wanted to do more than anything else. He wanted to prove he's smarter than everyone else, and he is.

Nate from Plymouth, MN
I think that was the most beautiful game I've ever seen.
It was Madden on grass.

Mark from Yucaipa, CA
How are you feeling about our chances next Sunday?
The Packers just played their best football of the season. They can win.

Tristan from Durham, NC
I feel like Sunday night finally gave closure to five years ago. Are these feelings irrational of me?
You're just happy. It'll wear off.

Ethan from Woodstock, CA
I’m a little surprised Aaron Jones wasn’t able to get much going in terms of yardage, based on the fact the Seahawks were No. 22 against the run. Could you give me some insight on what they were doing to stop him?
They were defeating blocks, holding the point of attack, penetrating and disrupting. Yeah, they'd get a safety up in the box when down and distance dictated, but I saw a lot of split safeties so they weren't doing it all according to scheme. The No. 26 defense in the league played hard.

Adam from Wausau, WI
Do you think McCarthy would have gone for a first down, at all costs, twice?
You mean throw the ball on third down? He did from deep in his own territory while trying to protect a lead late in the 2014 NFC title game, but the receiver dropped the pass. It's only a smart play if the pass is completed.

Ron from Findlay, OH
What will it take to get the Jags back on a positive winning trend?
They can begin by not trading a fifth-round pick for a third-string quarterback and not cutting players who are good enough to play on better teams.

Noor from Jakarta, Indonesia
Vic, I felt the Ravens rested too much. The key players rested in Week 17 and they had a bye. I felt they lost momentum and muscle memory. They don't look like themselves. What do you think?
They peaked. Too much talk of records, coaches interviewing for head jobs, praise for Lamar Jackson, praise for John Harbaugh for being innovative, Super Bowl predictions, etc. Plus, I was never convinced they were as good as their record. Blown out at home by the Browns? The Ravens were saved by a bad call and a fumble in overtime in the Mason Rudolph game in Pittsburgh. They were fortunate to eke out a win over the 49ers in a downpour. That was their peak. They coasted home following that game and looked kind of sloppy in doing it.

Ben from Hilo, HI
Your interview with Bill Cowher is one of the most enjoyable examples I've seen of the fraternity of football. Thank you for sharing your memories.
I'm flattered you remembered that video I did with Coach Cowher for a Steelers-Packers game way back in 2013. I truly enjoyed doing the interview. It was another example of memories making me rich. Congratulations, Bill, on your selection to the Hall of Fame.

Dan from Madison, WI
I don't get to see a lot of football outside of Packers games, so I was excited to watch the Ravens game to finally see Lamar Jackson in action. What happened? Did the entire Ravens team eat the pizza?
The Titans aren't the Washington Generals. They didn't go to Baltimore to help showcase the Ravens and lose the game. What happened was the Titans have the athletes on defense to play in space with Jackson. They took his legs away early in the game and Jackson's passes were repeatedly high and behind his receivers. I guess you could say they made him be a passer, but that's easier said than done.

Carrie from San Jose, CA
Vic, I know you didn't want to share your predictions, but I'm very curious: Did you think the Titans would win?
I would've been 4-0 this weekend.

Alan from Nixon, Ontario
During the season you said you thought there was an AFC team that could catch fire or come from nowhere or something like that. I thought of three teams at that juncture: Cleveland, Tennessee and the Steelers. I am very curious. Who was it?
It was the Titans. I've liked them since that playoff win in Kansas City a few years ago, and I fell in love with their defense in the Titans' season-opening win in Cleveland. It was just a matter of fixing the quarterback position. I thought it would be with Mariota; I never thought Tannehill would be the answer.

Marty from Grafton, WI
Does Derrick Henry remind you of Earl Campbell? If not, who does he remind you of?
Henry is a high-cut runner. He doesn't remind me of Earl at all. Henry is Franco Harris, right down to the high knees, the cutback and the surprising speed in the open field.

Dave from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, with the passing of Hal Smith, I wondered if you had any thoughts. I don’t recall your 1960 World Series story.
Game Seven of the 1960 World Series is regarded by many to be the greatest game ever played. Smith's three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning would've been the deciding blow had the Yankees not tied the game in the top of the ninth. I got home from school -- the nuns let us out early -- just in time to see Smith's home run. I thought that would do it, but then the Yankees tied the game and Mazeroski homered to lead off the bottom of the ninth and poor Hal Smith became the forgotten hero. Not for me; I'll always remember his home run sailing through the air on my parents' small-screen, black-and-white Admiral TV. Oh, the memories.

​Micah from Holland, MI
Vic, did you ever feel like the mystique of Lambeau measured up to the hype? Last night, I felt it did. I’ve been lucky enough to see a few Packers games in person before, but last night was my first playoff game in person. I cried as the players ran out of the tunnel before the game, the surge of crowd energy taking command of my emotions in a way that hasn’t happened in the regular season. The vapor of 80,000 breaths shrouded the field in a thin gray veil. Although I desperately wanted to beat our biggest unofficial rival, at that moment I was just so happy to be there I didn’t care who won. Then, as the ball floated in the silent tension between throw and catch, my eyes started to mist again as I saw Davante Adams open in the end zone. The tears came as the crowd erupted the moment his hands touched the ball. Now in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks were on the verge of ripping through our collective scar tissue once again, and I looked up toward the stadium lights and noticed snow had begun to fall. This comforted me and when I looked back to the field Russell Wilson was being sacked on what would be the Seahawks’ final offensive play. Minutes later, the increasingly large snowflakes were glowing a soft green in the light of victory fireworks, falling gently upon a stadium full of fans that didn’t want to leave. There really is nothing else quite like it.
I watched the game with the windows open.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F during the football season.

Tom from Pittsburgh, PA
What can  you tell us about George Perles?
I spent so many wonderful hours of my reporting youth in his training camp dorm room, learning about football. Across the hall was Bud Carson, the father of cover two. Down the hall was Dick Hoak, Woody Widenhofer, Rollie Dotsch; they were all great teachers. "We're nothing but glorified gym teachers," George once said. After George left the Steelers and became the head coach at Michigan State, his beloved alma mater, he put the "Block S" back on the Michigan State helmet, but on the right side only. My favorite memory of George is following the 1974 playoff win over the Bills, in which the Steelers held O.J. Simpson to 48 yards rushing. For that game, George turned Joe Greene sideways over center. "What do you call that defense?" we asked Chuck Noll. "I don't know. Go down and talk to George," Chuck said. We went down to George's office and asked him the same question. He paused, then said, "Stunt 4-3." Years later, he told me he didn't have a name for the defense, he created the name in response to our question. He told me how it was a hybrid of an age-old tackle stunt known as "cross hands." In my mind, his tombstone should read, "George Perles, father of the 'Stunt 4-3.' " Thank you, George.

Tim from Lancaster, PA
What do you make of the success of teams with top-ranked running attacks? Do they run to set up the pass? Are they successful because they can bleed the clock? Is it a statistic that points to the dominance of their offensive line?
Yes. The run fixes everything.

Jerry from Littleton, CO
If you could have a free boat trip of the entire length of the Intercoastal Waterway would you do it? The historical significance of it has always intrigued me.
Coach Noll referred to it as the "Redneck Riviera." I think it's a beautiful maze of tidal creeks. A local cruise company offers a trip from Charleston to Beaufort. It uses the Intracoastal to navigate through Edisto Island. I've seen the cruise boat pass under the bridge. If you want to get a feel for the Intracoastal and for where I live, try to find the movie "Daughters of the Dust."

Adam from Denver, CO
Do you have any advice for an individual who has no clubs but would like to pick up golfing this summer?
I've seen top-of-the-line golf clubs on eBay for pennies on the dollar. I found a set of used Mizuno MP-30 irons for $49.99. I bought a "Feel" wedge with a beautiful  gun metal  finish and hardly a scratch on it for $18. Half the fun of golf is shopping for golf clubs.

Morgan from Winnipeg, MB
Vic, in Rodgers' most recent interview with the media he said the best teams are player-led teams. How do you feel about that statement? And would you say that all but solidifies the fact Rodgers has ownership of the offense like you have been talking about?
Bill Walsh said at some point in the season the coach turns the team over to the team. Players make plays. Coaches can't play the game. They can't call a timeout and instruct their players every time the team is at a crossroads. At this point in the season, the Packers belong to their leaders. Aaron Rodgers is without doubt the dominant personality on the team. He is their leader. He knows it and he embraces it. I think that's what he means by player-led. It's his offense, it's his team.

Carrie from San Jose, CA
Vic, I normally enjoy your analysis (even when I disagree with you), but Aaron Rodgers grew up in Chico, which is definitely not fine wine country.
I kind of knew that -- the Pirates had a pitcher named Nellie Briles who was from Chico and he described it jokingly in hard-scrabble terms -- so forgive me for cheating a little toward Napa.

Pat from Seneca, SC
I agree the Houston kick-returner made a clear signal of surrender prior to tossing the football away in the end zone, however, what happens down the road when a kick-returner gives a signal that is more ambiguous?
OK, let's all perseverate on this real hard and get it out of our system. Ready? One, two, three, squeeeeeze! There, doesn't that feel better?

Ben from Hilo, HI
Which positions are undervalued in modern NFL offenses?
Center and running back.

David from Madison, WI
How would Dom Capers have done with the current defensive players on Green Bay's roster?
It would be unfair to Coach Pettine to speculate on that question, but I will say this: Coach Capers' defenses had success against Russell Wilson. It wouldn't hurt to revisit those games and the strategies employed.

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
Finally, we get to see Mike Leach in the SEC! How do you think he'll fare?
If he succeeds, the SEC will fail. His offense can make a conference soft and cheesy.

Alex from Racine, WI
What's your favorite memory of "Mean" Joe Greene, either on or off the football field?
I think of him sitting in his training camp dorm room, talking football with me and any other reporter who would come to his room seeking wisdom, as Mel Blount lie in the bed next to Joe's, the cover pulled up to Mel's chin and his eyes closed. Mel never moved and he never complained. That was pro football for me in the 1970's, in the company of two giants of the game and sensing they almost enjoyed my company. I am so very, very rich.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
What are you reading these days?
I just finished "War Football" and begun "Carlisle vs. Army." They are wonderful books that express the true meaning of the game of football I love, confrontation. Weeb Ewbank's speech to his Colts before the 1958 NFL title was always my favorite pregame pep talk, but no longer. "War Football" introduced me to the words of Pop Warner to his Carlisle Indian School team in the moments before its legendary game against Army: "Your fathers and your grandfathers are the ones who fought their fathers. These men playing against you today are soldiers. They are the Long Knives. You are Indians. Tonight, we will know if you are warriors."

Mark from Wheaton, IL
Vic, you recently mentioned you weren’t a fan of absentee ownership but I seem to recall in a past post you saying you thought an owner should hire a great general manager and go play golf. Could you clarify?
I don't remember writing that but if I did I was likely referring to the trust an owner has to have in his general manager to find talent. An owner needs to be in the building for oversight purposes. He needs to tell the general manager to take Lawrence Phillips off the team's board before the team goes on the clock. He needs to tell the marketing director not to pursue a sponsorship agreement with a company with whom the owner doesn't want to be associated. The owner needs to be involved in the community because the franchise was awarded to the community, not to the owner. He is the steward of the franchise and being absent suggests disinterest in his role. Have I clarified satisfactorily?

​Steven from Racine, WI
No chance the Packers lose in Lambeau in the playoffs! Sorry.
OK.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F during the football season.

Craig from Cedarburg, WI
If you were McCarthy, why did you choose the Cowboys?
I don't know he had his choice but if he had his choice of every job available, I would've told him to take the Cowboys job. Why? Because the Cowboys are ready to go. It's a talented team ranked in the top third of each category of the league's total yardage rankings for offense and defense. He'll have a top quarterback, running back and pass rusher. McCarthy can be a difference maker. He can take the Cowboys from under-achieving to winning it all.

Daniel from Altoona, WI
Vic, I noticed after the Patriots loss Tom Brady exited the field via a staircase by the stands and noticed other players exited through the tunnel. What gives? Is there two ways to their locker room? Does Brady get his own special exit? Does he only go that way after he loses? How do other players feel about it?
Heinz Field has the same set up. There are stairs behind the bench that provide quick and inconspicuous passage to the locker room, which assists injury situations and those times when a player needs to avail himself of the facilities, etc. The behind-the-bench stairs and the tunnel exit lead to the same place, the locker room. What does it matter how a player gets there? In Brady's case, I suspect he wanted to get off the field ASAP. He was probably afraid of TV approaching him for an interview. I admire the man. He's the greatest quarterback of all time. He was totally committed to victory throughout his career. Saturday night, he suffered the inevitable defeat all players experience, to time. Even Tom Brady gets old.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, how did you react when you heard Mike McCarthy is the Cowboys' new head coach?
I said to myself, "Good for you, Mike." It's one of the best jobs in all of sports.

Brian from Madison, WI
Vic, I got the sense at the end of the Patriots game the Titans were playing to not lose. That didn’t work for the Jaguars in the AFC championship game a few years ago. What did the Titans do the Jaguars could not?
The Titans converted a third-and-eight that effectively sealed the win.

Dale from Sebastian, FL
Do you think Mike McCarthy can turn Dak Prescott into a championship QB?
Prescott had a good season statistically but he didn't get it done in the big games. I think McCarthy will take Prescott to the next level.

Nathan from San Diego, CA
What intrigues you most about McCarthy taking the head coaching job in Dallas?
A potential Packers-Cowboys playoff game next season.

John from Windsor, WI
How much of Rodgers' success can be attributed to Mike McCarthy?
They were good for each other because they were opposites. I think we learn and grow from working with those who are of a different personality. Rodgers is from fine wine country. McCarthy's family owned an Imp-and-Iron Pittsburgh bar. Rodgers once said he couldn't understand the play McCarthy was sending into Rodgers' helmet communicator because "Coach McCarthy speaks with that Pittsburgh dialect." The next day, I said to McCarthy, "The quarterback doesn't like the way we talk, Mike." McCarthy said nothing. Rodgers was glib; McCarthy was rough. They were perfect for each other because the other was what each couldn't be. McCarthy was the coach, Rodgers wanted to be the coach. Rodgers got the praise, McCarthy took the blame. Apparently, their relationship became a problem, and that's unfortunate because they were fun to watch. One day, they will be joined again, this time by regret.

Bob from Kennesaw, GA
The running clock loophole, to me, seems to violate the spirit of the game. Do you think the competition committee should close this loophole at season's end?
Yes, and I suspect Belichick will be credited for the action. He knew what he was doing. He was showing off. He's smarter than everyone else.

Justin from Athens, GA
Do you think the refs were right to take the touchdown away from Buffalo recovering the kickoff to Houston in the end zone?
Yes. The returner made an obvious signal of surrender.

Steven from Doctor's Inlet, FL
How important is it to a team and/or a coach to have the owner in the building?
I'm not a fan of absentee ownership. An NFL franchise needs an owner who knows the football business, is deeply involved in it and is in the building every day putting his stamp on his franchise. Dedication is contagious and it spreads from the top down.

Mike from Traverse City, MI
How will Coach McCarthy fare with the Dallas media?
Mike's relationship with the Green Bay media was immediately strained by the Favre debacle. Ted Thompson should've been more of a voice on that issue, insulating his young coach from a matter for which he bore no responsibility or culpability. Dallas is a chance for a fresh start. I hope Mike makes it what he wants it to be.

Darren from Brisbane, Australia
Have you ever written a piece that had unintended consequences? For example, did you write an article on a player and as a result of their answers they got cut the next week?
Going back to my days in Pittsburgh, I did a story on a young tight end that included a quote to which the personnel director took great exception. The player was not re-signed.

Eric from Lansing, MI
Do you have any other handshake stories to share?
It's from a game in the Astrodome when Jerry Glanville was the Oilers' coach. Glanville built the reputation for dirty play. I was down on the field for the final seconds of the game. When the game ended, I saw Coach Noll walking toward Glanville and I thought to myself, "Uh oh." The two coaches shook hands but when Glanville tried to pull away, Chuck pulled him back in. Various stories have speculated what was said. These were the words: "Hey, you're teaching this (poop) and I got news for you: It's gonna be your (butt)." With that, Chuck released Glanville's hand. Glanville appeared as though he had seen a ghost.

Ben from El Paso, TX
Did Mike Vrabel violate the spirit of the rules?
I choose to view what Vrabel did as defending the spirit of the rules.

Matthew from Las Vegas, NV
Vic, the Wentz hit is the play in football that needs to be legislated out of the game. A guy is already down and players hit him one last time because they can. If that isn't removed from the game, the player safety movement is meaningless.
Eloquently said. I await the league's action on this subject, then I will speak.

Braden from Milwaukee, WI
What is one thing you've wanted to do but haven't?
I've wanted to shoot par. Toward the end of my time in Jacksonville, I shot par on the final 17 holes of one round and on the first hole of the next round, which meant I shot part for 18 consecutive holes. That's as close as I'll ever get.

Joe from St. Paul, MN
With Matt Rhule being hired in Carolina, there is once again this assumption a good college coach will be a good NFL coach. It just seems like they are two completely different beasts. What are your thoughts on a coach moving from college to the NFL and the challenges involved?
There's a learning curve. Lou Holtz made the move from college to the NFL and embarrassed himself by not even knowing the rules of waiver claims. He was smart enough to take the next train back to college. Rhule has been given a seven-year contract, which tells me he'll have time to learn the pro game, and the Panthers are gonna tank for Trevor.

​Dan from Golden Valley, MN
Must the Packers defeat the Seahawks for LaFleur’s inaugural season to be deemed a success?
That's an intriguing question and I think the answer to it is yes. If the Packers are one and done, the season will end with questions (were the Packers a legitimate playoff team or just a mirage?) and doubts (13-3 was more about good fortune than it was about good playing). A win over the Seahawks legitimizes the season, regardless of what happens in the NFC title game.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F during the football season.

Steve from Wisconsin
What did your eyes tell you? Is Brady done?
If I needed a quarterback, I would have no interest in signing him.

Craig from Cedarburg, WI
Is Minnesota all of a sudden hot again?
I think we saw Dalvin Cook's value to the Vikings. That's as far as I'll go.

Sean from Aubrey, TX
What is offensive pass interference? Sure looked to me like Rudolph pushed off.
I agree. I also think the defender was guilty of illegal contact.

Dustin from Orlando, FL
I’m glad the Saints lost. Once again, they’re blaming the refs for a non-call. I am sick of the blame-the-refs mentality in both the players and the fans. It’s unbecoming and only leads to more oversight. What do you think, Vic, get it right at all costs or shut up and learn to lose with dignity?
The dignity option is no longer available. It's get it right at all costs. The league reviewed the play and ruled there was no offensive pass interference. In the league's mind, they got it right.

Matt from Green Bay, WI
"Saints will be the Packers' opponent." Good call, Vic!
Oh, so that's how it works. I'm asked to give my opinion, I provide a forthright and honest answer and then I'm mocked for getting it wrong. OK.

T.J. from Tampa, FL
What do you make of Mike Vrabel’s clock management?
What was that I said about looking stupid when you think you're smarter than everybody else?

Pat from Seneca, SC
What was your reaction when Mike Vrabel used the running clock loophole against Belichick?
I wanted to update my answer to the question "What gives you joy?"

Patrick from Indianapolis, IN
Vic, you were three out of four in the wild-card round. Can you share with us what you foresee for the divisional round games?
I'd rather not.

Lane from Orlando, FL
Vic, I hope they mic up J.J. Watt again next week so I can hear him yell “Let’s go!” 42 times. It’s really insightful. What aspect of current TV coverage gets under your skin?
Over-analysis irritates me. I did enjoy Booger's comment about Watt being wired for sound. I think J.J. likes it, Booger said, and I'm paraphrasing. Good shot, Booger.

Dustin from Seymour, WI
What are your expectations for the divisional round?
I have no expectations. I just watch.

Freddie from West Valley City (wherever that is)
I've always wanted to say thanks for your article the day after the 2014 NFC championship; it was genuinely one of the few things that made me feel better that day. That said, let's hope the football gods are backing Green Bay this time around, especially in the last four minutes.
The gods help those who help themselves, Freddie.

Ryan from Bloomer, WI
Vic, I just read Sam Wyche died. Do you have any thoughts or stories of Sam and his contribution to the NFL? Hard to believe he was the last coach to win a playoff game for the Bengals.
I think he was an outstanding coach. He was innovative and married his offensive genius with strong defenses. His Bengals team that lost to the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII is one of the best Super Bowl losing teams ever. Sam got into a handshake flap with Chuck Noll that was unfortunate for both coaches. Sam overreacted and looked silly when Chuck appeared to snub him after a game. Chuck didn't shake hands with opposing coaches and it's because Pete Rozelle was promoting a non-fraternization policy. Chuck and a lot of other coaches were merely acting as Pete requested. Be that as it may, I think Chuck could've handled the controversy more gracefully. I'm sorry to hear of Sam's passing. He provided me with memories that have helped make me rich.

Scott from Jacksonville, FL
Just a minor correction. Shad sold his $120 million yacht a few years ago. The one parked out back now is worth $200 million.
Oh, this one has a TV, huh?

Duff from Longmont, CO
Love the new fish picture. You look incredibly happy and content. I couldn't be happier for you. What kind of fish is that and did you eat it. Happy New Year.
It's a junk fish. It could be an Atlantic white fish; I didn't ask, I just threw it back in the water. I was fishing for red fish, also known as spot tail. I caught a couple but they were just under the 15-inch minimum.

Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL
The finalists are out. Boselli made it again. Will this be the year?
I believe it'll happen. The Jaguars need and deserve a representative in Canton and I think Tony's the guy. A month ago we talked, and I told him I'll cover his induction.

Leroy from Jenkins, KY
Vic, in order for me to better understand the salary cap, what is the first thing I should look for?
Look at a player's annual salaries. If they spike, it's probably been pre-determined the team will restructure him at that point.

Justin from Titonka, IA
How would you rank the quarterbacks in this years' playoffs?
Based on how they were playing when the playoffs began: 1. Mahomes, 2. Brees, 3. Wilson, 4. Jackson, 5. Rodgers, 6. Watson, 7. Garoppolo, 8. Brady, 9. Wentz, 10. Cousins, 11. Allen, 12. Tannehill.

Josh from Tucson, AZ
I came across an excellent mention of you in Myron Cope's book, Double Yoi!. "One day, a kid named Vic Ketchman showed up. I thought, 'If that kid were Jewish, he'd only be a couple of years past his bar mitzvah.' " Congratulations on finishing up another decade of the column in its various forms, and I look forward to continuing to read it as long as you are willing to write it.
I learned from Myron. He was a pro. I miss him.

Mike from North Hudson, WI
What teams do you think will be playing in the championship weekend?
I like them all, Mike. I think they're all of championship character.

​Oscar from Santa Ana, CA
Vic, thoughts on wild-card weekend?
I think the league should give serious consideration to suspending Jadeveon Clowney for the next game.