"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, after the game, when asked about the job security of Doug Marrone, Jalen Ramsey replied, “I ain’t worried about nobody but myself.” Adversity draws out true character, and this reinforces what we knew. Would you keep him on your team? If they decide he isn’t worth the headache, what do you think his trade value would be?
I think the Jaguars could get a one and a two for Ramsey, despite the double negative. They should consider it; it might help them find the quarterback they need to take them into their future. That's the Jaguars' No. 1 concern. It's ridiculous for a team with Bortles' contract to be as bad offensively as the Jaguars are. Fifty-seven yards passing? The Jaguars need to do whatever it takes to fix the quarterback situation.

Braden from Milwaukee, WI
It will be an interesting offseason. I'll be excited to see what else Gutekunst does to this roster. To me, the biggest question is Rodgers. Does a better supporting cast get him back to the level we expect? Does a new coach?
It's not the coach, but it could be the supporting cast. Let's hope it is.

Isaac from Abiquiu, NM
I listened to the game on the radio, and it sounded like Rodgers missed some open receivers. What did your eyes tell you?
My eyes suggest Aaron Rodgers isn't on the same page with his young receivers. Let's hope that's it.

Lane from Orlando, FL
Vic, will Tom Coughlin be back on the sidelines again next season for the Jaguars?
I'd love to see it happen: the concentration line, two feet on the floor, no sunglasses, ties tight to the collar, Coughlin time, the whole bit. Who will be the first to file a grievance?

Mark from Eau Claire, WI
I thought the Bears/Packers game was an enjoyable watch, even though my team ended up losing. You?
It was just OK. It didn't give me that border war feeling I expected of this game when I began covering the Packers. A big part of the reason for that is the Packers and Bears have been two ships passing in the night. When the Packers were on the way up, the Bears' arrow was pointing down. Now, the Bears are on the way up and the Packers are in a transition that'll determine how quickly their arrow will begin pointing upward again.

Phil from Madison, WI
Vic, I don't like watching Rodgers miss throws. I don't like watching the Bears run over our offensive line. I don't like watching our pass rushers miss Trubisky time and time again. However, I do like turning off the game, going on a beautiful evening walk with my fiance and enjoying a delicious supper, all things I can control. Thank you for helping us achieve proper perspective over the years; you prepared us well.
Fretting isn't the solution. Winning caused the problem. Losing will fix it. It's the life cycle of an NFL team.

Roger from Auburn, CA
Hopefully, this will end the questions about the Philbin era. I guess McCarthy wasn't the problem after all.
One loss and it's over? Coach Noll said when you win you're great and when you lose you stink. I guess he was right. Seriously, let's all try to calm down and achieve a greater sense of where the Packers are and where they're headed. The Bears game was meaningless to the big picture. Please, stop seeking immediate solutions.

George from Manassas, VA
Vic, you were right. It wasn't a mutiny.
It wasn't a mutiny, it's a team in transition. The moment Packers fans accept the transition, the Packers' arrow will begin pointing upward. It's all about perception and expectation. Hanging on is a killer.

Nate from Plymouth, MN
I see the Packers always beat the Bears the same way the Jaguars always beat the Steelers. What do your eyes tell you when you watch Aaron Rodgers? He hasn't looked the same this season.
I'm not skilled enough to know what's wrong. Ultimately, it comes down to the production. Did you watch Tom Brady last night? Ten points, against a defense that was just scorched by the Raiders? Arm strength is a big thing with me. Can the quarterback still hit the honey hole? If he begins living between the numbers, I get suspicious. If he can't hit the honey hole, he's done. Brady is beginning to live in the middle of the field. With Rodgers, I worry about the 13 screws. Are they costing him some accuracy?

Justin from Titonka, IA
Nagy almost cost his team the game with his creativity. How should Packers fans watch the rest of the season?
The fourth-and-2 go-for-it was ridiculous. It was wild and reckless. It was a coach trying too hard to be the star. I'm not sold on Matt Nagy. He was handed a team that was ready to go. I get the sense he's just a play-caller. If he had hair, I think he'd probably comb it the same way Sean McVay combs his. Packers fans the rest of the season? Does it matter? Enjoy the two games left. Eat a pizza while you watch. Whatever it takes.

Patrick from Indianapolis, IN
Vic, in your opinion, is there a team with a fan base that's more ignorantly entitled than Green Bay's? I can't believe how many of them don't seem to understand what's happening. It's about to go dark for quite a while.
At least they didn't steal their team from another city.

Randy from Billings, MT
I watched Mike Pettine's interview this week and his body language says a lot. Are all the coaches putting out feelers about now?
Yes, of course. Major change is on the way. Traditionally, when you fire the head coach, you fire everybody.

Adam from Wausau, WI
I would imagine teams sign their top player with the assumption the cap will go up every year. What happens when it goes down?
There's no reason to believe we'll find out soon. The NFL updates its teams on revenue projections. If the league thought revenue was headed for a decline, it would alert its teams to that fact. I know of no such alert.

Karl from Carmichael, CA
Vic, tell us a story about Mr. Fralic.
I was a young sportswriter when word began to spread of a 300-pound killer lineman at Penn Hills. I went to see him play in a playoff game. I was expecting a fat kid who couldn't move his feet. What I saw was a powerful and athletic high school lineman. He dominated the line of scrimmage. Fralic went on to a great college career, which included a blocking term created for him to promote him for individual awards. The term "pancake block" was created by the Pitt SID, and after each game Fralic's pancakes total was updated and trumpeted. He played on those great Pitt lines that included Jimbo Covert, Russ Grimm and Mark May, and were coached by the legendary Joe Moore. I got a cold feeling when I heard the news of Fralic's passing. It seems like only yesterday I was on my way to see the killer lineman from Penn Hills.

Tyler from Red Deer, AB
Your response of what if McCarthy was hired as the Vikings' head coach really got me thinking. If that happens, what do you think of a coach swap? I think Zimmer is also a great coach. I salivate as to what that would do to ramp up what is, in my opinion, the Packers' current biggest rivalry.
I can't see Mike Zimmer coaching the Packers, but I can see Mike McCarthy coaching the Vikings, not right away because I think Coach Zimmer is safe for at least another year but, after that, you never know. McCarthy coaching the Vikings could make life a living hell for Packers fans.

Glen from Eugene, OR
Is that stubble?
I call it retirement.

Elizabeth from Madison, WI
The Patriots have drafted at the bottom of the order for a long time. Why hasn’t it caught up with them?
How many times do I have to answer this question? The Patriots have Tom Brady. That's why. He's the GOAT. He's tilted the field so dramatically not even Bert Bell could beat him. He can take his and beat yours, and then he can take yours and beat his. I don't know how much longer he can do that because I see signs of aging, but he's done it since 2001 and it won't surprise me if he does it again this season.

Zach from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, what's better for the Packers, winning or losing these last few games?
Losing, but you play to win. Nuts, huh?

Adam from Chicago, IL
What does “always buy, never sell” really mean?
Philosophically, it means addition is better than subtraction.

Nick from Owego, NY
Do you think McCarthy would ever coach college? I think he could be a real positive influence to young men.
He began his career on the college level and I get the sense he enjoyed it. He's got the kind of honest, caring personality that appeals to a recruit's parents. I have no doubt he'd be a success on the college level, but I think it's too much of a step down for a coach who will be in great demand on the NFL level.

Dimitris from Athens, Greece
Vic, I'm so excited to read your opinion because here in Greece we are not many that we are watching NFL. I'm a Jets fan and 29 years old. Do you think I will see them starring?
Based on what I saw of Sam Darnold on Saturday night, I think you will soon see the Jets starring.

Chris from Minneapolis, MN
I just saw the league has updated the Rooney Rule. Do you feel teams take the rule seriously, or is it just an administrative hurdle?
Prior to the Rooney Rule (2003), only six percent of the NFL's head coaches were of minority descent. Currently, it's 22 percent. I think the Rooney Rule has been successful in promoting and identifying minority coaches.

Stephen from Jacksonville
I read the story this week where Stephen Curry and several other NBA basketball players claimed man had never been to the moon and, frankly, I’m angry. Astronauts are among the bravest men and women in the world. In order to do their job and voyage into space to conduct scientific research, experimentation and exploration, they have to sit upon giant missiles that could explode before they ever get off the ground. Mankind’s greatest technological accomplishment of sending astronauts to our natural satellite and returning them safely to Earth deserves greater respect and admiration. Curry’s comments are an affront to the sacrifices of all astronauts, including those who perished in the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia disasters. What do you make of Curry’s recent moon landing comments?
Stephen, the stock market is in free fall, our president could be facing impeachment proceedings, we're involved in a trade war with China that's casting doubt on the future of our global economy, and the Jaguars stink. The moon landing? Really? Why would you even read a story about men who play basketball for a living making commentary about outer space travel? Most of those guys are taking so many drugs they spend their lives in outer space without having to leave Earth. You need a hobby.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Tony from Onalaska, WI
Despite having the goofiest throwing motion, I've come to respect Rivers. He plays with a lot of heart and bravery. What do you make of the Chargers after that win?
I wrote in this column we'd get a feel for the Chargers in December, when they play games at Pittsburgh and at Kansas City. They're 2-0 in those games and I think the feeling now is the Chargers might be the best team in the AFC.

Gunars from Iowa
So what is the issue with Atlanta? Is it a talent issue or coaching or some other disconnect?
They're soft on defense and getting old on offense. Matt Ryan is showing some age and Julio Jones can't stay healthy.

Jason from West Concord, MN
Vic, In the last two seasons, the pitchfork fan base has chased off our GM, defensive coordinator and now the head coach, all three of which have demonstrated the ultimate levels of winning in the past. Our new free agency philosophy has netted the team its first miss of the playoffs with a healthy Rodgers since his first year as a starter. I'm worried we're running out of people to blame. Who should we blame next?
Bert Bell.

Mark from St. Charles, IL
If "lack of creativity" is one of the seven deadly football sins, what are the other six?
1. Predictable play-calling. 2. Taking your foot off the gas. 3. Bad time management. 4. Trusting your defense to get the ball back. 5. Not utilizing the tight end. 6. Wasting a timeout. Any one of the seven deadly football sins is reason to fire the coach.

Jim from Maple Grove, MN
Vic, it sounds like Bruce Arians isn't interested in the Packers job. In the past, you have expressed respect for Jim Caldwell, a former QB coach and offensive coordinator and a Wisconsin native. What could he bring to the table as the head coach of the Packers?
I have high regard for Caldwell. He coached under Joe Paterno, Tony Dungy and John Harbaugh, a trio of coaches who give Caldwell a well-rounded background. Caldwell is a calm and measured man who brings stability to a franchise and expertise to the quarterback room. I think the Lions made a big mistake firing him. Be that as it may, I don't think he's a good fit for the Packers, and it's because I don't think he'd be enthusiastically received by the Packers fan base. The next Packers coach must be perceived to be an upgrade from Mike McCarthy, and that might limit the Packers to a young, exciting coach with a reputation for being a play-calling and game-planning wizard. Packers fans love plays as much as they love players.

Dan from Silver Spring, MD
Vic, would you expand on "Dark days have begun" for the Steelers? Do you mean the next couple of weeks and the playoffs likely slipping away, or are you thinking bigger picture?
Drafting at the bottom of the order has caught up to the Steelers. They haven't been able to fix their defense and Ben Roethlisberger is reaching the age that he won't be able to cover the Steelers' weaknesses. Sound familiar? I expect the Steelers to go dark for a few years, as the Browns take their turn at the top of the AFC North. I'm describing the life cycle of a team with a great quarterback.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI
What do you currently think of Kirk Cousins? Can he lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl?
I hesitate to say yes, but I can't say no, and that's why Cousins got the big deal in the offseason. He's a tease. He turns it on and looks great, but he doesn't seem to be able to sustain that high level of play. The Vikings signed him to be an upgrade over Case Keenum, which I think Cousins is. Cousins has a 97.4 passer rating with 24 touchdown passes and nine interceptions; Keenum is 84.3, 15 and 10. The Vikings knew they were overpaying, but they were willing to do it in pursuit of a Super Bowl title. As Wayne Weaver once said, the Super Bowl is a powerful opiate.

Billy from Verona (wherever that is)
Do you have a favorite NFL Films episode?
"The Violent World of Bill Saul." He was the first player NFL Films wired for sound in a game.

Nathan from New York, NY
Should the Vikings hire McCarthy as offensive coordinator?
What if they hire him as head coach? Uh oh.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, what do you think happened to the Vikings?
They ate the pizza.

Ben from Hilo, HI
Which NFL rosters are built for December?
If the AFC road to the Super Bowl goes through Kansas City and New England, the Titans and/or Ravens could be tough to beat. They can run the ball and play defense. The NFC road to the Super Bowl will go through New Orleans and Los Angeles, which renders weather meaningless and favors nobody.

Elten from Pleasant Lake, IN
Would you be comfortable with the Packers hiring a head coach, Pat Fitzgerald or anyone else, who had no NFL coaching experience?
I think the world of Fitzgerald, but college football is a very different game than pro football. I think it would be best for the Packers to find a coach with a strong pro football background.

Jon from Bloomfield, NJ
Vic, a while ago you said only cretins eat fast food in their car. Is that because it's dangerous to eat and drive? Or is it because of the mess it makes in your car? It's been bugging me off and on for a few months now. Please lay this to rest for me.
It's because of the mess it makes of your soul.

Maggie from Kenosha, WI
Now that we're 14 weeks into the season, which team would you say has surprised you the most?
In a good way, I'd say it's probably the Colts. Andrew Luck's career was in jeopardy and in every other way the Colts were ordinary to subpar. Frank Reich is a candidate for coach of the year. If the Colts can win at home against the Cowboys and Giants, the Colts' season will be defined by their Week 17 game in Tennessee. I can't help but wonder what Josh McDaniels would've accomplished with this Colts team.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, what are your expectations for the Packers/Bears game?
I'm not surprised by what the Bears have accomplished this season, but I don't think they're an elite team. They're a cut above the Packers, but not unbeatable. I expect Aaron Rodgers to torture them, as he's seemingly always done, and I expect the Packers to win because the Packers always beat the Bears. Even Brett Hundley beat the Bears. It's the most one-sided, overrated rivalry in the NFL. Until the Bears beat the Packers, I'm not going to change my mind so, please, don't barrage my inbox with tear-stained emails about Lombardi, Ditka, Chester Marcol, etc. Since I began covering the Packers, they're 13-2 against the Bears, and would be 14-1 if Rodgers hadn't broken his collarbone in 2013. That's not a rivalry, it's a ritual.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Here's the "Ask Vic" Week 15 power rankings:
1. Saints -- Back in the top spot.
2. Rams -- Not playing their best football.
3. Chiefs -- Mahomes masks soft defense.
4. Chargers -- Rivers' best chance.
5. Cowboys -- It's all coming together.
6. Seahawks -- The team you don't want to face.
7. Bears -- But can they beat the Packers?
8. Patriots -- Finding ways to lose.
9. Texans -- Not so fast, my friend.
10. Titans -- It's all up to Mariota.
11. Colts -- Don't count them out.
12. Browns -- Best team in the AFC North.
13. Ravens -- Saving Harbaugh's job.
14. Vikings -- Clinging to sixth seed.
15. Steelers -- Dark days have begun.
16. Eagles -- Tough to repeat.
17. Dolphins -- Worst 7-6 team in the league.
18. Broncos -- Respectable.
19. Panthers -- The wheels have fallen off.
20. Packers -- Spirit will be tested in Chicago.
21. Giants -- Barkley might be the best back in the league.
22. Washington -- All is lost.
23. Lions -- Non-descript season.
24. Bucs -- Could make a move next season.
25. Falcons -- They quit.
26. Bengals -- Change soon to happen.
27. Jets -- Darnold gives them hope.
29. Bills -- Allen going through growing pains.
29. Jaguars -- Lack discipline.
30. 49ers -- Really not that far off.
31. Raiders -- X-ray machine gets a game ball.
32. Cardinals -- Three points? Really?

Chad from Kansas City, MO
What does it all mean, Vic? I can't wait for Sunday.
Don't seek meaning, seek entertainment. There is no meaning until a new head coach is hired. That's when change begins and change is the team's future.

Ben from Indianapolis, IN
If the Browns and Packers both get a Christmas miracle, will in-season coaching changes become more popular?
I think we're headed for more of it either way. The fans love to fire the coach. It's a mania and it fuels interest and creates positive energy. It doesn't matter who the coach is. Belichick? I wonder how many Patriots fans said "Belichick should be fired" following that final play in Miami last Sunday. McVay? The boy genius couldn't even score a touchdown against the Bears. What if McVay fails again to win a playoff game? Should he be fired? John DeFilippo? His name was floated as a possible successor to Mike McCarthy. Yesterday, he was fired from his job as Vikings offensive coordinator. Fire the coach is the hottest trend in football. It's the music that soothes the savage soul. Steelers legend Rocky Bleier has even gotten into the act. He wants the kicker cut and the defensive coordinator and Mike Tomlin fired. If you can stand back from all of this and maintain a sense of balance, this flurry of childish, irrational behavior is comical to observe.

Mike from Des Moines, IA
Is the Bears defense that good? Was it the cold? Both?
No, McVay spilled hair tonic on his play-call sheet.
​
Joshua from Mankato, MN
I’m sure Philbin is a good coach, but you can’t argue with history. I can’t recall an instance when replacing a fired coach with one of his assistants has succeeded. Teams just end up with a simulacrum of the head coach they just fired. Better to start fresh, don’t you think?
The Bengals tried it with Dick LeBeau, but LeBeau wasn't a simulacrum. It looked like it was going to work, but then it didn't work. You could probably say that about 90 percent of the coaches hired: It looked like it was going to work, but then it didn't work.

Jason from Austin, TX
Vic, what was your reaction when you saw how the Miami game ended?
It didn't surprise me. That's today's game: 99-yard touchdown runs and wild open-field runs on the final play of the game. The Steelers did the same lateral thing in Oakland -- sometimes I think the NFL distributes a uni-playbook -- but then the kicker slipped and fell on a shortish field goal try. Drama is off the charts. Roethlisberger rose from the dead to lead a potential game-winning, 75-yard touchdown drive, but he made the mistake of scoring too quickly. I guess he wasn't hurt enough. Nothing surprises me anymore. A few weeks ago, Carolina looked like a killer, now it looks like road kill. The Jaguars went from shutting out the Colts to being trampled by the Titans; the Colts went from being shutout to beating the hottest team in the AFC. FULL CONSISTENCY? How about FULL INSANITY? The best advice I can give fans are three words I learned from the late, great Frank Gansz: "Come to balance!" Seriously, for your own sake, don't become so emotionally invested in today's NFL that losing causes you to become unhinged. Today's NFL is a wild game meant to attract and entertain casual fans. Maintain a safe emotional distance from it. No game is worth despair.

Rik from Santa Fe, NM
What do you think of the way the Saints are using Taysom Hill this season? He actually blocked a punt this past weekend! In a nutshell, the fact the Packers cut him seems indicative of their lack of creativity on offense.
Hill will long be remembered as the player who took down the House of Thompson. Who would've thought? Thompson, McCarthy, Capers: They're all gone now. Hill did it. Of the seven deadly football sins, lack of creativity is the greatest.

Matt from Philadelphia, PA
Vic, you’re on a roll with metaphors lately.
I know, Matt, and thanks for noticing.

Hans from Virginia
Vic, I still remember the gist of the first question you ever answered of mine on packers.com back in 2011. It made me laugh at myself, and then think more deeply. I appreciate the unique perspective you have added to my football fan experience over the years. All the best.
I knew a kid named Hans. He was anorexic. He ate the apple turnover I was saving for breakfast and then threw it up on my powder room wall. In the morning, my apple turnover was gone and I had to clean up the powder room. I hate that name.

Craig from Twentynine Palms, CA
Now that Mike McCarthy is gone, that leaves three head coaches still in their same positions since he was hired: Bill Belichick (2000), Marvin Lewis (2003) and Sean Payton (2006). Let's stretch one more year to include Mike Tomlin (2007) in this list. Obviously, Belichick's success speaks for itself and Payton's Saints are retooled and resurgent. Tomlin has a Super Bowl win, never has had a below-.500 season and, besides, as you explained recently, there isn't a hot seat in Pittsburgh anyway. In my mind, that leaves Coach Lewis as the odd man out. To me, the Bengals are the very definition of an average team. Some good seasons with immediate playoff losses in the wild card round, mixed in with mediocre and downright poor seasons. Why is he still there?
Maybe Mike Brown believes Lewis is a good coach and wanted to give him every opportunity to succeed. It's unfortunate Brown's faith and patience have gone unrewarded. I think this season's collapse will be too much for Brown to endure.

Ryan from Green Bay, WI
Reggie McKenzie out. A guy who drafts Derek Carr, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. Football is a funny thing, Vic. What do you think?
It's the new NFL. Somebody has to take the fall for losing and it wasn't going to be Gruden with the money he's owed. Fans want someone to be fired because it's a way for them to release their anger. In that sense, it's probably healthy. Maybe I should stop resisting the trend.

Aaron from White Hall, AR
I agree with your statements on the Cleveland Browns and I've been telling people with the way that division is going, Cleveland will be top dogs in that division for the next 5-10 years. Who should they hire as head coach if they can't get Mike McCarthy?
Why would they be unable to get McCarthy? I can't imagine a better fit for McCarthy or for the Browns. Fate arranged this.

Tony from California
Vic, as a Packers fan, what kind of major change should I prepare myself for next season?
A new head coach usually means a new coaching staff and new ways, all the way down to new training methods, nutrition habits, training camp practice schedules, etc. When Bill Cowher replaced Chuck Noll, Cowher briefly moved the Steelers' bench to the other side of the field. What offense will the new coach run? Ball control, spread, misdirection? Zone blocking or drive blocking? Two tight ends or fullback? How about on defense: 3-4 or 4-3? The time is right to make the move to a 4-3 because the Packers don't have the outside linebackers a 3-4 needs, but if they make that move, they need to start drafting true 4-3 ends. So, you see, a new coach can mean major personnel changes. A new coach can also mean a new media policy. Will he be more or less media friendly? Will he conduct his press conferences at the same or different times? These are all questions Mark Murphy will ask of the candidates. It's not all about what play the coach will run on third-and-two. The Packers want to know they'll be hiring a guy who'll cooperate with the bicycle riding tradition, for example. They want to know he won't try to close training camp to fans. Murphy will seek change while protecting tradition.

Matt from Georgetown, TX
Vic, the Packers have a poll on their site to pick the best moment in their first 100 years. What moment would get your vote and why?
I would go with the victory over the Falcons because everything is fixed now and it looks like the Packers are going to the Super Bowl. That sneak thing is so long ago and the players back then were funny looking.

Anthony from Baraboo, WI
Vic, how did Sean Payton weather three consecutive 7-9 seasons in New Orleans? Why haven’t Saints fans run him out of town for wasting the prime years of his future Hall of Fame quarterback? How did they forgive him for the multiple heartbreaking playoff losses? He even endured the scandal of Bountygate. Are Packers fans less forgiving, or just more spoiled?
Something like Katrina helps you achieve perspective.

Edward from Canton, SD
With 46 seconds to go in the first half, Aaron Rodgers got sacked and so the Falcons coach assumed they would have to punt and he called timeout to give his team a chance for a field goal before halftime. All he did was leave the Packers enough time to try a long field goal after they got the first down. Coach McCarthy made the same mistake too many times, and it's part of the reason l am not sorry he was let go.
OK.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, what did the Packers' win yesterday reveal to you about the team and its leadership?
It didn't reveal anything to me because I don't think one game can do that when a team is in the midst of looking for a head coach. The Packers won in the cold at home against a dome team playing out the string. The Packers played well. That's what I got from yesterday's game. I'm not going to feel a sense of real meaning until I know who the next head coach is. Until then, I can't help but feel a sense of uncertainty.

David from Milwaukee, WI
Vic, do you think the Browns will win 10 games next season?
The Browns will be my pick to win the AFC North next season. All of the high picks have finally put the Browns on the right path. I watched yesterday's game and I was greatly impressed by Baker Mayfield. Coming out of college, I wasn't sure he had the arm strength to throw outside the numbers. I do now.

Daniel from Cedar Rapids, IA
Thoughts on the first game of the Philbin era? How many games does he need to win to become the next head coach?
Philbin era? Really? You're ready to refer to an interim head coach as an era? I think you're grossly over-reacting to the euphoria of winning a football game against a bad football team. Joe Philbin is a good football coach, but I think the Packers fan base would react with outrage if he was summarily named the team's next head coach based on a few wins late in a lost season. We'd be right back on the fire-the-coach train the first time the Packers lost next season. I think we all need to calm down and prepare for major change.

Justin from Titonka, IA
What did we learn about the Packers?
We learned they have fans who are really desperate to learn something.

Eric from Hudson, WI
Vic, I don’t think the Packers quit on Mike McCarthy but, after watching yesterday’s game, I certainly believe Aaron Rodgers did. He certainly seemed to be engaged.
I don't want to believe what you're suggesting is true, but I acknowledge Rodgers had a different look about him. He was joyful looking. I'm going to believe his joy was the product of victory, not mutiny.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, do you think Winston Moss hurt his chances of finding a job with his poor appearance on FOX’s pregame show?
I wish, for his sake, he hadn't done it. I'm not afraid of the truth and I think it's cathartic for all of us that someone with his inside knowledge should share that information with us, but I don't think he helped himself with his expose. A wise man once told me, "Take the high road." Mike McCarthy took the high road. The high road will take you where you want to go.

Dustin from North Port, FL
What do you think of an organization that chooses to add artificial noise (the siren)?
The siren or the train whistle and the PA guy screaming, "It's thirrrrrrd downnnnn!" make me laugh. The NFL treats fans like sheep, but the flock seems to enjoy it. Baaaa!

Mike from Charlotte, NC
Vic, how does a man like McCarthy lose his locker room? Where does a mutiny like the one we apparently saw this year begin? I highly doubt today's plays were any different than last week's plays.
I really, really hope you're wrong about this having been a mutiny. Maybe that's what we're going to learn from what's left of this season. I can accept losing. I will not accept mutiny.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
Do you have any thoughts or knowledge as to why things didn't work out for Joe Philbin in Miami?
The Richie Incognito situation made it nearly impossible for Philbin to keep his job.

George from Melon, WI
Vic, if the Packers continue to win games, would it be a no-brainer to hold onto Philbin/Pettine for next season?
As coordinators? I've never known a new coach to retain both coordinators. Again, I think we need to prepare ourselves for major change.

Jason from Austin, TX
You mentioned Jeff Fisher was the coach when Aaron Donald was drafted, but how much of an impact does a coach have on a team's draft board? Maybe it's different for every team, but I would imagine the bulk of the draft board is put together by the scouting department and the GM, especially if you're drafting the best available player.
It's common for the GM to seek the head coach's opinion on a prospect. It's common for the head coach to do film study on the player, and for the head coach to give his opinion on the player's talent, technique and readiness to play in the NFL. It's also common for the coordinator and position coach to study the player and provide their opinions. Also, the GM and head coach would likely meet with the player in an interview session at the combine. The coach has to cook the dinner, and he's usually allowed to make some shopping suggestions.

Karl from Albuquerque, NM
Vic, what do you think about a college player who decides not to play with his team in their bowl game so he can prepare for the draft?
Bowl games are meaningless. I don't blame these guys for not playing in them. College football needs a makeover. I see empty seats at most games I watch. Before the season began, I read a story about declining student attendance at college football games, and I saw strong examples of that this season. I was stunned to see large expanses of empty seats at the South Carolina-Florida game. The Gators? The Swamp? Attendance at bowl games is embarrassing, but it's the TV ratings that speak the loudest. The ratings for college football are horrible. We're heading into another playoffs with teams from states that won't drive TV ratings. Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma aren't going to turn on TVs in New York and California, and Notre Dame isn't the ratings powerhouse it once was. College football is living off its past.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
The running back stiff arm doesn’t need a rule change. Defense just needs to stop being nice. Grab the extended, vulnerable hand, do a quick torso torque to make the tackle and the accompanying limb dislocations and bone breaks will discourage repetition.
Or the rule could be changed.

John from Austin, TX
You seem to have a very favorable opinion of Jeff Fisher, while he is typically considered to have been a mediocre-at-best head coach by most pundits. Are there any bad head coaches at the NFL level? Who would you currently consider to be the worst head coach? Who do you think is the most overrated head coach?
Those who witnessed Fisher guide the Oilers/Titans through relocation from Houston to Memphis to Nashville have high regard for him. His team played in three cities and called four stadiums home from 1996-99. He oversaw a roster rebuild during that time, and developed Steve McNair from a small-college product to one of the NFL's premier quarterbacks. If Super Bowl XXXIV had lasted one more play, I believe the Titans would've won the game. Fisher kept the Titans on top for a full cycle, before age and attrition demanded a rebuild, and then Vince Young was forced on Fisher. He didn't want him. Fisher is too good an evaluator of talent to have wanted Young. Bud Adams was in love with Young because he led Texas to the national title, and that was the beginning of the end for Fisher and the Titans. The Rams represented another relocation assignment. Fisher oversaw construction of a roster that now includes Donald, Gurley and Goff. If Goff had come first, I think Fisher would still be the Rams' coach. I respect Fisher for the focused and physical brand of football I watched his Titans teams play when I covered the Jaguars. That's my historical perspective. I was there. I have an appreciation for what Fisher achieved in putting the Titans franchise on the football map.

Marcus from Seattle, WA
Vic, I've been wondering: How did you first publicize this site to capture enough questioners to get it started? I heard about it well after its first column.
I wrote a hello column one day and word of mouth provided a growing base of readers. We reached 15,430 unique visitors and 42,376 page views on Saturday, numbers that make me feel happy for the community this column has built through the years. I do this because I like to read and write. This is for fun and I'm happy to know so many people are engaged.

Scott from Lincoln City, OR
Vic, assuming Winston Moss and the si.com story paint an accurate picture, what does one do to hold Aaron Rodgers accountable? Is it even possible?
Accountability shouldn't be the goal. Cooperation is the goal. The new coach should be a person capable of bonding with Rodgers. Rodgers is "The Man." He's holding the Packers hostage with his talent and with his contract. Those are undeniable facts. The goal is to find a coach who can get the most out of what Rodgers has left in his career.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Justin from Boston, MA
Vic, what's your advice for 20-somethings or 30-somethings that are trying to find careers and jobs that make us as excited to wake up in the morning as sports journalism does for you?
Mike McCarthy had a sign in his office that read, "Find something you'd die for, and then live for it."

Charlie from Philadelphia, PA
When Gutekunst was hired as GM, I had no problem with the restructuring under Murphy, but I figured it would be temporary until the McCarthy era was over. I understand Murphy has more football acumen than owners across the league, but I prefer the football decisions to be in the hands of the GM. What are your thoughts on Murphy having the final say on the decision?
I like the restructuring. I think it's a mistake for football operations to be granted autonomy. How can you expect the players to be accountable if the department isn't accountable? Under Ted Thompson, football answered to no one, and I think that's why it got a little stale down there. I sensed a bunker mentality. Hey, everybody needs to answer to someone. Under Murphy's restructuring, he will oversee the top rung of the football ladder. Don't underestimate Murphy's football smarts. As athletic director at Northwestern, he hired Pat Fitzgerald, who is one of the best college football hires of the last two decades.

Skip from Wisconsin
Regarding the tweet by Winston Moss: Honesty is a great thing.
In my mind, the tweet confirmed the si.com story.

Daniel from Richmond, TX
Vic, was it you who said if you have two quarterbacks, you don't have one? If so, is that true for play-callers, as well? It seems to me, when a QB feels he is equal to the head coach, this can only work if the coach's specialty is defense.
Play-caller is a function, not a title. Maybe that distinction got blurred in the play-calling mania that became a suffocating soap opera in recent years. Head coach is a title, and if you have two head coaches, you don't have one.

Dan from Lindenhurst, IL
It wasn't McCarthy. It wasn't Rodgers. The Packers are 0-2 at making the playoffs after Vic retired.
I didn’t know until this day that it was Barzini all along.

Andrew from Grand Cayman
What are the signs of a franchise not deeply committed to winning?
It's like pornography. You'll know it when you see it.

Matt from New York, NY
I think Jim Harbaugh checks all boxes as a potential head coach for the Packers. Strong leader, tough, former QB and apparently the rumor is he wants out of Michigan. Your take?
I don't have that information in front of me right now, Matt. I couldn't resist. My concern is for Coach Harbaugh's reputation for not working well with others. That won't work in Green Bay.

Bruce from Greenville, WI
What happened to the Falcons?
I'm perplexed. All I can figure is they got hot late in the 2016 season and rode it to the Super Bowl, but that wasn't who they really were. They just got hot. Two years later, I see age creeping up on Matt Ryan, and the wear and tear has turned Julio Jones into a possession receiver. The Falcons are facing big offseason decisions.

Chase from Rapid City, SD
Vic, with all the struggles on offense this year, do you think Philbin could be coaching to keep his offensive coordinator job?
With McCarthy gone, we need a new guy on the hot seat, right? Chase, when a team decides to fire its head coach and hire a new one, the new guy usually hires a new staff. Coach McCarthy's staff is under contract to the Packers and will coach the team through the remainder of the season. When the new coach is hired, I would expect McCarthy's staff to be terminated to make room for the new coach and his hires. It doesn't have to be that way, but it commonly is. A new broom sweeps clean. I have to believe the current staff is already looking for their next jobs.

Dave from Madison, WI
From your time with the Packers, what was your opinion of Winston Moss?
Moss is intense. If there was a position on a coaching staff for a designated pep-talk-giver, Moss would be the guy. He's a get-in-your-face and get-it-done kind of coach, and he's a physically imposing presence, especially when he gets fired up. Moss is a fan's kind of coach because losing hurts him as much as it hurts the fans. He's one of those guys for whom football is about more than the money. Winston wants to be a head coach. The problem is today's trend is for hiring CEO-type coaches and that's not Winston. I hope he gets a head job. I'd like to know if there's still a place in football for a man of his style and personality.

Tony from Colorado Springs, CO
With Kareem Hunt clearing waivers and becoming a free agent, does that mean if/when a team is interested in signing him they can offer him whatever sort of salary they want? Or does it mean he has to be offered a minimum deal of someone with two years? If it's the former, the interesting thing is being cut by the Chiefs would stand to benefit Hunt financially if more than one team thought he was worth the risk.
Tony, do you understand there is a video showing Hunt attacking a woman? Your fans might get upset you've decided to bring that type of person into their community. Be that as it may, you can pay him whatever you please, but not beneath the minimum.

Nicholas from Toronto, Canada
Have you ever witnessed a defensive lineman play at a higher level than Aaron Donald is playing at right now?
I've never seen anyone like him. With four games to play, he has 16.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and 32 quarterback hits, but watching him play gives you an even higher opinion of him. I can't believe what I'm seeing is happening. It's as though he can't be blocked. He flashes past blockers so quickly I have to watch the replay to see how he did it. He won the Outland, Lombardi, Nagurski and Bednarik awards in his final college season, but he was being projected as a second-round pick. At the Senior Bowl, he abused a center who is a starter in the league today, and he sent the Outland runnerup through the air with the guy's arms and legs sticking straight out. Following the final pass-rush/pass-block drill of the week, Zack Martin kissed Donald on the top of the head. Second-round pick? He just turned in the greatest performance in Senior Bowl history, after winning the four most prestigious awards a college lineman can win. Sean McVay knew what he was doing when he drafted Donald. Oh, wait, Jeff Fisher was the coach of the Rams back then.

Randy from Medicine Hat, AB
Why didn't the Packers push out Aaron's contract like the Pats did with Brady, so they could bring in some difference-makers at, for example, the wide receiver position?
Ted Thompson was a flat-capper. He believed in protecting a team's future by not spending disproportionate amounts of future caps on the present. I also believe in that approach, but quarterback has become an exception due to its disproportionately high contract amounts. Aaron Rodgers' new deal is so expensive the Packers had no choice but to push a disproportionate amount of it out -- he's due a $19.5 million roster bonus in 2020 that could force a restructuring of the contract; that's when the contract reaches the back end and Rodgers' cap hit begins exploding. So why didn't they do this earlier in his career? Because Thompson didn't like free agency. Hey, why do fans ignore the dangers of expensive free agency? Jimmy Graham is due a $5.3 million roster bonus in March that threatens to end Graham's time with the Packers without any kind of significant contribution.

Paul from Brasília, Brazil
This long-suffering Jaguars fan stayed up late last night with the flu to watch that embarrassment. Looks like the Jaguars defense had the flu, too! Wouldn’t this defense look much better if the offense could score points? Major changes are coming, Vic.
The Jaguars are at ground zero at quarterback. Roster change begins there.

Mike from Chicago, IL
Vic, Henry had a great night and is a good guy, but that was a facemask on the first stiff arm. Drives me crazy this is allowed. It was not the equal to Dorsett's run. Seems there's a fabrication now (and for awhile) to generate excitement. I will probably continue to watch, but I miss the old NFL.
I don't like the exception to the hands-to-the-face rule running backs enjoy. Why do they get a pass? It makes no sense.

John from St. Augustine, FL
Jalen Ramsey just flopped after an offensive lineman gave him a little shove. It’s 30-9 Titans. He is an embarrassment.
He's a cancer that's killing that team.

Jim from Yulee, FL
What do the Jaguars need?
The Jaguars need a young Tom Coughlin. They need the ruthless discipline of his youth. In OTA's in the Jaguars' inaugural season, Coughlin was all about sending a message of discipline, beginning with the concentration line he had drawn across the entrance to the practice field. A young player had a Mohawk haircut. Coughlin ordered the player to get rid of the look, which he did. A few hours later, Coughlin cut him, and everybody knew who the boss was. Hair will grow back, but you only get once chance to make a first impression.

John from Merrimack, NH
Say what you will about whether it was time to move on from Coach McCarthy but, if nothing else, he is a class act all the way. I’m impressed with him addressing the team and staff. He’s said great things about the organization in a difficult situation and always did the same through his tenure as coach. It’ll be hard to find a better coach and even harder to find a better man. I’m pleased the Packers gave him the opportunity to show what a class act he is.
The Packers won't find a better coach, just another coach.

Jonathan from De Pere, WI
Vic, I saw Coach McCarthy asked and was granted one last chance to talk to his team on Wednesday. A well-deserved moment for a true "leader of men" that appears to have ended with a standing ovation from his players. I hope we all learned some life lessons during Coach McCarthy's era.
Loyalty is a lesson taught best by guilt.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Here's the "Ask Vic" Week 14 power rankings:
1. Rams -- League's best record.
2. Saints -- They can be stopped.
3. Chiefs -- What will losing Kareem Hunt mean?
4. Texans -- They have arrived.
5. Chargers -- A true championship contender.
6. Patriots -- Beginning to hit their late-season stride.
7. Cowboys -- Look out!
8. Seahawks -- Hottest team in the NFC.
9. Bears -- Nice trick play, but they lost.
10. Vikings -- Just another team.
11. Steelers -- Defense the problem again.
12. Ravens -- Defense reason for rally.
13. Eagles -- Impressive grit.
14. Broncos -- In the hunt.
15. Panthers -- Fading quickly.
16. Colts -- Shutout loss halts surge.
17. Titans -- Hanging around.
18. Giants -- They've come a long way.
19. Washington -- That's all, folks.
20. Lions -- Played better under Caldwell.
21. Browns -- Playing for next season.
22. Packers -- Sadness meets hope.
23. Bucs -- Good team waiting to happen.
24. Falcons -- How could they have fallen this far?
25. Bengals -- Signs of quit.
26. Dolphins -- Worst 6-6 team in the league.
27. Bills -- Playing hard.
28. Jaguars -- Scored six points and won.
29. Jets -- Better than their record.
30. Cardinals -- Not without hope.
31. 49ers -- Season ruined early.
32. Raiders -- They need the first overall pick.

Justin from Boston, MA
Vic, why did the SI article force Murphy into choosing between McCarthy and Rodgers? Why couldn't the two get in a room, hash it out, and then come out publicly and say we're OK? Rodgers went on the record this week saying he and McCarthy have a strong relationship.
Too many people knew too much about the problems in the marriage. The whole neighborhood was talking about it, and ugly rumors were beginning to surface. It was for the best for both parties to move on with their lives. Mike McCarthy will have a chance to relocate and get a fresh start with another team and another quarterback. Aaron Rodgers has a chance to put the stigma of a failed marriage behind him, find harmony with a new coach and become the quarterback he was before injury and discord derailed his life. Maybe the day will come when McCarthy and Rodgers will meet on the field, shake hands and share a smile for great days that were, on "As the Football Turns."

Andrew from Ettrick, WI
Mike McCarthy will be back to a Super Bowl before Aaron Rodgers. Mark it down! The question is which team will he be coaching?
What if it's Cleveland? I can't imagine a better fit for McCarthy. He'd be coaching a young quarterback who's desperate for a coach with whom he can bond. McCarthy would find Baker Mayfield willing for and appreciative of the stamp McCarthy would put on the young passer. Cleveland? They've never been to a Super Bowl. McCarthy would become a god in Cleveland if he took the Browns to the big game. The circumstances in Cleveland are perfect for McCarthy. He'd be within a two-hour drive of his family in Pittsburgh; in the same division with his hometown team. The Browns have lots of high picks and more high picks on the way. They're poised to become the dominant team in a division where the Steelers only have another year or two with Roethlisberger, the Bengals are headed for a makeover and the Ravens face uncertainty at quarterback.

Karl from Albuquerque, NM
How does GM Vic go about finding and evaluating a new head coach? Is picking one any better guess than drafting a player in the first round?
It's the same principle. You do exhaustive research on every candidate, you pick one and then you discover a weakness you didn't think the guy you picked had when he was a candidate. The first time he calls a bad play, he's like every other coach in the league who's lost a game and angered the fans. That's life in today's NFL. So, with that thought, I'll say this: As much as I like young coaches on the rise, I think the Packers' situation might favor a veteran coach who's adept at working with quarterbacks and whose skin has been thickened by years of ignoring the howl of the wolves. Bruce Arians interests me. He's a quarterback guru and he might be the perfect fit for Rodgers. I don't think this needs to be a long-term hire; it needs to be the right guy for right now.

Sean from Brighton, MI
Mike McCarthy is gone and an era is officially over. Will the Packers regret this?
If they lose, yes. If they win, no. Just win, baby. I know that sounds cold, but professional football's coldness is its charm. McCarthy is a pro. He knows how the game works. When I was in Jacksonville, McCarthy interviewed for the Jaguars' offensive coordinator's job. He was offered the job and had either accepted it or was about to accept it when Jack Del Rio changed his mind and withdrew the offer. It was a big disappointment for a young coach, but he rebounded nicely. We're talking about a guy who began his career as a grad assistant at Pitt, and who collected tolls at the Pa. Turnpike to supplement his income. He worked at a pizza place in my hometown! This is a tough guy who knows how to recover from adversity. Weep not for Mike McCarthy. Soon, he'll be the enemy.

Roger from Chesterton, IN
Vic, if the Packers had made it to the Super Bowl in 2014, does a lot of the angst against McCarthy disappear, or do you think we would have the same outcome maybe a season or two later?
The final 3:52 of regulation in Seattle became a bitter pill for Packers fans to swallow, and I think it embittered them to McCarthy. Here's my question: If Aaron Rodgers has complete freedom to change the plays -- the si.com story claims Rodgers was changing too many of McCarthy's plays -- why didn't Rodgers change the plays he didn't like in that 3:52? Do we know for sure those were McCarthy's plays? I'm not a plays kind of guy; I think everyone knows that. I'm having trouble wrapping my arms around this whole plays feud thing. In my opinion, the Packers are looking for a new coach because the talent on the roster has declined sharply from the talent on the roster in that 2014 NFC title game.

Chris from Minneapolis, MN
What do you think of the decision to promote Philbin to interim head coach?
It's a no-brainer. He's a former head coach and, as the offensive coordinator, he works directly with the quarterback. Joe's history with the team also gives him a baseline Mike Pettine doesn't possess.

Matt from Chicago, IL
Do you really believe Aaron Rodgers' comments about Mike McCarthy on Monday afternoon? I mean, this is a guy who has turned his back on his own family.
His comments were perfect for the occasion. They were calming and that's what the team and the fan base needed at this time. We all need to move on. Turning this into a soap opera is the wrong thing to do.

Adam from Winter Park, FL
What do you see about the Packer’s head coaching job that is attractive to a candidate? What would be the deterrents?
The attractions, beyond a lucrative contract, are a franchise that is deeply committed to winning, a championship quarterback who probably has more left in the tank than this season would indicate and who wants to play to 40, a young roster on the rise with high picks in next year's draft, a general manager who is talented, reasonable and cooperative, a team president who has made you his pick and will be committed to you and patient with you, and a fan base whose expectations have been tempered. I don't see anything not to like.

Kirsten from Madison, WI
Well, we're not used to being in this situation: Week 14, no playoff run and head coach out. So what's the Packers' goal for the rest of the season?
Find a new coach.

​Joe from De Pere, WI
Vic, what is your favorite Mike McCarthy story from your time with the Packers?
It's from the season McCarthy took back the play-calling from Tom Clements. In a postgame press conference, Aaron Rodgers talked about how he couldn't understand the play call that was coming into his helmet from Mike McCarthy; it turned out to be a big play in the game. Rodgers said he had to rely on Alex Van Pelt's hand signals to get the play McCarthy wanted run. "You know, Mike has that Pittsburgh accent," Rodgers said. The following day, I was crossing paths with McCarthy in the hallway and we stopped to talk. I said, "The quarterback doesn't like the way we talk, Mike." He just stared at me with a little smile on his face. I felt like I was covering Noll-Bradshaw all over again. I felt young again.

Mark from Missoula, MT
All these suggestions about college coaches taking the Packers' vacancy got me thinking. Never mind his willingness to leave Iowa (or lack thereof), how do you think Kirk Ferentz would do at the NFL level?
Another Packers coach with a Pittsburgh accent? You better ask Rodgers.

David from Moore, ID
I am one of the few Packers fans who did not advocate McCarthy's firing. However, if I take Mark Murphy at his word, I found his Monday press conference even more disturbing. The admission McCarthy might have kept his job for another week had Crosby sent the game into overtime smacks of a plan that is event-driven on a daily basis, as opposed to a long-term plan to methodically rebuild the roster.
Firing a guy after a win sends a bad message: Win and you're fired. Come on, everybody, let's put our emotions aside and be reasonable.

Zach from Chicago, IL
Everyone seems to be expecting an offensive-minded coach to replace McCarthy. Why is no one considering a defensive-minded coach?
I'd be OK with it. I think the reason most fans haven't considered the possibility is Green Bay is the most plays-crazy fan base I have ever observed. When and how did this happen? This was the "seal here and a seal here" fan base of a franchise built on the fundamental execution of the most famously predictable play in football history, the Packer sweep, and now it's built on the art of deception? If I'm the new head coach, that's the No. 1 culture I would be determined to change. No more of this play-call crap.

David from Chillum, MD
Well, the Packers are now drafting in the top 10, so we've got that going for us, which is nice.
As much as it hurts, it's how you build a strong roster. The Rams didn't draft Goff, Gurley and Donald at the bottom of the order. The Saints needed some losing seasons to get back to where they are. The Packers are experiencing the inevitable. I wish Packers fans had been more accepting of that fact.

Brian from Kingston, NY
What the heck was Winston Moss thinking with that tweet? Was he trying to get himself canned?
Winston is an emotional man and he had something he wanted to say. It saddens me such a special time in my life and in the history of the Green Bay Packers has ended so divisively.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Michael from West Des Moines, IA
Well, they did it. Why now?
I think the si.com story forced the issue. As I was reading it, I was struck by the number of leaks. My reporter's instincts said, "Uh oh."

Rod from Summerfield, NC
Well, the wolves won. It is unfortunate McCarthy's tenure was handled in this manner. I expected more from the Green Bay organization. I am now suspicious this was in the plans since Ted retired. Is it your opinion Aaron will be a part of the hiring process for the next head coach?
Players hiring coaches? It would be the ultimate in jockocracy. Not even Howard Cosell could have imagined it.

Kabir from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
What must the next head coach of the Packers bring to the team McCarthy did not have?
The next coach must have Aaron Rodgers' cooperation. The si.com story painted an ugly picture of a coach and a quarterback who were not pulling in the same direction. The next coach must be a consensus builder, especially when it comes to Rodgers.

John from Paxton, IL
Do you think this team quit on McCarthy and forced Murphy to make this move?
I think the si.com story made Mike McCarthy a lame duck coach, and players won't play for a lame duck coach.

Joe from St. Paul, MN
So much for harmony. I suppose we all knew this was coming but I'm surprised it was done before the end of the season. It feels like a very undignified way to say goodbye to a man who had treated his position with dignity during his time here.
I don't have a problem with how it was done. If the decision was made, then get it done. It's best for McCarthy that way. He'll now have a chance to rest, recuperate and achieve perspective as he begins considering his next move.

Kurt from Mariposa, CA
It seems like a very reactionary decision to fire Coach McCarthy after the loss. What benefits are there to making the decision with four games left?
It quiets the wolves. Now, there is peace. Nobody wants to live and work in angst and uncertainty. It's not a good environment for players to learn their craft and to prepare for the next game. Fans have tremendous power. The howl has cost many a man his job.

Kent from Pella, IA
Terry Bradshaw was very pointed in the postgame show last night, saying, "Aaron Rodgers, it's your birthday. You've turned a year older and you got your coach fired. Congratulations." He said he'd feel terrible if anyone ever associated him with getting Chuck Noll fired. Given your history with both teams, how do you feel about Terry's perspective?
They're harsh words. They're a product of the si.com story. The story was a killer. As I read it, I kind of knew Mark Murphy had to decide between McCarthy and Rodgers. It was one or the other, not both, and when your quarterback is nearly $60 million in dead cap money, the choice becomes rather simple. Rodgers' new contract was the beginning of the end for the Packers as we've known them for a very long and a very good time.

Julian from Menasha, WI
Shouldn't Rodgers be tilting the field?
Mystiques die hard.

Ron from Boise, ID
The Packers' road to the playoff is shut down. Do players play for new contracts?
The players need to play for the tape because the Packers' roster is going to undergo major change in the offseason.

Curt from Portland, OR
Vic, everyone is always trying to ascribe prophetic significance to phrases coming from Aaron Rodgers’ mouth. Maybe this year’s phrase came after the Monday night win against the 49ers when he looked at the tough schedule ahead and said, “We’re gonna find out what kind of team we are.” I guess we know, yeah?
If the Packers didn't already know what kind of team they were, why did they make all of those changes in the offseason? They knew, and I think Rodgers did, too.

Johan from Pembroke, ON
Do you believe the talent on the Packers is really that bad? What do your eyes tell you when they can't even beat a two-win team and converted only three of 14 third-down attempts?
The Packers were out-rushed 182-98 by a Cardinals team that was No. 32 in rushing and No. 30 in rush defense. That's what concerns me.

Craig from Anchorage, AK
The Packers losing at Lambeau in December to a 2-9 dome team forced Murphy's hand. Am I right?
I believe the si.com story that detailed the depth of McCarthy's and Rodgers' failed coach/quarterback relationship forced Mark Murphy's hand. The loss to the Cardinals made it the right time to do the deed. What intrigues me the most about the si.com story are all of the leaks. Somebody had a plan.

​Roger from Auburn, CA
Seems like a fitting way for the Packers' season to end! Thoughts about where they go from here?
New coach, new ways, new hope. The offseason will be full of excitement and anticipation. That's what everybody loves about firing a coach following a losing season. The new coach will be better. He'll call better plays.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Dave from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, Leonard Fournette ... was suspended by Marrone one game last season for breaking team rules. Now he’s suspended one game for leaving the bench and fighting/throwing a punch. Will taking away playing time and money finally motivate him to reach his potential? He could be the best pounder in the NFL.
The Jaguars need a dominant player and personality in their locker room that leads in a positive way. Fournette wouldn't have acted the way he did on Sunday if the Joe Greene I knew played for the Jaguars. Jalen Ramsey has been the dominant personality in the Jaguars' locker room the last two years, and that's a problem because Ramsey needs a positive leader even more than Fournette does.

Jason from Austin, TX
I keep hearing McCarthy doesn't change things up enough and his offense is too predictable. Is it possible McCarthy thinks the offense is good enough to take what it wants, even if the opposing team knows what's coming, like the Packers sweep back in the day?
I see a lot of change and innovation in the offense: bunch formations, double tight ends with a tight end split from the formation, no fullback, tandem routes. I loved the tandem route in which Aaron Rodgers threw to the trail receiver in the Vikings game. How about the blocking scheme? The Packers are doing a lot of double-teaming and drive blocking. I don't see nearly as much walling up. That's new! I'm beginning to think Aaron Rodgers doesn't like all of this newness. I'm beginning to think that's what he meant following the Buffalo game when he talked about getting the ball into the hands of the Packers' playmakers, as opposed to spreading the ball around to players that are new to him, which includes young receivers of whom he was critical in training camp. In fairness to him, he was handed a lot of change for this late stage of his career. It's difficult for a player of his esteem and with the clock ticking on his career to accept spending one of his remaining seasons teaching young receivers how to play professional football. Unfortunately, that's where the Packers are in their evolution.

Taylor from Amarillo, TX
Vic, I'm torn between a couple of thoughts regarding the Packers. Part of me wants to see them go big and bring in a dominant player, like a Mack, or the way the Falcons went for Julio, especially as Rodgers gets older. The other part knows the risk and how it's dangerous to think you're only one player away. How do I balance the two opposing views?
Think as though it's your job and your decision will determine how long it remains your job, instead of thinking as a fan with nothing to lose and no accountability for what you decide. So, let me ask you, do you feel lucky?

Frank from Wausau, WI
If you write one more blanket statement about Packers fans wanting McCarthy fired, I may drive down to Edwardo Beach, or whichever silly town you call home, and kick your door down. Coach McCarthy is our man and will be for years to come. Write it down, Vic.
You couldn't get past the herd of deer eating acorns in my front yard. They'd drag you into the marsh and feed you to the fiddler crabs.

Justin from Delray Beach, FL
What do you think about Notre Dame getting a bye into the college football playoffs, with every other team in contention playing in their respective conference championship game? How does it compare, if at all, to Alabama not good enough to make the SEC championship last year but getting into the playoffs over Ohio State? We could also throw in Ohio State getting in over Penn State, the conference champion who had beaten Ohio State during the season, the year prior.
How about Florida State winning the national title in 1993, despite having the same record as Notre Dame, which beat Florida State earlier that season? Inconsistency will continue to plague college football until it standardizes its product, and that'll require everyone to agree to the format. For example, will Notre Dame agree to join a conference? If it does, college football can make winning a conference championship a prerequisite for playoffs consideration. At the least, I'd like to see an eight-team playoff format, with the champions of the power five conferences getting automatic berths and three more teams selected at large. The current playoff system is an improvement over what we have, but it still has huge holes in it. For example, Pitt plays Clemson for the ACC title. What is Pitt's motivation, a banner and a bad bowl? The same goes for Northwestern in the Big 10 title game. College football is a bad product and I think it knows it is, but it lacks the unity and resolve to fix the problem. College football needs to study the Pete Rozelle leaguethink model and how it could take college football back to the heights it once enjoyed.

Eric from Hudson, WI
Why are you so attached to these coaches keeping their jobs? And don’t give me one of your glib answers.
Because Sean McVay is the exception, not the rule, and truth be known, he was handed a team Jeff Fisher built and was ready to go. How has a coaching change worked for the Titans? They were a playoff team last year. The Raiders? The Giants? The Lions were 9-7 under Jim Caldwell. They fired him to hire a savior off the Bill Belichick tree. Under Caldwell, I thought the Lions were on the verge of breaking through. Matt Patricia is making headlines for scolding reporters who slouch in their seats during press conferences. The Colts' dismissal of Chuck Pagano felt more like a mercy firing. What could the poor guy do without Andrew Luck? So the Colts hired Josh McDaniels, and McDaniels accepts the job and then has a change of heart and goes back to New England. It was a terrible embarrassment for the Colts, who had to go back to the scrap pile to find Frank Reich, who's turned out to be a great selection. That should tell you what a crap shoot this all is. In my time covering football, I have come to learn firing the coach usually leads to firing the next guy and continuing the cycle of failed coaching hires. The Browns have had eight head coaches since a restart of the franchise in 1999. How's that working for them? The Browns fired Belichick and the Jaguars fired Coughlin; they went on to win seven Super Bowls combined. The Steelers haven't fired a coach since Bill Austin following the 1968 season. The Steelers' reputation for standing behind their coach is so strong they don't even have a hot seat in Pittsburgh. That's the way you want it to be, instead of letting the fans and the media turn your team into turmoil. History tells me this: If the Packers fire Mike McCarthy, they'll fire the guy who replaces him in 3-4 years. At that point, the Packers will be on the coaching merry go round, and the merry go round goes nowhere but in circles. Is that a good enough answer for you, Eric.

Nick from Owego, NY
Any players on the Packers you're most interested to see how they finish out the season?
There's a collection of young talent in the Packers' secondary that has my attention. I'd like to see Kevin King join the party.

Will from Julian, CA
OK, we know your best fan bases now but what about the worst fan bases? As a Packers fan living in San Diego for 39 years, I commiserate with the former San Diego Chargers fan base, which I think has been given a bum rap as too laid back. My experience has been San Diego Chargers fans were every bit as supportive as Packers fans. I congratulate Los Angeles for not accepting the runaway Chargers. The Chargers can't even sell 25-yard line seats for $6 for the Arizona game. Large areas of emptiness were evident in that game in a 22,000-seat stadium. They only can fill it with visiting teams' fans, which dominate at every game! Are you kidding? And this is a top 10 team with loads of talent! The NFL has to think it was a huge mistake to let the Chargers move to LA. Obviously, the runaway winner for worst fan base is the runaway Los Angeles Chargers.
I think the NFL knew this would happen. San Diego wouldn't build a new stadium, so the NFL stole the Chargers back to Los Angeles to help with the cost of building a stadium there. The Chargers' time in Los Angeles will soften San Diego into building a new stadium and stealing the Chargers back. I predict the Chargers will be back in San Diego and in a new stadium within 10 years. It's a no-brainer. By the way, old Jack Murphy Stadium was one of the loudest stadiums in the league, especially for reporters. It was the only outdoor open-air press box in the league and it had a great old-time feel to it. One of the team's owners owned a pizza joint and they delivered boxes of pizza at halftime. They just spread the boxes out on tables and we dug in. I loved covering games in San Diego during the Air Coryell years. I thought Chargers fans were great.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
Is it your expectation that whatever the Packers need to do to bring the joy back to Green Bay can likely be done in one offseason?
That's a question we'll spend the offseason answering.

Jake from Farmington, MN
Vic, you could not have been more right about the Packers this year. I honestly hated reading this site a couple of weeks ago because nothing is ever more offensive than the truth. I have now come to terms with this season being what it is. I have been looking around the league for help and I have two players I think could change this team: Jadeveon Clowney and Le'Veon Bell. If the Packers acquired these players in free agency, do you think that would be enough to be a contender again?
I wouldn't want either guy on my team. Clowney quit on South Carolina so he could protect himself for the NFL draft, and Bell quit on the Steelers to protect himself for free agency. If they quit on them, they'll quit on you.

Sean-Luc from Oceanside, CA
It’s hard to compare, but what has Pettine brought to the Packers Capers couldn’t provide? Is Pettine really a better coordinator/coach or is he simply benefitting from a completely new secondary?
The rankings are nearly identical. Dom Capers' 2017 defense finished 12-9-13. Mike Pettine's 2018 defense is currently ranked 12-23-9. Pettine has a done a wonderful job developing a young secondary.

​Joe from Bloomington, IN
Do you think Mark Murphy’s unique position means he’s less prone to heed the wolves?
Murphy has a tough call to make, and the si.com story didn't make it any easier. The story paints the picture of a coach and a quarterback who are so at odds they can't even agree on what play to run. So, who do you fire, one of the most successful coaches in your team's history, or arguably the greatest quarterback in your team's history and a man to whom you just gave a contract that makes him a dead money nightmare? I'm reminded of a clash between Chuck Noll and Art Rooney Jr., who ran the Steelers' personnel department and drafted nine Hall of Famers from 1969-74. Dan Rooney, the team president, begged his brother and Noll to get on the same page. They refused. Dan Rooney fired his brother. Mark Murphy, for the Packers' sake and his own sake, needs to bring McCarthy and Rodgers to an agreement of cooperation and mutual respect. I think the Packers' short-term future might depend on it.

Ben from El Paso, TX
How does a balanced offense with a power running game disrupt an opposing defense?
How do you wish to die?

Tom from Suwanee, GA
Let's suppose GM Vic was true to his word and did not extend Rodgers' contract prior to the start of this season. What would GM Vic do this offseason?
A new contract would be a nice carrot to dangle. It could promote harmony, right? I fear the Packers played the contract card too early. What was the rush?

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

​Here's the "Ask Vic" Week 13 power rankings:
1. Saints -- Stretch drive begins in Dallas.
2. Rams -- Are they as good as their record?
3. Chiefs -- Free win in Oakland.
4. Texans -- Hottest team in the AFC.
5. Chargers -- Rivers on fire.
6. Vikings -- Might've found their mojo vs. Packers.
7. Patriots -- Nothing special.
8. Bears -- Defense leading the way.
9. Steelers -- Sloppy.
10. Seahawks -- Wilson gets it done at crunch time.
11. Panthers -- Defense not as billed.
12. Cowboys -- Can jump up by beating Saints.
13. Colts -- Reich candidate for coach of the year.
14. Washington -- Fading.
15. Ravens -- Alive in the playoff race.
16. Titans -- No need to remember them.
17. Eagles -- Still in the hunt.
18. Broncos -- Should send Steelers a thank you card.
19. Lions -- Rams game will define them.
20. Packers -- Might be playing for coach's job.
21. Browns -- Can finish strong.
22. Falcons -- Do they have anything left?
23. Bengals -- All is lost.
24. Giants -- Respectable, but nothing more.
25. Dolphins -- Non-descript team in non-descript season.
26. Bills -- Allen settling in.
27. Jets -- Darnold missing valuable time.
28. Bucs -- League's No. 1 offense.
29. Jaguars -- Change has begun.
30. 49ers -- Next loss, in Seattle.
31. Raiders -- Big rivalry game against Chiefs!
32. Cardinals -- San Diego just scored again.

Jeff from Alexandria, VA
Vic, is there a fan base you think exemplifies fandom as you’d like to see it evinced?
Every fan base is unique in at least one way. I believe the Packers' fan base is unique in its winsomeness. It has a wholesome, innocent quality I hate to see soiled by the fire-the-coach venom that is currently defining Packers fans. The Steelers fan base has a wonderful resilience I believe is born of 40 years of frustration for being one of pro football's losingest franchises. Steelers fans know how to lose and move on. They mimic their team's reputation for toughness. Jaguars fans are unique in their transformation from college football fans to pro football fans. When the franchise began in 1995, Jaguars fans knew little about the game of professional football. They measured the Jaguars against what Steve Spurrier was doing at Florida and, to that end, Spurrier's failure as Redskins coach was a turning point in the Jaguars fan base's development. All of a sudden, there was an appreciation for what a different and more demanding game pro football was. In the franchise's third decade, Jaguars fans are as knowledgeable about the inner workings of the NFL game as any fan base in the league, and I'm proud of that fact. Which fan base is the best? The Packers and Steelers are tied for the distinction, and Jacksonville has become a pro football town, which says everything about the growing strength of the Jaguars fan base.

Nate from Pueblo, CO
You’ve been spot on this season, Vic. I’d even say these last 5-6 weeks have been your best since I’ve started following you. What’s your take on playing developing players more once the Packers are mathematically eliminated?
I'm all for it, but that doesn't mean bench Aaron Rodgers and give up trying to win. The Packers are developing young depth, and I think the final month of the season can help the Packers evaluate their young talent, how it might apply to next season and the moves the team should make to upgrade itself during the offseason. It's a young man's game. Play the kids.

Larry from Antioch, IL
Vic, there was a great article on NFL.com that stated McCarthy needed to refresh his style because he hadn't changed anything in years. I completely agree. He seems to be easy for defensive coordinators to figure out. No shifting, no motion, just the same worn out formations and plays. I agree with you, he is a great leader of men. Why can't he let his offensive guy (Philbin) and Aaron call the plays ? I think that would be a winning combination.
NFL.com and sites that publish those kinds of tired stories are playing you for a chump. They want your click and they know how to get it: Write a story with which you'll agree. That approach especially plays well with a fan base the size of the Packers'. Mike McCarthy has been vigilant about updating his program year to year. He's usually done it with staff changes that add new ideas to the existing scheme. Mike Pettine is a perfect example. The Packers still play a 3-4 defense, but they do it differently than they did under Dom Capers. Ron Zook effected change on special teams. Major change? How about their training regimen, which McCarthy completely revamped a few years ago to address the crush of injuries the Packers were experiencing. Do you remember the praise Peter King heaped on McCarthy for his willingness to be new? Offense is McCarthy's personal discipline, and he runs the Packers offense with this mantra: "Less volume, more creativity." If you're looking for an area of the Packers that might've gotten stale, it's personnel. Brian Gutekunst is giving the Packers a new way of approaching the building of a roster, and I believe it's already yielding dividends. The Packers don't need new plays, they need new players.

Marc from Hartford, VT
Vic , as we watch the rebuild and hope good things will happen, we take solitude knowing Christmas Vacation is on tonight on AMC.
Are you serious, Clark?

Dustin from Orlando, FL
The Jaguars fired their offensive coordinator and benched their starting QB. This seems like a contradiction to me. If the QB is that bad, how can the offensive coordinator succeed? If it’s the coordinator's fault, shouldn’t the team see if the QB responds to a new coordinator? I personally think, given Bortles' lack of talent and the massive number of injuries on offense, Hackett didn’t have anything to work with. What is your take on the situation?
The wolves must be fed. Shad Khan just threw them some bloody meat. The wolves stop howling to eat.

Simon from Santa Clara, CA
If McCarthy is guilty of anything, it's relying too much on Aaron Rodgers to be outstanding. The Packers only win when Rodgers plays great. Can McCarthy change tactics as our roster supports it? I hope we get to find out.
That's why the $64,000 question must be answered. The answer will determine to what degree Rodgers' role will change and what the Packers need to do to accommodate that change. He might not be the same guy, but that doesn't mean he can't be the same effective quarterback he has been.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
What talent is missing from the offense?
I like the young receivers but, because they're young and they've yet to fully develop their craft, they represent the worst cast of receivers with which Rodgers has had to work since before the team began its playoff streak in 2009. The wide receiver corps remains a work in progress. I think tight end is also a problem. The Packers need a tight end who can block and catch. All of these tight ends that specialize in one thing not only tip the play according to personnel, they've cost the Packers a fullback on their roster, and I think McCarthy's offense functions best with a fullback. The Packers need a block-and-catch tight end and a John Kuhn-like fullback. Up front, the Packers need depth.

Matt from Georgetown, TX
Vic, do you think the Packers are in for another offseason of upheaval?
If they fire McCarthy, yes. If they retain McCarthy as head coach, the offseason will be defined by change, not upheaval. Change is good. Upheaval usually isn't.

Conrad from Oklahoma City, OK
The announcers on SNF talked about the strength of the Packers' offensive line. They mentioned the guards, Lang and Sitton, used to be the strongest positions on the line. They said the Packers' tackles (along with strong play from the center) are the strength of the unit now. Is there an ideal way to build an offensive line?
Ted Thompson liked to draft left tackles and make them guards. It was understandable because the Packers were a passing team and that favors pass-blockers. I think the Packers are going to become a more balanced offense, and I think that means finding some run-blockers that can push the pile and get out in front of the ball and lead it downfield.

Ben from Chicago, IL
Vic, the Packers players talk about better execution. Is that code for meaning their best attempts to execute are being defeated by players with better talent and athleticism?
It's code for maybe Rodgers can blame the coach, but they don't dare.

Eric from Appleton, WI
Former Packer Will Blackmon revealed that after a road losing streak in 2008, Mike McCarthy made sure the hotel got worse for the next road trip. Blackmon said McCarthy told the team, "If you want to stay in a nice hotel, win a damn game." Do you have any other great stories of unconventional motivation techniques attempted by the teams you covered?
Following a loss, Coach Noll requested a chick flick for the flight home.

Stephen from San Diego, CA
Rodgers is certainly part of the problem, but I think painting a picture of the Packers with Rodgers in 2018 vs. the Packers with Hundley in 2017 is a disservice. The upgrade from Hundley is evident and is supported by all of their respective stats, with the exception of the team's win/loss record. Your recent comments on Rodgers do not appear to differ much from the fans' howl for McCarthy. It seems as though your howling is just more subtle and nuanced. Do you think the Rodgers extension was a mistake?
I think I've made my position clear on the extension. I thought the team should've waited for more information. This is a time to gather facts, not come to decisions. Once we have all of the information we need to adequately analyze the state of the Packers and their quarterback, then we can put it all together and get a feel for what the team should do going forward. I think it's a fact Rodgers is a significantly better quarterback than Hundley, but the record isn't better. Why? Here's another piece of information: Once upon a time, opposing quarterbacks rarely outplayed Rodgers. He took down the best of them: Roethlisberger in the Super Bowl, Brees in the 2011 opener, Brady in 2014. Now, he's being outplayed by Kirk Cousins. Why? These aren't rhetorical questions. They go to the heart of the problem and they demand answers.

Skip from Wisconsin
I liked your comment about accepting reality. It is very sound advice. I hope Packers fans will be able to do that. Part of that reality is understanding Rodgers of 2018 is not the Rodgers of 2014. Three significant injuries and getting older is part of the reality. Do you agree?
Of course.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
Why are teams shutting the Packers down in the second half?
The Packers had a good plan in the first half; the Vikings' superior talent won the second half. Scheme often succeeds early; talent wins late.

Brian from Yakima, WA
Is that Alabama QB going to be the top pick of his draft?
I've studied him closely. Other than for a little wrist twist that's often seen in lefthanders, I don't see anything that's not to like. He throws an absolutely gorgeous deep ball. The combination of his deep arm and his scrambling ability makes him a scary player to defense.

​John from St. Augustine, FL
Jalen Ramsey had an interception called back due to some sort of interference and was shown mouthing “you're trash” to the Bills players after the play. How embarrassing! An offseason trade doesn’t seem so ridiculous at this point.
I'm almost ready to agree with you.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Jonathan from Sun Prairie, WI
It seems for the Packers faithful our December friend will not be coming around this year. There are some rumblings about this year being evidence of Aaron Rodgers' decline. Are we witnessing just a tough season marred by injury and limited by a raw supporting cast? Or are we witnessing a great quarterback beginning to decline?
You're asking the $64,000 question. It's a question much of the offseason will be spent analyzing. At this point, all we can do is gather facts. Since Rodgers' collarbone injury last season, the Packers are 7-13-1. Brett Hundley started nine of those games and was 3-6. Rodgers has started 12 and is 4-7-1. That's not a small sample and it begs the question: Is Rodgers the same quarterback who began the 2017 season 4-1? Those who think he is the same quarterback will tell you the Packers are in a state of roster repair, and that's the reason for the team's 4-6-1 record in 2018. I think that's a logical opinion, but the Hundley-Rodgers comparison nags at me. So, is it Rodgers or is it the roster repair or is it a little of each? I suspect that's a question we'll be debating through the offseason. I don't have an answer for you now. What's the rush, right?

Tim from Reno, NV
Vic, I kept hoping you’d turn out to be wrong about the 2018 Packers. Seems you were right. Do you think they’ll be back next year? The year after?
They drafted well, they made necessary personnel changes and will make more, and they are developing young talent and positioning themselves to add more. With a blockbuster offseason, the Packers can be a playoff contender next season.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
Twenty-second in the league in run percentage but eighth in rush yards per game. What do you make of that?
I like the running game and I thought the Packers were at their best when defenses were getting that eighth man in the box to stop Eddie Lacy. A little more balance between run and pass would be good, but Rodgers must be the star of the team or the Packers wasted their money. I think everybody is looking for a way to lay the blame on Mike McCarthy. Packers fans are not willing to accept their team is under-manned. Their pride won't let them swallow that fact, so they look for stats that'll allow them to blame one man, instead of 53 men. What did last night's game tell you? Did you see the talent gap between the Packers and the Vikings? It's time for everyone to swallow hard and accept reality.

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, do you think Marrone is starting to lose the locker room? I feel like the Fournette fight and ejection during an overturned TD, then subsequently scoring no points, is a microcosm of the season.
The Jaguars have lost discipline, and that might be a product of last season's run to the AFC title game. I think they got full of themselves. They fashioned themselves to be bullies and I think they liked it and bought into it. That defense did a whole lot of celebrating and talking, and then Jalen Ramsey took it to a higher level with his comments about opposing quarterbacks. His remarks about Josh Allen, which were completely unnecessary, surely didn't help the Jaguars in Buffalo yesterday. I think Doug Marrone lost an element of control over his team, and he must get it back to be an effective leader. The worst thing you can do to an opponent is beat them. The Jaguars need to cut the tough-guy crap and focus on winning.

Joe from Los Angeles, CA
Vic, what would you attribute the reason the Packers suffer so many injuries every season? Is it the training, coaching, nutrition, offseason programs or just plain bad luck?
Bill Parcells said you are what your record says you are. I say you are what you draft. Draft tough guys.

Nathan from New York, NY
A lot of Rodgers' sacks have happened when the defense's outside pass-rusher rushes to the inside and their inside pass-rusher rushes to the outside. How do you stop this scheme and why haven't the Packers been able to stop it?
What you're describing is a pass-rush technique known as a twist. It's age-old and its intent is to cause pass-blocking confusion. The remedy is also age-old: The offensive linemen involved must adjust their assignments on the fly. It's not cutting edge strategy. Just do it.

Pat from Seneca, SC
College football scores have become indistinguishable from college basketball scores. The NFL is heading in the same direction. I am sad.
This past weekend, Oklahoma beat West Virginia 59-56 and Texas A&M beat LSU 74-72, and other games involving top 25 teams saw one-team totals of 52, 56 and 62 points. The greatest rivalry in the history of the world was a 62-39 turd. I don't think the NFL is headed in that direction because the NFL won't allow it to happen. The powers that control college football have lost control of their game. It's a bad product. Its games are uncompetitive, as evidenced by this past weekend's results. Thanksgiving weekend is rivalry weekend. It's supposed to be the premier weekend of the season. This year, the games were terrible. I've been a college football fan all of my life, but I've lost a lot of energy for college football in recent years, especially this year.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, just a few seasons ago people were calling for Coach McCarthy to take back play-calling duties. Now they say the plays he calls are no good. How do head coaches keep their sanity?
They get fired and paid a lot of money by their former employer to work for another team and defeat their former employer. There was nothing wrong with the play-calling last night. The Packers mixed run and pass in the first half. I saw some cutesy plays that probably came from the back of the playbook and were installed especially for this game. The go-for-it nuts got their wish, it failed and it was the turning point in the game. I don't know what more the coaching staff could've done to win that game. The Packers lost because the longer the game wore on, the more decisively the Vikings pushed their talent advantage. The Vikings outgained the Packers 416-254, out-passed the Packers 325-172, sacked Rodgers four times and held a nearly 10-minute time of possession advantage. The game wasn't as close as its final score.

Vince from Boston, MA
Vic, if you can't see Mike McCarthy is horrible at time management (calling timeouts for the Vikings at the end of the first half), then it's time for me to become new and start reading someone who doesn't constantly defend old coaches and can't call it like it is. Maybe you should become new.
OK.

Craig from Cedarburg, WI
Wisconsin ends its regular season with an embarrassing Gopher thud. Can you provide some perspective on how bad the Badgers' season was compared to preseason projections?
I watched the game. I didn't think Wisconsin played hard. Somewhere along the line, they lost their edge.

Dustin from Seymour, WI
What can Packers fans be thankful for today, and going forward?
Packers fans can be thankful an inevitable year of repair is nearly over. Every team goes through this. I tried to prepare fans during the offseason for what I thought would happen, because I knew they wouldn't take it well and I didn't want to see them hurt and point fingers and then suffer the inevitable regret of having acted childishly. I'm hoping we can back off the angst in what remains of this season. The verdict is in. Let's accept the 2018 Packers' fate with dignity. I think we'll all be thankful if that happens.