"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, what, if anything, did Adam Schefter do wrong?
He wasn't forthright with his readers. He attempted to package old information as being new and then launch it at a time that would result in an avalanche of clicks. It did, but it cost him credibility. If he had made his report in a way that acknowledged it was a thinkpiece, not a hard news report, and the impetus of his report was what he believed was the potential for a draft-day trade, all would've been fine. Obviously, there's a rift between Rodgers and the Packers; Schefter didn't make that up. I think he underestimated the impact of his report. When he saw what it did, I think he felt guilty and, thus, the confession on the Dan Patrick show. Website news outlets don't have the filters the print media always has. I think it's because the Internet's immediacy allows for too much updating and changing of the story. There's too much wiggle room and there's much more tolerance for error.

Andy from Fruit Cove, FL
Vicbow! Can you believe it? The news hit me like a guywire to the chest! All it took was a decade of losing football, underwhelming quarterbacks, a failed baseball career and a position switch. The prodigal son returns!
I can see it now. Tebow lines up as a tight end, shifts to under center and then throws a jump pass to Trevor Lawrence for a touchdown. The fans are going crazy. They're giggling with joy. Every game is sold out. The Jaguars are the hottest franchise in the league.

Steven from Doctors Inlet, FL
OK, Vic, now I'm worried about that. Shad Khan is a brilliant guy and I can only think the Jaguars' new free agent is there to sell tickets and will be one of the last casualties before the final roster. Machiavellianism at its finest.
Cut Tim Tebow? I wouldn't worry about that.

Greg from Minneapolis, MN
How do you keep in contact with the connections you made during your career in the NFL, both scouts and co-workers?
On the telephone.

Tom from Bismarck, ND
Vic, and I'm totally serious here, I propose we trade Rodgers to the Broncos for a boatload of picks and, most importantly, a few defensive players. Denver always seems to put a feisty defense on the field and we could tap into their ability to find these players. Conversely, they have trouble picking QBs, as evidenced by having only three years of Jay Cutler to show for (nearly 40) years of franchise drafting history. In fact, we could turn this into a working agreement with Denver to make our defensive selections for us in the draft as part of the Rodgers compensation. We could do likewise and draft offensive players for them. There we have it. Done deal. Thanks for letting me settle this issue.
Tom, first of all, I have a feeling the boatload-of-picks ship has sailed, and Brian Gutekunst isn't going to trade Rodgers for a bunch of Denver rejects. Be that as it may, I have been uncomfortable with my updated position on this matter because it just doesn't fit with my natural instincts, beliefs and personality. I tried to be nice, but it's just not me. I don't like the idea of a player holding a franchise hostage and it's beginning to chafe me. I think it sends a message of weakness that can disease your roster and damage your image and standing in the league. A couple of days ago, as I was wrestling with my position on the Rodgers issue, I had a thought: What would Dan Rooney do? Instantly, I knew the answer, but I decided to call my friend Ed Bouchette of "The Athletic" and ask him the same question. Ed and I grew up in the newspaper business together and covered the Steelers for a lot of years. What would Dan do, Ed? "Trade him," Ed said without hesitation. Dan cut Franco, let Rod Woodson leave in free agency, fired his brother. He was bold when his franchise demanded action. I am beginning to think the Packers need to end this angst and move on.

Dave from Bellingham, WA
In the 1983 draft, did Pittsburgh consider Rivera more of a BAP pick than Marino? I'm curious what the mood was at that time around picking/not picking the local boy.
Art Rooney Jr. loved Gabe Rivera. I remember Artie describing Rivera to me as being a big, barrel-chested guy on skinny legs. It was a way of saying Rivera was a powerful man who could run. Artie playfully likened Rivera's build to Babe Ruth's. The Steelers were heading into rebuilding and Artie saw Rivera as the next Joe Greene; the Steelers would build their next era the same way they built the era that was ending, with a stud defensive tackle as the cornerstone. I absolutely believe Rivera would've been what Artie envisioned. The car accident was such a tragic event for Rivera and the Steelers. Marino was coming off a so-so senior season at Pitt. There were damaging and unfounded rumors. Some years ago, I visited with Artie and he told the story of his father sending a couple of "detectives" to tell Artie they had checked out Marino and he was clean. "They were right out of central casting," Artie said. The week of the draft, the Steelers brought Marino to Three Rivers Stadium for a workout and Marino threw the ball like a god. Coach Noll was in awe, but Artie stuck with Rivera. At midseason, as Marino's career was beginning, Rivera's career ended. I've always thought fate was nearly as cruel to Artie as it was to Rivera.

Roberto from Yulee, FL
In your time covering the Steelers, Jaguars and Packers, who were the biggest first-round busts?
Huey Richardson, R.J. Soward, Datone Jones.

Marty from Jacksonville Beach, FL
Vic, in the years you covered the Steelers, especially in the dynasty years, what player do you think was really overshadowed but was a huge part of their success?
It's Ernie Holmes. He was the forgotten man on the "Steel Curtain" defensive line. In 1974-76, he was the equal of Joe Greene. What do people remember? The arrow shaved into his head. Fans want the show.

Greg from Worthington, OH
If Rodgers remains a Packer, I will not be a Packer fan. Since 1965, I have been a Packer fan and have seen the good times and bad. He epitomizes what is wrong with the world when athletes are made to be worshipped. Not going to happen from me.
OK.

Stan from Batavia, IL
Vic, I have appreciated your strong and honest views on the Packers' situation with Rodgers. As a Packers fan, I'm also trying to make sense of what is affecting both the team and the player. I was curious regarding how much of the team cap is being absorbed by the starting QB. Over the last five years, Wilson 15.78 percent, Rodgers 15.58, Ryan 13.5, Roethlisberger 11.32, Brees 11.0, Brady 9.95. New QBs -- Watson 20.99, Mahomes 18.59, Prescott 17.25. This data seems to suggest Brady has been managing a situation where his compensation effect on the team cap allows for an advantage over Rodgers' effect on the cap.
Wilson 32, Rodgers 37, Ryan 35, Roethlisberger 39, Brees 42, Brady 43. As quarterbacks age, their teams begin to wind down their dead money and prepare to pass the torch. That often involves restructuring that lessens their cap hit. Roethlisberger is the classic example in 2021. Brady's numbers require deeper examination and explanation. He's unique because he's on a new team. He expired his contract with the Patriots and now he's on a new deal with the Bucs that makes him a cheap $10.5 million cap hit this year but includes $50 million in dead money. You can't just look at the cap hit because so much money is pushed out. Also, the contract voids after 2022 and includes three dummy years that are lessening Brady's cap hit. Fifteen million dollars in signing bonus is deferred to 2022 and his contract also includes an additional $1.5 million in roster bonus should a 17th game be added, so now the Bucs have that going for them. Brady is the king of capnastics. It's all legal but so misleading because it hides money in forward years. He left the Patriots with $13.5 million in dead money (6.41 percent of the Pats' cap; did you include that in his average cap hit?) in 2020, despite having played out his contract, and now he's winding up the Bucs' dead money to dangerous levels. In contrast, if Rodgers was to play to the end of his current contract, the Packers would be left with no dead money. There's nothing unreasonable about any of Rodgers' contracts. He's been very accommodating to the Packers. The problem is the Packers will likely have to do another deal with him to pacify him and keep him, and that'll deepen his dead money to a likely harsh amount.

Ray from Houston, TX
As a casual fan who has only recently started following the Packers, I have to ask: Can Green Bay, the city, afford to lose Rodgers? In other words, what kind of economic impact is Green Bay going to suffer if and when they are no longer a perennial playoff contender?
Attending a Packers game is a statewide social event. The hotels will remain packed on home-game weekends, even if Blake Bortles is the quarterback.

Curt from Rice Lake, WI
Realistically, when do you think the Rodgers situation will be resolved, either way?
This is where I think it hurts the Packers to not have an owner. I'm sensing a paralysis, and I think it's natural when you don't have one voice willing or able to demand a particular action. If the Packers had an owner, I think this issue would've been resolved by now. As it stands, this could last into the summer.

Jensen from Houston, TX
The Broncos won a Super Bowl six years ago. You gave us perspective of the all-in approach the Broncos took and the drought they would face as a consequence. As I imagine a potential Packers-Broncos trade for Aaron Rodgers, I wonder if Elway paved an alternative path to repeat Super Bowls. Build a strong roster, buy an expensive and aging quarterback, reset. Curious your thoughts on the approach.
I don't think it's a sustainable model, and I don't think it feels as good when you win. What if you go all in, trade your future for an aging quarterback and then lose?

Conor from Milwaukee, WI
Vic, I was a bit surprised we've only had the salary cap since 1994. If the NFL decided for some reason to axe the cap, have the Packers done enough in that time (Lambeau renovations, Titletown District, re-branding, etc.) to allow our franchise to keep up with the larger markets? Do you like how the cap is currently calculated, or do you think it has to be somehow re-evaluated to possibly increase what the teams can spend?
Yes to the first and I'm fine with the way cap is calculated currently. Why change it?

Paul from Cumming, GA
If nothing else, Stokes and Alexander will give the Packers a lot of speed on the back end of the defense. How important is raw speed for NFL corners?
It allows them to close on the ball. It also allows them to play trail technique. Speed is good.

Greg from Taylorsville, UT
In regards to Aaron Rodgers, whether or not what we're seeing are negotiation tactics or actual grievances is quickly becoming irrelevant. This is wholly undignified and embarrassing. I think it's time to be new. Mind the door on your way out.
I don't like the weakness either. Peace is always the best option, but what price dignity?

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

J.P. from Florida
How do good football coaches motivate their players when it's obvious the other team is bigger, faster and stronger? I'm facing this situation in my kid's youth league and don't know what to tell the kids other than "play hard."
Be a teacher, not a preacher. Help them achieve individual success. It'll motivate them to reach higher. A good team is the byproduct of talented individuals, not pep talks.

Matt from Chicago, IL
Doesn’t this whole story seem like a case study of 24/7, click-driven, be-first-even-if-you’re-wrong media? It feels poorly handled everywhere. Who do I trust?
That's the question the reader must ultimately answer. If the reader continues to click on sexy headlines to stories written by reporters proven unworthy of the reader's trust, the reader becomes the problem.

Justin from Delavan, WI
Do you think Aaron Rodgers will hold a grudge against you for calling his Derby hat silly?
"Ask Vic Retirement" isn't big enough for Rodgers to care. I love "Ask Vic Retirement." I don't want clicks. They just mean more work and expense, for which I receive no compensation. I just want to entertain myself by expressing what I believe to be true.

Rich from York, PA
Vic, who's going to play left tackle for the Steelers this year? The draft did not provide answers.
One of my favorite and most trusted scout friends believes Okorafor has the athletic ability to play left tackle.

Chevin from Jacksonville, FL
Do you believe the NFL owners were aware of how much power quarterbacks would eventually wield when the league began shifting to a more quarterback-centric approach with rule changes?
Sure they were. They were creating star power, super celebrities that deepen the league's popularity and help drive its media platforms, which include their media partners' platforms. How is that bad for the league? The salary cap guarantees the players get a set percentage of the revenue. If the quarterbacks take more than their fair share, there's less for everybody else. You can only push it out so far. Ultimately, there is a cap to spending.

Ray from Jacksonville, FL
Thanks for your insight and humor. Is there really any way the Rodgers fiasco ends other than a new contract?
I think that's how it'll end. The dead money will be outrageous, but that's the penalty the Packers have to pay for what I consider to be a couple of mistakes. They rushed into the current contract. It should've been the one that would carry Rodgers to the end, which would allow the Packers to unwind his dead money as he played into retirement or decline. Instead, they're going to have to wind it up one more time. The Patriots weren't willing to wind up Brady's dead money again on a new deal. The Steelers are winding down Roethlisberger's. They put a huge roster bonus in his contract to serve as a boundary that would force a decision on his career. He agreed to decrease the terms of his contract instead of retiring. Rushing into the Love pick was an accelerant in igniting the current situation. In my opinion, the Packers need to throw money at this problem and learn from their mistakes. Trading Rodgers or standing firm would likely cause upheaval that could plunge the franchise into chaos.

Ben from Chicago, IL
If the Packers had traded Rodgers after the NFC championship, wouldn't the cap hit have been crippling? Perhaps they wait until June 1?
They wouldn't have paid the $6.8 million roster bonus because it was due on the third day of the league year -- that's how teams protect their trade leverage -- and that would've made the hit shoulderable. At that point, they likely wouldn't have signed Aaron Jones and they could've saved more money with a cut here and a cut there -- Preston Smith would've been a big savings -- moving neatly into a rebuilding phase but still competitive in the NFC North. June 1 is a way of lessening the hurt in one year but extending it to two years. I'm not a big June 1 fan. As Coach Noll might say, "How do you wish to die?"

Shane from Onalaska, WI
How much effort do teams make to understand the potential draft targets of the other teams around them in the draft order, especially beyond the first couple of rounds? I imagine this is an important aspect of draft strategy when considering trading up or down to recoup the full value of a pick.
Teams conduct in-house mock drafts repeatedly leading up to the draft. Each scout will be assigned a few teams to research and learn who those teams might pick. That's always been a key element in the unholy and anonymous relationship scouts and reporters have always had. If you want information, you have to give information.

Cliff from Idaho
What is the State Farm Rodgers rate for the Packers?
Richest contract in NFL history, fully guaranteed, and new khakis and an office for Jake.

Tyler from Green Bay, WI
What drives professional athletes to compete? Could you put percentages to those items? Finally, do those percentages change as years pass for a professional athlete?
Is this a trick question?

Joel from Jacksonville, FL
“I wouldn’t worry about that.” You turned my bad day into a solid one with the vivid memories from your tenure sweeping into my mind. It was the perfect response, then and now. It was your football insight that helped me to truly understand the game. Here’s my question: With hurricane season coming up, how many battries do we need to get?
You buy insurance for the bank. You buy your insurance at the bank. I re-financed. I don't ever want to own this home.

Ben from El Paso, TX
What do you think about Tampa Bay picking Trask?
He could turn out to be the steal of the draft. He could be the player who forces Brady into retirement. Hmmm.

Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
So many first-round QBs fail to succeed in the NFL. Do you think it's a poor situation they are drafted into, lack of NFL talent, lack of patience by the team or other factors?
For the most part, I think quarterbacks fail because they peak in college. They have no growth left in them. The NFL is a huge step up from college football. Trevor Lawrence played in a half-field-read system at Clemson; now he'll have to see the whole field. Zach Wilson and Trey Lance played against suspect competition; now they'll play against the best. Justin Fields was surrounded by talent at Ohio State; now he'll play for the stinky Bears.

Roger from Cincinnati, OH
Just wanted to say I am very entertained by your column. You have a very refreshing way to look at the Packers; hopeful, yet, realistic and definitely not rah rah. Am I the only one who's having a hard time finding a side to root for in this dispute? I see pettiness and thin skin by Rodgers, but I also fault Gutey for not considering this was a natural result of drafting Love, knowing what Rodgers is like. How do I root for an outcome if I can’t figure out which side I agree with?
Don't root, watch. If you pick a side, you'll be the one left holding the hurt and feeling of betrayal when they're all kissing and hugging at the end, making nice and acting as though this was all a big misunderstanding. Don't let this get to you. It's not your problem, it's theirs. As my father was fond of saying when he thought I was watching too much sports on TV, "That makin' you any money?"

Bret from Hertel, WI
Why not trade away older pieces of your team after a Super Bowl or run at it? You have said getting new keeps you from hearing the train whistle.
I said blow it up, but I would accept all in. Maybe this is a step in the process of going all in. If the Packers do a new deal with Rodgers, I guarantee they will be all in.

Daniel from Johnston, IA
It's always about the cash. If they say it's about the Kumerow, then it's really about the cash.
It's never about the Kumerow.

Blaine from Fennimore, WI
Which draft pick are you most intrigued by for each of the teams you covered?
Packers -- DL Tedarrell Slaton, Florida. Jaguars -- DL Jay Tufele, USC. Steelers -- LB Buddy Johnson, Texas A&M.

Steven from Doctors Inlet, FL
"I wouldn't worry about that" goes back a long way, Vic. Very nice.
I felt young again.

Jimmy from Jacksonville, FL
If the Packers trade Rodgers, should they immediately call the Jags and inquire about a trade for Gardner Minshew?
No, sign Duck Hodges. Save the draft picks for the rebuild the Packers will be facing.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Noor from Jarkata, Indonesia
Vic, I hope contact extension does not include an office in the personnel department.
It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. This has become a terrible embarrassment for the Packers. They can't win without him, but they lose their dignity with him.

Samuel from Olathe, KS
Is it harder than ever being in charge of personnel? Teams like GB, Houston, etc. have so many players, especially QBs, who want input or else.
Run the ball. The run fixes everything.

Ryan from DePere, WI
If Rodgers continues to say he won’t return to the Packers unless Gutekunst is fired, new contract or not, does President/CEO Vic ever consider giving in to that demand?
Of course not, but  if the Packers don't negotiate a peace agreement with Rodgers, they might all lose their jobs. Rodgers is in control and he knows it. They let him run off McCarthy. Why did they think he wouldn't do it to them.

Tom from Lehi, UT
Vic, the draft got me thinking about scouts and their ability to evaluate talent. Who would be on your Mount Rushmore of scouts?
One of those heads is going into the Hall of Fame this summer: the great Bill Nunn. When Bill was the sports editor of the Pittsburgh Courier and entrusted with the honor of selecting the HBCU All-America team, he was the No. 2 man in black college football. The No. 1 man, Eddie Robinson, rolled out the red carpet whenever Bill arrived on campus. Later, as a scout, Bill helped build one of the great dynasties in NFL history. He opened the door for the Steelers to black college football talent: Mel Blount, John Stallworth, Donnie Shell and L.C. Greenwood, to name a few. I love scouts. They have always been my favorite people in football because they have a love for the game that is both practical and artful. They labor in anonymity, and that's refreshing at a time when the players they discover and help launch into stardom are spending their time wearing silly hats at the Kentucky Derby.

Chad from Kansas City, MO
I agree the Packers filled all their needs. Maybe they will bring back the Oklahoma drill. We addressed the needs, now let's address toughness.
How can you be tough when a man who delights in drawing defenses offside and wears a silly hat at the Kentucky Derby brings one of professional sports' storied franchises to its knees?

Brian from Sugar Land, TX
The game credited with creating the modern NFL through television was played on Dec. 28, 1958. The Lombardi era in Green Bay followed shortly after. Suppose the Lombardi era had run prior to that breakthrough date, that he would have won five championships between say 1946 and 1955. How do you see the likely impact on the legend of Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers mystique?
Much as we view the dynasty that was the Cleveland Browns in those years. Nothing in the NFL seemed to matter until Johnny Unitas made it matter.

Jason from Austin, TX
Vic, I partially agree with your take on giving Rodgers a new contract and think the next couple of months will be really telling with what the coaches believe they have in Love. They must have an idea of Love's potential, even if he hasn't played a game yet. If they give Rodgers a new contract that mortgages their future, that will tell me they don't believe in Love. If they believe in Love, but want one more year with Rodgers, why change anything? I highly doubt Rodgers would really retire.
Retire? No. He'd have to repay a big chunk of signing bonus, but he could make life unbearable. Do you want to keep living like this? Peace is always a better option. If they can't achieve peace, they'll have to divorce. They should've done it after the NFC title game loss. Rodgers' postgame comments were an invitation to trade him. His remarks were a challenge to the Packers' pride and resolve. If LaFleur would've stopped fawning over Rodgers he would've seen he could've had multiple teams bidding for him. He would've seen an opportunity to turn the roster over and make it his team. I said blow it up and my inbox exploded with ridicule. Now, the same people who mocked me want to trade Rodgers for a six pack and it doesn't have to be cold, which is to say a lot less than the Packers could've gotten last winter. I'm an idiot?

Bob from St. Charles, IA
Vic, isn’t the stand firm option the only one with short term consequences for the botched situation with Rodgers and the Packers?
The options are: A) Do nothing (stand firm). B) Trade him. C) Negotiate a peace (new contract). Option A means the angst will intensify. As I said, life could become unbearable and the Packers' embarrassment would deepen. Option B likely means settling for a lot less than Rodgers' worth. The Packers would have to scramble to make room on their cap to take Rodgers' dead money hit. How about the quarterback room? Heading into the draft, Rodgers and Love were the only quarterbacks in that room. Imagine how woeful the Packers would be at quarterback if the position was reduced to Love and a couple of stiffs off the street. Option C is best, but it would leave a huge dead money burden on future caps and there's no guarantee Rodgers wouldn't put on his silly hat again next spring. Ain't my life, ain't my wife. I would've traded him last winter.

Jim from Port Washington, WI
Would drafting Jordan Love have been this big of a mistake had Aaron Rodgers been less petty and insatiable?
The Packers drafted Love to replace Rodgers. Whether it's ego or insecurity, Rodgers couldn't deal with being treated so dismissively. We're talking about a guy who's never been benched. Bradshaw was benched for Gilliam, and then later for Hanratty, in a Super Bowl season. I can't help but wonder if this weakness, as Bradshaw recently termed it, is at the root of the Packers' postseason failures.

Daniel from Richmond, TX
When Jaire Alexander intercepted Tom Brady twice in the fourth quarter of the NFC title game when we were only down by one score, did Brian Gutekunst get credit for drafting help for Aaron Rodgers?
Might the "beautiful mystery" remarks have been an attempt to divert attention from Rodgers' fourth-quarter failures?

Jamie from Seattle, WA
Do you agree with the many pundits the Bears are on the rise?
No, the Packers will beat them twice next season with Duck Hodges at quarterback.

Ricky from Cambridge, MA
What are your top three traits for a good GM?
1) He's an astute evaluator of talent. 2) He understands and manages the salary cap as an investment portfolio, not as a credit card. 3) His draft classes accent value.

Terry from Alpine, CA
The draft seems to me based on need now not best player. To say they fit any other way is hard for me to accept. Most teams' drafts seem that way.
I agree, but it's important not to reach for a player. Teams are desperate to fit themselves to the pick. The Steelers needed a running back; they drafted Najee Harris about where he fit. The Raiders needed a tackle; No. 17 is thought to be a reach for Alex Leatherwood. A reach is a loss of value. In 2013, the Packers wanted a running back. Ted Thompson traded down six spots to take Eddie Lacy. Thompson fit himself to the pick and, in the process, added value. Thompson was vigilant about respecting the value line. I thought it was his No. 1 trait as a GM.

Matt from Chicago, IL
“The Packers have no needs; they are complete.” Ten years ago I probably wouldn’t have read this with the eye roll you intended. With all the drama in Green Bay, at least I feel entertained. I was a lot less angsty than I anticipated. Thanks for the laugh.
Yeah, there was a bit of sarcasm in that remark.

Eric from Baker, FL
Now that Gutekunst has a few drafts and offseasons under his belt, how would you rate him as a talent evaluator?
OK, let's do it again. Gutekunst is an astute evaluator of talent, a good salary cap manager and he's building a good roster of players. As I have said several times, he will be judged ultimately by the success or failure of the Jordan Love pick. That's the way it is for GMs and the quarterbacks they pick.

John from Edisto Island, SC
Please give me your read on the state of the Panthers franchise given the current QB situation and their draft. I believe the failure to properly address the left tackle slot was a mistake. Your thoughts, please.
My favorite scout friend loves the Panthers' draft and so do I. They got their left tackle in round three; great value pick. He was Zach Wilson's blind side blocker and was outstanding in that role, and he's a low-cut guy with the choppy steps of a powerful drive blocker. CB Horn completes the rebuild on defense that began last season, and WR Marshall is outstanding value and big-play potential in round two. Round three TE Tremble could become a home run pick, and there's great depth in an 11-man class, which includes RB Chubba Hubbard. The Panthers think Sam Darnold can be "The Man." If he fails in that pursuit, they'll get "The Man" next year. The crop of QB prospects is deepening every year. Sam Howell would be a popular pick. I think the Panthers are one of the teams of the future in the NFC.

John from Neptune Beach, FL
You’ve often written Chuck Noll saw the future of moving the hash marks in, and the impact of free agency on team development. Who among today’s coaches do you see as a visionary?
It wasn't the hash marks, it was the rules changes of 1978. Coach Noll identified the potential impact and adapted his offense to it immediately, and it resulted in two more Super Bowl wins to complete the Steelers' run. I think Matt Rhule has that kind of feel and vision for the game. I think he's the best young coach in the league.

Tim from Madison, WI
Davante Adams is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2021 season. He will be 29 years old. Should the Packers back up the Brinks truck for him?
If the Packers trade Rodgers, Adams could offer a means for eating up Rodgers' dead money, by either trading Adams or doing a new contract with him. I think everyone knows what I would favor. Dime a dozen.

Blaine from Menomonie, WI
You are in an excellent position to give context to Terry Bradshaw's comments on the Rodgers situation. As someone who was there when the Steelers drafted to replace Bradshaw, how did you perceive Bradshaw's reaction at the time? Is Bradshaw's characterization of that period consistent with your recollection?
Three months after Bradshaw was MVP of the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year, his fourth Super Bowl title, the Steelers selected QB Mark Malone in the first round of the draft. Bradshaw never complained. It must also be noted, however, he invited the pick when he hinted of retirement during an "I'm burned out" post-Super Bowl press conference. I read Bradshaw's remarks on Rodgers. They're credible. They also underscore the difference between players then and players now. The game and the money have become so big and the quarterbacks have become so important, they can do what Rodgers is doing and get away with it. If Bradshaw had tried it, he would've been out the door, just like Franco. Coach Noll would not tolerate distractions.

Jack from Jacksonville, FL
What do you think of all the Tebow jibber jabber?
I wouldn't worry about that.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Benjamin from Albuquerque, NM
Does GM Vic trade Rodgers? Or force him to retire?
I spoke my mind in advance of this issue. Everybody knows where I stood, so I'll update my position according to the most recent developments and then try to move on because I don't want it to become the only subject matter in this column. It was easy to see this coming. Aaron Rodgers is not a let-it-go kind of guy. We're talking about a man who's still bitter about falling as low as he did in the 2005 draft. The Love pick, especially trading up to draft him, was the proverbial glove across the face. The Packers had to know how Rodgers would react. I refuse to believe Brian Gutekunst picked Love without the approval of Murphy and LaFleur; it's too big to be a one-man act. Now, the Packers have a mess on their hands and I don't know how they can get out of it without giving Rodgers a new contract, and that's problematic because it would explode his potential dead money and devastate future caps. Trade him and plunge into rebuilding? After giving big contracts to Bakhtiari and Jones, restructuring and pushing money out? Also, I have to believe Rodgers' trade value isn't what it was prior to the draft. A record number of quarterbacks were selected. The supply of teams willing to trade for Rodgers has been greatly reduced, and the Packers' position has been weakened. The whole thing has been botched and I can't think of a way for the Packers to clean up this mess without taking a hit. They rushed into the last contract with Rodgers and now they almost have to rush into another one just to make this problem go away. If they don't calm these waters, the distraction they've created will become the Packers' greatest opponent. My inbox is jammed with angst on this subject. It's difficult to find other subject matter on which to write this column. Picking Love without the commitment to move on was a big mistake and it's going to cost the Packers a lot of money. They need to give Rodgers a new contract.

Tom from Eau Claire, WI
I’ll be curious to see how Stokes turns out compared to the three edge rushers that immediately followed him in the draft. I just can’t understand how the Packers continue to value cover over rush.
This was clearly a needs draft for the Packers. I regard the Stokes pick to be a little bit of a reach, and it suggests to me the Packers agree with their fans who believe the Packers were one player away (a cornerback) last season. The Myers pick directly addresses the issue at center. It's as though the Packers picked Corey Linsley again. Amari Rodgers is the slot receiver the Packers needed. He's Randall Cobb II. Three of the next four picks are big guys, sandwiching another cornerback. Then comes the obligatory inside linebacker, followed by a running back to replace Jamaal Williams. The Packers addressed every need they had. if you want to find a positive in this draft class, there it is: The Packers have no needs; they are complete.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
You've mentioned the flipping of the hips, and I read Tony Pauline doesn't think Eric Stokes does this off the line. Is it something that can be corrected?
A cornerback who can't turn his hips is easily remedied by moving him to safety, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Stokes is a press corner. He's a big, strong guy who's known to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, so you don't see a lot of hips-flipping in his game. The concern for Stokes is he won't get away with his bump-and-run style in the NFL; he'll be penalized out of it. Brian Gutekunst has to believe Stokes' skills can be NFLized or Gutekunst wouldn't have drafted him in the first round.

Lance from Lincoln, NE
Like the leaves changing in the fall, another hilarious pick by the Jags. Nothing like using a first-rounder on a third-down back. No doubting the talent, but Trevor is an adult now. He doesn't need a security blanket.
Travis Etienne is a complete player and he'll evolve into that role in time. Trevor Lawrence is now the face of the franchise. The Jaguars need to get him success ASAP. Etienne will give Lawrence a degree of comfort that'll help ease his transition to the NFL.

Ann from Mountain View, CA
Now that the draft has concluded, what do Green Bay’s picks tell you about what we might see next season on offense and defense as compared to last year?
The Florida defensive tackle is a pure hold-the-point plug. If that type of player had been picked in the first round, it would tell me the Packers were going to play more four-man fronts and Kenny Clark was going to be used as a three-technique tackle, but I can't jump to that conclusion based on a fifth-round pick. On offense, I see no big shift.

Zach from Chicago, IL
At almost every position, players watch their potential replacements get drafted almost every year. Why is there an expectation QBs are treated differently?
They're treated differently because they define eras, and you don't begin the next era until you're ready to end the current one. Shouldn't the Packers have learned that lesson with Favre/Rodgers?

Jared from Rigby, ID
Vic, when should the Packers start responding with "Aaron who?"
Stand firm? It's an option.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
Please evaluate your three teams' drafts.
I've already weighed in on the Packers. The Jaguars made the pick everyone expected, and then gave him a weapon with which he is familiar. Their next three picks don't excite me. My favorite scout friend told me the Georgia corner is long on measurables but short on production. The Stanford tackle and Syracuse safety are needs reaches. Tufele is outstanding value and he'll give the Jaguars energy and verve on defense. In my opinion, the Jaguars didn't get enough out of the picks they had. The Steelers had a theme draft. The theme is: Run the ball. The lynchpin to that theme is the third-round guard, a drive-blocker who can move the line of scrimmage. I was told the Steelers intend to move him to center. My favorite Steelers pick is the smallish Texas A&M linebacker. He's a classic run-and-hit tough guy. The Steelers held off on selecting a quarterback. They're not ready to end the Roethlisberger era just yet. Rudolph and Haskins will be given a chance to prove they can replace Roethlisberger.

Pat from Sun Prairie, WI
We can't excuse horrible behavior just because the person acting that way is somehow exceptional.
It's professional football. It's about the money. It's the excuse for everything.

Bill from Fort Worth, TX
Rodgers to the Bears. We could probably get eight first-round picks and the mineral rights to Soldier Field, and he’d come to realize things weren’t so bad in Green Bay.
The Bears picked a quarterback. They wouldn't want Rodgers. That's how bad this has gotten.

Richard from Truckee, CA
Did the Vikings get a steal?
I talked about liking Jaylen Twyman and how he could become one of those opt-out mistakes. He's perfectly cast as a penetrate-and-disrupt tackle in Mike Zimmer's defense. I love the Vikings' draft. They got an underrated quarterback, major help for their offensive line, and two playmakers in North Carolina linebacker Chazz Surratt and Pitt pass rusher Patrick Jones.

Dan from Minneapolis, MN
Vic, I am submitting this to ensure you have a clean question to respond to regarding the Rodgers situation. What do you think is the reality of the situation, and what do you think is the likely outcome?
I think the Packers will give Rodgers a new contract, and the next controversy will be what to do with Love.

Hugh from Sioux Falls, SD
Vic, how much of the draft do you actually watch?
I stayed away from the TV this year. I wanted my take on this draft to be original.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Scott from Alaska
The Packers had an All-Pro center last season. If they have an average center in the coming year, what significant impact will the shift have on how the offense operates?
It's a game of replacement. In the salary cap era, you have to be willing to let players leave or you'll damage your future. We've debated this repeatedly: all in or protect the future? If it's protect the future, then you must trust your personnel department to find the next Corey Linsley. He was a fifth-round pick. His replacement is out there.

Tom from Bismarck, ND
Vic, addressing the three teams you've covered and the draft: The Jags get their man, not mine, but he'll do. The Steelers will, as they most often do, draft a football player. The Packers will draft a player who seems to check most of the boxes but will leave the fan base wishing for more. What is so confounding about the Green Bay approach is they don't seem to understand they lack the personality to be a viable defense, not the athletic ability. Just drafting Tarzans will accomplish nothing.
One player can change a team's personality. Joe Greene did that for the Steelers. Reggie White did that for the Packers. The Packers need to find that player.

John from Charlottesville, VA
I'd like your honest opinion about Brian Gutekunst as GM. He seems to draft well early on but is hit or miss later in the draft. His evaluation of Rodgers seemed to be off when he drafted Love. He has drafted All-Pros and also whiffed in the second and third rounds. I know the draft is a crap shoot but is he leading the team well? For the life of me, I can't understand the direction he has for the franchise. What is his vision?
Gutekunst is an astute evaluator of talent. His vision is consistent with the team's vision: Build a strong roster that, coupled with sound salary cap management, sustains winning. He was absolutely the right choice to lead the Packers. His first draft produced Jaire Alexander but lacked depth. His second draft is beginning to look better. I don't like the Love pick. Give Gutekunst time. He's building a roster.

Ben from Alameda, CA
Where would Jordan Love fit in this draft?
I get the sense he would fall after Kyle Trask. Where will Trask fall? I think that's one of the big questions in this draft.

Tom from Brookfield, WI
I seem to recall you having concerns with the Murphy/Gutekunst model. Now that it's been in place for some time, what's your opinion on the model's effectiveness and on their individual performances?
I distinctly remember supporting the new model. I remember writing about how football operations had become a fiefdom in Ted Thompson's final years, especially after the Lambeau Field remodeling. I completely support the new model. I think it's critically important for the football side and the business side of a franchise to be linked and accountable to the overall product. Under Thompson, that wasn't the case. Football was a feed-me machine. They got whatever they wanted and were answerable to no one. This is better. Individual performances? What part of 26-6 don't you like?

Carter from Fernandina Beach, FL
Vic, I imagine your comments regarding Trevor Lawrence on Monday led to an interesting inbox on Tuesday. Yet, aren't the questions/issues you raise exactly the kinds of questions/issues an NFL GM must address and answer regarding every draft pick, let alone the first pick in the draft? That said, if you were acting as the Jags' GM, is there any other pick you would make at No. 1? If Lawrence's name isn't on the card turned into the league, I would imagine it would be torches and pitchforks and tar and feathers coming to One Stadium Place.
So what would it be if Lawrence is a bust? Oh, that's OK, everyone said he was the right pick? It doesn't work that way. A franchise twists and turns with every first-round pick it makes. It agonizes over what player it should select. I haven't seen enough agonizing by the Jaguars. This pick was made months ago. Is there another player I would pick with the first overall selection? I don't think that's the right question to ask. Lawrence belongs in the top spot. The question is should the Jaguars trade that pick and collect the king's ransom that would help the Jaguars rebuild quickly? Could they trade the pick and still get the quarterback they need? I haven't seen enough debate along those lines.

Douglas from Binghamton, NY
What, in your opinion, would be a successful draft on paper for the Packers?
Two long-term starters is considered a good draft. Two starters and roster depth is a very good draft. Anything above that is a blockbuster.

Andrew from Linden, VA
Do you think the Falcons would take Jordan Love for Julio? If not, what do you think it would take?
You want to trade a first-round quarterback who has yet to take a snap from center for a wide receiver of declining skills and who would be easily replaced by a draft pick? What is this, a thank you for the Brett Favre deal?

Eric from Appleton, WI
Why couldn't the 1999 Jaguars beat the Titans?
The Jaguars wouldn't run the ball. If they had just given Fred the ball they would've won the game and they would've beaten the Rams in the Super Bowl.

Bob from Australia
Vic, I completely understand and cherish your answer regarding team journalism. I did wonder, however, whether the old Jacksonville advice about never embarrassing the team might ever clash with always publishing news you see. What if there was no way to write an inside news story without embarrassing the team? Thanks for the great insights.
Bob, where are we going with this? It's a team website. Why would you go to a team website expecting to read an expose on the team?

Max from Toledo, OH
How do the Steelers keep picking great coaches? Who makes the call?
Dan Rooney was the driving force in hiring Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin. His son, Art II, will make the next pick. It will be the most important decision to that point in his time as team president.

Michael from Sanford, FL
Regarding Dustin from Orlando, "The Jaguars donated $11,203 to Trevor Lawrence as a wedding gift to give to his charities. He, in turn, donated $20,000 to Jaguars charities. Something about this rubs me the wrong way. I'm assuming it's allowed but it just doesn't sit well with me. What's your take on it, Vic?" That's a significant misrepresentation of facts. Jags fans bought him and his wife a high-tech toaster and then kept at it by donating money to charities he supports. In return, they donated $20K to charities based in Jacksonville. The Jaguars organization had nothing to do with any of it, and that detail seems important to me.
My answer remains the same: Too close too soon. You people are so love-struck with Lawrence you're acting like teenage girls. Buy him a wedding gift?

Gregory from Milwaukee, WI
What are some of the best movies you have watched in 2021?
Ben-Hur. I only watch old movies, when they make it to TV. The last time I was in a theater was to see "Concussion." My job required I see it. I remember Mark Murphy walking into the theater as I was sitting there. We later shared our thoughts.

Eric from Lansing, MI
Vic, is there a sleeper in this year's large crop of quarterbacks? Who do you think will be the most surprising, if not the best pick?
Kyle Trask is not a sleeper, but his stock appears to have fallen and I think he could become the steal of the draft. He could turn out to be the best of the quarterbacks.

Steve from New Britain, CT
The click bait suggests Love needs to be traded for a draft pick now to capitalize on his value. Would GM Vic agree? Would someone else be a better backup?
Love wasn't picked to be a backup. He's the future. I think the pick was premature, but it was made and the best course is to stick with it. If you trade him now and he becomes a star, it would be worse than the John Hadl deal. It would be Favre in reverse.

Tim from Lancaster, PA
There's understandably been a lot of talk about Lawrence and the No. 1 pick, but who should the Jaguars be looking at with their other first-rounder?
They should pick from the top of their board. Their needs are many. A good player at any position would be a good fit for them.

Renaud from Paris, France
Which team do you see going crazy during the draft, and why the Bears?
Maybe they'll draft a kicker in the first round.

Morgan from Little Chute, WI
I'm very excited for this year's draft. Something big is going to happen in Green Bay. I just feel it.
A wide receiver in each of the first two rounds? Wow! That would be so exciting.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Timothy from St. Louis, MO
A lot of discussion about the new rules for expanding numbers. Tom Brady has come out against it, saying it will be bad for football. But in my mind, QBs will have to read and identify defenses better and teams will have to coach and scout other teams better to help their QBs and offenses better. After years of helping boost offense, it looks like the NFL finally gave a bone to defenses. Your thoughts?
Much ado about nothing. The Steelers didn't wear numbers on their practice jerseys when Chuck Noll was coach. It didn't take long to figure out which ones were Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Jack Lambert. After a few days of watching training camp practice, I could even identify undrafted free agents. By the time a team gets done studying an opponent on tape, it knows every player by their appearance and movements and by the sub package in which they play. The new number rules will create an even stronger identity and marketability for the league.

Morgan from Little Chute, WI
Last year the talk was Lawrence No. 1, Fields No. 2. What did Fields do to hurt his stock or was Wilson that extraordinary this year?
It's all a matter of who has the second overall pick. The belief is the Jets like Wilson. I get what they like. He's a ball distributor. He's very good at knowing where to go with the ball. Fields appeared to me to struggle with decision making, until the playoff win over Clemson. He was quick and spot on that night. My problem with Wilson is he physically doesn't look the part.

Vishnu from Boulder, CO
Vic, if players like Jerel Worthy and Datone Jones are seen as poor fits for a system by coaches as early as the day they are drafted, what is the rationale behind the front office drafting them?
The measurables and athletic talent say draft them. The Packers believed Jones and Worthy could adapt to new roles. These types of mistakes are common. It's a crystal ball business. Tim Worley was an I-formation back in college. He was best at lining up seven yards deep, pitching him the ball and letting him run right and left. Coach Noll cast him in an inside trapping game. He didn't fit. The Jaguars drafted Matt Jones to be a wide receiver. He never fit. I had this conversation once with Mike McCarthy, who firmly believed you draft top talent and then find a way to use it. I get that, but I also think it would be a terrible mistake to draft Aaron Donald and try to fit him into a two-gapping system. Something is going to suffer; either him or the system. J.J. Watt was miscast. So was Bruce Smith. In my opinion, it's very important to have a role in mind for a player in which he is a natural fit. T.J. Watt is a perfect fit for the Steelers. He's Kevin Greene. Watt plays a position that has long-existed in the Steelers' defense and required no adaptation for Watt or Watt for it. Plug and play is what you want, but it's not always available to a team.

Eric from Lansing, MI
What GM has most impressed you by his picks in the last few years, Vic?
Kevin Colbert didn't have a first-round pick last year and came away with three starters, all of whom have a long-term look to them. I think John Lynch has been sensational assembling talent for the 49ers. Carolina was a big winner last year. One more year of that and they could take over the NFC South.

Paul from Cumming, GA
Does a better pass rush improve the secondary, or does a better secondary help the pass rush? In your opinion, which straw stirs the drink?
The pass rush. It can make an ordinary secondary look good or a good secondary look bad. If it's rush or cover, I say rush.

Todd from Milwaukie, OR
Would the Packers not drafting significant resources in WR signify a further shift towards LaFleur's ideal offense, or just that Gutekunst didn't see a starter available (both of which might be true)?
He likes what he has and he knows when he needs to get a guy he can.

Jesse from Belleville, WI
Since you wrote about wanting to be treated as media and not as a team insider, a decision for which I applaud you, is the assumption your department was unable to view the portions of practices behind closed doors correct, and is this generally the case for all team media around the league?
It would be an insult to the other media for me to flaunt access they don't have. I would never do that. I have too much respect for my profession than to do something like that. Plus, why watch something about which I can't write? I would never agree to see news and not write it. I don't know what other team media reporters do, but I am the product of a credible profession that adheres to a code of ethics. My inbox is regularly populated with media haters who think they know it all about how media should behave and perform. I chuckle.

Kevin from Grand Rapids, MI
How specifically are scouts evaluated? There must be some measure as to how they keep their job or move up the ladder?
They're judged by the reports they write. Get too many of them wrong and you're gone.

Jerry from Grantsburg, WI
We haven't seen a meaningful snap, but does Aaron Rodgers know what the Packers have in Jordan Love?
Probably.

Eric from Lansing, MI
Vic, why do you think football eclipsed baseball as America's game? Did Americans change or just come into its own?
Football and TV is a perfect relationship. They were married on Dec. 28, 1958.

Howard from Homestead, FL
You asked if Trevor Lawrence has faced adversity, but he’s clearly faced pressure, and lots of it. What does adversity do for a player pressure does not?
Let's stick with the pressure theme. Was he really facing pressure as a true freshman in the national title game? Were expectations as great for him as they were for Tua? The following year, he absolutely was facing pressure in his matchup against Joe Burrow, and Burrow clearly outplayed Lawrence. Dabo Swinney made a mistake getting into a shootout with Burrow. How about against Justin Fields? Who responded better to the pressure in that game? Lawrence has been granted immunity against criticism. Every other draft prospect is subject to it, but not Lawrence. I don't get it.

Dan from Cedar Rapids, IA
As someone with Crohn’s, I was interested to learn David Garrard has it. Would you be able to share some insight into how he dealt with it, or are there published pieces about it?
David underwent surgery for it. It was right around the time I had surgery for colon cancer. We compared notes. He is a tough, courageous man who never used his illness as an excuse. I can't help but wonder what his career could've become had the commitment been made to him early in his career. He was sensational in 2007; a 102.2 passer rating. The following year, the Jaguars headed into a run of bad years. David always reminded me of Steve McNair. They had the same heavy-footed mobility. They could move and they didn't get knocked down easily.

Jesse from Bonita Springs, FL
I see all of these smaller receivers being mocked in the early rounds and I think of Devin Hester and Desmond Howard (great return man but never made it as a receiver). Has there been this big of a fundamental change in offense in the past 20-30 years or is it just wide receiver fever? The return guys in the late rounds look just as impressive to me. Am I missing something or is it that I’ve enjoyed your blog for so long I believe in the “big guys early” mantra?
There are a lot more little guys that can run than there are big guys with light feet. Wide receivers are regarded as safe and sexy picks because in today's game it'll be easy to get them catches that'll justify their selection, but that's a myth. The bust potential is high.

Ed from Merrill, WI
Vic, I recently read a piece by a columnist named Gene Collier for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette regarding what the Washington Football Team needs in the upcoming draft. He claims they need a nickname. I hope you can read it and would appreciate any comments.
I've known Gene for a very long time and he's one of the most talented writers to grace my profession. On most days, he makes me laugh. On his best days, he makes me think. I like those days the most. Some years ago, Gene wrote a play entitled "The Chief." He sent me an autographed copy of the opening night program. I've included it in my box of memorabilia. In regards to his column on the Washington Football Team, I disagree with Gene. I don't think the Washington Football Team needs a nickname. I like them the way they are. It's respectful of the team's past and it's a constant reminder we should never, ever again denigrate a culture of people for our selfish entertainment.

Nick from Charlottesville, VA
Does a retired GM ever sit down with a journalist and tell his story of draft day from 20 years ago?
I've enjoyed walks down memory lane with personnel guys who explained what they couldn't say then. The greatest of these stories belongs to Art Rooney Jr. Why didn't he draft Dan Marino? Artie drafted nine Hall of Famers from 1969-74, but he'll forever be remembered for not drafting Marino. What a shame. They put Bill Polian in the Hall of Fame and left Artie out. Shame on the Hall of Fame.

Billy from Brookfield, WI
The Packers’ front office really likes their shotgun approach to building the team (running backs in ‘17, wide receivers in ‘18, pass rushers in ‘19). Is the draft deep enough at the big guys for the Packers to draft a bunch of them in the first two days?
There are big guys who fit late in the first round. We talked about that.

Ron from Beaufort, SC
I remember years ago some writer assigned blue tags on elite players. If I recall, there were three colors. Thinking about this, I wondered how many blue players are currently on the Packers roster. I'm thinking four: Rodgers, Alexander, Bakhtiari and Adams. What do you think?
I think you can add Kenny Clark, Elgton Jenkins and Aaron Jones.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Jake from Knoxville, TN
What do you remember about Steve Blass? I was just reading about him and I realized we can soon add him to the list of sports records that will never be broken. No one’s ever going to pitch another complete game in Game Seven of the World Series while hitting for himself.
I remember he won the Cy Young Award in 1972 but lost his control the following season, went to the minors and was out of baseball following one start in '74. It can happen that quickly.

Justin from Delavan, WI
Have Green Bay fans forgotten quarterbacks at Rodgers' age can suddenly decline from an MVP form to waiver cut?
That's not a realistic expectation, but a decline due to age can be precipitous. It's usually accompanied by injury.

Eric from Lansing, MI
Vic, what do you think of Mike Tomlin as a coach and of his new three-year extension?
It was a no-brainer. He's a good coach. I like his boldness, not because of the strategy it brings to a particular game, but because of the big-picture challenge to his players to respond. Tomlin is a demanding coach. He's got the respect and support of his players, but he's not a player's coach. In that sense he reminds me of Coach Noll. Tomlin's team last season over-achieved early in the season and fell apart as the playoffs approached. He's the coach and he must shoulder the blame, but I've never perceived a lack of accountability from him.

Isaac from Abiquiu, NM
Vic, since drafting is such a crystal ball business, when do you know you've hit on a guy or have got a dud? Did you see or know of any signs that made Jerel Worthy or Datone Jones bad picks?
By the end of a player's rookie season, I think a team knows if it correctly evaluated the player. If it missed on its evaluation, then it needs to find ways to utilize the talent the player has. Role or position changes are often an indication the evaluation was off the mark. Worthy and Jones were bad fits. I sensed that right from the beginning. Worthy was a three-technique defensive tackle being asked to two-gap, and I remember on draft day defensive line coach Mike Trgovac questioning Jones' ability to play the Okie end.

Craig from Sheboygan, WI
Will Monday Night Football ever be what it once was? I remember when MNF came to your town, you were really in the spotlight.
It was never the same without Cosell.

Jon from Omaha, NE
Do you have any inkling on why my beloved Packers have drafted so poorly on defense during Aaron's era?
I think they tried to do too much. That might've been a product of drafting so low in the order. Often they appeared to be trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Khyri Thornton and Carl Bradford were head-scratching picks.

Mark from Sturgeon Bay, WI
Can a personnel department (GM, scouts, etc.) be better at picking players on one side of the ball vs. the other?
It happens that way. The Steelers have a poor record when picking defensive backs.

Dustin from Orlando, FL
The Jaguars donated $11,203 to Trevor Lawrence as a wedding gift to give to his charities. He, in turn, donated $20,000 to Jaguars charities. Something about this rubs me the wrong way. I'm assuming it's allowed but it just doesn't sit well with me. What's your take on it, Vic?
Too close too soon.

Mikey from Tallahassee, FL
Mock drafts are everywhere, especially at this time of year. What are your feelings on them?
They're good for identifying team needs and where players fit in the order, if they're authored by a credible draftnik.

Dave from Madison, WI
How are medical expenses covered in the NFL? Does each team have an insurance plan for their players to cover surgeries and rehab? The premiums must be sky-high?
Medical liability is so great it has protected the NFL from competing leagues.

Alberto from Barcelona, Spain
One week ahead of the draft, your preferred picks for Steelers and Packers?
The Steelers need a pass rusher, a cornerback, a running back and a left tackle, not in that order. I'm also greatly interested in how far Kyle Trask will have fallen. He would be an outstanding fit for them. The Steelers are rebuilding; they have many needs. The Packers need big guys.

Scott from Issaquah, WA
What did you think of the recent statements by Trevor Lawrence he has no chip on his shoulder and doesn’t need football? I find the honesty refreshing.
What chip could he have on his shoulder? He was the No. 1 prospect coming out of high school, won a national championship as a true freshmen and has been the consensus first pick of his draft since then. Has he ever faced adversity?

Victor from Mt. Horeb, WI
With the increased length of the season and both Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love on their roster, are the Packers in the best position of all teams in the league to weather their quarterback sustaining a serious injury?
​Love hasn't played a down. Even the stinky Bears have two quarterbacks who were long-time starters, one of whom won a Super Bowl. I can't consider the Packers deep at quarterback until I see Love play at least one meaningful game. At this point in time, we know nothing more of Love than he was a first-round pick.

Bob from Milwaukee, WI
How have the boundaries of professionalism changed in the role you played for the team over the course of your career?
I don't think the tenets of sports reporting have changed -- you write a story and stand by it -- but the physical boundaries have changed inasmuch as reporters who cover the team are being kept at a much greater distance. When I began covering the NFL, reporters were welcome and appreciated for their contribution toward popularizing professional football. My press credential was a badge of honor and membership. Now, it's the equivalent of the "Scarlet Letter."

Pistol from Illinois
Do you feel Mason Rudolph can be a good starting QB or do the Steelers go in a different direction after this year?
I don't think Rudolph is their future and my opinion is mostly the result of the contract deadline the Steelers are facing. Rudolph is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next year. It's a situation similar to what the Packers faced with Matt Flynn in 2011. The addition of Dwayne Haskins also suggests to me the Steelers are preparing to lose Rudolph. Should the Steelers draft a quarterback, I would expect the Steelers to attempt to trade Rudolph.

Matt from Madison, WI
So much for leaguethink in European soccer. What would happen if some of the richest teams in the NFL tried to start their own football league?
To avoid pooling the revenue? A few would rise to the top, parity would suffer and viewership would decline.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Jeremy from Chilliwack, Canada
Vic, does a team ever save money (either cash or cap) by trading vs. releasing a player?
Either way, the bonus amortization stays with the original team and the player's salary is assumed by his new team.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
Unitas finished in San Diego, Namath with the Rams, Stabler in New Orleans, Montana with the Chiefs, Favre in Minnesota and Brady is in Tampa. Why is the possibility of Rodgers finishing elsewhere portrayed as some kind of disloyal lack of respect by former players who know better?
I'm not seeing a lot of that. I wouldn't have a problem with Rodgers playing for another team. It's professional football. Players shouldn't leave money on the table and teams shouldn't waste money on a player who could return more value by moving him. When I suggested as much late last season should the Packers lay an egg in the postseason, I was vilified by Packers fans in my inbox. Packers fans are proprietary, and I think that's the mark of a passionate fan but, at the end of the day (as Mike McCarthy loved to say), it's about the player and the team doing what's best for each. Pro football isn't a feel-good game. It's a cold, hard business and that's its charm. I think I learned that lesson first when the Steelers cut Franco Harris as he was approaching Jim Brown's all-time rushing record. The Packers are prepared to move on from Rodgers. He knows it.

Jason from Austin, TX
In this year's draft, would you lower a grade on a player if they sat out last season because of COVID? How many first-rounders are now second or third-rounders?
I might do the opposite. I might give an opt-out player a higher grade if I liked what I saw of him on tape from 2019, because I didn't think college football was very good last season. I think a player's performance in '19 allows for a more accurate evaluation of his talent. I think most of the mistakes are going to be made on players based on evaluation from last season.

Adam from Wausau, WI
Why wouldn’t you want to sign the best WR in the game to support your unproven QB?
Dime a dozen.

Eric from Lansing, MI
What do you see Mike McCarthy doing with pick No. 10?
I don't think it's his decision to make. I know this: The Cowboys need big guys and premium position players, and they need lots of them. They especially need help in their secondary and corners fit where they're picking.

Taylor from Hull, IA
What kinds of change did you notice in locker room behaviors over the course of your career? It would seem that as societal views on issues have changed, so would the interactions of players within the football locker room.
The biggest locker room change in my time covering football is the ash trays have been removed. The Steelers' clubhouse at Three Rivers Stadium had a big ash tray affixed to each player's locker stall. The '70's Steelers chain smoked at halftime and ate bacon cheeseburgers in training camp, and then ripped your head off on the field.

Brian from Sugar Land, TX
Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell pulled his ace pitcher after six shutout innings and 81 pitches. "Once we got the lead, it was a chance to conserve some pitches for him over a long season." Football leaves the star QB in the entire game regardless. The QB unarguably has a greater chance of injury. Why do you think the difference in conservation strategies?
Sixteen games vs. 162? The thinking might change as we go to 17 and then 18 games, and play count and pass attempts per game increase. I was suggesting as much recently when I wrote of the day when teams might need two starting-caliber quarterbacks.

Dave from Jacksonville, FL
If (players) opt out of offseason workouts, what happens to the player’s workout bonus? Is it as simple as a player loses their workout bonus and the team gets a credit on their salary cap for 2021?
Yeah. You don't pay it, you don't claim it.

Laura from Springfield, MO
What does Sam Darnold bring to Carolina Teddy Bridgewater did not?
A better arm, a younger body and more upside. If you want to see what Darnold can do, look at his performance against Penn State in the Rose Bowl. In that game, he had the look of a premier pocket passer. What went wrong with the Jets? I think Matt Rhule knows. Can he fix it?

Michael from Plano, TX
Vic, I keep reading the Steelers don't believe Zach Banner is a left tackle. I also see draft gurus saying certain tackles in the draft aren't left tackles. Can you explain the difference to a layman like me.
The inference is they're not good enough pass blockers to play left tackle, which traditionally opposes the defense's premier pass rusher.

Chris from Bozeman, MT
Before you scold Packers fans -- most of us couldn’t care less what Jim McMahon has to say -- the story regarding this was embarrassing, to say the least. Not a Bears fan at all, but respect them as a team. Anyway, aim your ire at the writers, not the fans.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

Matt from Cudahy, WI
For the "profit from my likeness" crowd, how much does a star collegiate athlete's likeness benefit from marketing exposure provided by the NCAA?
I think this issue is greatly overrated. We're talking about a select few players in places where college football is king and doesn't have to compete with the NFL. Would this really make a difference for or satisfy the general population of college athletes? I think the big concern would be the general population might sell their names for minimal gain and in undistinguished ways.

Paul from Fairfax, VA
You have said a couple of times re-signing Adams will be a sign about Rodgers’ future. What did re-signing Jones tell you?
It suggested to me the Packers weren't fully confident in A.J. Dillon's readiness to assume the role of featured back.

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
Years ago you nailed the criticism of Andrew Luck being too smart for football. Are you worried the same could happen with Trevor Lawrence after his recent comments?
What I wrote was because of Luck's academic pedigree (architectural design/engineering) he would always have options other than football. I think it's important to note as much in a scouting report. No offense intended, but Clemson isn't Stanford. I think you're OK.

Mike from North Hudson, WI
A lot of back and forth has been reported by media heads as to whether the Packers have actually drafted or acquired players to help Aaron Rodgers over the years. Since you have always been a straight shooter, what are your thoughts on this?
The Packers spent a lot of high picks on the defensive side of the ball. Jerel Worthy and Datone Jones are two examples. They were busts and the Packers bear the guilt, but that doesn't mean they didn't try. From 2012-16, the Packers picked 10 defensive players in the top three rounds of the draft, and Kenny Clark is all they have to show for their efforts. You just can't draft like that and expect to improve.

Dave from Chippewa Falls, WI
Any thoughts on taking a stud CB with an S1 microdiscectomy?
I assume you're referring to Caleb Farley. The L5-S1 joint is a common trouble spot. Disc surgery is no big deal if it's limited to the disc and is minimally invasive. My last low back disc surgery began at 2:30 in the afternoon and I left the hospital at 6:30. It was like going to the dentist. The concern is for potential nerve damage in the leg. Disc surgery usually occurs after the patient endures a period of leg pain. How long was it endured? How severe was the pain? Has numbness and/or weakness in the leg resulted? Farley would have to submit to an examination by my team's physician before I would draft him. The physician would ask Farley to walk on his toes and then on his heels. He'd likely ask Farley to submit to a nerve conduction test. If my team's physician believed Farley has or would make a full recovery, I'd have no qualms drafting him. At this late date, this surgery could cause Farley to fall into the lap of a lucky team, and Tony Pauline's mock draft has the Packers picking a cornerback. We need to keep an eye on this. 

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Ed from Midland, MI
I think the Packers need better big guys, as they've lost the last two NFC championship games by getting their butts pushed around up front. Who do you and Tony like toward the end of the first round?
Big guys at the bottom of the first round? Tony favors defensive ends Jaelin Phillips of Miami and Carlos Basham of Wake Forest, center Creed Humphrey of Oklahoma, guard Wyatt Davis of Ohio State and  tackle Alex Leatherwood of Alabama. I'll add Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore as a fit for the Packers. He was sensational in the playoffs and, as a redshirt sophomore, he is a truly ascending player. The player who excites me most late in the first round is Penn State edge rusher Jayson Oweh. He had a killer pro day recently, running a 4.36 40. He has freakish athletic ability on a 6-6 frame and the premium on pass rushers will probably cause him to begin zooming up the board. He could be the Steelers' guy at 24.

Micah from San Diego, CA
Vic, are you familiar with early 20th century pitcher Rube Waddell? "He would often leave in the middle of a game to go fishing. He was easily distracted by opposing fans who held up puppies, which caused him to run over and play with them.”
He was also known to have a fascination for fire trucks and run off the field and chase after them when he heard their sirens blaring. Baseball was full of goofballs back then. Babe Ruth was one of them.

Jamie from Yucca Valley, CA
It doesn’t bother me. Rodgers wants a longer career and an even greater legacy than he has. Jeopardy would be better than joining the jockocracy, or worse, the Vikings. Most importantly, he loves hosting Jeopardy and football can’t guarantee one dirty or even fair hit won’t change his life forever. He’s given a lot to football and this fan base. I support his effort to be the next host.
I do, too, but only on a full-time basis, otherwise it would be like chasing fire trucks.

Mark from Bristol, UK
Your best guess, if you will, please. If/when the Packers select there are two players of equal rating, one on offense and one on defense, who do you think they pick? I have no clue which side of the ball they feel the need to improve most.
If it's a choice between two players of equal evaluation, you select the player of the more premium position or of greatest need. I still think the Packers' needs are greatest on defense, but it's not as distinct as it has been in past years. Linsley is gone and Bakhtiari's coming off an ACL; the Packers have need on their offensive line.

Michael from Pennsylvania
I agree with you about wide receivers. I fully expect the Packers to extend Davante Adams for over $20 million a year, but I wouldn't. There are just too many really good receivers available in every draft. What would you do?
It depends on what I've decided about Rodgers' future. If I'm moving on at quarterback after next season, I'm not re-signing Adams.

Mark from Madison, WI
If/when is it appropriate to incorporate yinz into the conversation?
I go Pittsburghese with family and friends when I'm trying to make a point without offending anyone. "Hey, yinz people need to shut up so I can watch da game n'at, jano." I can also speak Billy Conn: "Wahs da use of being Ahrsh if you can't be stupid?"

Jeff from Miami, FL
What can you share about Jim Plunkett? Heisman Trophy, first pick of the NFL draft, discarded by two teams, then won two Super Bowls. Maybe Trubisky, Darnold or Haskins will win a Super Bowl. You just never know.
Plunkett threw a great deep ball, and that made him a perfect fit for a team that wanted to go deep. There's a lot of recycled quarterback talent out there right now. Odds are at least one of them will hit. It's about fit.

Scott from Lincoln City, OR
Vic, do you have a gut feeling as to whether or not the Packers will ultimately extend Rodgers? If it still feels like a beautiful mystery, what will be the tell-tale sign it's going to happen?
A new contract for Davante Adams?

Tom from Bismarck, ND
I think all of the believers in our front office should consider this: Take the single-best defensive player drafted by Green Bay at every single defensive position since 1962 and start them as your defense. Remember, you're using 58 years of defensive picks, using only the very best of them to start on defense. They still aren't as good of a defense as multiple Steelers defenses, multiple Ravens defenses. They're laughingly behind the great Bears, Giants, Buccaneers and Patriots defenses. Fifty-eight years of your top defensive players at every position and they don't compare with many teams' one-year starters. Many of your readers are critical of second-guessing the Packers front office. Well, how exactly are we supposed to evaluate the team's choices if we don't look back at them? I'll let 58 years speak for me.
As my high school coach would say, "It's time for a little Viet Cong training."

Bruce from Washburn (wherever that is)
Eighty-four mph in a 45 zone. Is this speeding, too fast for conditions or failure to keep a vehicle under control? Evidently not. In this case, it would appear that privilege trumped race.
When are we going to turn off the fawning love for this man and demand he grow up?

Jesse from Belleville, WI
Can "access journalism" not be avoided when one works for the franchise?
Ted Thompson wanted to know, "Are we Packers or are we media?" The inference in that question is we'd be favored if we played according to football's rules. I didn't like that approach. I asked to be treated as media, and Ted didn't like that approach. I didn't want to be favored in covering the team because I worked for the team, but I didn't think it was fair to be denied information for the same reason. It was embarrassing to me we couldn't reveal signings until days after the whole world knew about them, because the player had yet to arrive, pass his physical and officially sign his contract. I would say, "Let us announce the two parties have agreed to a contract, pending a physical examination." The news was already out there! There was no avoiding or denying it. I never felt I enjoyed what you describe as an "access journalism" advantage. It was more of a disadvantage. I would tell the readers not to come to packers.com for information about signings. It embarrassed me to do that, but I wasn't going to mislead our readers for the sake of a click. The simple answer to your question is team sites can be media sites. Just treat them as media. When Wayne Weaver came to me in Jacksonville and asked me to do jaguars.com, which at that time was a start up, I asked him what his expectations for me would be. He told me I'd have the freedom to write and report, "just don't embarrass the franchise." Those words guided me for the next 16 years. It can be done.

Ray from Raleigh, NC
So, is Edelman a Hall of Fame receiver? Admittedly, he played in an era in which passing has been greatly preferred, but his stats are comparable to (actually better than) those of Lynn Swann. Like Swann, he also had a highlight-for-the-ages catch in a Super Bowl win. He was a Super Bowl MVP and seemed to play his best in big games. Can the story of the NFL be told without that catch? He was not too bad for a short college quarterback.
So, you're going to play the Swann receptions card, huh? Haven't we discussed enough this stats thing as it pertains to comparing the generations? Why did you fail to mention Swann has a 16.3 yards per reception average? How about 19.7 in his best year? That's the stat from his generation that resonates. I would not favor Julian Edelman for the Hall of Fame, even though he's a Kent State alum. He wasn't a special player. He was a Tom Brady creation. If Edelman gets in, it would open the door for at least another dozen wide receivers, probably more.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Aaron from White Hall, AR
Thoughts on the Masters?
I was disappointed in the final round. The play was weak and uninspiring. Matsuyama limped home with the win. Schauffele had a chance to tie for the lead and then promptly tripled a very gettable 16th. Johnson and Koepka missed the cut. DeChambeau missed the widest fairways on tour. Where was Morikawa? The Aussies wanted to avenge Norman's collapse, and then Leishman disappeared from sight. A place where trees have names and rough is a vulgar word, Augusta's soft-to-the-eye look was matched by the men playing it. There was no drama, no charge, just a lot of whimpering about what a special event it is and how much it means to win it.

Sam from Olathe, KS
You mentioned the NCAA collectively bargaining with its players would help with standardization. Are you talking about a salary cap? Or a cap on scholarship money? Even with that, parity seems way too hard to achieve with so many universities and their diverse make up. But maybe something is better than nothing.
Let's begin with something as simple as eligibility for the NFL draft. Larry Fitzgerald and LeSean McCoy left for the NFL after just two seasons of playing college football. College football must stop that kind of talent bleed. A CBA would allow college football to negotiate to keep its players longer. I see a CBA as being most meaningful as it would pertain to the distribution of talent. Recruiting is the greatest parity killer in college football. A CBA would allow college football to negotiate a better system.

Hannah from McFarland, WI
Please tell us about your Honus Wagner card story and how it resolved.
I don't know how it ended. What I can tell you is this: A man in my circulation area called me about a baseball card he found. He said his wife had died, he had lost his job in the steel mill and he and his son were selling the home and moving. In cleaning out the house, he found in the attic a baseball card his grandfather had given him long ago. "Keep this; it'll be valuable some day," the man said he was told by his grandfather. "Who's on the card?" I asked. "It's a guy named Honus Wagner," the man said. Immediately, bells began to ring in my head. I was doing freelance work for Beckett Football Card magazine at the time and I said they would know of the card's value, and I would give them a call and pass on your name and phone number. Later that day I called the man back to find out what happened. He said a man from Beckett was on his way from Dallas. He said Beckett told him to take the card to the bank and put it in a safe deposit box, and to not talk to me anymore. I smiled and said, "I think you've got the Holy Grail. Good luck." That was the end of it for me. A few years later, I saw a movie on TV about a baseball card coming to life in the attic of a house. I couldn't help but wonder.

Robby from Middleton, WI
Quite audacious of you to tell a fan how to be a fan; I'll stick with Go Pack Go!
What was it Dean Wormer said?

Joe from Bloomington, IN
So basically going all in and rebuilding corresponds to maximum leverage and bankruptcy?
Don't forget reorganizing under Chapter 11.

Eric from Green Bay, WI
Rodgers has said he could be both QB and Jeopardy host, as long as he could film in the offseason. Rodgers has never done much in the offseason, football-wise, outside of staying in shape. All I've seen from Rodgers is honesty about his future, perhaps a level of honesty that is making people feel uncomfortable. Does this bother you?
Honesty is good, but it doesn't mean I have to agree with what was said. I honestly believe hosting Jeopardy would cause problems. Does this bother you?

Scott from Hamlin, NY
Would the NCAA players unionizing make them employees and cause their scholarships to become taxable?
Not if college football favors the plan. Should the players and college football become adversaries, there's no doubt scholarships would become taxable. It's already been threatened by politicians, should the players force the likeness rights issue.

Justin from Titonka, IA
If you were the Bengals would you trade back with a team that needs a quarterback? Or are there any players that you couldn't pass on at pick No. 5?
I don't think the Bengals' window is ready to open. That's still a year off. They have their quarterback. Take the picks. Value, value, value! The draft is all about value.

Jack from Orange Park, FL
Who has a better shot at making it into the Hall of Fame, Deshaun Watson or Andrew Luck?
Are you serious? Kerry Collins threw for nearly twice as many yards as Luck, 37 more touchdowns and took his team to a Super Bowl. You want to put Collins in, too? Watson? His issues right now do not include a debate about Hall of Fame worthiness.

Eric from Lansing, MI
Vic, I'm convinced wide receivers are too plentiful to waste on a first-round pick, but in the last 10 years all but five NFL teams have chosen wide receivers in the first round (not the Packers, Steelers or Seahawks). Is there ever a good reason to use a first-round pick on a wide receiver?
I don't have a problem with it late in the first round.

Jake from Oakland, CA
Left tackle is the safest top-five pick. Like Tony Mandarich, right?
In the last 10 years, 12 players were drafted in the top 10 picks as offensive tackles; I expanded the search for the sake of a larger sample. Those players are: Andrew Thomas, Ronnie Stanley, Jack Conklin, Brandon Scherff, Ereck Flowers, Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews, Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel, Lane Johnson, Matt Kalil and Tyron Smith. Joeckel is the only bust. Stanley, Scherff, Matthews, Fisher, Johnson, Kalil and Smith are Pro-Bowlers, and the rest of that group either are or were long-term starters. Some of them were moved to another position on the line, but the batting average of success among those draft picks is overwhelming. Mandarich was more than 30 years ago. Let it go. The NFL is a big place. The Packers aren't the only team in it.

Jason from Honolulu, HI
In Vic's fair and standardized NCAA football world, what does the postseason format look like?
Like the NFL playoffs.

Raul from Mexico City, Mexico
How would you approach the Rodgers/Packers saga in your column, if you were still working for packers.com?
I would stress the need for the Packers to do what they believe is best for the Packers. That's what I'm doing in this column. I couldn't be as direct on packers.com, but my overall tone in the column would leave no doubt with readers where I stood on the issue. It's how you have to write when you are treading on sensitive subject matter, and that's why it's so important to have savvy readers.

Travus from Minneapolis, MN
Obviously, this would never happen, but it’s thought provoking. What if the team with the worst record in the NFL turned its draft over to its season ticket holders?
They'd pick wide receivers.

Jeff from Des Moines, IA
Rules changes over the past 50 years have dramatically changed the game. In 1971, the 10 QBs with the most passing attempts threw for 151 TDs and 193 interceptions. In 2020, the top 10 threw for 324 TDs and 104 interceptions. I won't be around to see it, but what do you think the NFL will look like 50 years from now?
The top 10 QBs will throw for 648 TDs and 52 interceptions. It's never been easier to play quarterback.

Craig from Sheboygan, WI
I don't understand how moving the hash marks closer together in 1978 made the game open up? Also, how did John Stallworth last to the fourth round of the '74 draft?
The hash marks were moved toward the center of the field in 1972. It was believed the move would encourage more passing because offenses wouldn't be trapped against the boundary on one side of the field. What happened was the game experienced an explosion of thousand-yard rushers. Coaches just weren't willing to pass the ball because the downside was too great. Bump and run coverage gave defenders equal opportunity, offensive linemen had to pass block with their elbows and holding was a 15-yard penalty. Stallworth? He was played as a defensive back in the Senior Bowl and the Steelers lost the scouting film on him. Stallworth is one of the great Bill Nunn's greatest discoveries.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Bob from Marshfield, WI
Aaron Rodgers is nailing it as the host of Jeopardy. It's been brought up that maybe he would consider retiring if he was offered to do it permanently. A dream retirement job he could love doing for decades, making seven figures a year. Think he would take it after one final year in the NFL?
Seven figures? Try eight. If it's offered to him now, he absolutely should take it. The problem for the Packers is it would likely create a Jim Brown/Dirty Dozen kind of distraction. Could they live with it? If I was Mark Murphy or Brian Gutekunst and Rodgers was offered the Jeopardy job and accepted, I'd silently hope he'd retire from football. In my mind, it would be time for Rodgers to move onto his life's work and for the Packers to move into their future. This column's readers know I haven't been comfortable with the Rodgers saga since the team traded up to pick Jordan Love, and my mood went to Defcon One following Rodgers' NFC title game postgame remarks. This great mystery, as Rodgers has termed it, has become very unsettling.

Maxwell from Milwaukee, WI
Can a No. 1 ever be a slam-dunk pick? The expectations are so high.
No, but Joe Burrow had the look.

Chad from Appleton, WI
What is the safest position to draft within the top five picks?
I think it's left tackle. You could always move him to right tackle. You'll get your money's worth.

Aaron from Chesapeake, VA
Are you at all concerned with MLB moving the All-Star game out of Atlanta for political purposes? Sports seems to have always been a unifier and is no longer immune to political divisiveness. As someone who is generally politically neutral, it bothers me to have one more aspect of life torn apart by politics.
I can deal with it. It's just a meaningless game. The message is more important.

Mark from Sheboygan, WI
Your response to NCAA debt has me wondering: What are your thoughts on players being unable to make money off their likeness?
Slowly but surely the courts will force the NCAA to accept what it doesn't want. I'd like to see the players unionize. When that happens, the NCAA can collectively bargain with its players. Then, and only then, might we get meaningful standardization of football the game so desperately needs.

David from San Francisco, CA
I respect the recent Trevor Lawrence questions might be nauseating but I have one point I want to ask. If he’s so valuable to the Panthers in their effort to earn the fan support of the South Carolina television market, then what is so different about that same value to the Jaguars fan base? I’m not from the region, but is Jacksonville just as close to Clemson as Charlotte?
No. In the Panthers' inaugural season, as their stadium was being built, they played their home games at Clemson. As for the potential for trading the first pick to the Panthers, that ship sailed on Monday when the Panthers traded for Sam Darnold.

Jimmy from Jacksonville, FL
One thing you've continually preached even since your days as the Jags' senior editor was the importance of having "The Man" at QB. Not even additional draft picks trumps having "The Man." By even suggesting the Jags should entertain trading the first overall pick tells me you don't believe Lawrence is "The Man." Am I correct?
Not true. I think he's "The Man," I just don't think he's the only man. Draft depth is developing at the quarterback position.

Joseph from Acworth, GA
If anything, fans should view restructuring as a pay increase, not a pay cut or even keeping money flat. If I were a player, I'd happily restructure every year.
Here's how fans should view the conversion of salary to signing bonus: It's time invested for players, investment time lost for teams. The Jaguars converted every contract they could in the late '90's as they swung for the Super Bowl fence. What do you think that loss of float cost them as markets were exploding in the final Clinton years? Let's go back to 2009, when the Dow spiked nearly 50 percent. The Jags were in an austerity campaign at that time and I remember the Jags CFO telling me how glad he was the team wasn't doing conversions. I won't even get into dividends. Fans have to begin thinking of pro football as a business; businesses don't allow money to lie around collecting dust. Converting salary that's paid over 17 weeks to signing bonus that's paid in one lump sum six months before a fractional installment would be paid is a loss of cash flow and investment earnings. Go Pack Go needs to be replaced by an appreciation for a P&L statement.

Chris from Bozeman, MT
How much of the draft decision-making in round one is done way before draft night?
Nearly all of it. Teams target a few players, depending on where they are in the order. They also consider what they would offer to trade up or accept to trade down. The strategies are locked in. Jordan Love was targeted and it had to be a consensus strategy. You don't make a decision with such far-reaching implications while you're on the clock, so to speak.

Zibi from Krakow, Poland
Vic, five QBs were picked in the top three in 2016-2018. Four of them changed teams this offseason: Darnold, Trubisky, Goff and Wentz. I am astonished with the lack of commitment, patience nowadays dedicated to the most crucial position of the game. Maybe, all of a sudden, it is not bad idea to take the QB in the first round and develop him to the role as Packers do? Even if it comes down to sitting Love for as long as Rodgers did behind Favre.
It's a different game than it was when the Steelers drafted Bradshaw No. 1 overall and hid him in a run-the-ball offense and behind a great defense until he was ready to be a star. As for Rodgers, there were reasons the Packers had to exercise patience with him. As I've written, I was told there was a shoulder injury that required time to heal. Today's game will waste picks and it'll waste money, but it won't waste time. It's get 'em good or get 'em gone.

Mike from North Hudson, WI
In reviewing some mock drafts for the upcoming NFL draft, it appears there could be as many as five quarterbacks taken within the first seven picks. It sure seems like some teams are jeopardizing their teams' futures by trading away future draft picks in hopes of selecting "The Man." How does GM Vic view this draft class of quarterbacks vs. past draft classes during your career?
It's a deep crop and they seem to be getting deeper every year. Is that because it's never been easier to play quarterback or because you have to score a lot of points in today's game to win and teams are manic to find a quarterback, or both? The fact of the matter is, as I see it, the supply of quarterbacks is increasing. Guys are even coming off the bench and throwing for big stats. Mason Rudolph nearly beat the Browns in a game the Browns had to win to make it into the playoffs. Taylor Heinecke nearly ended the Bucs season. As the crops deepen, so will the ranks of the discarded: Darnold, Trubisky, Haskins, etc. I think it's possible we're headed toward the day when supply softens the position's drain on caps.

Charlie from Waukesha, WI
The Pats are down. The Bills are up. Both the Dolphins and the Jets are loaded with draft picks the next two years. While there can be just one AFC East champ, are we looking at a prolonged period of the three others beating up on the Pats?
It's possible. The Bills have "The Man." The Jets are about to take another shot at "The Man." If Tua isn't "The Man," the Dolphins have the picks to draft or trade for one. Belichick better find his quarterback real soon or even his seat will begin getting warm. In the NFL, time is on no one's side.

Randy from Westminster, CO
Though we know no one bats 100 percent when drafting, most football pundits and fans enjoy pointing out the misses. In your mind, what type of batting percentage does a GM need to be considered successful?
He needs to hit on the quarterback. If he misses there, it won't matter what he bats at the other positions.

Mikey from Tallahassee, FL
Well, I guess that takes the Jags trade out of the equation. Your thoughts on the Darnold trade?
Matt Rhule sees something in Darnold he likes. That would worry me if I was the Jets GM.

Frank from Wausau, WI
I see one of Tom Brady's rookie cards sold for over $2 million. It made me take out my old collection. Any fond trading card memories?
I was a baseball card kid. What I remember is it seemed every pack I bought included either Larry Sherry, Minnie Minoso or Roman Mejias.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Alex from Orlando, FL
Vic, Jacksonville is tired of picks. We want our QB. We have the pick of the litter in a year many consider a generational talent is available. Can you imagine the risk involved with passing on Trevor Lawrence and what he might become in the NFL? Would you legitimately take that risk? I wouldn't. There must be something about him that makes you feel he won't be successful. Sam Howell and Spencer Rattler? What guarantee is there the Jags can find a trade partner in the top two picks next year? I've been reading this column for 21 years and I've never disagreed with you more than on this topic. At what point do you stop accepting picks and just pick "The Man?"
Got it.

Bob from Plymouth, WI
Is there anything we should take from the Packers not restructuring Rodgers contract?
It simply means they don't want to push money out and increase his potential dead money. They might change their opinion but that's the way it stands right now. It's about maneuverability and options. The Packers don't want to get trapped.

Keith from Springfield, MO
Vic, I'm curious to know if I'm seeing what you're seeing with Trevor Lawrence: freshman national champion, sophomore runner-up, junior plus-one loss. Has he plateaued? Joe Burrow's season the year before was one for the ages, and it appears as though his trajectory is still pointing up. Doesn't that matter more?
I don't think that's a fair evaluation of Lawrence. He is clearly a premier talent and deserving of the No. 1 overall selection. He's big, strong, athletic, mobile and tough. He's got a strong, accurate arm, a stylish release and a bulldog temperament for big games. I love his leadership qualities. If he's successful, he'll make for a great face of the franchise. The negatives? I've seen it written he doesn't throw a great deep ball. The only thing I don't like is he has a long stride, which means he's not only going to need time to throw, he's going to need room to throw. I have no problem with the Jaguars picking him first overall, but I don't think it should be the slam-dunk pick Jaguars fans want it to be. I'd like the Jaguars to invite some intrigue. What's that pick worth on the open market?

Nate from Neenah, WI
Talk to us more about a two-quarterback system.
I didn't say it would be a two-quarterback system. I was merely suggesting the increase in the number of games, and I expect it will go to 18 games, will likely demand greater depth and quality at the quarterback position. It goes hand in hand with the exploding importance of that position and the need to score a lot of points. A few years ago it was common for teams to carry only two quarterbacks on the active roster. I can see it going to four.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
How does the NFL partner with legalized gambling? Why does legalized gambling need to share anything with the NFL?
A partnership with the NFL is gambling's pathway to televised games. It's "the box" on the top of TV.

Dalton from Medford, WI
Did you and Cliff Christl ever get into a friendly game of "Who's dynasty was better?" when talking Packers and Steelers?
Oh, yeah, it happened a lot. We'd get into heated arguments. One day Cliff began to cry and yelled at me, "Go Pack Go."

Justin from West Chester, PA
How far is it reasonable for a front office to attempt to plan its roster?
Realistic, hard planning? Two years; the one you're in and the next one. Salary caps are planned out farther.

Max from Minnesota
Vic, Rodgers currently takes up 20 percent of the 2021 cap. No Super Bowl-winning QB has taken up that much in the 10 years of data I looked at. The highest is about 12 percent and many well under this. Do you think Tom Brady is aware of this and purposely keeps his cap number lower to have a better team around himself? If yes, do you think Rodgers would ever do such a thing?
It's not up to Rodgers. Nearly all contracts include an automatic conversion clause that allows the team to convert salary to signing bonus without the player's permission. Converting Rodgers' 2021 salary to signing bonus and pushing it out through 2023 would create a savings of about $8 million this year. The Packers have elected not to create more potential dead money. I respect what they've done. I blame the media for fan confusion on this subject. For years, reports of Brady's restructurings suggested he was taking a pay cut. Vic to readers: Brady was not taking a pay cut.

Lee from Washington, DC
Is there a difference between functional strength and strength?
If weight room strength is limited in its range of motion, it's not playing strength. Bar goes up, bar goes down isn't good enough.

J.P. from Jacksonville, FL
Commissioner Vic gets to choose two new expansion franchises, but you cannot select a city that has recently lost a team. Who do you select?
It would have to be an international city because I don't think the NFL can expand in the United States without hurting one of its existing franchises. For example, a team in Hartford would hurt the Patriots.

Craig from Chicago, IL
Is the extent the Packers go to maintain good locker room culture unique among other franchises around the league? And is it working?
No, yes.

Warren from Mount Holly, NC
Vic, you may not need to hear it, but from time to time I feel like I need to say it: thank you for this.
Thanks for reading.

Tim from Denver, CO
Let's say (Lawrence) puts Carolina in the playoffs. The wolves will be howling and the Jaguars haven't seen much success in a long time. What insurance would GM Vic need from his boss to make this trade?
You don't get assurance, you get a lot of money to get it right. You would make the trade because you believe it's best for the franchise. The same job insecurity is attached to Lawrence failing and one of the other quarterbacks or all of them succeeding. The Jaguars have their pick of all of them. I don't understand this notion Lawrence is without risk. The Rams just dumped a first overall pick on the Lions. The Jaguars have to get this right. "Everybody agreed with us" won't be an excuse if he fails.

Brad from Oshkosh, WI
After a couple of seasons, someone smarter than I in statistical analysis could probably determine whether legalized gambling is skewing the outcome of games. Will anyone in sports journalism look at this, and will anyone care?
It was called to my attention recently that in places where legalized gambling exists, advertising for it on radio and TV dominates. Sports talk shows are even sponsored by casinos. I don't know how to answer your question but I'll say this: If the NFL lets gambling in the door, in time we won't know where one begins and the other ends.

John from Brookfield, WI
If professional sports are all about money, what are college athletics about?
Yes, college sports are big business, but it's a poorly run business because most athletic departments struggle to break even and several are enduring catastrophic losses. The Washington Post did a deep investigation on the financial state of college athletics from 2004 to 2014. Among its findings: "In 10 years, 48 athletic departments in college sports’ wealthiest conferences saw earnings surge by nearly $2 billion and spent it almost as quickly as it came in. Many programs still need student fees and school money to pay their bills." High-paid coaches and administrators and the costs of status-symbol facilities are out of line with the revenue they generate. In most programs, the revenue doesn't justify the costs. College athletics can't be solely about the money because, by and large, they're a loser. College athletics are about recruiting students and entertaining alumni. In that sense, they are indirectly about the money, but the popular notion colleges are swimming in profits is ridiculous. Mostly, they're drowning in debt. Research is where the money is. Johns Hopkins receives $2 billion a year for research and development. Does it even have a football team?

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Morgan from Little Chute, WI
As it gets easier to play QB, why are the top 3-5 picks going to be QB?
It's because the position has never been more important, and I think making it easier to play has added to the position's importance. You don't win in today's game without scoring a lot of points, and you don't score a lot of points without a good quarterback. The position went through a talent drought for a few years. I think the league saw that and became worried as long-time stars began to age. Rules changes and points of emphasis have encouraged schemes that have mined talent at the position. No team should be without a capable quarterback in today's game, unless they're the Bears.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
It seems Miami has calmly leveraged desperate teams for multiple draft picks for a few years now. They retain cap space by only spending money on young and relatively cheap players, yet, they fielded a pretty good team. Have they discovered a new formula?
If they did -- it's really nothing new; the Browns did it in building their current team -- they goofed on Minkah Fitzpatrick. They used an 11 to pick him and then traded him a year later for an 18. Since then, Fitzpatrick has been a takeaways machine. He's intercepted nine passes, returned two of those for touchdowns, forced two fumbles and recovered three. He is one of the best defensive players in his draft class. At some point you have to pick and stick. In the salary cap era, the formula is pick good players, win for as long as the cap and the inverse draft order will allow, rinse, repeat. Yes, massaging the draft is a good idea. That's what the Dolphins are doing. Now comes the difficult part: Pick good players.

Richard from St. Augustine, FL
Always have loved your dry humor. Gotta think your comment about four ones for Trevor Lawrence was just that, because after about 25 years of reading, I have never seen you imply any player worth four ones. Will you come clean, regarding if you're serious?
I was being serious. Lawrence's value to Carolina is immense. His Clemson roots would give the Panthers a presence in South Carolina they've never enjoyed. Lawrence would truly make the Panthers a two-states regional franchise.

Stephen from Long Beach, CA
You touched on this in the answer to the final question on Monday, but does an added 17th game mean a larger roster size? I'm still trying to wrap my head around whether I like the idea or not.
A 17th game will likely result in some kind of change that deepens the roster. I think that can be achieved easily by tweaking the practice squad rules. The bigger issue, in my opinion, is how an extra game might impact the quarterback position. I think we've reached the point teams need two starting-caliber quarterbacks. The Cowboys, Ravens, 49ers, Giants, Washington, Rams, Bengals and more had injury issues at the position last season.

Taylor from Fargo, ND
Your take on the 49ers and Garoppolo was refreshing. I didn’t understand the 49ers' rationale and did some research only to come away exhausted. It only took you one short snippet to make it all clear. That’s the content I wish was easier to find. What needs to be done to get quality material to rise above the garbage we come across daily?
Drama sells and readers are getting played by sites desperate for the click. It chafes me to read a site trumpeting a cap hit reduction without explaining the future cost. It sends a terrible message the cap can be circumvented. It insinuates some kind of cheating-like maneuver, and that immediately sends fans into a frenzy. This isn't the proverbial rocket science. It's easy to understand and explain. Demand better. You do it with your click. Don't be careless with it.

Lance from Flagstaff, AZ
Mac Jones is not a top 10 talent. There is a QB in the SEC that is better and he's from Florida. He had less talent and put up similar and/or better numbers. Mac Jones is just another weak-armed, Daltonesque QB that looks good because he had the top talent at every position surrounding him.
One of my favorite scouts loves Kyle Trask. He thinks he's the next Roethlisberger. Another one of my favorite scouts agrees with you on Jones. The scout likens Jones to A.J. McCarron. There is no uni-board. Opinions vary. It's what makes the draft the event it is.

John from Jacksonville, FL
You've made it abundantly clear Jacksonville should not draft Trevor Lawrence. Why?
Lawrence is the logical first pick of the draft. I get it. So why would I consider trading the pick? It's because Lawrence is so coveted he could deliver a treasure trove of picks in a trade the Jags could use to build a dominant roster, and I attach more value to that than I do to a quarterback in what appears to be a deep crop of them. Sam Howell and Spencer Rattler will be next year's stars. I get the sense we're headed for a long run of talent at quarterback. Spread offenses nearly guarantee it.

Josh from La Crosse, WI
What's a draft class that beats Green Bay's 1958 (Jim Taylor, Ray Nitschke, Jerry Kramer and Dan Currie)?
Swann, Lambert, Stallworth, Webster.

Samuel from Phoenix, AZ
As an avid Vic reader, I’m going with your favorite player to be Jaylen Twyman.
I saw Twyman two years ago. He looked like the second coming of Aaron Donald: undersized, quick, disruptive. Last season, he opted out and it was a mistake. He thought he had shown enough, but it would seem that was a miscalculation. Because he's undersized, he needed to show more. The opt-outs are going to make the 2021 draft error-prone.

Steven from Charleston, SC
Can the Packers save money on their salary cap by trading out of the first round of the draft and not picking until rounds two and later?
The savings would be minimal. The draft is how you fix your cap; free agency is how you break it. The Minkah Fitzpatrick introduced an even better way of using rookie contracts to your advantage: Trade for a guy on a rookie deal one year after he's picked and you get him for three years on that deal, and his bonus amortization stays with the team that traded him. The draft has never been more important. It's about value, it's about need, it's about your salary cap.

Jack from Jacksonville, FL
According to his agent, Tyson Alualu had a change of heart about moving back to Jax. Why would he take less money to stay in Pittsburgh?
The explanation was he's building his dream house in Pittsburgh and his children are happy in their schools. I get that, but he's at the end of his career and he could've allowed life to continue for his family back in Pittsburgh while he chased the money in Jacksonville for a year or two. Hey, it's a seasonal business; airplanes fly between the two cities. Alualu chose to stay with the Steelers because that's where he wants to play. That's the real reason. He was considered a bust in Jacksonville. In Pittsburgh, he's been a valued performer. He chose happiness, for his family and for himself.

Jim from South Range, WI
Vic, I’ve often wondered how scouts, GMs, etc. get it so wrong on so many draftees. It’s easily understood with players who are considered marginal or projects, but how are mistakes so regularly made on high-profile draftees?
Mistakes are made because it's so difficult to determine if a prospect has another gear left in his game. He'll have to play at a higher level to be successful in the NFL. If he's topped out, he'll be a bust.

Nick from Boston, MA
Seventeen games with no additional bye weeks, retirement benefits, salary guarantees or access to free agency, and only meager revenue share gains. Why is the NFLPA so weak and shortsighted? Is it really just a consequence of having so many members?
Why kill the golden goose? The players and owners are partners in a business that's booming. When the NFL partners with legalized gambling, the money is going to flow like water. We'll see the salary cap hit a billion dollars per team. Quarterback salaries will reach a $100 million a year. I might even be underestimating what will happen.

Ben from El Paso, TX
What will the impact be of researchers being able to detect chronic traumatic encephalopathy in living patients?
On football? Players will retire sooner. The game will continue to soften. Gambling will become the bigger game.

Jimmy from Vero Beach, FL
Vic, I'm wondering if you've had a change in philosophy because you feel it's never been easier to play QB in the NFL, or if you dislike something in Lawrence's game. Having "The Man" seems like the most important factor in long-term success. Also, no team has 100 percent success rate in picking the right players. The Jaguars have been especially bad at it. Even if we hit on all four, having four good players vs. a great QB doesn't seem like an even trade.
OK, I surrender. Lawrence must be the pick.

John from Green Bay, WI
Vic, do you believe playing games in Europe is less about eventually establishing a franchise there and more about creating a market in which to sell TV rights?
I covered a preseason game in 1993 in Barcelona between the Steelers and the 49ers. I got off the plane after an all-night flight, staggered onto the practice field, saw someone I knew from the league office and decided he would give me an easy story so I could go to bed. "Pete," I said, "why am I here?" He smiled and explained the NFL sold $49 million in merchandise in Europe the previous year, expected to double that number and the team I covered was a big seller. In Pittsburghese, it's abaht da money n'at, jano. TV and merchandise is where the real money is.

Randy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI
What do we look for when trying to find a coach capable of getting his players to play above the X's and O's?
You look for greatness. Coach Lombardi coached his team to play above the X's and O's in the Ice Bowl. Coach Noll coached his team to play above the X's and O's in the Immaculate Reception. You'll know greatness when you see it. It has the look of immortality.

Mike from Bridgeport, CT
Vic, I'm Pittsburgh bound in two weeks so I can knock PNC Park off my list of unvisited MLB stadiums. I'm only in town for two days and three nights, so I'll need to wisely and safely cram in the important stuff, aside from the ballgame. Can you please advise on sightseeing spots, must eats and yinzer culture?
Pittsburgh is about more than its charming downtown. Pittsburgh is about the collapse of big steel and all of the little river towns, like mine, whose mills shuttered and left behind rusted reminders of what was once a very good life and a top 10 market. Pitt and Carnegie Mellon and Pittsburgh's robust medical, technological and corporate communities give the city a glowing, renaissance look on Sunday Night Football, but the abandoned mill towns are the true identity of what can happen when you are no longer necessary. Find them and you'll find the real Pittsburgh. They're worth seeing because they're real, more real than ever.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Mark from Sturgeon Bay, WI
Vic, I just moved to the shore. Not big open water like Lake Michigan or the ocean, but not a small inland lake either. Sit-in or sit-on kayak and why? I’m in decent shape and in my mid 60’s.
Everything about sit-on kayaks is great until you try to paddle one. It's like paddling a piece of plywood. Sit-ins are for kayakers who want to go somewhere.

Sean from Longmont, CO
Your comments about the spectacle of professional football stirred deep feelings in how the game is presented. I'm OK with change but it has lessened my interest overall. I find Fantasy Football boring and I have no time for analysts who talk about two-gappers and cover zero. I fell in love with the game because of Ed and Steve Sabol. I had a huge stack of NFL Films VHS tapes that I watched endlessly as a kid. I was mesmerized by the cinematography and the majesty of those slow-motion highlights. It was how I learned about the history of the league. Today's modern fans seem to have less interest in history and spectacle. NFL Films is still around but they seem to have a much smaller presence. This shift has diminished my passion for the sport. I have come to the conclusion that, in their pursuit of capturing more and more casual fans, the owners and their broadcast partners have made all of us merely casual fans.
The Bill Saul, "If" and "Joe and the Magic Bean" productions were my favorites. Saul is famous for having worn a wire for his film. He was a rough, ghoulish-looking man; he had to be beeped several times. I saw it at a father and son Holy Name Society function. These were the days of the baby boom and the basement of the church was packed with kids and their dads. NFL Films was a Pete Rozelle promotional enterprise and the teams were armed with their highlight films, etc., to lend to social functions in the team's market. The Steelers gave us the Bill Saul production and their highlight film to grace our event. The first few times Saul was beeped there were polite giggles. Then they turned to laughs. When Saul delivered his best beep, which left nothing for the imagination, the room exploded with laughter. Even the priest was laughing.

Dan from Madison, WI
I attended a virtual seminar with Isabel Wilkerson this winter and just ordered some copies of "Caste" for my history department to read. Would you like to share anything else to prepare our readership?
It sent me into deep thought.

Eric from Brooklyn, NY
Tony Pauline pointed out all of the college seniors who've taken the NCAA up on its offer of a fifth year of eligibility means next year's draft class will be loaded, compared to this year's, which will be thin in later rounds. He gets the feeling teams will try to trade picks this year for ones next year as a result.
These next two drafts are going to be intriguing, not only for the overload of talent expected in next year's, but in the unknown attached to this year's draft. Mistakes are going to be made on the opt-outs in this year's draft, due to a lack of information. I have a favorite player who opted out and I'm not seeing his name mentioned prominently.

Don from Imnaha, OR
How do coaches and other support staff salaries impact the cap, if at all?
They don't. The cap is for players only. It's their money.

Bob from Houston, TX
So Kevin King gets a one-year, prove-it deal. He still needs to make the team, right? If a stud draft pick beats him out after training camp and he's cut, will he see any of that contract money? Only the guaranteed part?
You don't give a guy $3.75 million in signing bonus on a contract that voids following the 2021 season and then cut him. The decision has been made: Kevin King will be one of the Packers' cornerbacks or the team will have made an embarrassing mistake.

Jacson from Minneapolis, MN
I think most fans want teams to go all in because those fans only think about the current year and not the future. Vic, what's an example of a team that went all in but didn't end up winning a Super Bowl? What happened in the years following the all-in decision?
You live in Minneapolis, right?

Adam from Denver, CO
Would the Bears overpay for Rodgers in a trade?
The Bears would overpay for me in a trade.

Travis from Fort Walton Beach, FL
I checked out the draft order and noticed the Seahawks only have three picks in the draft. After researching, they traded picks for players. Is this a symptom of going all in, or does this indicate a lack of trust in the COVID draft class?
It's a symptom of impatience, jitteriness, lack of confidence and commitment, all of which lead to forsaking the future for the present. Yes, that's going all in, and fans applaud it, until it's time to go all out. I think teams going all in justify it with the belief they can fix it with a year of repair. In my opinion, if you involve the draft in an all-in move, the repair is going to be a lot longer than a year or two because your roster could be severely depleted of young, ascending players. Again, I prefer an even approach, but I'll accept going all in on the cap for a team trying to maximize the run of a veteran quarterback. I'll never accept the wholesale trading away of draft picks for players, as the Rams have done. The draft is the lifeblood of a franchise. Watching other teams use your picks is a very bad feeling.

Tom from Pleasant Hill, CA
Vic, I’m all in on what Gutekunst is doing in Green Bay. He has a philosophy and he’s sticking to it. I believe Jordan Love is the future of this franchise and I believe Gute thinks so as well. By bringing back key players, he’s focused his attention on DB, OL and DL for the draft and they’ll be a better team in 2021. What’s your opinion?
The Love pick will define him.

Joe from Milwaukee, WI
How early will the first non-quarterback be taken?
Fifth overall pick.

Eric from Lansing, MI
Vic, how does that 49ers trade for the No. 3 draft spot make sense? Garoppolo is still on their books, the next two years will lack a first-round pick, and the top three QBs this year need to be of "The Man" quality or San Francisco might be left with leftovers. Very risky. Can you explain it?
Garoppolo's contract situation invited the move. He only has two years remaining and his dead money after this season is a mere $1.4 million. The 49ers did a unique contract with Garoppolo after they traded for him. They were a young team flush with cap room, and they paid him high in roster bonus and low in signing bonus. Instead of pushing money out, they brought money forward. As a result, they have no amortization to unwind; they have maneuverability. If he's not "The Man," and it appears they don't think he is, they have to find "The Man," and that's why this trade makes sense. It appears they've targeted a quarterback and they believe he's worth the cost of moving to where he fits. As for trading away draft picks, I also get the sense the 49ers believe they can trade Garoppolo and recover some of that lost draft capital. The strategy will be defined by who they pick and how he plays.

Aiden from Jacksonville, FL
With the No. 1 pick, who would GM Vic pick?
I'd call Carolina and ask them what Trevor Lawrence is worth to them. I think I might be able to get four ones. Then I'd maneuver into position to draft hometown guy Mac Jones.

John from Brookfield, WI
How does the proposed 17-game schedule impact the cap and player salaries? What unforeseen changes do you anticipate as part of a longer regular season?
More games mean more money and a higher salary cap. It also means more injuries and the need for greater depth.

"Ask Vic" is published on Monday and Thursday through the offseason.

Brian from Little Rock, AR
Have you been able to get the COVID vaccine yet?
I got my first shot last week. I think I've gained a few yards.

Jack from Middleton, WI
What will be missed when ticket stubs are no more? Some good memories are tied to the old stubs I've kept.
They'll sell commemorative stubs, and the sheep will buy them.

Isaac from Nashville, TN
Vic, do you think Rodgers bails on the game plan when he thinks it isn't working?
He likes plays. I think he sees football as a chess game. Rodgers sees coverage schemes as something to be exploited. The running game is too procedural for him. He believes he can move the ball faster through the air.

Scott from Issaquah, WA
What box are you talking about putting on the TV to encourage gambling?
The one you use to place a bet when the TV screen says, "If you wish to place a bet on today's game, do so now." Imagine how many people would push a button. It's frightening.

Joe from Milwaukee, WI
Who's the second best quarterback in the draft?
I don't know, but of all the quarterback prospects, Trey Lance is the one who interests me the most.

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
Your thoughts on the NFL giving Amazon black Friday games that would overlap college football rivalry week?
Thank you, NFL.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
Would you explain again what the inherent risks in restructuring and pushing money out are?
The risk is the player you've restructured will be on your cap but off your roster. Drew Brees is retired, but he'll be a $12.2 million charge on the Saints' cap this year and $11.5 million in '22. Tom Brady was a $13.5 million charge on the Patriots' cap last season as Brady was leading the Bucs to the Super Bowl title. In all, the Patriots had $31 million in dead cap charges in '20. The Jaguars had $49 million. That's why they're big spenders this year. They cleared their caps. Dead money is going to catch up to a team. It's not a risk, it's a guarantee. The risk is it could cause damage from which it'll require more than a year or two to recover. I saw it first hand in Jacksonville. It turned that franchise dark.

Kyle from Cambridge, MN
When you say, "You pay it you claim it," does that also count towards salaries of players for playoff games?
Players don't receive salary money in the postseason. They are paid by the league in the form of pre-designated shares for the rounds in which they played, and that share money does not count against a team's cap. Incentives reached would count. Player salaries are paid over the 17 weeks of the regular season.

Morgan from Little Chute, WI
Is that when games will become rigged?
A partnership with legalized gambling would require aggressive enforcement by the league. The players union would probably agree to increased oversight because the money would be so fantastic. I think the big concern would be any hint of impropriety, even if it was unfounded or even intentionally planted, could create irreparable damage to the integrity of the game. If you give fans a reason to suspect the games aren't legit, the result could be devastating.

Robert from South St. Paul, MN
Vic, can you still watch football with the innocent enthusiasm of a 10-year-old, or has your previous employment, along with the sometimes drastic changes of the game itself diminished the excitement you once knew?
I was always different from the other kids as to how I watched a game. They cheered, I watched and analyzed. Even then, I liked to be alone when I watched games. The innocence I felt was for the spectacle, and I still feel that. It's a big, beautiful picture painted just for me. The innocence is in the appreciation of the sights and sounds of a major sporting event. I still thrill at the sight of bright colors on a gray day, at the roar of the crowd. All of the innocent pleasures that drew me to football as a kid still thrill me today. Big contracts and greedy players don't bother me. Even as a 10-year-old getting an autograph from Buzz Nutter, I wasn't in awe of who and what he was, I was in awe of the stage on which he played. I'm still attracted to football for all of the right reasons. It might be the only innocence I haven't lost.

Bob from Green Bay, WI
What are your thoughts on the Packers bringing back a player like Kevin King instead of investing in a vet player like Richard Sherman or Casey Hayward, Quinton Dunbar or Bashaud Breeland for just one year?
The Packers believe King is the better choice. I'm OK with that.

Mike from Tuscaloosa, AL
What was your reaction to Lynn Swann telling Phyllis George he was scared? Did you see opposing defenses try to play him harder after the comment?
I don't remember having a reaction. All of the top receivers were targeted: Swann, Stingley, Warfield, Branch, Gilliam, Curtis, etc. They all knew they were going to get wacked when they crossed the middle. Two weeks after Swann sustained a devastating shot to the head and concussion in the 1975 AFC title game, he was the MVP of Super Bowl X, and the target on his back broadened. I remember a game against the Browns early in the 1978 season. Swann was the victim of a brutal head shot that left him to lie stunned on the ground for a few seconds, as the Browns celebrated the hit. All of a sudden, he shot up and ran back to the huddle. I viewed it as a turning point in his career. He went on to have the best season of his career, including seven receptions for 124 yards and the game-winning touchdown catch in Super Bowl XIII, the leaping one NFL Films loves to feature in its Super Bowl highlights.

Mike from Fort Wayne, IN
Is there a method in the madness with the Bears front office moves the last few years?
No, only madness. Seriously, the Bears could be headed for collapse. They could be picking first overall in a year or two. Gross mismanagement usually creates inescapable consequences.

Paul from Cumming, GA
Kevin King is back and the wolves are howling. Why do we have such difficulty accepting the outcome of the NFC championship game was not the sole responsibility of one player? Is this phenomena simply part of the human condition?
Defense always gets the blame in Green Bay. Offense is the darling. Well, the darling was a dog at crunch time. That's where you put the blame.

John from Kalamazoo, MI
I've read your work for long enough to observe that on social issues you are open-minded, willing to adapt and accepting of new ideas. How are you adapting to society's evolving understanding of gender?
My understanding of gender began with Wilma Rudolph. No man ever ran with the power and grace she did.

Carl from Blue Mounds, WI
Do you ever wish a free agent said they signed their deal because it was the most money they could get, or is it just me?
They say it; you're just not listening. Fans, especially Packers fans, don't want to hear it. They want to believe the lie. I like the truth: It's about the money. It's cold. It's honorable. It's American.

Mike from North Hudson, WI
When it comes to the offseason, what does your weekly interests involve?
Up early, coffee, "Ask Vic" questions. Read the news and stock futures. Breakfast and then take care of business, followed by my bike ride around the beach. I go to the range in the early afternoon, followed by an outdoor shower, watch some cable TV news, phone calls with friends, refreshments and dinner. I'll work the kayak back into the routine (depending on the tides) when my new kayak carrier arrives. I like to go to bed early and read. I recently finished "Caste" by Isabel Wilkerson. It is a humbling and enlightening read. I'm now reading "Bobby Kennedy" by Chris Matthews, who has a sensational grasp of politics and their history.

Greg from Columbia City, OR
The commissioner of the NFL embracing gambling surprised me. I guess I was more innocent than I realized.
I, too, was surprised. I'm OK with it being about the money, but not that kind of money. That kind of money is about stealing from the poor and the desperate.

Mel from Blount Island, FL
Mike McCarthy made a very good comment when asked about QBs. I think it was, "Is the team ready for the QB?" Is Jacksonville ready for the QB?
Great quote. Imagine, a guy from Pittsburgh being that philosophical. Yeah, the Jaguars are ready for the QB. Are the Jaguars ready to pick the right one?

Randy from Billings, MT
If there's a quarterback that grades out better than Love, and he slips significantly to be available in the mid to late 20's in the first round, do the Packers do what it takes to get him?
Congratulations, you're in the "Ask Vic" Hall of Fame.