It's Christmas and we're all in misery

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, Green Bay is my team; I'm a one-team fan. The rest of the season will be spent cheering against certain teams. Do you have any wisdom, advice or perspective to share?
Love the Packers, hate everybody else? I don't like that. It's kind of nuts.

Brian from Yakima, WA
Vic, how much did the weather affect the game?
The cold and slick field conditions slowed the game down, which means it wasn't good for evaluation. The next game will be better. I want to see who can and can't run.

Connor from Greenville, SC
Vic, the Patriots are sixth in scoring defense; 22 teams would have a positive point differential with the Patriots defense. Does Belichick deserve some credit for annually stumping offenses in the red zone?
I think you also have to give some credit this year to Al Riveron.

Justin from Titonka, IA
I think Rodgers would have picked apart the Vikings defense easily. This team shouldn't draft a quarterback in the first round, it should get Rodgers a playmaker. How many games do you really think Green Bay would have lost with Rodgers?
Aaron Rodgers' greatness has turned you and a lot of other Packers fans into co-dependents. Rodgers has become the solution to all problems. In my opinion, that's an attitude that needs to be changed, and that's what I mean by being new.

Matt from Chicago, IL
I think I get what you’re saying, Vic. Hopefully, the Packers won’t be picking this high again until the post-Rodgers years. So, with the talent available, you can’t pass on the man. Do you or Tony think the next Rodgers is in this draft?
You can't predict that kind of thing. You just pick. How many Packers fans who booed the selection of Rodgers thought he would be the defining player he is?

Jason from Menomonee Falls, WI
Doesn’t being new extend to the coordinator?
We'll soon have an answer to that question.

Mike from North Hudson, WI
Vic, I have been a big fan of yours for years. I'm watching the first half of the Packers and Vikings and I simply cannot take it anymore. I know you have great respect for coach McCarthy, but as an avid Packers fan for 60 years, the play-calling, coaching and player talent and execution has been horrendous. The buck needs to stop somewhere. It's time for Ted Thompson to retire; too many high level draft picks are busts! The quarterback decision-making and execution has been unacceptable. I hope I'm not banned, Vic, but the performance of the Packers GM, coaching staff and players has totally been unacceptable. Can you sense I'm frustrated.
I can also sense your expectations are unrealistic. There was no reason to approach last night's game with a positive feeling or with any kind of demands on the Packers other than for effort. We have officially crossed into hard times. For your sake, Mike, adjust your expectations accordingly.

Eric from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Vic, you are a peasant.
Because I wear khakis?

Mike from Niagara Falls, Canada
Ever stop to think Bortles could, in fact, be "The Man" in Jacksonville? Remember, Bradshaw wasn't all that special his first few years, either.
If Blake Bortles catches fire in the postseason, he'll be "The Man." Yes, it can happen, but you're comparing him to a guy who won four Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVPs. I covered John Elway's first game. He was so bad he was benched at halftime. He eventually lost his starting job to Steve DeBerg. It was that way back then because quarterback was a much more difficult position to play.

William from Savannah, GA
Vic, should we now have an IRgate to go along with Spygate and Deflategate? If I read the rules correctly, Aaron Rodgers should no longer be a Green Bay Packer because you are not allowed to place a player on IR twice for the same injury or single occurrence. Is it possible Packers brass has done the unimaginable and made an asterisk of themselves?
The league won't do anything.

Oscar from Santa Ana, CA
Vic, do you still read every question in your inbox?
Yes.

John from Kirkland, WA
Your insights on the draft order are great and it seems some don't get it. For reference, on Dec. 23 the Seattle Times had a big article on how the Seahawks' drafts since 2013 have been unspectacular at best and, thus, the team of destiny is faltering. This started when they started drafting at the back of pack.
From 1969-74, the Steelers drafted nine Hall of Famers (Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Mel Blount, Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster). After they won their first Super Bowl, they didn't draft another Hall of Famer until 1987 (Rod Woodson).

Leonardo from Milwaukee, WI
Congratulations, Vic. This is the Packers team you deserve. For years, I have seen you make excuses about our defense and staff in general. During all these years you protected Dom Capers, Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson, and some people believed in you. This is what fans get. This coaching staff is as big a shame as you. I really hope we get out of this mess and find a better coaching staff because a better journalist for packers.com we already got.
OK.

Dan from Golden, CO
Vic, I'm glad I stumbled upon this blog; I was starting to get separation anxiety. I know it's still very early, but who are some pass rushers that caught your eye this year in college?
The Chubb guy at North Carolina State is the best hand-on-the-ground rusher I saw. The 3-4 types are everywhere.

​William from St. Augustine, FL
Your new blog has been a gift, but my favorite gift from you is: “An open mind is the gateway to peace, and tolerance is its steady companion.” My high school students hear that one quite a few times a year. I wish you could see and hear their reaction. Best to you and yours.
Peace on Earth has never been more meaningful than it is this Christmas season. In the year 2017, anger, hate and the threat of nuclear war define us. Please, everybody, seek peace. I love you all. Merry Christmas.