Love pick is a leap of faith

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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