"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Here are my all-important Week 8 power rankings:
1. Cardinals -- Now we'll find out.
2. Bucs -- Complete team.
3. Rams -- Just keep winning.
4. Packers -- Good and lucky.
5. Cowboys -- McCarthy knows Vikings.
6. Titans -- AFC's best team.
7. Bills -- Time to pour it on.
8. Bengals -- AFC North's best team.
9. Ravens -- Just when they looked unbeatable ...
10. Raiders -- Developing story.
11. Saints -- Winning with defense.
12. Vikings -- Playing for a wild card.
13. Chargers -- Patriots will test them.
14. Chiefs -- Arrow pointing down.
15. 49ers -- Something is missing.
16. Browns -- Is Mayfield their future?
17. Steelers -- Big game in Cleveland.
18. Broncos -- Fading.
19. Colts -- Must-win game vs. Titans.
20. Patriots -- Offense explodes.
21. Seahawks -- Another narrow loss.
22. Eagles -- Outlook bleak.
23. Panthers -- Darnold reverting.
24. Washington -- Finding ways to lose.
25. Bears -- Blow it up just around the corner.
26. Giants -- Daniel Jones not improving.
27. Falcons -- Not too late to make a move.
28. Texans -- Another pounding coming up.
29. Jaguars -- Urban Meyer says no more excuses.
30. Dolphins -- Lost season.
31. Lions -- They'll get win No. 1 this week.
32. Jets -- Dreadful.

Justin from Waukeshau, WI
A.J. Dillon redemption week? If the Packers want to win, they'll need to pound the ball.
The Cardinals invite the run.

Joey from Watertown, WI
What’s gone wrong with the Panthers?
Two weeks ago, they dropped passes. This past Sunday, Sam Darnold played poorly. They need to run the ball. They need a healthy Christian McCaffrey.

Greg from Cuenca, Ecuador
In the offseason, you were optimistic about the Lions. This is not meant to be snarky. What did you see? Is it still there? Is their won-loss record not indicative of their progress?
I saw a good-looking offensive line and the new energy Dan Campbell would create. Then the line got hurt and lost key players. I think the Lions will win this week, but I don't see more than another win or two on their remaining schedule. They'll draft in the top five, and that's how a bad team gets good.

Nicholas from Owego, NY
Is Murray more dangerous with his arm or his feet?
Feet.

Andrew from Placentia, CA
I'm curious to hear your thoughts on Rodgers' comments about his back hurting from the hotel room and that staying at a hotel before home games is antiquated. I'm also curious on your thoughts on LaFleur's response referring to "Coach Rodgers." Their bond seems strong; hopefully it doesn't stir drama the way the "complicated fella" comment did.
I think the "Coach Rodgers" comment was a shot, but I also think Rodgers likes it. As for the hotel thing, Sam Rutigliano let his Browns stay at home the night before home games. Sam was a rookie coach trying to raise morale and gain his players' favor. I can remember Coach Noll explaining how the idea of staying at a hotel the night before a home game was initially a way of getting players away from two o'clock feedings and making sure they got a good night's sleep. I don't think two o'clock feedings are the issue nowadays. I'm sensitive to Rodgers' complaint because I'm a bad back guy and my back doesn't like unfamiliar mattresses. Here's the problem: Because he's made an issue of it, doing it the Rutigliano way could create another controversy. At that point, you might as well put an "R" on the helmet. I think Rodgers would also like that.

Jeffery from Brooklyn, WI
If a team was wearing your two favorite colors, what would they be and name the team?
Blue and gold is my favorite color combination. I love Notre Dame's traditional uniforms, the Gary Beban UCLA uniforms, the Roger Staubach Navy uniforms, and I don't think there's a more attractive uniform in all of football than Pitt's home blue. If I was the commissioner of the ACC, I would mandate that any time Pitt and Clemson play against each other, Pitt must wear its home blue and Clemson must wear it's all orange. It's a beautiful visual, even better than the USC-UCLA red-blue look.

Jonathan from St. Joseph, MO
Given his response, do you think asking Tomlin about the USC job is a fair question? Loved his response.
It's never a fair question. Anything but a firm no is a yes. If I was a coach, I'd always answer with a firm no. If I pulled a Saban and took the job, I'd say I changed my mind. Mike Tomlin took it to the extreme. Good for him. I doubt he'll be bothered by that question again.

Phil from Marietta, GA
You've said something to the effect "your team isn't hurt until your quarterback is hurt," but Green Bay will be without four All-Pro/Pro-Bowl players on Thursday: Bakhtiari, Z. Smith, Alexander and Adams. Are the Packers therefore "hurt" and, more importantly, is it scheme or players that need to step up to cover for these absences? What would Coach Vic do?
The point is a team can overcome injuries and almost certainly will have to overcome them during the course of the season, but if a team loses its quarterback for a significant amount of time (Seattle?), it's over. What chance would you give the Packers on Thursday if Rodgers couldn't play? Get it? I'd run the ball.

Hennison from St. Paul, MN
At least the Packers have an excuse lined up for their assured Thursday loss.
It's not assured. Run the ball!

Paul from Brooklyn, IA
With Adams and Lazard looking unlikely to play, will this game show us what type of team the Packers really are come cold-weather, big-boy football time?
That's a little over the top.

Scott from St. Charles, IL
You called it. The Bears actually did mail it in. With a veteran QB on the bench, can you think of one good reason Justin Fields played an entire second half that started 35-3?
The Bears were so bad I thought the pirate ship was shooting at them. Maybe Andy Dalton said, "I'm not going out there."

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Chris from Bozeman, MT
Curious why you rarely speak of Bill Cowher? Seems like he’d be your kind of guy. Lots of ink for Noll, even some for Tomlin.
I only covered Coach Cowher for three years before I went to Jacksonville. I think Bill is one of the most underrated and underappreciated strategists in NFL history. He has an amazing record when leading by 10 or more points to begin the fourth quarter. I did a video with him when I was in Green Bay. If you can find it, you might enjoy it.

John from Brookfield, WI
What's wrong with the team in Kansas City? How do they fix it?
They're soft. That's a trademark of Andy Reid's teams. How do you fix it? Change it. Soft doesn't even feel good when you win the Super Bowl.

Rob from Superior, WI
Did we learn anything or do we wait for Thursday night?
We wait. Thursday night will give us a feel for what the Packers are. It won't be definitive, but we'll get a sense of what this team might achieve.

Greg from Danbury, CT
The Packers lost time of possession, couldn’t rush and couldn't defend the rush. Somehow, they managed to win. What does Coach LaFleur -- excuse me, Coach Rodgers -- emphasize in a short week?
Hyrdration. The Packers must hydrate.

Douglas from Binghamton, NY
What is the worst fan base in pro football?
It's Atlanta. A market that size and that rabid about football should not underperform the way it has. One day, pro football is going to capture the heartbeat of that market, and then look out.

Anthony from Jamestown, ND
Vic, is there a distinction between cover two and Tampa two?
The linebackers take a deep drop in Tampa two. Tony Dungy played for Bud Carson, the father of cover two. Tony took it to Tampa when he was the coach of the Bucs and he added a wrinkle on passing downs. He made a point of acknowledging Bud as the creator of cover two and minimizing the wrinkle. Tampa two had a good sound to it.

Dalton from Medford, WI
Seems as though the Packers' incredible streak of good luck continues. I can't tell if Heinecke is brave or dumb.
He didn't know the rule on diving head first.

Bruce from San Antonio, TX
I thought Matt LaFleur was hired to be the head coach. He’s doing more cheerleading trying to get the crowd fired up and fist-pumping the players than being the man in charge. I find it hard to respect him as the head coach. I never witnessed Lombardi or even Chuck Noll trying to entice the fans into making noise or trying to be a friend of the players. LaFleur is a coordinator, not a head coach.
I'm not a fan of coaches coaching the crowd, but you're being ridiculously harsh on Coach LaFleur. As far as "even Chuck Noll," Lombardi was more likely to do a striptease than Noll cheerlead the crowd. Chuck is the most reserved and measured person I have ever known. His wife, Marianne, said she once asked Chuck why he never told her he loved her. She said he said, "I told you when I married you I love you. I'll let you know if that changes." I have no doubt he said it with a smile. Chuck played for Paul Brown, who wasn't one for heaping praise on his players. "I pay you to do it right. I'll tell you when you do it wrong," Brown said.

Justin from Delavan, WI
I'm stunned at how different the Chiefs are this year. I planned to ask you if the Chiefs made the mistake of not having young jars on the shelf, but decided to investigate. Sure enough, the Chiefs picked only two tackles and one guard in the draft since 2016. None between 2017-19. Once again, your wisdom prevails.
Gotta get the big guys.

Jon from Green Bay, WI
Uniforms were fantastic.
They looked like janitors. If you're gonna do it, do it. Get wild!

Eric from Raeford, NC
Does modern football still bring you joy?
Yes, it does. What we're currently experiencing isn't new. Prior to the emergence of bump-and-run coverage, pass attempts and points increased yearly. I'm talking about those early years of the AFL. The 1962 Packers, a team dedicated to running the ball, averaged nearly 30 points a game, and pass attempts increased throughout the '60's, until topping out in 1970. Then everything changed and I think it was the result of Lem Barney's impact. Everybody, including the AFL teams joining the NFL in the merger, were playing bump-and-run coverage. Pass attempts and points declined dramatically. The Dolphins threw only seven passes in winning Super Bowl VIII 24-7, and the Steelers won Super Bowl IX 16-6 and threw only 14 passes. My point is this: Throughout my life watching football, I've seen the personality of the game see-saw. There are only two things you can do with the ball, run or pass. I enjoy both. Will we see another run-the-ball era? If defenses overplay the pass, we might.

Kevin from Janesville, WI
What era do you view as the golden age of football and why?
The golden age began on Dec. 23, 1972, and we're still in it. I've written on this subject several times. That was the day of the "Immaculate Reception" and the Cowboys' fourth-quarter rally to beat the 49ers, and I believe it was over that long Christmas weekend football became America's favorite pastime. It has grown into an obsession, and I don't see it changing.

Bill from Pittsburgh, PA
With the Steelers struggling to run the ball the past few seasons, I can't help but think back to the days of Chuck Noll's trapping system and the success they had with it. Is that a system that could work in today's NFL?
Teams still trap and pull, but not with the emphasis Coach Noll's teams did. Walling up and moving laterally is the new rage. It's a good scheme. The runner cuts back behind it and if the backside of the defense doesn't stay home, it's Katy bar the door, as my high school coach was fond of saying. What does a trapping system require? Smaller, quicker guards and centers. Today's penetrate-and-disrupt defensive schemes invite trapping, but smaller and quicker interior linemen would get bull-rushed in pass-blocking and coaches aren't going to invite injury to their quarterback.

Steven from Jacksonville, FL
What’s the thing about retirement that surprised you the most?
I didn't think it would be this wonderful.

Sal from Mullica Hill, NJ
Philadelphia fans are great fans but get a bad name for that one incident. I'm not condoning throwing snowballs at Santa, but let's not condemn an entire fan base for a singular action that happened 50 years ago. Curious, do you have any good stories about old Veterans Stadium?
I made a stupid mistake late one night after covering a Pirates-Phillies game. It was after filing my story so it was long after everyone was gone from the ballpark. I walked out of the stadium, saw in the distance the Hilton Hotel where I was staying and began walking through the dark parking lot in a straight line toward the hotel. What I didn't realize was the parking lot had a fence around it. I was standing directly across from the hotel when stupidity got the better of me; it's a common theme. Instead of walking back to the stadium and exiting as an intelligent person would, I began to climb the fence, typewriter in tow. I also didn't realize the sidewalk was considerably lower than the level of the parking lot. I made a thud but I saved the typewriter.

Tom from Mt. Juliet, TN
Have you played any tracks in Myrtle Beach? If so, which one did you enjoy most?
​In central Myrtle Beach, Grande Dunes or Heathland. In the north, Thistle or Tidewater. In the south, Caledonia.

Darren from Brisbane, Australia
They've got to stick with the name Washington Football Team now, right? It's so unique it works.
Yeah, but it could limit marketing potential.

Scott from Melbourne, Australia
I'm interested in your perspective on the role of journalists, fans and the sport. Say there's an important issue that, if reported comprehensively, could meaningfully damage the reputation of many people and the sport itself. This may lead to decreased interest/investment, slow the gravy train and ultimately threaten journalists' own livelihood. Head injuries and PEDs come to mind as issues that were/are downplayed by a collective refusal to confront inconvenient truths. In your opinion, who shoulders the responsibility?
It's the responsibility of media with the assets and capability to investigate and verify those kinds of issues to report those issues.

Michael from Plano, TX
With Dallas playing so well, it brings up a lot of talk about their last Super Bowl, in which they beat Pittsburgh. After the butterflies wore off, Pittsburgh was dominant; bad start. Anyway, have we ever gotten confirmation as to who was at fault for those two infamous interceptions? It seemed pretty clear Pitt was going to win that game.
The interception that sealed the Steelers' fate was the result of the receiver turning the wrong way.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Nathan from San Diego, CA
I have been keeping tabs on Mike McCarthy, as I have always liked him as a coach. However, there appears to be a segment of the Dallas fan base that can't get over his clock management approach. Even at 5-1, there are fans howling to have him replaced. Why is it so hard for fans to appreciate the impact a head coach has on a team?
They're probably bored and need to create controversy for entertainment. Hey, 4.3 million Americans quit their job in August. Watching football is their new job. The other answer is we're an angry nation. Coaches are a target for expressing that anger.

Bill from Pittsburgh, PA
After watching "The Last Dance," l got to wondering: Was there a player on those '70's Steelers who held teammates accountable and wasn't afraid to ruffle feathers in the pursuit of excellence. Lambert comes to mind, but on such a loaded team, talent and personalities, was he the only guy?
Joe Greene was that player. I remember interviewing him at his locker stall when a young player at a nearby locker stall was playing loud music. Joe stopped in the middle of answering a question, turned and stared at the young player, who noticed players in the locker room were looking at him and laughing. He couldn't figure out why, but then he turned and saw Joe staring at him. The music stopped. "What was your question, again?" Joe said to me.

Jack from Waupaca, WI
Vic, aren't you worried about being cancelled? Liberals like yourself always eat their own. Have you ever said anything remotely off-color? If so, you're not safe. They're coming for you and me and any other honest man, whether you're a whiny liberal or not.
I have an LLC for a business that makes no money. What are they gonna get, an old laptop?

Maxwell from Milwaukee, WI
Have you seen a better stiff arm than Derrick Henry's?
John Henry Johnson could stiff arm a train.

Chevin from Jacksonville, FL
Do you find it difficult to not sit and shake your head chuckling at the seemingly endless torrent of closeted racists who clearly do not realize or care how easily they constantly tattle on themselves in the form of passive aggressive "Ask Vic" questions?
The same people who will defend a coach who's guilty of using hurtful racist language will attack a coach for bad clock management.

David from Owasso, OK
I taught my children to cheer the good guys and boo the bad guys. Everything else is off limits. Is it OK to shoot the double bird to a professional athlete?
One of the most legendary examples of fan misbehavior is the snowball attack on Santa Claus by Eagles fans. An NFL Films documentary on the event included an interview with former governor Ed Rendell, who said he was a youngish fan in the crowd the day Santa Claus was bombarded by snowballs. After relating what he witnessed, Rendell confessed to having thrown a snowball. I laughed, but what if Santa Claus had been injured? What causes us to act badly at sporting events? I don't think it's OK.

Adam from Wausau, WI
Do you think the Bears will be after Rodgers' collarbone when they play the Packers later this year?
Metaphorically speaking, yes.

Joe from Milwaukee, WI
If this was an in-person Q&A format, I'm willing to bet the amount of angry and badgering comments would be dramatically fewer.
My high school had a head football coach who was a Steelers fullback in the '50's. He was a legendary tough guy from one of the local steel towns, and he was a good enough player to be selected to a Pro Bowl. His coaching style was known to be a little rough around the edges, and the school board called a special meeting, ostensibly to vote on firing him. The coach got wind of the scheduled meeting and showed up uninvited. The door opened and there he was, to the surprise of the seated board members. "I heard you wanna fire me," he said. "Let's vote." He then went around the room, looked each board member in the face and asked, "Do you wanna fire me?" Each time, the response was no. "Good. Then I'm still the coach," he said, and he left the room.

Elten from Pleasant Lake, IN
Who is the fella with you in the photo?
His name is Jon Strittmater. He's an "Ask Vic" reader and Packers fan who lives on Seabrook Island, SC. He recently invited me to be his guest at the beautiful "Ocean Winds" golf course on Seabrook.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Here are my all-important Week 7 power rankings:
1. Cardinals -- Wow!
2. Bucs -- Mail it in, Bears.
3. Rams -- Building momentum.
4. Ravens -- Convincing win.
5. Packers -- Will investigate WFT this week.
6. Cowboys -- McCarthy's team.
7. Bills -- Whoops.
8. Titans -- Lose to the Jets, beat the Bills. I don't know.
9. Chiefs -- Tester in Tennessee.
10. 49ers -- In danger of falling too far behind.
11. Raiders -- Better off without Gruden.
12. Saints -- Rested and ready to go.
13. Bengals -- Real in every way.
14. Vikings -- Gut-check win.
15. Chargers -- Soft on defense.
16. Browns -- What's happened to the defense?
17. Steelers -- Amazingly 3-3.
18. Broncos -- Crossroads game on Thursday.
19. Seahawks -- Price to pay for physical battle.
20. Eagles -- Headed down.
21. Panthers -- Receivers have the dropsies.
22. Colts -- Wentz making a comeback.
23. Patriots -- Mac Jones looking kind of ordinary.
24. Washington -- Troubled franchise.
25. Bears -- Owned!
26. Giants -- I like their uniforms.
27. Falcons -- I hate their uniforms.
28. Texans -- Should join the Big 12.
29. Jets -- Rookie QB clash this week.
30. Jaguars -- Lawrence looked good.
31. Dolphins -- Flores at fault.
32. Lions -- I didn't think they'd stink this much.

Ganesh from New Jersey
What are your thoughts on the current state of Ask Vic? Is it different from how it used to be?
It's evolving.

Jared from Rigby, ID
Vic, what are character wins, and do you feel they are important?
When a team wins by the force of their will, it experiences a rush of self-esteem that bonds everyone to the cause. Yes, they are important because teams don't always have their A game. That's when they need to be able to rely on their will to win.

Brian from Neenah, WI
As a Packers fan, I wish we could chortle over owning the NFC championship game.
I don't like players taunting fans. It's unprofessional.

Isaac from Nashville, TN
Vic, it seems to me your appreciation for the cold professionalism of pro football came from your years covering the Steelers. In my limited experience, though, Pittsburgh is a club that holds onto its heroes like Polamalu and Roethlisberger, even when it's clear they might be in decline. It's a trait I have admired at times, because I'm a sentimentalist, but I acknowledge its costs. How far back does that tendency go? What do you think about it?
If it's a tendency, I can trace it back to 1979, when Chuck Noll cut a promising rookie defensive lineman named Dwaine Board to keep veteran defensive end Dwight White. White's game was in decline. Board's arrow was pointing straight up and Chuck knew it. He tipped the 49ers, who were at the top of the waiver wire, to keep Board out of the AFC. The 49ers claimed Board off waivers and he became a very good player for them. Why didn't Noll just cut White and keep Board? How do you cut a guy who came out of a hospital bed on the morning of Super Bowl IX to help you win your first Super Bowl? Loyalty does, indeed, come at a price.

Dan from Waupun, WI
Could the Packers beat the Steelers if the Steelers played like they did on Sunday?
The result would be the same. The Steelers won with will power on Sunday night. It will help galvanize and energize them through this season of rebuilding, but will power will only take a team so far.

J.R. from Castle Shannon, PA
I usually watch the games with the sound off, but the sound happened to be on Sunday night when Michelle Tafoya relayed the coaches' comments at the beginning of the second half. Tomlin, she said, believed his team had to worry about Seattle's dynamic receivers. Carroll, she said, believed his team needed to establish the run. Do you think if Steelers Defensive Coordinator Keith Butler had been watching TV instead of coaching them up he might've played less nickel and not let the Seahawks run themselves back into the game?
Seattle won the chess match in the third quarter. The Steelers stayed in two deep safeties and the Seahawks pounded the ball against a light-in-the-pants front. The Steelers won the chess match in the fourth quarter. They played a five-man front on running downs and used stunts and twists to disrupt Seattle's blocking schemes. Ultimately, though, it came down to T.J. Watt's ability to play above the X's and O's. On one play, the Seahawks had five blockers on Watt's side of the formation, and he still beat the scheme. Players, not plays.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI
Cut the antlers? Why not just cut the tire?
It was probably quicker to cut the antlers. I asked Google if it hurts an elk to cut its antlers off. Google said: "No. After an antler is done growing, the velvet is shed. Since the velvet is the only source of nutrients and oxygen for the antlers, once the velvet is shed the antlers die." So, the elk had that going for him, which was nice. I have two thoughts: 1) What if the elk wanted that tire around his neck? 2) Imagine his reaction when he was drinking from a pool of water and saw his reflection in the water. "My antlers are gone!"

Eli from St. Paul, MN
You clearly have an interest in team building, draft strategy and salary cap management. Were you ever interested in working in a team’s front office?
There have been sports writers who've made that move: Bill Nunn, Ernie Accorsi and Marty Hurney immediately come to mind. I never pursued a scouting-type position, but that's the part of football ops that would've interested me.

Scott from Alaska
How's McCarthy doing?
Do the Cowboys bear a resemblance to any team you know? He's putting his stamp on the Cowboys.

William from Thornton, CO
When you say Jacksonville could have to share the Jaguars, could that be similar to when Green Bay played in Milwaukee? Five games in Jacksonville and three in London?
That's a good comparison. It's important to note the Packers never lost their Green Bay identity during those times. That'll be Jacksonville's challenge. The Jaguars' identity must remain tied to Jacksonville or Jacksonville will become Milwaukee, just a place where the Jaguars play.

Steve from Rhinelander, WI
I've heard your opinion on receivers being a dime a dozen. For the most part I agree, but I don't think I have heard your opinion on Davante Adams. He has been quite dominant these past two years and I think we are witnessing something that doesn't come along too often. Thoughts?
I don't understand why yinz people can't get this. Yes, Adams is a sensational player, but the position is so loaded with talent, receivers such as Adams can be replaced. He is not a generational talent because nearly every good team has a receiver of similar impact. CeeDee Lamb? Tyreek Hill? DeAndre Hopkins? Stefon Diggs? How many do I have to name? Simply put, wide receivers of Adams' talent come along nearly ever year. Their ranks are plentiful. That's why Adams wasn't drafted in the first round. Ted Thompson knew he could find quality receivers in the lower rounds. Dime a dozen is just a way of expressing the depth of the wide receiver talent in the draft. Picking wide receivers is like bobbing for apples.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Ben from Hilo, HI
Yawn.
Yeah. I got fewer questions about yesterday's MORIPS game than any game in this column's history. Most of the questions were about Rodgers taunting the fans. The game was a sleeper; the outcome was never in doubt.

William from Lexington, KY
They have to move to London now, right?
Khan's not going to flee that investment Jacksonville made in the Lot J development. The Jaguars are going to remain in Jacksonville, but I think the Jaguars' presence in London will expand. l get the sense Jacksonville will have to share the Jaguars. What identity will the franchise assume? That's going to be the issue.

Bob from Milwaukee, WI
Go ahead and retire, old man. I promise you the 20 fossils that love reading you regurgitate the same tired stories, hypocritical hot takes, clueless catch phrases and your laughably out-of-touch preachy wisdom ad nauseam will manage to go on living without you. Well, at least for a little while longer, anyway. They are fossils, after all. Or you could just threaten to shut down the comments section again two seconds after you tell everyone how into free speech you are. I'll admit, there's mild amusement there in watching you constantly contradict yourself like an idiot.
OK.

Ryan from Milwaukee, WI
I think Rodgers said it best.
Intense.

Vic from Alexandria, VA
Why do coaches always praise the opponent so much in the interviews that are held the week before a game? They are always saying stuff like "(Team X) is a really talented football team and it's going to be a really big challenge to go in there and beat them." Every game. No matter how bad the other team is. I didn't live in the Lombardi era but imagine those coaches would have shot a little straighter.
What a coach says to the media must be consistent with what he's telling his team. In my entire career, there was only one time a coach I covered didn't talk up an opponent. It was Coach Noll during the week of a game against the expansion Bucs in 1976. He avoided comment about them and begged off a few questions with a sympathetic smile. The Steelers were in the midst of a 10-game winning streak that included five shutouts. They were coming of a big win in Cincinnati and Noll's message to his team that week was for it to tend to its business. The Steelers won 42-0 and threw only 15 passes. It was a performance befitting Noll's message. That's when you know a coach has control of his team: It plays as it's instructed. The message is important. It must be consistent and repeating.

Daniel from Arcola, IL and Helmet, CA
My formative years of fandom were spent reading your "Ask Vic" blog (every single entry) from column No. 1 in Jacksonville all the way through until now. I would like to blame you for causing my life-long Jaguars fandom. What do you have to say for yourself?
I recently read a story about an elk in Colorado that had been walking around with a tire around its neck for two years. The wildlife officers had tried several times to remove the tire but were unsuccessful until recently, when they were able to tranquilize the animal long enough to cut off its antlers and remove the tire. Imagine the elk's relief when he awakened. Maybe one day you'll wake up and the tire will have been removed from around your neck.

John from New York, NY
"Moving in the order is critical in today's draft-for-need culture." Oh no! I've been telling people for 15 years needs-based drafting is wrong! I've had so many arguments over a bucket of beers when I was insistent you should always take the best player you can, regardless of the team needs. What happened to the "Ask Vic" I knew and read in Jacksonville, who refused to back down from BAP despite the constant badgering? Did something change your opinion?
OK, let's do it again. Drafting for need is fine, as long as you don't reach. Free agency has created a more immediate approach to the draft and, as a result, draft-day trading has increased dramatically in recent years. Teams are trading to where the player they want fits. When they do that, they remain true to their value line, which means they are, in effect, picking the best available player. I delivered that same message in Jacksonville. Never reach! Fit your pick to the player.

John from Jacksonville, FL
Do you think there could be a secret and confidential severance agreement with Jon Gruden in conjunction with his resignation?
They'll settle. I have no doubt Gruden will get a whole lot of money to go away. The penalty he's suffering isn't about money, it's about his coaching future. He's toxic now. I doubt he could get a college job.

Jesse from Bethlehem, PA
What's the dime-a-dozen position on defense?
Safety.

Robert from Glasgow, DE
The thing I am disappointed in is I think I heard you are not making a profit on this blog. You should be making a good income from your blog.
Why?

Lukas from Milwaukee, WI
Vic, do you think the NFL should release all of the emails in the WFT investigation. It seems Gruden is the fall guy and others are being protected, including the owner Snyder.
First of all, the NFL isn't going to rule on the WFT investigation until it's concluded. You're mixing apples with oranges. The NFL was investigating the WFT when it found Gruden. They weren't looking for him and they didn't want to find him. This is not a good look for the NFL. Gruden was collateral damage. I doubt the league is protecting other collateral-damage personnel because that information would almost certainly leak to the media and, as I said, the league would go down even harder than Gruden. When I was an employee of the Packers, it was mandatory for all employees to attend a class on email conduct, as taught by the IT department. After the stern warning of repercussion for violating NFL email policy, you'd have to be a raging imbecile to discuss in an email on an NFL server anything more incriminating than picking your nose. The NFL filters are so intense I once had a column fail to send to the person who was to post it because it included a reference to former Browns receiver Fair Hooker. I see all of these comments by people who are so sure they know, but they don't know. Critical thinking has become a reverse process. First we decide, and then we invent ways to deny the truth.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
Of the current players, who would be the first defensive player selected to an "Ask Vic" all-star team?
Aaron Donald. I don't know how long he can continue to play at his amazingly high level, but if he does it for much longer, we might be looking at the greatest defensive player ever. His impact on the game is the equal of Lawrence Taylor's.

John from Brookfield, WI
Would you have flagged Lamb for taunting at the end of the Cowboys game?
No, but it wouldn't have surprised me if it had been called.

Neil from Beaver Dam, WI
What happened to the Bears after their first possession?
Rookie quarterbacks often play their best when they're operating in the script at the start of the game.

Patrick from Indianapolis, IN
I'm guessing your answer to this will be no, but I'd like to ask anyway. Did you learn anything you didn't already know about the Packers from Sunday's game against the Bears?
No. The next learning experience will be the game against the Cardinals.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
What did you think of the Seattle-Pittsburgh game?
It was one of the most physically punishing games I've seen in a long time. It was real good football, and T.J. Watt was its star.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Dustin from Orlando, FL
You’re an active proponent of freedom of speech. Where do you draw the line?
I'm not going to let you drag me down this dark alley. I know what this issue is, and it's not about freedom of speech.

Dalton from Medford, WI
Hope you have a sturdy chair, as you'll be on the edge this weekend as the Packers-Bears play the latest iteration of the greatest NFL rivalry.
Nothing beats a Sunday afternoon in October, the leaves in full color and a chill coming off the lake as the Packers and Bears author another chapter of "The Most Overrated Rivalry in Professional Sports." I can't wait.

Michael from Orange Park, FL
Crosby's kick gets blocked against the Steelers, but the flag gets thrown and he thinks they were offsides. Then after seeing the film, he realizes they weren't offside and there is an issue with the protection. Could this have caused him to speed up his kick enough to push them all to the left? I thought the snap and holds looked good and he is always so consistent. Did you see anything different?
He wasn't pushing, he was pulling his kicks. In golf parlance, he was coming over the top of the ball, and it's something a golfer might do if there's water or out of bounds on the right. Know what I mean?

Richard from Jefferson, WI
How many questions do you get in a week during the football season?
I don't count them. What I can tell you is the visits to this column have grown so dramatically it would be a shame to stop doing it. I've considered it because the questions have become angrier and I don't enjoy being badgered, but the column's success won't let me quit. I see it as a credible voice, and I think everyone knows how dedicated I am to the right of free and responsible speech.

Chris from Jacksonville, FL
Does Bruce Arians go to the Hall of Fame if they win a Super Bowl this year with Brady?
Yes.

Sean from Richmond, VA
I had a black coach in high school, an ex-Marine with a raspy drill sergeant voice/delivery tell one of my black teammates/friends he looked "like a monkey (expletive) a football." No one thought twice about it. We all (white and black) laughed about it for years after. It used to be getting your feelings hurt because someone said something negative towards you was frowned upon. It showed weakness. I miss those days. You and your liberal ilk have made this country soft and boring. "Game for tough men," he says. Now we have Randy Moss fake crying on TV and media talking about how brave that is? You’re all frauds.
OK.

Matt from Georgetown, KY
The draft order (hopefully) helps bad teams get good and it presents a challenge to good teams to stay that way. What about the teams stuck in the middle, getting enough talent to stay OK but not enough to move in either direction. How do those teams break that cycle?
Trade up or down. Moving in the order is critical in today's draft-for-need culture. If you need a headline player to put your team over the top, you might need to move up. If you're rebuilding and you have need at several positions to make your roster competitive, you'll probably need to move back in the order and collect extra picks. In today's game, a team's pick is usually indicative of its need. The player who fits in the middle of the draft might be exactly what it needs.

Jack from Jacksonville, FL
Why is the current Jaguars 20-game losing streak a big deal? I know the talking heads harp on it but if the Jaguars don't drop their last 15 last year they would not have secured their quarterback of the future. This year they are more competitive despite a limited roster. What am I missing?
I like your patience. Losing is good for a bad team. It'll keep that team at the top of the draft order. One day, after having collected a lineup of high picks, the team will begin a long run of success, but that can only happen if those high picks are spent wisely. The Jaguars' drafts don't look good right now. They've got to fix that situation or the losing won't stop. That's what this talking head is harping on.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
I'm surprised you believe Gruden needed to be gone, given your previous stance on giving people a second chance. I understand and agree he needed to go, but I can see how coaches (are being) held to a higher standard than players due to their position as leaders. Is that how you justify being less lenient on Gruden compared to past players who have had off-field issues such as domestic abuse?
If the NFL had ignored those emails, they likely would've leaked to the media and the league would've gone down even harder than Gruden. Gruden had to go. That's the only issue here. I'm not surprised the wackos in my inbox want to turn this into a sociological, philosophical, political issue, but that's not what it is. This is not about freedom of speech. The NFL was investigating the WFT when it found another problem. It acted as any corporation would: It protected itself. It's professional football; it's about the money.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
The Bears seem poised to beat the Packers this weekend. The Packers defense still has trouble stopping a team committed to the run and the Bears have a QB to keep that run defense guessing. What does it mean for each team if the Bears win on Sunday?
It means the inevitable will be delayed.

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
Who does James Robinson remind you of?
Emmitt Smith.

Leandro from Lexington, KY
Does the fact Adams has three times as many targets as any other receiver count as the offense taking what it wants?
Yes.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Here are my all-important Week 6 power rankings:
1. Cardinals -- They can win with defense.
2. Bills -- Dominant on both sides of the ball.
3. Bucs -- They have a blueprint.
4. Rams -- Donald still the best.
5. Ravens -- All they do is win.
6. Packers -- Can take commanding lead.
7. Cowboys -- They're for real.
8. Chargers -- Score, score, score.
9. Browns -- Where's the defense?
10. Chiefs -- Charmin.
11. 49ers -- They need the bye.
12. Titans -- Big test vs. Bills.
13. Raiders -- Sad turn of events.
14. Saints -- Winston making gains.
15. Bengals -- How's life? They can't kick.
16. Eagles -- Big rally at Carolina.
17. Panthers -- Let one slip away.
18. Bears -- Ready to lay an egg, again.
19. Seahawks -- Can they win without Wilson?
20. Steelers -- Finally ran the ball.
21. Broncos -- Defense faltered in Pittsburgh.
22. Colts -- Falling too far behind.
23. Washington -- They need to do something big.
24. Patriots -- Just another team now.
25. Vikings -- Mired in mediocrity.
26. Dolphins -- In free fall.
27. Giants -- Decimated by injury.
28. Lions -- Tearful.
29. Falcons -- They don't even have an arrow.
30. Texans -- Playing hard.
31. Jets -- Playing for the future.
32. Jaguars -- They could win this week.

Tony from Los Angeles, CA
Your thoughts on the Jon Gruden emails and his resignation?
I did a video interview with him years ago and he was very accommodating and personable. I have empathy for him but his resignation was the right thing to do. It was either that or fire him. Anything less would've sent a message of tolerance for the language he used in an email reference to DeMaurice Smith.

Jeffrey from Brooklyn, WI
Sad the world we live in with these "Woke" societies looking for reasons to destroy someone. I'm curious how a private email was obtained in the first place.
The league was investigating the WFT situation when they found the Gruden emails. The email that referred to DeMaurice Smith derogatorily was sent from Gruden to Bruce Allen. What would you have the league do, ignore it? You can't stencil "End Racism" in your end zone and then tolerate one of your coaches using the ugly and hurtful language Gruden used.

Nate from Grand Marais, MN
People seem concerned about the decisions to keep going back to Crosby instead of going for it with the offense. What did you think about them going back to Crosby?
Everybody has a job to do. If you lack confidence in a player's ability to do his job, why is he on your team? Crosby might've been kicking for his job.

Eric from Green Bay, WI
Vic, how much of the Cowboys have you seen this season? Are they a powerhouse? Doing what they did to the Chargers looks even more impressive after what the Chargers did to the Cleveland defense. I think this is the first time they've impressed me in 25 years. What do your eyes tell you?
I have them at No. 7 in my power rankings. What's that tell you?

Josh from Holgate, OH
Any thoughts on the job of Matt LeFleur so far this season?
He's done a good job of keeping the peace. I mean that in a sincere and complimentary way. He faced a daunting challenge coming out of the offseason controversy Rodgers created. I think we all know for the Packers to get the full advantage of Rodgers' greatness they have to yield to him. Again, that's not an easy thing for a man of vision to do, and all coaches have a vision and a desire to put their stamp on their team. In LaFleur's case, discretion truly is the better part of valor.

John from Indianapolis, IN
So Jon Gruden resigned/got fired; vulgarity, racism, homophobia and misogyny. What's the halftime entertainment at this year's Super Bowl? Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar? I've got an idea: Paint the end zones with "End Hypocrisy."
OK.

Craig from Sheboygan, WI
The Tampa Bay Bucs have star players all over the place on offense and defense. How do they stay under the salary cap?
They convert current-year salary to signing bonus and spread the cap hit over the length of the contract. It's how you get the most out of an aging roster, especially a quarterback at the end of a run. The Packers did some of it last offseason. It's created a massive problem with David Bakhtiari's contract structure.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
Aaron Rodgers fails to put the games away, yet, again. In the process, he saves the Bengals two timeouts.
You're nitpicking. Rodgers played well and made the one more play at crunch time that needed to be made.

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, I’m watching growth but it’s hard. When your best player touches the ball five times in the second half, then isn’t even on the field for the most important drive of the game, someone has to answer for that. Then, saying your quarterback "isn’t quite comfortable" with the QB sneak, and for the QB to then say he’s got no problem with it? Is this the losing of the locker room?
Don't worry about losing the locker room. That's a minor detail. Brad, the Jaguars have lost 20 games in a row. What would it hurt to lose that locker room? The issue is knowing what has to be done to fix that franchise. Shad Khan hasn't been able to do it. Khan can't fix the problem because he is the problem. That's the overwhelming issue. I have it on good information Khan has $50 million invested in executive salaries on the football side of the franchise, and not even a man of Khan's wealth swallows that pill gracefully, but even that is a minor issue compared to the lack of football acumen and leadership in that franchise. Who can be trusted to craft a recovery plan? Maybe Khan needs to turn to the league office for advice.

Tim from Denver, CO
The Browns defense forced a team to score. I am at a loss for words. We are beyond basketball on turf. This is ludicrous.
Take a knee at the one and let it all ride on a kick on a day of missed kicks, or score and play defense? It remains an intriguing question. Coach Noll wouldn't even take a safety when it was clearly the right thing to do. He said he just couldn't force himself to score points for the other team.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
What changed for Roethlisberger?
He was sacked one time and he got balance in the running game. The combination allowed him to find open receivers. Roethlisberger and Najee Harris were the stars of the game for the Steelers. It sure wasn't the defense, which nearly blew a three-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter. As I wrote last week, Harris has to lead any rally the Steelers make. It begins with the run in Pittsburgh. It especially has to be that way when your quarterback is 39 and lacks the ability to extend plays, as he once did.

Will from Salt Lake, UT
I've heard rumors of Rodgers going to the Steelers after he and Mike Tomlin exchanged smiles last week. For fun, what would it take for Rodgers to go to the Steelers?
The Steelers don't need to replace one 39-year-old quarterback with another one. The Steelers need to find a young quarterback around whom they can build their teams of the future.

Fabio from London, UK
Putting aside Crosby’s drama, a good win and an uplifting performance from defense in crunch moments. However, should we be concerned about the constant softness in conceding touchdowns in the red zone?
You shouldn't be concerned with anything right now. The Packers will breeze to the division title. Concern begins in December. That's when the Packers need to be playing their best football so they can be a hot team for the playoffs. This whole season is about the postseason. The regular season is a warmup. You know that.

Min-shik from Seoul, South Korea
Now Rodgers has a national commercial poking fun at his Jeopardy flirtation. Where does the passive aggressiveness end with this man?
It's professional football; it's about the money.

Travis from McCordsville, IN
Stokes had a tough rookie matchup with Chase today. What did you see between those two?
Stokes is a press man coverage corner. It invites the deep ball and at his tender age he needs help over the top; with Alexander out both corners need help over the top. Yeah, that's cover two and it requires being able to stop the run with seven, but I think that's the way it has to be for now.

Dan from Ormond Beach, FL
You seem to have some strong feelings as to who would potentially be a good leader for the Jaguars. Would Byron Leftwich be on your short list?
Byron was mistreated by Jaguars fans when he was the team's quarterback. They mocked everything about him, from the way he threw the ball to the way he talked. He wouldn't be a good fit to coach the Jaguars because I fear he'd get the same treatment again. He can do better and he deserves better.

Ed from Danvers, MA
Shad Khan admitted 5-6 years ago he didn't know what he was doing and had ceded too much of the team's operation to others. He then wisely hired a knowledgeable NFL veteran in Tom Coughlin to run the team. Didn't Coughlin then destroy that developing 2017 powerhouse team and GM David Caldwell along with it? What went wrong there?
Whoa! Powerhouse team? It was a fluke. As for having hired Coughlin, I wanted to believe Tom would somehow be different, but deep down I knew it wouldn't end well. "Tom is as he's always been. What did Shad Khan think he was hiring? As a manager of personnel, Tom always had a tendency to be impulsive," I wrote in December of 2019. "Tom is an incurable now person and I think that's an acceptable personality trait for a coach, but not for a director of personnel, especially in the salary cap era. Khan should've hired Tom to be the coach and given him a GM who would help manage Tom's passion and drive. He needed someone to tell him no."

Mike from McFarland, WI
If the Packers make it to the postseason and I'm the opposing coach, I'd dare the Packers to run it on every play. There's no way Aaron's ego could be held in check for an entire game to not throw it.
That's how the Titans beat the Jaguars in the 1999 AFC title game. The Jaguars were gashing the Titans with the run, but the Titans kept playing pass and then Mark Brunell threw an interception when the Jaguars were on the doorstep of blowing the Titans out, and the Jaguars' lead and resolve began to unravel. They played right into the Titans' game plan. I remember heading downstairs in the final moments of the game and hearing then Titans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams gleefully proclaim he knew the Jaguars wouldn't stick to the run. Fourteen years later, former Jaguars defensive lineman Renaldo Wynn said the Jaguars lost that game because Williams knew the Jaguars' game plan and had their playbook. Wynn claims Williams made that boast when Wynn played for Williams in Washington. Having covered Williams when he was the Jaguars' defensive coordinator, I can see him making that boast ambiguously. It was the same boast I heard him make in the final moments of that game. Did he physically have the Jaguars' game plan, or was he merely celebrating himself. Williams was very self-promotional. It got him a head job.

Jack from Jacksonville, FL
If the Jaguars were 2-2 instead of 0-4, would anybody be talking about Urban Meyer?
When a coach stays behind following a heartbreaking, devastating defeat for an R&R pinch and tickle weekend, and gets caught on video doing it, it's going to be news. Why are you not angry?

Josh from Severna Park, MD
Vic, I’ve got a lot of anger right now.
Good.

Eric from Hudson, WI
Super smart GM Vic wanted to trade Rodgers for draft picks before the year started. The Packers are now 4-1. Does super smart GM Vic care to guess what their record would be without Rodgers?
I was willing to commit this season to rebuilding, in exchange for a cap cleansing and a haul of draft picks that would launch the Packers into the next era of Packers football more quickly and painlessly than I would otherwise expect. I think I made that clear. At no time did I suggest a change at quarterback would make the Packers a better team this season.

Oliver from Aarhus, Denmark
I have a funny feeling you despise the Chiefs' pre-snap shenanigans, or is it just win, baby?
Soft as a baby's bottom.

Ben from Alameda, CA
What did you think of Burrow's 70-yard touchdown pass? The announcers talked about how great of a connection he has with his receiver, and that it was a great pass. My eyes said it was lucky the ball wasn't knocked away or intercepted. I am confused. Is it just my Packers bias?
Was it lucky for the Packers the 49ers left 37 seconds on the clock? That Chase Claypool wasn't running those two go routes instead of JuJu Smith-Schuster or that the Steelers were flagged for offside on the blocked kick? That the Bengals also missed kicks? The Packers are locked in a run of luck. Be thankful.

Kape from London, UK
Is crying in a press conference an emotional trigger for the team to step up? Or would players consider it a weakness?
The players might rally around that kind of display, but it's not an example of the kind of stable personality I've come to associate with strong leadership. I would've felt uncomfortable covering that press conference. I acknowledge the possibility I am emotionally damaged.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Casey from Duluth, MN
If this is "The Last Dance," do you think Bakhtiari could be traded soon?
The dead money hit is too great for the Packers to even consider moving Bakhtiari. This might be the last dance for Rodgers, but it won't be the last dance for Bakhtiari. He'll be with the Packers at least through 2022.

Jason from Austin, TX
Speaking of the Chargers, I find it interesting their fan base is so small compared to most of the league. They've been a highly competitive team since 2004 with great quarterback play and they currently have one of the more exciting rosters. Most fans flock to winning teams, yet, they basically played an away game on Monday. I know the Raiders have a lot of fans in LA, so Monday might not be the best example, but most games are like this. What gives?
The Chargers are from San Diego. They shouldn't have left; it was a big mistake. If they had stayed and found a way to negotiate the construction of a new stadium, their fans would be going crazy about this team right now. Think of the good times ahead: young star quarterback, team on the rise, new stadium on the way. The Chargers would be a scorching-hot ticket in San Diego. As it stands, they could waste their run on a non-existent fan base. Loyalties are hard to change. The Rams are LA's team. I don't see that changing any time soon.

Marty from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Vic, I loved your analogy that a team like the Chargers, who are at the start of their run, gives you that feeling like the first day of summer. So, in contrast the Jaguars would be like that feeling you get on the night before the first day of school when you realize summer is over and you are going to a new school where you don’t know anyone.
If Shad Khan had hired properly, the Jaguars would have a good young coach building a good young team behind a good young quarterback. All of the arrows would be pointing up and the feeling would be like late May, when you know summer vacation is right around the corner and all you have to do is wait a little longer.

Adam from Madison, WI
Any updates to your thoughts on A.J. Dillon? Looks lighter on his feet this year.
He's a good back. I think he's an especially good complementary back. What I like best about him is his burst. When he gets a hole, he hits it with fury. What I dislike about him is his lack of lateral quickness. When he's forced to go sideways, the play is over. He's a straight line runner. So was Ahman Green. It can work.

Chevin from Jacksonville, FL
This crap has to stop right now. Shad Khan needs to see the writing on the wall. You swung for the fences, but your head coach is an absolute embarrassment and GM Trent Baalke might be an even bigger problem. When you're team is 1-19 over its last 20 games and certain of your second, third, fourth and fifth-round draft picks are barely seeing the field, there are incredibly serious problems with your talent evaluations. Meyer and Baalke are in over their heads. Will the owner accept the sunk costs?
Money isn't the issue for Khan. He just doesn't know what he's doing.

Isiah from Little Chute, WI
I've been a Packers fan my entire life, but if the Packers play the Cowboys to go to the Super Bowl, I kind of want the Cowboys to win, and if the game is played in Green Bay, I think McCarthy's team will be tougher and I think they will win. I don't know what it is but this team is rubbing me the wrong way. Maybe it's just because I'm an aspiring singer-songwriter and the State Farm commercials are making me feel sensitive.
I'd love to see a Packers-Cowboys playoff game.

Thomas from Wisconsin
It wasn’t that long ago it seemed Patrick Mahomes would have a Brady-like dominance over his division. Now, with Herbert in the equation, winning the division isn’t a sure thing going forward anymore. I can’t recall any great quarterback in the recent era to have another one in their division. I know it’s still early on Herbert, but could those two be headed for one of the better rivalries in the NFL?
The AFC is loaded with good young quarterbacks. The AFC North has three of them. The AFC East has the potential for four.

Cliff from Jacksonville, FL
I've lived in Jacksonville since 1983, was an original Jaguars season ticket owner, and one of the major problems with the franchise as I see it is the insistence on trying to please Gators fans. The Tebow story lasted from 2006 right up to this season and is probably still not over. There have been numerous high-round draft picks wasted on unworthy former Florida players, some of which were traded up to obtain. Now this Meyer fiasco. I know you knew it when you were here: Jacksonville is a college football town and will always be.
You don't change that identity by pandering to it. You change it by winning your way. Give me that team. I'll fix it real fast. It's simple. I'd hire good people, and if you spend every day working with coaches and personnel people, you'll know who the good people are. If you're out riding around on your yacht, you don't have a clue.

Douglas from Binghamton, NY
What do you make of the Giants? Could the Steelers be heading down the same road? I am surprised by both teams' lack of physicality.
The Giants have drafted high enough long enough for it to be producing results. I expect the Steelers to begin picking high in the order next spring. A team's name doesn't make it physical; its players do.

Tyler from Green Bay, WI
I did a quick Google search of Tom Stabile. I did not find much information besides a video of his acceptance speech he gave after he was accepted into the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Can you share any stories of Tom Stabile? Stabile seems to be a great leader of men. I could not help but listen to the entire speech.
Tom was a newly-hired assistant coach when I was a senior in high school. He was also an outstanding baseball player and we played together on a Tri-County team one summer. Sports were clearly at the center of Tom's life, as they were at the center of mine. Thirty-some years later, when I was in Jacksonville, I got word one of the game officials was asking about me. I knew right away who it was. We connected the next time he was in town. When I was in Green Bay, Mike McCarthy stopped me one day and said, "Your buddy screwed us on a call yesterday." I said, "Tom is one of us, Mike." I got a sour look back. Tom is someone who's given his life to sports. He was totally dedicated to officiating. It became his passion. It's that way for all of the game officials.

Josh from Madison, WI
For a rebuilding team to move on from the past and forge a new winning identity with fresh but unproven players, where does it start? The coach? Do you need a linchpin veteran player or two to anchor them during the tumultuous change of a rebuild?
You need a personnel director who collects talented players for a coach with a stable personality and a commitment to building and developing a young football team. I'm describing Jack Vainisi and Vince Lombardi, Art Rooney Jr. and Chuck Noll, and Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy, among other partnerships that transformed losing teams into winning teams. They share a vision and they are dogged in their pursuit of it.

Dan from Kewaskum, WI
Wouldn't it be something if the Packers couldn't acquire Stephon Gilmore because they spent resources trading for Randall Cobb?
You mean, they couldn't acquire a premium-position player because they had traded for a dime-a-dozen player?

Paul from San Antonio, TX
If a team has multiple injuries at key positions and those players go to IR, I assume those players are still being paid. Does the phrase "you pay it, you cap it" still apply? If a team needs more players to replace the talent lost, how do they go about keeping under the cap?
You re-structure a contract.

Jake from Eden Prairie, MN
The Packers landed Jaylon Smith. I guess help is on the way. Is this the new standard way of doing business in the NFL?
Patching is very much a part of personnel management in the salary cap era, but is help really on the way? We don't know for sure it is. Even if it is, what's its cost? Will the immediate help a veteran provides result in the departure of a young player who develops into a long-term player somewhere else? James Harrison was cut by the Steelers, signed by the Ravens, cut by the Ravens and then re-signed by the Steelers. What if the Ravens had stuck with him? "Help is not on the way" is more a philosophy than it is a prediction.

John from Brookfield, WI
Would your opinion of the Seahawks; uniforms have been different when you were younger?
I like colorful uniforms; I always have. I also like iconic uniforms such as the Packers', but the Seahawks have never really settled on a design that represents a particular identity, so I'm OK with the road-construction uniforms they wore last night.

Bob from Houston, TX
Has Aaron Donald lost weight? If he has, is that better or worse for his position?
Does it matter? Nothing's changed. He dominates the game: Seven tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, a pass-defensed and three quarterback hits, of which one hit knocked Russell Wilson out of the game. He also blew up a fourth-and-two play by standing up the blocker and shoving him backward into the ball carrier. Why would the Seahawks run at him? I felt like I was watching Donald at the Senior Bowl again.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Here are my all-important Week 5 power rankings:
1. Cardinals -- New power in the league.
2. Bills -- Winning big.
3. Bucs -- Lucky win.
4. Rams -- Just when you think they're for real...
5. Ravens -- Gaining momentum.
6. Packers -- Happy times.
7. Chiefs -- Mahomes is the best.
8. Browns -- Not there yet.
9. Cowboys -- Chance to take control.
10. Chargers -- Team to watch.
11. 49ers -- Something's missing.
12. Raiders -- Might've been overrated.
13. Broncos -- Need more offense.
14. Saints -- Seeking their true level.
15. Panthers -- Darnold looks great!
16. Seahawks -- Wilson is still their heartbeat.
17. Titans -- Lack consistency.
18. Bengals -- Contender or pretender?
19. Colts -- Quality win.
20. Dolphins -- Do something!
21. Washington -- Rivera is their rudder.
22. Patriots -- Growing pains.
23. Vikings -- Average at best.
24. Eagles -- Hurts isn't the problem.
25. Bears -- Worst 2-2 team in the league.
26. Steelers -- Najee Harris needs to lead them.
27. Giants -- Tired of losing.
28. Lions -- Not tired of losing.
29. Jets -- Rookie Wilson scores first big win.
30. Falcons -- Poor Matt Ryan.
31. Texans -- It's going to get worse.
32. Jaguars -- The coach is an embarrassment.

Aiden from Jacksonville, FL
When you look at the Jags, do you start to think Khan truly doesn’t care that much about winning?
I get the strong sense he doesn't know how to win. He's hired poorly.

Leandro from Lexington, KY
Is there anything interesting to be said about the smile and nod between Tomlin and Rodgers? To me it was the most enjoyable and human broadcast moment of the season so far.
Rodgers was in a light and engaging mood on Sunday. It's a mood that works well for him. Of his many moods, the one that bodes worst is his sullen/pouty mood. The moodiness is probably why Ted Thompson described Rodgers as a complicated fellow.

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
How would coach Vic handle being down multiple scores in the final few minutes of a game? Would you run the clock out or take shots at the end zone?
You exhaust every opportunity to win, but you never recklessly or unnecessarily put your players in danger of injury.

Tyler from Green Bay, WI
Have you ever had the chance to interview an NFL official? It would be great to hear their side of the story.
Former NFL official Tom Stabile was one of my high school coaches. We spoke often.

Conor from Milwaukee, WI
I just like the way you Pittsburgh folk think about sports. I always loved a McCarthy press conference, your columns, editorials and blogs, and what McAfee is doing as well. I don't love talking to or listening to fellow Packers fans that much; it's always a circular conversation. Yinzers tell the truth.
The game means more to us because we invented it.

Craig from Weare, NH
Vic, I'm still banned, but I can still ask questions! I heard there is a small pocket sewn into Aaron Jones' jersey to hold his father's ashes. Isn't there something in the NFL rules that prohibits this?
Isn't there something in the public health code that prohibits this?

Pat from Seneca, SC
The Steelers have been a consistently good team for a very long time. However, the AFC is currently loaded with QB talent, while Pittsburgh’s future at the position is murky at best. The short term future does not look good. Would GM Vic completely blow it up now (try to trade a WR or three) and try to re-tool for 2-3 years from now?
That's easier said than done. The Steelers are in the first phase of rebuilding. It's marked by salary cap and roster cleansing. The second phase will be the selection and development of a new quarterback. If it's all executed without missteps, they can become a contender again in 3-4 years; that's the logical timeline. The last time they did this, Roethlisberger inherited a ready-made team and he was an instant success. It's not logical to expect the same thing to happen again. They have a defense that'll keep them competitive. If they get any kind of push up front, they have a rookie running back who could become their new star, return the Steelers to their true identity and provide the balance they need to be effective in the passing game. They're starting four rookies and two second-year players on offense, and they'll have a clean cap in 2022. I like rebuilding. It's always interested me.

David from Broward County, FL
When will Shad Khan make a good front office/head coach hiring decision? Will he realize right now he made a huge mistake with Meyer and stop the nonsense? Hopefully, he seeks sound counsel.
When will he speak? A prepared statement is meaningless. For all we know, Urban Meyer wrote that statement the Jaguars released on Tuesday. The Jaguars appear to be rudderless, and that's the worst part of all of this. John Mara said of his Giants two weeks ago, "I'd boo, too," and then they went to New Orleans and upset the Saints. That's the kind of strong leadership the Jaguars are missing. Wayne Weaver would not have sat idly by. He was never an absentee owner.

Mike from Columbus, GA
What can be done to speed up college football games?
Stopping the clock to spot the ball after a first down is the main culprit; the final two minutes of games are taking too long to complete.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI
I was extremely impressed with Najee Harris. What are your thoughts? Is he a Steeler running back?
He's got power and pop. He's exactly the kind of running back they like. They need to get some movement up front so he can get to the defense before the defense gets to him.

Justin from Waukesha, WI
The Chargers' arrow is pointing up. Herbert looks like "The Man."
Nothing is better than being a team at the start of a run. It's like the first day of summer vacation.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Richard from Clearwater, MN
Do you chalk it up to wanting to stay aggressive, or is it really as simple as the Packers only want to throw to win as why they refuse to run the ball to bleed the clock?
When I joined packers.com in 2011, I routinely got complaints about the Packers lacking killer instinct and trying to kill the clock instead of running up the score. I explained it was the way the pro game was played; just win the game and get to the next game without injury. Now, I'm getting the opposite complaints. It's still just win, baby. The Packers won. They played well. It was about as I expected. The Steelers played hard but were overmatched. What's happened to the Steelers is what happens when you don't get the big guys on offense. The Steelers have only drafted seven offensive linemen in the last nine years, and none higher than the third round. Why hasn't anyone mentioned that neglect in defense of Ben Roethlisberger? I have repeatedly said you have to get the big guys early, and often. This is what happens when you don't do that. I think Kevin Colbert has done an outstanding job of keeping that team at the top of the league, but his track record in drafting offensive linemen is a significant failure.

Anthony from Pyeongtaek, South Korea
What a boring game. Just dragged on forever. Neither team seemed interested in winning it. I thought your reports of Roethlisberger’s demise were greatly exaggerated, but I was wrong. But then Rodgers looked like he wanted to match him. And neither team wanted to run the ball consistently, when they could. The only thing I ask is would trading Love to the Steelers make everyone happy?
Your expectations are too high.

Clark from Muskegon, IL
What impact did the Joe Haden phantom offsides call have on this game?
I thought it was an iffy call that went the Packers' way. It might've made a difference, but the better team won.

Dave from Jacksonville, FL
Did you see Urban’s lap dance? Horrible look for the Jaguars organization. I hope he resigns with a headache. The drama will never end with this guy.
I was outraged when I found out he elected to stay in Ohio instead of traveling home with his team after a game he described as a heartbreaking loss. Tom Coughlin would've gone from the airport to his office and had 10 players and coaches in and out of his office by 8 a.m. the next day. I question Coach Meyer's commitment. Vic to Shad Khan: Do something!

Anthony from Jamestown, ND
Forgive me if I'm mistaken, Vic, but I think I recall you being high on Carson Wentz early in his career. What caused his downturn?
He hasn't been the same following the knee injury in Los Angeles. I suspect he's the victim of eroding skills, but he played well yesterday against a good defense. Maybe Frank Reich can resurrect Wentz' career.

David from Rochester, MN
I make soups on Sundays for football and I figured I'd look to see if there are any Pittsburgh soups since the Packers are playing the Steelers, and I landed on Pittsburgh wedding soup, but the recipe just looks like Italian wedding soup. Any insight as to how it is different?
No. Just eat it over the sink.

Jack from Middleton, WI
How would you know if Chatty becomes better at broadcasting with the tube always muted?
I muted the first half and listened to the second half. I liked the first half better, but I'll give Romo credit for acknowledging all of the chipping the Steelers had to do to give Roethlisberger any time to throw. When you have to chip to pass protect, you lack receivers downfield. How's that for a double whammy? The inability to protect the quarterback creates a cascade of problems.

Maxwell from Milwaukee, WI
Is Mac Jones the guy?
He's a technician. You can win with him, but I don't think he's a tilt-the-field guy.

Josh from DePere, WI
Rodgers Tuesday talks provide me with entertainment. This week he sang Coach Tomlin's praises. Specifically, he said he likes his postgame comments. This is coming two weeks after he hung LaFleur out to dry for his postgame comments. Unreal! I’ve never witnessed QB play at the level he’s playing these past couple of years. However, the Packers should cut their losses and move on after this year. It seems LaFleur has demoted himself to a puppy role, seeking Rodgers' approval at all costs. I can’t imagine the dysfunction Rodgers creates in the organization. What do you think about Rodgers' personality and how it impacts the team, or doesn’t it matter?
Rodgers is "The Little Girl with a Curl." When he is good, he is very, very good, and when he is bad he is horrid. Rodgers is the best quarterback I've ever covered, but there's a disconnect on which I can't put my finger. I dismissed this disconnect for a lot of years as unfair criticism, but I surrendered to it following last season's NFC title game. The Packers should not have lost that game. That was Rodgers' moment to take the spotlight away from Tom Brady. Why didn't he win that game? Why didn't he run against what appeared to be an open field to the end zone? Why did his coach quit on him on fourth down? And then came the postgame press conference and that inappropriate "beautiful mystery" baloney. That was the end of the line for me. I applaud Mark Murphy's patience and dedication to get that one more title. Maybe this is the year.

Dan from Rapid City, SD
For what it’s worth, the McAfee podcast is a refreshingly positive take on sports with a good bit of humor mixed in. The curmudgeon shtick is tiresome. Quit patting yourself on the back.
OK.

Jack from White Plains, NY
I heard a commentator on a Steelers website contend Roethlisberger's decision to sign and take a pay cut did a favor for the team and enabled the Steelers to sign Watt. Do you agree with that kind of assessment?
Restructuring Roethlisberger's contract allowed the Steelers to avoid what would've been a big dead money hit in 2021, and that helped the Steelers sign Watt to a new contract, but others means of making room for Watt would've been available to the Steelers had Roethlisberger retired or forced the Steelers to cut him. The Steelers brought Roethlisberger back because an heir apparent is not in place. Roethlisberger is wrongly taking the fall for the Steelers' woes. The Steelers are in rebuilding. This year isn't about replacing Roethlisberger. This year is about fixing their offensive line. Didn't we know that before the season began?

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
The Jaguars trade Jalen Ramsey for two picks that turned into K'Lavon Chaisson and Travis Etienne. Who won that trade?
The Rams got a guy they needed to win now. The Jaguars didn't do enough with the picks they got. All of that could change, but that's the way it appears right now.

Mike from McFarland, WI
What are your thoughts, if any, on today's "Ask Vic?"
What if I said just to get the hell away from you guys? Could you handle it?

​"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Kevin from Albuquerque, NM
The Bears bought property in the suburbs and apparently want a domed stadium. I'm a Wisconsin-raised Packers fan but isn't this a sad course of events? One of the old-school, black and blue NFL teams leaving their historic stadium by the lake for a dome in the suburbs? I would have put big money on the Packers, Bears and Steelers never having a domed stadium, but I guess the dollars from hosting March Madness is too much for the Halas family.
It's not just March Madness. It's a Big 10 title game and a whole lot more. All stadiums eventually have to be replaced. As venerable and timeless as Lambeau Field is, I can see the day when it, too, is replaced by a domed stadium. The comforts and economics of it are undeniable.

Cindy from Los Angeles, CA
Vic, I like to have friends over for games, but one of my friends has truly lost perspective. She is angry for three straight hours, ranting about every missed tackle or incompletion. When the Packers are playing well, she rants about all the times in the past when they did not play so well. She screams obscenities at the TV whenever it shows Gutekunst or the defensive coordinator (doesn't matter who it is). What would you say to someone like that in your house?
I wouldn't invite her back.

Adam from Madison, WI
The First Amendment and freedom of the press provide us more freedom than any other amendment. The second? The government could mow us down in a day. Without reporters asking leaders questions, how would we have the access to ask?
How else would we have known Mr. Clean is a cure for Covid?

Conor from Milwaukee, WI
For what it's worth, I almost completely fell asleep during this week's "Aaron Rodgers Tuesday," it was so boring. There's a fine line between asking the right questions and just being a cheerleader for a player. I wanted Pat to ask, "Why did you throw it three straight times, instead of running the ball while the clock ticked away?" I'd have loved a refreshing Vic question; you always had good questions, maintained your integrity and had a great feel for how to ask what you wanted to know. I miss you the most on the pregame radio show.
I remain infamous for once asking Greg Lloyd, "What are your thoughts, if any, on the upcoming season?" I immediately sensed tension among the other media, before Lloyd responded with, "Just to get the hell away from you guys." I always prided myself in my ability to get the truth.

Jesse from Bethlehem, PA
Do you recall many click-bait journalists or media outlets prior to Twitter, or is this all a function of social media's ascension?
We didn't have the platforms to tease stories and drive readership as today's sports writers do. I grew up with the AP Stylebook and it instructed us to use a person's first and last name the first time we referred to them in a story, and only their last name every time after that. In the digital era, something known as SEO (Search Engine Optimization) instructs website writers to use the first and last name of a big-name player in every reference to him because that helps bring that story to the top of search engines. The AP Stylebook is about proper form; SEO is about sales. Newspapers sold subscriptions over the phone and by door-to-door canvasing, and they were verified by a sacrosanct publication known as Audit Bureau of Circulation. Websites use algorithms and tricks to inflate their readership claims, and they remain unsubstantiated. For example, a story on the top 50 anything often makes the reader click on "Next" to go from 50 to 49 to 48, etc. Every time you click on "Next" the website gets another visit. It's one story and one reader but with a potential for 50 clicks. It's pure deceit.

Leif from Frederic, WI
The Steelers have had a HOF QB for Tomlin’s entire head coaching career. The Rooneys have scapegoated Arians, LeBeau, Haley, Fichtner and, coming soon, Canada. Do you feel now that father time has caught up to Roethlisberger the (Steelers) finally put some blame at the top?
This year and next will go a long way toward defining Mike Tomlin as a coach, and could even determine his job security. Rebuilding is the bridge in a coach's career and it relies on the ability to transition from one quarterback to another. Bill Belichick is in that bridge stage.

Neil from Cheddar, UK
Thank you, Vic, for demonstrating how click bait works and how disrespectful it can be. Why didn’t Ben retire last year?
He was probably afraid to not be a football player.

Robert from Huntsville, AL
I saw Pittsburgh had almost 11,000 no-shows on Sunday. How many would that have been if they lost 18 games in a row?
The no-shows will increase as the losses mount, and we'll know exactly how many no-shows there'll be because the Steelers are one of only two teams in the league (I believe it's still that way) who announce actual attendance instead of tickets distributed. Why announce tickets distributed? It's the same for every Steelers home game. Hey, tell me something I don't know.

John from Sheboygan, WI
Your comment regarding Big Ben's current situation reminds me of Bart Starr's last year. It's painful.
Tittle's cracked head. Marino lost his last game 62-7. Unitas was losing 35-0 at halftime when he was benched. Jim Kelly left on a cart. I could go on and on. If you don't quit on the game, the game will eventually quit on you.

Maxwell from Milwaukee, WI
How do you "block a toilet seat"?
You sit on it and block its opening. If you had asked my high school coach that question, he would've said, "Maxwell, are you the dumbest (select an ethnicity) in Natrona?" The correct answer is, "Yes, sir." The coach would've loved your answer so much he might've cut practice short.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
Is Za'Darius Smith's injury the fix the run-defense needed?
If you put a weak run defender on the field, the opponent is going to run at him. They won't let you hide him. If you shade to his side, they'll run to the other side. Smith is a terrible liability in run support.

Pat from Collierville, TN
What is the best advice you can give someone who has just been diagnosed with cancer?
Maintain your routine, if possible. I never missed a day of work while I was going through chemo. It became my "Red Badge of Courage," not for others to admire but for me to gain strength. You are in a battle that is very personal. I was blindsided by my first chemo treatment, but it never happened again. Get your game face on. You must stay strong.

John from Austin, TX
Regarding your all-important power rankings: Rams over Bucs, Chargers over Chiefs, Packers over 49ers all make sense. How in the world are the Seahawks (with their arrow pointing straight down) ranked ahead of the Vikings?
Mystiques die hard.

Melonia from Washington
Of the 2021 Ryder Cup players, who would you want to sign your golf cap?
I'm not a fan of autographs. They have to have special meaning to me. There are only two on the wall in my study: Bill Mazeroski and Fred Taylor. Buzz Nutter's is in a box somewhere. Be that as it may, if there's one player from the Ryder Cup I admire it's Viktor Hovland. He conducts himself as a man should. He plays with a smile on his face and joy in his heart. He is a true sportsman.

Renzo from Lima, Peru
Vic, you said of the Lions, “One day their luck will change.” I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Sanders and Calvin Johnson curses. I don’t really buy into all that stuff, but it’s starting to get there. Also, what should the Lions do to fix the situation with Calvin Johnson?
Curses are stories that can create anxiety in a weak-willed team or franchise. As for Johnson, what did he ever win? Lions fans need to turn their focus back to the Bobby Layne/Joe Schmidt days. They are the symbols of Lions greatness. They were tough guys playing for a tough team in a tough town. The Lions need to get back to that.

Todd from Prairie du Chien, WI
Speaking of if, I wonder if Gutekunst and McCarthy ever visited and if so what the content of their conversation was.
Of course they visited. They were GM and head coach in 2018 and Coach McCarthy supported Brian Gutekunst's promotion. I can tell you their conversation went like this: "We've got two years to turn this roster over." They each knew what they were facing.

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, I know it’s 19 straight, but that was a gut punch. That one was harder than any of them.
Why? This Jaguars team isn't going anywhere. This season is about all of the seasons after this season. There's improvement. They're competitive. Enjoy the small victories.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Here are my all-important Week 4 power rankings:
1. Rams -- Stafford makes the difference.
2. Bills -- Beginning to roll.
3. Bucs -- Brady vs. Belichick.
4. Raiders -- Getting it done.
5. Ravens -- Didn't deserve to win.
6. Packers -- Team of drama.
7. Broncos -- Interesting.
8. Saints -- Schedule favorable for next few weeks.
9. Chargers -- They've arrived.
10. 49ers -- Left too much time on the clock.
11. Chiefs -- This is deteriorating.
12. Browns -- Road tests at Vikings and at Chargers.
13. Cowboys -- Looking like a contender.
14. Cardinals -- At the Rams this week.
15. Panthers -- Arrow pointing straight up.
16. Titans -- They mirror their coach.
17. Bengals -- Burrow is all the way back.
18. Seahawks -- Arrow pointing straight down.
19. Dolphins -- Good defense wasted.
20. Washington -- This could get ugly.
21. Patriots -- Belichick will have them ready to play.
22. Vikings -- Impressive comeback.
23. Eagles -- Now they get the Chiefs.
24. Colts -- Wentz experiment failing.
25. Texans -- They need to move Watson.
26. Steelers -- Long season ahead.
27. Lions -- One day their luck will change.
28. Bears -- Fields was terrible.
29. Falcons -- Washington, Jets, bye.
30. Giants -- Boooo!
31. Jaguars -- Moving up!
32. Jets -- They earned it.

Ben from El Paso, TX
What are your top five trash talk lines for taunting the dog?
When Adams got El Kabonged, I got in Etta Mae's face and yelled, "He hit him like a dog." She growled at me. She's so sensitive.

Evan from Harbor Springs, MI
Everyone is saying the Steelers’ season is over. They have certainly played poorly but just two weeks ago they pulled the biggest upset of the week in Buffalo. I don’t see the playoffs in the cards for them this season, but I’ll be surprised if they no-show in Green Bay this weekend.
The Steelers are at their lowest point in the Roethlisberger era. Their offensive line couldn't block a toilet seat. Big Ben barely gets two seconds to throw before he's hit. He can't move and he's playing behind an offensive line that makes him move, and that's a bad combination. He shouldn't have come back. Dan Marino's last game was a 62-7 playoff loss. Roethlisberger had no reason to be ashamed for losing to the Browns in last season's playoffs. The Steelers play a murderous schedule and I get the sense they're headed for a top 10 pick, and it's likely they'll spend it on a quarterback. This is what rebuilding looks like. Nobody wants it, but every team eventually faces it, even the Patriots. The Steelers won't mail it in this week, but it should be a lopsided win for the Packers.

Pete from Los Angeles, CA
Vic, how on earth are Adam Shefter and Robert Kraft investors in a gambling app? How does ESPN allow it, how does the NFL allow it? The conflicts involved are insane and cannot possibly be worth the risk to those institutions, can they?
It's a money grab. Does anybody care?

Dan from Varna, Bulgaria
Vic, I have been Jaguars fan for a long time but recently the way that organization is run is driving me away from football in general. I feel that since Khan purchased the team it's been mistake after mistake on all levels, with the most recent one being pairing a rookie QB with a rookie NFL head coach. Do you see a way the fan base for this organization can experience better days?
Bradshaw was sacked for a safety in his first pro game and spent his rookie season alternating with Terry Hanratty. Elway was benched at halftime in his first pro game; I know because I covered it. The Cowboys were 1-15 in Aikman's rookie season. The 49ers were 2-14 in Montana's rookie season. Lawrence, Wilson, Fields and Jones are all struggling in their rookie seasons. Why would you expect the Jaguars to turn it around within the first three weeks of a rebuilding year? 

Jensen from Houston, TX
I appreciate your silent watching approach and your pride in the unemotional press boxes. When you were watching the Packers-49ers silently, did you feel any excitement about the possible 37-second drive to win?
My interest was heightened. 

Steve from Rosemount, MN
Vic, what did you see out of the Packers' young line on Sunday night?
Gutekunst gets it.

Eric from Hudson, WI
Your takes on "jockocracy" are funny. You clearly aren’t biased at all. I would 100 percent of the time rather see a player let their guard down a bit and just have a conversation with someone instead of having to reply to some mundane question from a reporter they most likely have no interest in talking to. I have never once in my life seen a reporter ask a coach or player a question that meant anything to me. Their play on the field tells me all the stories and answers all the questions I need to know. I enjoy watching Rodgers on McAfee’s show. I’ve watched Rodgers' postgame presser maybe twice in my life. Reporters questions after games are repetitive and gag worthy. Just write your little stories.
OK.

David from San Francisco, CA
Vic, with all due respect, if you don’t understand the widespread mistrust in media and institutions, you should not be commenting on it. Your lack of awareness in the quality of life of younger generations suggestions you’re completely detached from modern American reality.
OK.

Ron from Bellaire, MI
In the Lions game, the play prior to the winning field goal, should a delay of game been called?
Yes.

David from San Francisco, CA
I mean, the Chiefs had the ball last twice and lost, so I disagree with your commenter.
OK.

Zibi from Krakow, Poland
Your inbox must be full of Green Bay cheering, but I have a different question for you. Are these LA teams for real?
Yes, and one of them for many years to come.

Jeremy from Sioux Falls, SD
Why are football fans so obsessed with the word if? If we hadn't kicked a field goal, if they had thrown a flag, if the Packers had drafted Watt. Any time I hear the word if, what follows is a state of the world that does not exist. Why are we so obsessed with thinking about alternative outcomes? Why can't we accept what already is?
We're bored? Here's an if to ponder: What if the 49ers had run two more plays before scoring and there wasn't enough time left on the clock for the Packers to rally? Rodgers would be getting killed in this column this week for those three consecutive incomplete passes at a time when the Packers needed to kill the clock. Instead, he's being praised for his heroics. In this case, playing the if game gives us an understanding of how fragile and fickle perspective can be.

Dustin from Chicago, IL
The Bucs are maximizing their chances at Super Bowls now. How do they avoid the train?
You do the best you can until it becomes obvious it's time to blow it up. The Patriots blew it up last year. The Steelers are doing it this year and they'll have a lot of cap room next year. It happens to all teams and it'll happen to the Packers. Recovery time is determined by the new quarterback. If you hit on him, good times are just around the corner. If you miss on him, bad times will continue.

Chase from Verona, WI
In recent memory, what is the worst addition to the rule book? I would say roughing the passer changes, which have made the game infuriating to watch when they're called.
Assisting the runner. It's cheap and dangerous.

Bill from Newnan, GA
The Steelers made a mistake bringing Ben back, so why not make the switch at QB? Is it not that simple?
His next injury will be his last and, given the state of their offensive line, injury is inevitable. At that point, I would expect the Steelers to to put him on IR and turn to Rudolph and Haskins. The mistake, in my opinion, is subjecting Roethlisberger to the criticism he's getting right now, which includes the demand he be benched. He's an easy target for the click-bait fan sites who can use his name and renown for bait. Stories about bad offensive lines don't get clicks. Stories about benching a great quarterback do.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

David from Rochester, MN
Rodgers demonstrated why he gets paid the big bucks. That was beautiful.
With :37 left on the clock, I knew the Packers would win. Rodgers had them right where he wanted them. No more running. Just throw to win. He did.

Andrew from Linden, VA
Hero ball doesn't win championships.
I disagree, but it also has to happen in the postseason.

Sal from Austin, TX
Is it me or was that a perfectly clean hit on Adams?
I thought it should've been penalized.

​Chris from Lexington, KY
Why is it illegal to trip the ball carrier?
It's a dangerous tactic. I covered a game in which Matt Bahr suffered a severe leg injury tripping a return man.

Isaac from Columbia, TN
The television broadcasts seem to be filling up with betting lines. What is your opinion of this increasing trend?
The risk that goes with letting gambling in the front door is enormous.

Dan from Madison, WI
Not that I'm complaining in this particular instance, but why is it now the last team with the ball always wins. It doesn't seem like that was always the case. Is it rule changes? Soft defense? Thirty-seven seconds is all they needed.
It's the way the league wants it. It doesn't like kneel-downs. It wants every second of every game to matter.

William from Maryville, WA
I think we may need a completely different defense. We are soft and I can't imagine how one fixes soft with the same players. I'm also beginning to believe the DC is not the right guy. OK, we just kicked a field goal to win, but I still don't feel good about the defense.
This has become Groundhog Day. Nobody is ever satisfied by the play of the defense. Let it go. The Packers win with offense. They win with the pass. That's what they do. Expect more of it.

Daniel from Green Bay, WI
What are your thoughts on the Packers’ defense? They had some good looks and certainly got gassed at times, but more of the 49ers; plays felt earned instead of defensive lapses, compared to previous games.
The thing I didn't like is all of the 49ers' 28 points were scored in a little more than half the game.

Evan from Racine, WI
Sometimes you win despite your DNA. With 7:48 left they launch it three straight times. It's DNA, you can't help yourself.
That's Packers football. That's how they play and that's how they win.

Steve from Redlands, CA
I enjoyed your time in Jacksonville. Does Trevor Lawrence remind you of any former NFL quarterback?
Jim Everett.

Chevin from Jacksonville, FL
I am 43 years old and about as forward-thinking and politically liberal as they come, but I tend to agree with Jeremy from Jacksonville with his comments about taunting poisoning the environment and the resulting contamination of the stands. The alcohol-drenched vitriol, flippant chest-thumping and sophomoric urge to live vicariously through every moment of an NFL game by today’s common fan, collectively, is what drove me away from a nearly 15-year season ticket purchasing streak. Fantasy football, sports betting, play-design analysis, commentary of every brand imaginable, fan experiences, mic’d up players, on-field player introductions, and on and on and on; enough is enough. I understand it’s all about the money, I just wish people would behave themselves and be more civil so I could sit, relax and watch, but I realize I am in a dying minority.
It's OK to be in a minority. I find myself living in a soundless sports world, and I like it. "I like to watch" has never been a more accurate statement, and when TV shows visuals of fans dressed in some kind of imbecilic garb intended to bring attention to themselves, I avert my eyes. Sometimes I even get up out of my chair and thump my chest or walk around the room looking angry; I might even taunt the dog. These childish antics, which include the drunken sots at the Ryder Cup chanting "USA, USA" and rudely cheering Europe's failures provide intelligent people with the opportunity to separate themselves from the brainless boobs on whom sports prey for profit.

Macie from Eau Claire, WI
How do you get by with so few entertainment options?
Why do you require so many? I enjoy sitting quietly and visiting with my thoughts.

James from Liverpool, NY
Why does Rodgers struggle against Cover 2? A quick Google search gives you an endless list of results on how to beat it. What's the problem?
Cover 2 means an extra defender in coverage. No quarterback wants to see that and I doubt Rodgers struggles against it any more than any other quarterback does. The best way to beat it is to run the ball and force the defense to get that extra defender up near the line of scrimmage in run support. That's what Rodgers struggles to do.

Mike from Somerset, WI
Pat McAfee has changed the landscape of sports shows. He is providing a platform that seems to be a reaction to the lack of trust with the mainstream media narrative. He is continuing to attract many big names to his shows, giving it credibility. Is this a platform that could bring some of the old-school relationships back between the media and players?
He's changed nothing. His show is just another example of the jockocracy: players interviewing players. They treat each other as members of a conspiracy to defeat and discredit the media that would treat them with critical commentary.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
What are your thoughts on Roethlisberger?
I went on record as hoping he would retire and avoid what is happening to him right now. He's playing behind an offensive line that can't give him more than two seconds to throw the ball, and the problem is exacerbated by his inability to move. He's not only an old quarterback, he's an old quarterback on a bad knee and it's painful to watch him get hit play after play. When he had an open receiver and time to set this feet and throw, he looked like the Ben of old, but that was during garbage time against a three-man rush. He's not the Ben of old, he's an old Ben and this isn't going to end well. The Steelers made a mistake in bringing him back. It was time to swallow hard and move on.

Paul from Cumming, GA
What did the Lions do to deserve that?
They allowed a long completion with the game on the line. The modern game demands you make one more play.

Bruce from Washburn, WI
New Badgers helmet logo has been changed from “W Forward” to “W Backward.”
Dan from Madison nailed it.

"Ask Vic" is published on M-W-F through the regular season.

Adam from Madison, WI
Can the Jags ever be new with those colors? They are stuck in 1995. I remember being in high school thinking the colors were great. That isn't a good thing.
The Jags and Panthers were branded by NFL Properties. Frankly, I thought Properties did a poor job of it. Those aren't colors, they're eye shadow. I would've liked to have seen the Jaguars in dark blue and gold, with the idea there's a huge Navy presence in Jacksonville. To answer your question more directly, Coach Noll said geography has nothing to do with losing, and I think it follows that neither does a team's colors.

Dan from Madison, WI
I'm picking the Badgers to lose on Saturday. Help me with the points. They lose by over 21?
No, I think it'll be close.

Maxwell from Milwaukee, WI
It's their first year with a new defensive coordinator. Shouldn't we postpone a little judgment?
I like the restraint, but patience isn't the theme for this season.

Sharon from Arbor Vitae, WI
Vic, on Tuesday Coach LaFleur said that during the game he told new defensive coordinator Joe Barry to make specific adjustments. Barry doesn't have the most impressive resume and I don't recall LaFleur doing this with Pettine, at least not publicly. Is this a concern, LaFleur being more of a leader, or something else?
He's the head coach and he should do whatever he believes is necessary to win the game because he's responsible for the outcome. Be that as it may, I'm more than a little surprised he shared that information. It invites criticism of Barry.

Tony from Waunakee, WI
What football league do you, or did you, find most interesting other than the NFL?
It's clearly the AFL. The pressure it put on the stodgy NFL to modernize changed pro football and launched the league's post-merger popularity as much as Johnny Unitas christened the TV era 10 years earlier.

Al from Wausau, WI
Vic, I see you said you think "Kevin King is improving and he would interest you in free agency." Is this sarcasm or am I missing something you see? His hips are a real concern right now and he is always playing the pass from 3-4 yards behind. How can the Packers continue to put him out there?
Did you see him defend that pass in the end zone on Monday night? If you can do it once, you can do it every time.

Richard from Clearwater, MN
What's your take on the upcoming Packers-49ers game this week?
I expect a nail-biter.

Jerry from Orlando, FL
Are you putting Devin Hester in the Hall of Fame?
Does it really matter? The Hall of Fame has been irreparably cheapened by too many inductions. Too much marketing; they lost control of the product.

Paul from Cumming, GA
How does a particular trait make its way into a team's DNA?
It can be the result of the personality of the ownership, the fan base or both. It can also be the result of tradition, or it can also be the result of one great moment in time. The Ice Bowl forever branded Green Bay as the Frozen Tundra and made cold-weather football the Packers' DNA, even though the Rodgers-era Packers haven't been a great cold-weather team.

Bill from Pittsburgh, PA
Vic, I recently saw some incredible footage of the Immaculate Reception shot from the Raiders sideline; really cool. What are your memories of covering that game?
I saw that film footage a couple of years ago. Apparently, somebody found it lying around in the Raiders offices. What struck me in the footage is Art Shell alerting the defense, "Watch 72!" Offensive lineman Gerry Mullins was 72. He was a tight end at USC and the Steelers had used him earlier in the season on a tackle-eligible play. It's an amazing sideline perspective. There's an audibly collective moan from the crowd as the ball is knocked away, followed by an explosive roar as Franco Harris catches the ball. The Raiders' stunned reaction along the sideline is chilling. Talk about a lost treasure! What I remember most from that game is Referee Fred Swearingen walking from the first base dugout to midfield, turning to face the press box, pausing and then raising his arms to signal touchdown. No explanation, just touchdown. That's real drama. Today's long-winded diatribes are a diagnosis, not a decision.

Brett from Janesville, WI
What did you think of the Packers' run game on Monday night, before it was abandoned?
It was controlling the tempo of the game, but that's not the tempo at which the Packers are comfortable playing.

Bob from Devils Lake, WI
Vic, have you had a chance to watch the Mannings on Monday Night Football. I found it entertaining. Random football strategy and insight but not in a Tony Romo playing Nostradamus kind of way.
It's just not my kind of thing. I just want to see the game. I don't need more entertainment than the game provides, and I don't need someone to tell me why or how something is happening. I invite critical commentary, but it's being squeezed out by play-design analysis.

Dave from Savage, MN
Do you have any experience with Whistling Straits? Any thoughts on the Ryder Cup?
I've never played Whistling Straits. I played the other Kohler courses and they're outstanding. I love the Whistling Straits visual and I'm looking forward to the Ryder Cup, but I'm not a fan of the "USA, USA" chant and taunting. We're led to believe it's the charm of golf nationalism, but I believe it's crass behavior in a gentleman's sport. It's become trendy for today's players to ask, "What would Arnie have done?" I can assure you, Arnie would not have fist-pumped his opponent.

Jeremy from Jacksonville, FL
Taunting poisons the environment. Those toxic displays rapidly bleed into the stands. Mixed with alcohol, it creates a very unpleasant gameday experience. I'm all for being loud, creating a homefield advantage and all of that, but over the past few years it has been a much more civilized experience in an actual bar than it has been in a stadium. I hope the league succeeds in its efforts to clean up this stuff. I think it would go away overnight if, at least on offense, the penalty was 10 yards from the previous spot, replay the down.
The only penalty that's going to work is the ire of a strong, respected and job-secure head coach. Vic to head coaches: Teach your players well.