Sean Payton got too cute

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Fabio from London, UK
A colossal win, especially without Davante and Kenny. Old friend Taysom and Payton helped a bit in a crucial moment, but Aaron and the offense were nearly flawless. But sometimes the secondary was asleep on Sanders and the run defense still does not convince me. Kamara’s touchdown in the third quarter was humiliating. Should we be worried in the long run?
There's nothing new I can tell you about the Packers. Rodgers' command of the action is so effortless I found his smiling following yet another tight end delay completion to be nearly unsportsmanlike. If you like scheme football executed by a man whose talent for it and mastery of it are equal, the Packers are your kind of team. Should you worry about the defense? I think we all know the answer to that question.

Robby from Wisconsin Dells, WI
The Green Bay left tackle was shuffling his feet while in his stance. Should that have been penalized?
Coach Noll once referred to a Colts lineman as having St. Vitus Dance. Oh, the memories. To answer your question, as long as David Bakhtiari isn't judged to be assimilating a play, a little movement is allowed. I did notice, however, he would move his left foot forward just prior to the snap when the Packers were sliding and walling up to the right. Future opponents will see that on tape. He was tipping the play.

Kevin from Albuquerque, NM
The Packers are 3-0. Most of the remaining schedule seems beatable. Do I dare be excited?
Come on, Kevin. We're beyond that silliness in this column, right?

Sean from Aubrey, TX
How big was that fumble after failing on fourth down?
Sean Payton got too cute and it cost him the game. That was the perfect down and distance for Drew Brees. Why bring Taysom Hill into the game?

Mike from North Hudson, WI
Vic, in your opinion, what did we witness watching the Packers-Saints game?
I think we might've seen the end of the Saints as we've known them.

Pat from Collierville, TN
Do the Packers have a defense?
Cris Collinsworth said the Packers defense is built for shootouts. I'm still laughing at that one.

Pat from Seneca, SC
Does Nick Foles make the Bears a legitimate contender in the NFC?
The Packers have tough games coming up at the Bucs, Texans and 49ers, to name three. The Bears will have plenty of time to shape their identity before they face the Packers in the first of two big games. That's the best I can offer at this point.

Jim from Jenkintown, PA
It doesn’t feel the same running out of shotgun. Thoughts?
Shotgun, no. Pistol, yes.

Tim from Madison, WI
I never saw Marcus Allen play. What kind of player was he?
Graceful power.

Will from Julian, CA
We are both in our dotage; no disrespect intended. Do you find it liberating to be able to write about whatever you want, instead of just football? There must have been many times when you longed to do so but were constrained by your job description.
"Retirement Ask Vic" is, in effect, my memoirs. I think everybody needs to write their memoirs. It's a way of achieving closure to a life lived well.

Bill from Menominee, MI
Is it safe to say the scheme football we're witnessing in 2020 is helping devalue the QB position? Seems like most teams have a quarterback that's good enough or better to cause excitement. Bears were concerned, but they're (3-0). Patriots had nobody; they're just fine. Chargers starter goes down; put in the rookie. It seems as though the scheme is hiding the horses' faces on the carousel.
It's not scheme, it's the league's re-shaping of the game that has caused what you're describing. New rules and the player safety movement have made it easier to play quarterback. I don't think the position has been devalued, but I think a team can find the quarterback it needs in later rounds of the draft and in creative personnel ways. Gardner Minshew and Ryan Fitzpatrick are classic examples.

Tony from Green Bay, WI
I currently live in North Carolina and spent the last three weeks on a road trip to visit my family in Wisconsin. I had a conversation with my parents about racial inequality and they are convinced it does not exist. They spend a great deal of their time watching FOX. Is there anything I can say or do to help make them aware of this racial divide?
Throw a net over them, put them in chains, take them to a foreign country and sell them into slavery?

Matt from Verona, WI
Worry about everything, panic about nothing.
Worry is true accountability.

Paul from Apalachicola, FL
That home performance against an 0-2 team made me think: Maybe 3-13 can happen after all. Help is not on the way?
As I watched the game, I couldn't help but think the Jaguars are headed for a blow-it-up offseason.

Nail from San Diego, CA
What are your thoughts on what Kliff Klingsbury is doing in Arizona?
Mobile quarterbacks are the future of the game.

Brad from Spirit Lake, IA
On the stat sheet, a tie is obviously better than a loss, but what about in the locker room? Does it feel like a loss?
It feels like a tie, unless it was a must-win game.

Tom from Cambridge, MA
This Packers fan wants to know if you think the Mitchell Trubiski era is officially over.
Trubisky will be playing for another team in 2021, likely as a backup attempting to resurrect his career. I think the big question is: Will Nick Foles be the Bears' quarterback in '21?