The Patriots don't need Antonio Brown

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

Mike from Bridgeport, CT
It might be time to stop yelling "Duval" and start yelling "discipline." Could anyone have scripted a worse opening day in Jacksonville?
It looks bad. Change is in the air, again.

John from St. Augustine, FL
Father Time is no longer undefeated. Tom Brady doesn’t age.
Brady's passes were sharp, accurate and on time. I've never seen him look better.

Alex from Orlando, FL
Be straight with me, Vic. Is the Jags' season likely over?
If I'm Tom Coughlin, I'm now accepting trade offers for Jalen Ramsey. Let's start the bidding at two ones.

Tim from Lancaster, PA
Something stinks about Brown and the Patriots. Could this have all been orchestrated because the Steelers would never trade him to the Patriots?
If the Patriots offered the Steelers a first-round pick for Antonio Brown and the Steelers declined because they didn't want to have to play against him, as reported, the Steelers made a huge mistake. They are not a Super Bowl contender, as evidenced by last night's dreadful performance. Their receivers are slow and plodding and their defense continues to be subpar.

Mary from North Bay, Ontario
In Week 4 of last year, the Packers defense shut out the Bills. Rodgers' postgame presser was as snarly as he gets; this year a different story. What a difference a year makes. How long will the honeymoon last?
I, too, sense a new and fresh attitude. Mike McCarthy deserved as much.

Brent from Dubuque, IA
How well do you think Antonio Brown does for Tom and Bill this season?
When I saw Brown was signed by the Patriots, I thought to myself, "Do they really need him?" The answer is no, and that's why I'm not ready to concede this as being another genius move by the Patriots. The Patriots are accepting a major risk with Brown. He could become a distraction and threaten the Patriots' sharp focus on Bill Belichick's "just do your job" mantra. There's also the perception the Patriots are guilty of tampering. This may not end well and I don't think the Patriots needed to take the risk.

Stephen from Jacksonville, FL
With growing excitement for the 2019 season opener, I read “A look back at Jaguars opening days” on Saturday night. It brought me such joy to read your writings on jaguars.com again. I enjoyed it as much as any football article I’ve ever read, especially Fred’s quote about “the Bus." Thank you, Vic.
I'm at the stage of life that writing about historical events is a walk down memory lane. It was wonderful reconnecting with Fred Taylor, Tony Boselli and Jack Del Rio, and flipping through the pages of my memory. None of them have yellowed. I am rich!

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
What are your thoughts on the Packers' defense?
The Packers have young speed on defense. I think it has the potential to be dominant.

Elizabeth from Sylvania, OH
How much did Aaron Rodgers' attempted Hail Mary not reaching the end zone concern you? Rust from no preseason? Rust from collarbone surgery? Sign of age?
Aaron Rodgers is 35, a 15-year NFL veteran, two-time league MVP, Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP. Don't you think he knows by now how to properly throw a Hail Mary pass?

Rich from Apple Valley, MN
What are your thoughts on how Jon Gruden handled Antonio Brown's absurd behavior during the summer?
Gruden embarrassed himself with the whole ordeal, beginning with the trade that has now caused him to trade three draft picks for two troubled Steelers wide receivers, neither of whom has given the Raiders anything but angst. Mike Mayock needs to keep a distance from Gruden, lest Mayock go down the same drain Gruden is circling.

Luis from New York, NY
Vic, does it seem Rodgers has come into the habit of throwing off his back foot? It seems as if it's not limited to pressure situations.
I've noticed him doing more of it. It's Favre-like, and I sensed Favre doing more of it late in his career.

Oscar from Milwaukee, WI
What is it about Bill Belichick that lets him bring players in line where other coaches have failed?
Coaches of Belichick's esteem are intimidating -- Bill Parcells had that same quality -- but not all of Belichick's reclamation projects have been home runs. Corey Dillon was a hit, but Albert Haynesworth was a miss. The Patriots traded a fifth-round pick for Haynesworth, and then cut him after he got into a confrontation with assistant coach Pepper Johnson. The bottom line is players such as Brown are so talented they're thought to be worth the risk. We'll see.

David from Washington, DC
I have suddenly gained a great deal of respect for the Steelers' organizational ability to handle someone like Brown.
We're beginning to get the full story on Brown's troubles in Pittsburgh, and they didn't begin last season. His teammates hated him. Troy Polamalu is said to have yelled out during a practice, "The receivers are live," suggesting Polamalu wanted to take a shot at Brown. Now we know why Ben Roethlisberger reportedly yelled out at practice late last season, "Get him off the field." Brown can dull a team's focus; he can be a distraction. Mike Tomlin showed restraint in handling Brown, just as he did with Santonio Holmes. Today's coaches have to do that because they are held captive by the salary cap and the howl of the wolves.

Kale from London, Canada
How would Chuck Noll have dealt with a player like Antonio Brown?
Coach Noll wasn't without troubled players. Joe Gilliam was such a player. Chuck cut him, but Chuck didn't have a salary cap. Howl of the wolves? Chuck began his career with three consecutive losing seasons. What wolves?

Lupe from Minneapolis, MN
Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens gave Jackson a lot of playing time in the preseason. John Harbaugh had his team ready to play.

​Ben from Columbus, OH
Vic, loved reading your article on the Jags website; just like the old times! What happened Sunday? Red jerseys sure didn't make much of a difference. This team is facing a ton of adversity this early in the year. And that defense? Overrated or just early-season funk?
The defense is a legend in its own mind. The truth is it hasn't been the same since Roethlisberger and Brady lit it up in the 2017 playoffs. No sunglasses, both feet on the floor and ties tight to the collar. That's what the Jaguars need.