The Titans could be a surprise team

Nathan from New York, NY
Vic, who is the team to beat in the NFC North?
It's Minnesota. The Vikings are the division's defending champion and I think they upgraded themselves in the offseason. I'll also be interested to see what a healthy Dalvin Cook will do for their offense.

T.J. from Tampa Bay, FL
What were your thoughts on Warren Sapp’s legal hit on Chad Clifton in 2002?
It was cheap and unnecessary. It was unprofessional.

Brett from Ohio
You say the kickoff is unimportant but I think Brett Favre might disagree with you. Do you remember watching MVP Desmond Howard in Super Bowl XXXI? It might not have ended the same way without Howard's explosive return. The Pats had all the momentum until that play. Put the ball on the 20 and it would have been anyone's game. Also on a fun note, imagine if the Pats had won? What would we say about Favre if he didn't win a Super Bowl? I think kickoffs are pretty important.
Your argument isn't convincing. It's one of the few memorable plays in a sea of ceremonial touchbacks and unexciting 20-yard returns. Frankly, I'd rather the ball have been put on the 20 for Favre to be the star of the game, instead of someone who became the weakest MVP winner in Super Bowl history. As for onside kicks, I've never liked them. I consider them to be a cheap trick to undo what nearly three hours of football had proven.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, what are your memories of the Playoff Bowl game for third place that took place in the '60s? Should that game be reinstated in lieu of the Pro Bowl game?
It was weak but the NFL was underexposed in the early '60s and for a few years there was room for an extra postseason game, even if it was meaningless. Pro football needed the exposure and the players needed the money. That's not true today. The NFL might have to pay the players more money to agree to play in that kind of game today than they pay the players in the Super Bowl. The risk of injury is too great for the players to agree to play that kind of game.

Zach from Virginia Beach, VA
Vic, what are your thoughts on Marcus Mariota? He was able to lead the Titans to the playoffs and a win over the Chiefs. Do you think he can improve his game to take them higher, or is he topped out right now?
He played through a debilitating injury that dogged him all of last season, and I believe it was the reason for his decline in performance. In the playoff win over the Chiefs, however, he was sensational. He threw and ran with equal aplomb. He was the star of the game and with that performance Mariota gives the Titans reason to believe they have a quarterback who can lead them to a championship. I think the Titans could be a surprise team this year. The Jaguars are the new power in the AFC South, but the Titans and Texans have exciting young quarterbacks. I think Mariota could make the Titans the team to beat in the AFC South.

Joe from Bloomington, IN
I just watched the Ryan Shazier injury. He lowered his head and drove it into the oncoming torso to make the tackle. How stupid is that?
It's not as stupid as your question is insensitive.

Anthony from Milwaukee, WI
Vic, 2007 had to be one of the most fun seasons in Packers history. From it being completely unexpected to just completely fun to see Brett Favre have success again, it was almost everything a football fan could ask for. Acknowledging this was before your time with the Packers, do you have any outsider insight on that season?
The playoff loss at home to the Giants was a stunner. I kept waiting for Favre to get hot, but he just kept looking colder. In retrospect, I think the Packers ran into a team of destiny.

Matt from San Diego, CA
Do the Packers have any difference-makers on the defensive side of the ball?
If Kevin King, Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson don't make a difference, the Packers won't improve on defense. The Packers have invested a lot of high picks on cornerbacks. They desperately need a return on their investment.

Dan from Jacksonville, FL
Rank your top three Steelers receivers of all time.
1) Antonio Brown, 2) Lynn Swann, 3) John Stallworth. Hines Ward is my favorite Steelers receiver because he turned the hunter into the hunted.

Dan from Nitro, WV
What city should be next to get an NFL franchise?
I think it's time to give London a try. In my opinion, the NFL needs to grow its product globally or it's going to feel more and more pressure from soccer. The world is getting smaller. I think hockey and basketball, for example, are benefitting from being international. The NFL has stopped growing. It needs new territory. I think a team in London should be the next step.

Steven from Montclair, NJ
We often hear stories about players saving their paychecks for retirement and living off endorsement money. Do you have any good stories from your career about how a player managed his money?
Lynn Swann arrived at his rookie training camp driving a Plymouth Scamp. Two years later, after winning the MVP Award in Super Bowl X, Swann drove into training camp in that same Plymouth Scamp. That's how a savvy young player manages success.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, what does it mean for a player to be a pro? What exactly does that look like?
It means being consistent and dependable. A pro is a player teammates can rely on being physically, emotionally and mentally prepared to play at his highest level. He treats his profession as a craft and he draws his esteem from the quality of his performance. Most of all, a pro's motivation comes from within. He's a self-starter. He doesn't need pep talks. He knows what to do and how to do it, and his effort is always focused. He leads by example.

Craig from Cedarburg, WI
Who had the best motor of any player you covered?
It's a running back named Frank Pollard. He was the consummate pro.

Braden from Milwaukee, WI
The Browns have been the laughing stock of the NFL because of a 38-122 record over the last 10 seasons. As you've said, winning cures all, but do you think a re-branding will be necessary? The orange helmet, the brown uniform and the dog pound just seem blah and a losing tradition doesn't help bring in a new wave of fans.
I think the Browns should return to the uniform design of the Jim Brown era. That's the franchise's identity. The current uniforms are Joe's Bar-like.