"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the NFL draft.
Mark from Eau Claire, WI What is something about you that would surprise us? I can't think of one thing about me that would surprise anyone. Douglas from Binghamton, NY What is the greatest single-season outfield of all time: 1975 Red Sox vs. 1971 Pirates. Who comes out on top? Rice/Lynn/Evans and Clemente/Stargell/Oliver were good outfields. There have been lots of good ones. I like the '61 Reds' Robinson/Pinson/Post. I think the best is the '61 Yankees' Mantle/Maris/Berra. That's 137 home runs. Cliff from Idaho Vic, you have mentioned several times over the past couple of years the Saints' arrow is pointing down because of cap space, yet, they always make a deep run in the playoffs and keep most of their stars. Would you say they are one of the favorites in the NFC next year? What have they done the Packers have not? They made a deep run last season? They lost their first game. Since 2010, they've won four postseason games, never more than one in any one season. During that same time, the Packers have won 10 postseason games. The answers to your questions are no and nothing. Ryan from Thorp, WI Who were the biggest early-round draft busts for each of the three NFL teams you covered during your time with each team? Steelers -- Huey Richardson. Jaguars -- R. Jay Soward. Packers -- Datone Jones. Bob from Green Bay, WI I have always admired the Steelers for their stable management. They hire good people and stick with them for a long time. How do they handle the howling wolves? They cash their checks and send out the tickets. Damian from Point May, Newfoundland What are the chances the Packers get either Derrick Brown or Javon Kinlaw? Think they could drop to where the Packers pick or will they have to trade up? I asked a scout for another team what he thought would be available to the Packers at pick 30. Defensive lineman? Wide receiver? He said no to defensive lineman and yes to wide receiver. Jesse from Anaconda, MT If you owned an NFL team named the Texans, would you give your head coach final say on roster decisions? I would not. Managing a football team is too big of a job to entrust to one man. Plus, I think managing personnel requires a vision for the future; coaches should focus on the present. If I owned a team, I would work closely with my personnel man and my cap man. I'd let the head coach do his own thing. Nathan from New York, NY It didn't surprise you Witten missed the all-decade team? Gronkowski and Kelce were more impactful players. Their big plays defined the position. Jake from Knoxville, TN Vic, I don't know if you've heard, but the NFL has made its "Game Pass" service free through the end of May. I'm taking the opportunity to see all the Packers games from before I found your column and learned how to really watch football. Are there any Jaguars or Steelers games since 2009 you would recommend or would want to go back and see again? I think the Steelers-Jaguars game of 2018 is one of the zaniest games and most shocking outcomes I've ever seen. Lori from Brookfield, WI Vic, you are a wonderful story teller. What is your favorite non-football tale? My father was born in 1925, the youngest of three sons of poor immigrants. Four years later, the country went into the Great Depression. At age 18, he was in the Philippines in World War II. Two years later, never having known anything but poverty and war, he returned home with little more than the uniform on his back and something called the GI Bill, which he used to become the first person in his family to set foot on a college campus. He graduated in three years as a hitch-hiking commuter. Since then, every one of his children and every one of his grandchildren have graduated from college, and a few years ago one of his grandchildren got his PhD from his grandfather's alma mater. My father and the GI Bill changed the course of history in my family. His story is an example of what can happen when will gets help. Jamie from Thunder Bay, Ontario Vic, will we ever see a top draft pick take a stand and refuse to sign with Washington because of their disparaging team name? I don't think that'll happen, but it wouldn't surprise me if players refuse to refer to the team by its nickname. Jason from Morrisville, NY With the league year in question, would you be less likely to take a developmental project in the first round of the draft or take someone more polished with potentially a lower ceiling? If there was ever a draft to pick the best available player, this is it. Mike from McFarland, WI Pick one moment from each decade that, if it goes slightly differently, the history of football is dramatically changed. 1950's -- The Giants hire Vince Lombardi instead of Jim Lee Howell, or Weeb Ewbank doesn't become the head coach of the Colts and Paul Brown signs Johnny Unitas. 1960's -- Joe Namath signs with the Cardinals instead of the Jets. 1970's -- The Bears win the coin toss for the 1970 first overall draft pick, or Paul Brown names Bill Walsh head coach of the Bengals instead of Tiger Johnson. 1980's -- The Steelers pick Dan Marino. 1990's -- Judge David Doty doesn't rule in favor of free agency. 2000's -- With the 198th pick of the 2000 draft, the St. Louis Rams select Tom Brady one pick ahead of the Patriots. 2010's -- Packers reserve tight end Brandon Bostick recovers Seattle's onside kick attempt in the 2014 NFC title game.
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AuthorVic Ketchman Archives
March 2021
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