Will global warming cause talent shift?

Jake from Milwaukee, WI
Dez to the Packers? Now that would be a catch no matter how you interpret the rule.
Dime a dozen. Move on.

William from Touqerville, UT
How in the world do players like Tom Brady (the GOAT) and dynamic players like Antonio Brown fall all the way to the sixth round like they did?
The scouts screwed up. It happens. Their crystal ball didn't see what Brady and Brown would become. I think it's especially egregious in Brady's case because he played at the highest level of competition in college and he was coming off a bowl game in which he turned in an undeniably impressive and pro-like performance. I keep hearing about his 40 time at the combine, but that's a lame excuse. When was Peyton Manning ever judged by his 40 time? Brady is the worst scouting job in NFL history and there is no excuse for it. In Brown's case, he wasn't fully exposed at Western Michigan. In Aaron Rodgers' case, he was coming off an ACL and there were shoulder concerns, but he was still a first-round pick. Mistakes happen and they make the draft the intriguing event it is.

Kirsten from Madison, WI
Can we all come live with you in South Carolina? Two feet of snow in April. Clearly, Wisconsin has angered the gods, and we need to be new.
There is no utopia. We have hurricane season, California has earthquakes, the middle of the country is tornado alley. It's a matter of picking your poison. As Coach Noll said, "How do you wish to die?"

Chris from Lexington, KY
If Rodgers gets picked first and takes Alex Smith's path, would he still be the player he is today?
I think he would be. He would've played on some pretty powerful 49ers teams and likely would've won a Super Bowl. Players of Aaron Rodgers' talent define teams, instead of teams defining them. What would the Packers have been without Rodgers?

Pat from Seneca, SC
What are your thoughts on the elimination of the kickoff?
The kickoff has been the bane of football's existence going back to the flying wedge days, when men were trampled to death and it nearly resulted in the game being outlawed. Instead of dumbing up the rules to legislate against the kickoff, I'd prefer to see the league go scrimmage style and just put the ball in play at the 20.

Cindy from Los Angeles, CA
Regarding "Deflategate," what would you have called a just punishment? In my mind, it's similar to using pine tar on a baseball -- a violation but not on the level of PEDs.
Brady's punishment was just, but I thought the Patriots weren't penalized enough. They are convicted serial cheaters and I thought they should've lost two first-round picks instead of one.

Adam from Chicago, IL
Are there any bruising backs in this year's draft class?
Tony Pauline likes these power backs: Nick Chubb of Georgia in the second round, Royce Freeman of Oregon in the third round and Jarvon Franklin of Western Michigan in round six.

Olle from Herrljunga, Sweden
Does "Deflategate" and constant problems with the headsets at Foxboro fit into the concept of "Just win, baby?"
No, they fit into the same concept as "Spygate," which is to say disdain and contempt for the laws and the spirit of the laws of the game. They are violations against sportsmanship and anyone who believes otherwise needs to re-think their concepts of integrity and character.

Leif from Frederic, WI
The Steelers are showing a lot of interest in quarterbacks in this draft. Is it smoke and mirrors or are they considering going QB early? If so, who do you like?
They need to begin looking for "The Next Man." If Lamar Jackson were to make it down to where they are, or if they were able to move up to where he fits, I think he'd be an excelllent choice for them because he's the kind of player for whom a role can be created while he's developing his skills. The Steelers did that with Kordell Stewart in 1995 and it helped take them to a Super Bowl.

Shane from York, NE
Vic, did Tatum or Fuqua touch it first?
Nobody knows. Frenchy says he has the answer sealed in an envelope that will be opened upon his death, but I can't help but think that's just smart marketing by Frenchy. If, in fact, the answer is in that envelope, I hope Frenchy lives forever. The suspense is what makes the "Immaculate Reception" fun.

Steven from Jacksonville, FL
You left Jacksonville in 2011, right around the time the darkest period for the franchise was about to begin. Could you see it coming?
What I saw coming was a draft in which the Jaguars would select a quarterback who would define the next period of Jaguars football. Blaine Gabbert was a bust and everybody died, so to speak, which is what happens when you draft a bust at that position.

Steven from Racine, WI
Vic, the 13-time world champions are going to be excellent this year. Stop hating. They were 4-1 before Rodgers got hurt last year. You are acting like they did poorly with a healthy Rodgers all year. The Bears still suck, too.
OK.

Connor from Greenville, SC
What is your favorite time slot to watch a game now that you are retired? Which time zone do you think has it the best?
I'm an old-fashioned one o'clock ET guy, although I became fond of the noon starts in Green Bay. I think the Central Time Zone has it best. Night-game starts are too late in the East and early-game starts in the East are too early for those in the West.

Richard from Sampson, FL
Do you have any Keenan McCardell stories and what are your thoughts on if he will be a good head coach in the future?
Keenan will be a head coach within five years. He has, in my opinion, all of the tools to be successful in the role. He knows the game, has a feel for it and is able to relate to players, management and media. I loved interviewing him because he loved being interviewed. He possesses a playful quality that keeps him young. In the midst of a somewhat unproductive stretch of the season one year, I raised the possibility he might've lost a step. He didn't like that and immediately voiced his defense, which he followed by lighting it up in the next game. He turned a one-day story into a three-day story. I love the old guys.

Robert from Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Just before you left Jacksonville for Green Bay at the end of the 2010 season, you said you would swim across the St. Johns River at it widest point if the Jaguars didn't draft a quarterback in the 2011 draft. Is there any prediction for this year's draft you'd be willing to stake a similar bet on?
I'll swim across Jeremy Inlet in Edisto if the Jaguars don't draft a quarterback this year. In my opinion, they desperately need to address that position.

Ron from Bellaire, WI
Is there any other area in the country that has produced the number of NFL Hall of Fame players as Western Pennsylvania has?
I'm very proud of my Western Pa. roots, but the football talent base has shifted to Florida, Texas and California. The demographics favor those three states now, as they once favored Western Pa. in the steel mill days. Here's what I can't help but wonder: How will global warming affect the next shift in the talent base?