Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, after the game, when asked about the job security of Doug Marrone, Jalen Ramsey replied, “I ain’t worried about nobody but myself.” Adversity draws out true character, and this reinforces what we knew. Would you keep him on your team? If they decide he isn’t worth the headache, what do you think his trade value would be?
I think the Jaguars could get a one and a two for Ramsey, despite the double negative. They should consider it; it might help them find the quarterback they need to take them into their future. That’s the Jaguars’ No. 1 concern. It’s ridiculous for a team with Bortles’ contract to be as bad offensively as the Jaguars are. Fifty-seven yards passing? The Jaguars need to do whatever it takes to fix the quarterback situation.
Braden from Milwaukee, WI
It will be an interesting offseason. I’ll be excited to see what else Gutekunst does to this roster. To me, the biggest question is Rodgers. Does a better supporting cast get him back to the level we expect? Does a new coach?
It’s not the coach, but it could be the supporting cast. Let’s hope it is.
Isaac from Abiquiu, NM
I listened to the game on the radio, and it sounded like Rodgers missed some open receivers. What did your eyes tell you?
My eyes suggest Aaron Rodgers isn’t on the same page with his young receivers. Let’s hope that’s it.
Lane from Orlando, FL
Vic, will Tom Coughlin be back on the sidelines again next season for the Jaguars?
I’d love to see it happen: the concentration line, two feet on the floor, no sunglasses, ties tight to the collar, Coughlin time, the whole bit. Who will be the first to file a grievance?
Mark from Eau Claire, WI
I thought the Bears/Packers game was an enjoyable watch, even though my team ended up losing. You?
It was just OK. It didn’t give me that border war feeling I expected of this game when I began covering the Packers. A big part of the reason for that is the Packers and Bears have been two ships passing in the night. When the Packers were on the way up, the Bears’ arrow was pointing down. Now, the Bears are on the way up and the Packers are in a transition that’ll determine how quickly their arrow will begin pointing upward again.
Phil from Madison, WI
Vic, I don’t like watching Rodgers miss throws. I don’t like watching the Bears run over our offensive line. I don’t like watching our pass rushers miss Trubisky time and time again. However, I do like turning off the game, going on a beautiful evening walk with my fiance and enjoying a delicious supper, all things I can control. Thank you for helping us achieve proper perspective over the years; you prepared us well.
Fretting isn’t the solution. Winning caused the problem. Losing will fix it. It’s the life cycle of an NFL team.
Roger from Auburn, CA
Hopefully, this will end the questions about the Philbin era. I guess McCarthy wasn’t the problem after all.
One loss and it’s over? Coach Noll said when you win you’re great and when you lose you stink. I guess he was right. Seriously, let’s all try to calm down and achieve a greater sense of where the Packers are and where they’re headed. The Bears game was meaningless to the big picture. Please, stop seeking immediate solutions.
George from Manassas, VA
Vic, you were right. It wasn’t a mutiny.
It wasn’t a mutiny, it’s a team in transition. The moment Packers fans accept the transition, the Packers’ arrow will begin pointing upward. It’s all about perception and expectation. Hanging on is a killer.
Nate from Plymouth, MN
I see the Packers always beat the Bears the same way the Jaguars always beat the Steelers. What do your eyes tell you when you watch Aaron Rodgers? He hasn’t looked the same this season.
I’m not skilled enough to know what’s wrong. Ultimately, it comes down to the production. Did you watch Tom Brady last night? Ten points, against a defense that was just scorched by the Raiders? Arm strength is a big thing with me. Can the quarterback still hit the honey hole? If he begins living between the numbers, I get suspicious. If he can’t hit the honey hole, he’s done. Brady is beginning to live in the middle of the field. With Rodgers, I worry about the 13 screws. Are they costing him some accuracy?
Justin from Titonka, IA
Nagy almost cost his team the game with his creativity. How should Packers fans watch the rest of the season?
The fourth-and-2 go-for-it was ridiculous. It was wild and reckless. It was a coach trying too hard to be the star. I’m not sold on Matt Nagy. He was handed a team that was ready to go. I get the sense he’s just a play-caller. If he had hair, I think he’d probably comb it the same way Sean McVay combs his. Packers fans the rest of the season? Does it matter? Enjoy the two games left. Eat a pizza while you watch. Whatever it takes.
Patrick from Indianapolis, IN
Vic, in your opinion, is there a team with a fan base that’s more ignorantly entitled than Green Bay’s? I can’t believe how many of them don’t seem to understand what’s happening. It’s about to go dark for quite a while.
At least they didn’t steal their team from another city.
Randy from Billings, MT
I watched Mike Pettine’s interview this week and his body language says a lot. Are all the coaches putting out feelers about now?
Yes, of course. Major change is on the way. Traditionally, when you fire the head coach, you fire everybody.
Adam from Wausau, WI
I would imagine teams sign their top player with the assumption the cap will go up every year. What happens when it goes down?
There’s no reason to believe we’ll find out soon. The NFL updates its teams on revenue projections. If the league thought revenue was headed for a decline, it would alert its teams to that fact. I know of no such alert.
Karl from Carmichael, CA
Vic, tell us a story about Mr. Fralic.
I was a young sportswriter when word began to spread of a 300-pound killer lineman at Penn Hills. I went to see him play in a playoff game. I was expecting a fat kid who couldn’t move his feet. What I saw was a powerful and athletic high school lineman. He dominated the line of scrimmage. Fralic went on to a great college career, which included a blocking term created for him to promote him for individual awards. The term “pancake block” was created by the Pitt SID, and after each game Fralic’s pancakes total was updated and trumpeted. He played on those great Pitt lines that included Jimbo Covert, Russ Grimm and Mark May, and were coached by the legendary Joe Moore. I got a cold feeling when I heard the news of Fralic’s passing. It seems like only yesterday I was on my way to see the killer lineman from Penn Hills.
Tyler from Red Deer, AB
Your response of what if McCarthy was hired as the Vikings’ head coach really got me thinking. If that happens, what do you think of a coach swap? I think Zimmer is also a great coach. I salivate as to what that would do to ramp up what is, in my opinion, the Packers’ current biggest rivalry.
I can’t see Mike Zimmer coaching the Packers, but I can see Mike McCarthy coaching the Vikings, not right away because I think Coach Zimmer is safe for at least another year but, after that, you never know. McCarthy coaching the Vikings could make life a living hell for Packers fans.
Glen from Eugene, OR
Is that stubble?
I call it retirement.
Elizabeth from Madison, WI
The Patriots have drafted at the bottom of the order for a long time. Why hasn’t it caught up with them?
How many times do I have to answer this question? The Patriots have Tom Brady. That’s why. He’s the GOAT. He’s tilted the field so dramatically not even Bert Bell could beat him. He can take his and beat yours, and then he can take yours and beat his. I don’t know how much longer he can do that because I see signs of aging, but he’s done it since 2001 and it won’t surprise me if he does it again this season.
Zach from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, what’s better for the Packers, winning or losing these last few games?
Losing, but you play to win. Nuts, huh?
Adam from Chicago, IL
What does “always buy, never sell” really mean?
Philosophically, it means addition is better than subtraction.
Nick from Owego, NY
Do you think McCarthy would ever coach college? I think he could be a real positive influence to young men.
He began his career on the college level and I get the sense he enjoyed it. He’s got the kind of honest, caring personality that appeals to a recruit’s parents. I have no doubt he’d be a success on the college level, but I think it’s too much of a step down for a coach who will be in great demand on the NFL level.
Dimitris from Athens, Greece
Vic, I’m so excited to read your opinion because here in Greece we are not many that we are watching NFL. I’m a Jets fan and 29 years old. Do you think I will see them starring?
Based on what I saw of Sam Darnold on Saturday night, I think you will soon see the Jets starring.
Chris from Minneapolis, MN
I just saw the league has updated the Rooney Rule. Do you feel teams take the rule seriously, or is it just an administrative hurdle?
Prior to the Rooney Rule (2003), only six percent of the NFL’s head coaches were of minority descent. Currently, it’s 22 percent. I think the Rooney Rule has been successful in promoting and identifying minority coaches.
Stephen from Jacksonville
I read the story this week where Stephen Curry and several other NBA basketball players claimed man had never been to the moon and, frankly, I’m angry. Astronauts are among the bravest men and women in the world. In order to do their job and voyage into space to conduct scientific research, experimentation and exploration, they have to sit upon giant missiles that could explode before they ever get off the ground. Mankind’s greatest technological accomplishment of sending astronauts to our natural satellite and returning them safely to Earth deserves greater respect and admiration. Curry’s comments are an affront to the sacrifices of all astronauts, including those who perished in the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia disasters. What do you make of Curry’s recent moon landing comments?
Stephen, the stock market is in free fall, our president could be facing impeachment proceedings, we’re involved in a trade war with China that’s casting doubt on the future of our global economy, and the Jaguars stink. The moon landing? Really? Why would you even read a story about men who play basketball for a living making commentary about outer space travel? Most of those guys are taking so many drugs they spend their lives in outer space without having to leave Earth. You need a hobby.
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