Mark from Stewartville, MN
Vic, will the fact the Bears thumped the Cowboys make Dallas a tougher opponent this Sunday?
I think it will. The Cowboys are now a desperate team. They must win. The Packers must win. This will be a game between two teams that must win. It's perfect.
Trent from Roundup, MT
If Rodgers doesn't play against Dallas and the Packers lose and the Lions win, do you think Mike McCarthy will just leave Rodgers out for the season so he doesn't get hurt again?
You're late, Trent. The train left without you.
Mark from Indianapolis, IN
Vic, I think you need to travel to Indianapolis quickly. This past weekend, at a local Packer Backer function, I watched a man get so upset watching the game that he was actually shaking while he yelled at the TV. It would have been almost funny had it not looked like he might actually die. We had to move to another part of the room because my young son was terrified. This week (if I even go back), I'll secretly slip him some of your articles. Amazing!
He probably didn't like one of the play calls. It was probably a run and he wanted a pass, or maybe it was a pass and he wanted a run. It was one or the other.
Viceroy from Seattle, WA
Vic, I am hoping so very much the Packers make the playoffs and win the Super Bowl this year. I cried myself to sleep the past month after each Packers loss. Do you think Rodgers will come back for the playoffs? I believe the Packers are gonna let Flynn win the rest of the games and let Aaron come back for the playoffs and then look out. What do you think?
I think you should go up the Space Needle and enjoy that beautiful view of Puget Sound. The world looks much bigger up there, and it'll have a calming effect and it'll help get you through the other six days of the week.
Eric from Marinette, WI
Love the column, Vic. There was talk on the radio this morning about the Bears QB situation, and that a player should not lose his job due to injury. That statement is made by the media all the time, but I don't agree. Where do you stand on guys losing their position due to injury?
If I was a coach, I would not have that rule. My No. 1 rule would be that all decisions are made in the best interest of the team, not the individuals, and any individuals that don't buy into that rule need to not be on the team.
Matt from Appleton, WI
As a guy whose mindset also needs to change, I was looking for a silver lining to the lack of hitting and noticed that the Packers are among the top 10 in the league for fewest penalties. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are in the bottom third. Are penalties a necessary evil for hard-hitting defenses, or can you have hard hitting and discipline that minimizes them?
A long time ago, I had a running argument with a reporter friend of mine about teams that got a lot of penalties for being, shall we say, overly aggressive. I would say to my friend, "You have to do those things to win." He would shake his head in dissent. This went on for a few years until one day he offered a compromise: "You don't have to do those things to win," he said, "but teams that win do those things." I said, "I can live with that."
Jerry from Wilmington, NC
Vic, what's the NFL's policy on removing snow from the field of play? Also, are holders allowed to clear a path for kickers?
You are not permitted to have a convict on a snowplow clear a spot for your kicker to kick a game-winning field goal.
Andy from Sherwood, WI
Vic, can you tell me why the Cowboys offensive line, under Tom Landry, got set, stood up and then got set again prior to the snap? It seems that no other team copied the Cowboys, so I'm wondering if it had any benefit other than looking unique.
It was a timing device during the run-the-ball era, when it was critical that offensive lines come off the ball low, hard and together. That little up-down move was made in unison and was symbolic of the unity required to move the line of scrimmage.
