Douglas from Richardson, TX
Good morning. In 2024 Love was ranked 34 in the top 100 players. This year 72. Should we be alarmed by this dramatic decline since it’s the players that vote? What if anything can we read into this?
The Packers were one-and-done in the playoffs the last two years. That’s what I read into it. By just about every statistical measure, Love’s a better QB now than when he was ranked No. 34.
What do you think is the weakest link is going into the season?
Health questions and cornerback depth.
Can you help me find the exact statement Vic used to make? It’s something like: Take care of (or plan for?) the future and the future will take care of the present. It was a wonderful Vic’ism that has practical use in many situations, and I used it once with the health ministry in Rwanda when I consulted there. When I asked Vic if he had penned it his response was: “It’s mine and you can have it.” However, I lost it when I retired as the email exchange with Vic was on my work computer. Thanks.
He used to say, “Take care of the future and the future will take care of the present.” He also used to say, “Take care of the cap and the cap will take care of you.”
Herbert from Palm Desert, CA
Daniel Whelan was just named the best athlete in his high school’s history by his local newspaper. So he’s got that going for him. As a PA announcer at a rival high school, I had the pleasure of announcing his successful 51-yard field goal. He was more than just a punter.
I have heard announcers and others state turnovers (or lack thereof) are the most reliable statistic to predict winning or losing. Is that in fact true?
Depending on the statistical angle, yes. I’ve seen numbers that indicate the team that wins the turnover battle wins about 70% of NFL games. If the turnover margin is plus-two, it jumps into the 80s, and if it’s plus-three, it’s in the 90s. I can’t imagine there’s a stronger correlation with any other stat (aside from points, of course) like yards, first downs, time of possession, penalties, etc., than that.
Good day, Mike and Wes. With all the talk about time in between plays, personnel packages and knowing the playbook inside and out, I guess I don’t ever want to hear people calling football players a bunch of dumb jocks. The amount each and every one has to process quickly in a 60-minute game makes my head spin. Dumb jocks don’t play at the NFL level. BTW, coming to training camp and hoping to say hi to you guys, one of these years.
The amount of information to process, and how quickly, at this level is one factor in players who can’t successfully make the jump from the college game, or for those who take a while to get there.
Re: Robb from Orlando’s post about who did we miss the most (Micah Parsons or Kraft). I would submit a third player to his list, Zach Tom.
I would submit the Packers compensated for Tom’s loss the best of the three, until the playoff game.
“Explosive plays limit what can go wrong.” I had never thought of it like that. Letting it fly as a risk mitigation tool seems counter-intuitive on the surface, but makes sense when viewed through the lens you provided. Thanks for helping me further appreciate and understand the nuances of the game.
Just doing my best to explore all perspectives.
John from Colonial Beach, VA
In recent years, I’ve challenged to pick a sort of Cinderella team from each conference before the start of the season. Last year I picked the Patriots (though I didn’t expect them to go to the Super Bowl) and the Panthers (though I didn’t expect them to necessarily make the playoffs). This year I’m struggling to pick teams. Which under-the-radar teams do you believe could have a better season than most people are thinking?
As far as teams that finished more than a game below .500 last year who are likely to contend for the playoffs again, the easy picks in the AFC are the Chiefs and Bengals. In the NFC, probably Washington. A real sleeper? Maybe New Orleans in a weak division.