Inbox: Call it a classic case of need meeting value

Josh from Seattle, WA

Instead of weather control can we get an injury genie?

Don't we wish.

Mike from Glen Allen, VA

What happens if "Mike Spofford" comes up on the Packers After Dark Roulette wheel? He crashes through the wall and steals your lunch?

I'm not sure, but that sounds like a viable Outsider Inbox question.

Marc from Holmen, WI

I enjoyed Mike's article about linebackers coach Sam Siefkes. I wondered if when he was a student assistant with the UW-La Crosse football team if he overlapped with Brian Gutekunst when he played football there?

Ha, no. Gutey and Siefkes missed each other at UW-L by almost 20 years.

Steve from Ankeny, IA

Reading Spoff's article on takeaways made me do a double take. I knew we weren't great at it last year, but to drop from 31 to 14 in one year is amazing. Just dreaming about what a difference 31 would have made last year. No crying over spilled milk, I guess.

It's one of the more volatile and unpredictable aspects of the game. That's why I've called turnovers the big question looming over the 2026 Bears as they try to defend their NFC North title. Can Chicago repeat its 33 takeaways from last season? Doesn't seem likely, but who knows. The Bears won only one game last season in which they didn't get a takeaway – the playoff game against the Packers. They had three others without one – Week 2 at Detroit, Week 8 at Baltimore, and the NFC Divisional playoff vs. the Rams – and lost them all. By contrast, the Packers won three games (and tied another) last year without a takeaway.

Flavio from Brazil

Reading the comments from our secondary coaches, I realized that the team had only 14 takeaways last season. How many of these were interceptions and how many were recovered fumbles? With this number being so low, I suppose turnover on downs don't count as takeaways, right?

Correct, they don't. The Packers' defense actually had 16 turnovers on downs (opponents were 20-of-36 on fourth down), more than their actual takeaways, which is wild. The takeaways broke down as seven INTs, seven fumble recoveries.

Bruce from Travelers Rest, SC

Unless I have missed it, there has been very little discussion about the Packers playing two Thursday night games on a short week. We have heard how players hate that. If that perspective still holds, isn't that a distinct disadvantage for the Packers relative to division/conference rivals that only have one such game?

It cuts both ways. The Packers will have two short weeks in the first two months of the season, but two long weekends for rest and recovery as well. Those two early Thursday games being at home is huge, in my book. Getting on a plane on Wednesday feels a lot different than heading to your home stadium for a game on Thursday.

Bill from Maple Grove, MI

Does the fact that the Packers already have six primetime games scheduled, plus another four scheduled for the late Sunday afternoon window, make it less likely that they would be flexed to any additional SNF games? I get that there's no guarantees, but I'm trying to figure out potential late-season travel plans.

The six primetime games don't make it any less likely the Packers will get flexed into another one. But, no promises here, those 3:25 p.m. CT games can be protected by FOX and CBS so as not to get flexed to (e.g., stolen by) NBC. The Sunday afternoon networks get to make certain games their priorities, but it's never public knowledge which ones they've chosen to protect.

Matt from Blaine, MN

Mike, isn't the NFL violating the CBA by giving us a bye week followed by a Wednesday night game? The CBA says: "During any regular season bye week period occurring during the term of this Agreement, players will be given a minimum of four consecutive days off. Such four-day period must include a Saturday and a Sunday unless the Club is scheduled to play a game on the Thursday following the bye week." So are the Packers only going to have Monday and Tuesday to prepare for that game?

Wednesday must be the equivalent of Thursday in the CBA language to avoid the weekend requirement for the bye week. The usual Wed.-Fri. three-practice sequence for a Sunday game will have to be Sat.-Mon. for a Wednesday game.

Thomas from Oviedo, FL

I agree with John from Stevens Point that "Wednesday Night Football" doesn't have the same ring to it as MNF. Therefore, I suggest we call it "Wednesday Twilight Football." WTF for short.

OK, I chuckled. But you still have to see yourself out.

Jeff from Champlin, MN

What … no Tuesday game?

Patience. Only a matter of time.

Donn from Oshkosh, WI

Who is the oldest Packer on the roster that was chosen in the draft?

By the Packers? Devonte Wyatt, age 28. Tyrod Taylor (36), Javon Hargrave (33) and Zaire Franklin (29) are all older but were drafted by other teams.

Yotam from Israel

Chip from Bev Hills, MI, asked about Jordan Love's accuracy. I would like to add that not every time a downfield shot is missed, it's because of an inaccurate pass. I remember one instance when Christian Watson said he thought the pass was for the closer window, and by the time he understood it is going further downfield, he was a step behind. It takes two to make football tango.

Fans get tired of the "being on the same page" cliché, but it does carry meaning.

Cliff from Alexandria, VA

Gents, it seems like both of you believe Tucker Kraft is one of our best players – and maybe one of the best TEs in the league. Don't get me wrong, I want him to be both those things, but doesn't that judgement seem a little premature? The sample size of his play we have to analyze is pretty small and he's also coming off a big injury.

We'll have to see how he returns from the ACL, for sure. Even when he's back on the field, there will be a process to ramping up and getting back to where he was. But the first half of last season, he was one of the best tight ends in the league. There's no denying it. The production was proof.

Ricia from St. Johnsbury, VT

OK guys, the schedule for the season is out. And I admit watching that video at least half a dozen times. Now, how long do we have to wait for the practice schedule and the dates of the shareholders' meeting and Family Night? I've been a Packer backer for over 70 years and hoping to catch my first Family Night. Part of my bucket list. Last year I finally saw the bike rides and attended the meeting.

Last year, the dates for Family Night and the shareholders' meeting were announced in the final week of May. The full training camp schedule was released in June.

Matt from Sioux Falls, SD

Does the NFL have something against the Packers starting at home? Only once in the MLF era seems really strange.

It was an anomaly in the LaFleur era until last year. But this year it makes sense due to the Wisconsin-Notre Dame game at Lambeau on Labor Day weekend. That said, it is strange that last year when the Packers had eight home games, they started with two at home and played nine of the last 15 on the road. This year, it's two straight on the road and nine of the last 15 at home.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ

I keep seeing Micah Parsons as likely starting the season on PUP. Can you explain the downside, if he's close, of keeping him active but "not dressed" for those first few games letting him work his way back with the team and not locking him out till game 5? Thanks.

The downside is, if he can't practice, he's occupying a spot on the 53 that could go to someone else. As mentioned previously, even if he starts the regular season on PUP, he could start practicing in Week 3 with a grace period before counting against the 53.

Ross from Lubbock, TX

I know we're six months out but if MP1 returns Week 5 vs. the arch nemeses, the Packers HAVE TO introduce the team the same way they did on his first home game at Lambeau, don't they?

Indubitably.

Jonathon from Sierra Vista, AZ

This may be too early too ask, but I have an opportunity to purchase tickets to the game in New Orleans. Do you have any info on whether there will be a Packer pep rally or tailgate party? Thank you for II. I never miss it.

I'm not allowed to confirm nor deny that I might've received an email asking if I'd be available for a pep rally in New Orleans …

Jeff from Flemington, NJ

I know we have Micah and Xavier McKinney, but is it possible Edgerrin Cooper becomes our best defensive player next season? To hear accomplished vets like Lavonte David and Zaire Franklin bring him up unprovoked in interviews, and speak to the things they've already seen from him in his young career, makes me giddy. How lucky were we that the best player at his position, at a position of need for us, fell in our lap at the 45th overall pick?

Call it a classic case of need meeting value. Gutey even traded back from 41, still got Cooper at 45, and used one of the extra assets to trade up for Evan Williams in the fourth round.

Jay from Lutz, FL

If you had to guess which player will be starting at corner opposite Nixon, in Week 1, will it be Brandon Cisse or Benjamin St-Juste? I hope it's Cisse, knowing he will learn the D quickly.

At this point, it might be Valentine, St-Juste or Cisse. That's going to be one of the bigger battles of training camp. Maybe the biggest.

Richard from Cheney, WA

In your opinion, what player has made the biggest improvement jump from Year 1 to Year 2 during your tenure at packers.com?

Jermichael Finley.

Brandon from Imperial, MO

Good morning, A little housekeeping, did we miss a Policy's Perspective? Couldn't find May. With the green package getting both Thursday night games this season, will we be having the same discussions about too many tickets sold to visiting fans?

I sure hope not, but all bets are off when five of the green package's first six games are at night. Here’s your link to Ed’s column for May. It was always on the site, but there was a posting glitch that kept it out of its specific menu listing.

Edward from Sioux Falls, SD

So, it appears that I can sign up for Netflix at 5p.m. CT on 11/25 and watch the Rams game that night, pay the $8.99 for one month, and cancel it right after the Bears game Christmas afternoon, and only pay for one month. Do you agree?

Sounds reasonable to me, but Netflix might say if you start your one month on Nov. 25, it expires at midnight on Dec. 24. Buyer beware.

Markus from Switzerland

With the schedule out and first reactions in, what is next on the schedule? September is still relatively far away ...

OTAs start next week, minicamp the second week of June, then the dead zone, then training camp gets rolling in late July. The baloney finally stops on Sept. 13.

Bob from Rome, NY

Mike: Did you get your Brewers tickets for Boy Band Night this Friday? Just wondering - thank you.

Uh, no.

Dean from Belmont, MI

After being told to get "back to work" more times than when Mom asked me to clean my room as a teenager, I finally conquered the “Sausage Slam” video game. It took perseverance and me doing my 1/11th, but I kept stacking successes until I finally reached full consistency. So, is the "Kicking Curds" game really coming soon?

It must be time to get on with my day.

Kay from Lynchburg, VA

Love or Taylor in preseason?

It definitely is. Happy Wednesday.

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