Inbox: He deserves everything coming to him

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi Mike, did you step away from Larry when he said: "WE GOT MICAH PARSONS!!!"?

Glad I wasn't there. I might have jumped out of the suite.

Andrew from Cedarburg, WI

Why don't the Packers franchise tag Malik Willis? With all the interest he is garnering, Willis could probably net them a second-round pick or early third in a trade. That's not a hefty price to pay for a team that is desperate for a good QB.

Anything is possible for one more week, but tagging Willis would create a cascade of problems for a limited return on investment. Unless a trade partner is established (e.g. Las Vegas and Davante Adams), the Packers would need to create even more cap room before the new league year to accommodate Willis' premium cap hit. Keeping Willis on the roster also could impact Green Bay's activity during the initial wave of free agency. Like I said before, the Packers likely will receive a third- or fourth-round compensatory pick for Willis next offseason. Plus, it also allows Willis to be properly rewarded for his play in Green Bay the past two years. He deserves everything coming to him.

John from Harshaw, WI

Do you think the Packers will be participating in the free-agent market? And if they do, who would you go after? And what are their biggest needs? Is there any chance of keeping Malik Willis? And if not, who would be a good backup? I think Willis is the next Sam Darnold. The Packers are going to end up with egg on their face just like Minnesota and getting nothing for him, a developed talent like his is a rarity, MVP rarity!

I do think the Packers will be active in the free-agent market, but comparing Willis and Darnold is a fool's errand. Unlike Minnesota, the Packers have a proven franchise quarterback in Jordan Love. When the Vikings let Darnold walk, all they had was a first-round pick who'd never played in the NFL after undergoing two knee surgeries. The Packers have their guy and he's one of the best at his position. It just so happens they also unearthed a legitimate prospect with the potential to be a starting QB in this league.

Tallon from Castle Rock, CO

I personally think the combine testing is useless and boring. As you said in "Three Things," the important part of the combine is the meetings. How much do those meetings affect things? Do NFL teams dislike the combine testing as much as most do?

NFL teams love the combine and everything involved with it because the event is a treasure trove of information. There is so much data to be gleaned this week in Indy whether it's the testing, medicals or interviewing players to get to know them better. The individual events level the playing field for prospects, too. It removes all the variables of a college pro day. Because the combine falls during one of the quietest portions of the offseason, however, the media tends to overhype a lot of what happens here. That's the Catch-22.

Tony from Chanhassen, MN

Hi guys, thanks for all you do. I don't think enough is being written about the fact that the best quarterback, left tackle, and wide receiver in free agency are all arguably from the Packers, and they could very possibly be better next year without them. I know that's a bit of a hot take, but am I off base here?

A lot of that has to do with the moves the Packers have made in the draft the past two years. It won't be easy to overcome whichever free agents Green Bay loses in the coming weeks, but Gutekunst and his personnel department have been preparing for this.

Craig from Laramie, WY

I know you've both already answered a lot of questions/comments about Malik Willis's likely departure but I'm curious about your thoughts specifically on Kirk Cousins as his potential replacement?

The Packers historically haven't spent big money for a backup. They'd use that money elsewhere and develop a young quarterback in that QB2 spot in lieu of a household name that may or may not fare any better in a pinch.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Assuming the players with ACL or another major injury that requires constant rehab, how do the Packers make sure those players are rehabbing properly when they head home? Or do the Packers require those players to stay in GB for treatments?

Players can utilize their team's facilities assuming they're under contract for next season, but they're also free to rehab elsewhere. That's completely understandable given how Green Bay isn't exactly a tourist destination in the dead of winter. The Packers' doctors and training staff stay in contact with the player and his trainers to make sure everyone is on the same page with the rehab.

Bruce from Appleton, WI

Will the Packers be looking for a new center this year?

That depends on Elgton Jenkins and Sean Rhyan. If neither returns, then it's a question of whether the Packers feel Jacob Monk is ready for a larger role or they dip into free agency in March or the draft in April.

John from Belleview, FL

How does the change in defensive coaches affect defensive players who are free agents? Are they more likely to go rather than stay? (Thinking either way, I've got to learn a new system?) Another thought: How many of our defensive free agents might end up in Miami? Thanks for all you do.

I'm sure those are conversations Brian Gutekunst has already had with Matt LaFleur and Jonathan Gannon. If you recall, Jeff Hafley did a deep dive on the Packers' defensive roster when he was hired in 2024. He immediately identified Keisean Nixon, a pending free agent at the time, as a cornerback he wanted in his defense. I'm sure Gannon has gotten a lay of the land, and the Packers will have a plan in place for how they want to handle their slew of free agents.

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

Your point about Jaxon Smith-Njigba understudying Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf for two seasons is a salient one. I maintain that, given opportunity, Matthew Golden is going to flourish. He looks so comfortable catching and making people miss not to. But he was thrust into such an established WR room unlike other franchises where "impact" can be seen Day 1. Who was taking targets from Tet McMillan and Emeka Egbuka? I'm not saying he'll be the next Davante Adams, but similar circumstances and stats preceded his bust out in Year 3.

Precisely. The kid's gonna be all right. One rookie season does not make an NFL career. Alotta ballgame left.

Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua

Why haven't all teams switched to bouncing squib kicks through the landing zone on kickoffs? Coverage players can't move until the ball is fielded so hang time is not only worthless, but it allows a returner time to settle under the ball. Additionally, a bouncing kick is more difficult to catch, and you can't build forward momentum like you can with a kick in the air, both slowing forward progress. Finally, if the kick isn't fielded and bounces out of the end zone the TB is at the 20. Obvious, no?

Yes, but it's easier said than done. I saw several kickers try that this year, only to have the ball hit before the landing zone and the opposing team take the ball at the 40.

Dale from Prescott, WI

I read somewhere that the average ACL injuries yearly for a team is about two, but this year the average was down. Obviously, the Packers didn't help that average.

Green Bay also lost two of its top three players to ACL tears while one of their other top guys missed the first half of the season rehabbing.

Frogger from Marinette, WI

With no first-round draft pick this year, will you watch the draft on Thursday?

100%. Even if it wasn't my job, I still love the first round and all the built-in chaos of teams moving up and down.

Hank from Kissimmee, FL

Good morning. This is not a question but a suggestion in reference to the "tush push and the on-field scrums." If an offensive player is engaged in any attempt to move a teammate forward, the forward progress rule would be voided. If the offense is pushed backwards that is where the ball would be marked. That way the reward for assisting a player could be balanced out by possibly losing yards as well. Just something to consider.

I don't hate it.

Robert from Verona, WI

Even though there may not be an effort to ban the tush-push this year, that doesn't necessarily mean that there won't be further emphasis on officiating the play correctly, right? I don't have high hopes that will happen, but even if the player alignment was officiated correctly, that would be an improvement.

I actually saw some improvement there last year. More work to be done, but at least the NFL is trying to officiate the play instead of turning a blind eye to blatant false starts.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

With the expansion of international games, what city or cities would you like to cover a game in?

I'm not the biggest fan of international travel, but I do want to go to Ireland. Also, I can think of no better time than after Stephen O’Brien was recently honored as the Packers' 2026 International Fan of the Year. Germany makes sense, too. They're also one of Green Bay's global markets. I wouldn't be opposed to another trip to Brazil, either. The field was the only setback in my book. The rest of the trip, and similar time zone, was excellent. I cannot say enough about how friendly and helpful all the people were there.

Jason from Austin, TX

This question is going to speak to my ignorance of the business side of owning an NFL team, but is the reward of hosting a Super Bowl maybe only once worth the cost of completely changing your team's identity (by adding a roof) and location? Does the team generate that much money at the one event to make it all worth it?

It's not like the NFL is completely opposed to hosting an outdoor Super Bowl in a cold-weather city. It did so in the Meadowlands. Green Bay and Wisconsin simply don't have the infrastructure to accommodate a Super Bowl. So…no.

Bob from Rome, NY

Gentlemen: If the NFL is looking into allowing replay officials to throw penalty flags for non-football acts, does that include lunches being stolen in the Packers staff room? Just wondering. Thank you!

Throwing a flag for a stolen lunch would make more sense than a player being halfway to a game disqualification for staring at the opposing sideline for a beat too many.

Bill from Wilmington, DE

Mike, personal question, so I understand if you don't want to answer. How old are you? I think we might be close in age although you're a little younger. I will be 62 in September and will go into semi-retirement. Sounds like you might want to do the same?

It's indecent of me to say how old Spoff is, but the number of people in Inbox who lost their minds over Spoff saying he won't be writing here in 15 years was astounding. I may not be here in 15 years…let alone the Plattevillian who's been penning this column in some shape or form for the last 15.

Andy from Green Bay, WI

Never meet your heroes... NONSENSE. As I was waiting in line with a copy of "Run to Win" in hand I heard so many awesome fan stories. A man from Alabama explaining how Bart Starr gave folks back home a pro sport team to root for. Hearing a dad talk to his son about grandpa being at the Ice Bowl, and to hear all the chatter of favorite players and moments while waiting to meet a legend. I shook the hand of my dad's hero yesterday. Jerry Kramer is an absolute treasure. Thank you, Jerry!

That's the whole point of this thing. NFL players of every generation lived life on the gridiron in a way many of us can only dream. Aura has become a popular term in society, but Kramer has embodied that for decades. Ninety years old and still out there representing this organization. A life well-lived and still thriving.

Matt from Greensboro, NC

Congrats to former Packers DC Dom Capers on landing a job with the Browns at 75 years young. I'm jealous. While I'm mostly satisfied in my career I cannot think of any dream job that I'd want to do past my targeted 65-67 retirement age. I wish I had a singular passion like that.

Based on my conversation with Dom at the Packers Hall of Fame induction of Clay Matthews in 2024, I really thought Carolina would be his last stop. But the man keeps going. His good friend Dick LeBeau worked into his 80s. If only Spoff can be so fortunate.

Douglas from Parker, CO

Follow-up to Larry from Sheboygan…If the Bears do become the Hammond Eggs, will they change their team color to some shade of green?

I think we've accomplished all there is to accomplish here. Mike will be back with his Indianapolis recap Thursday.

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