Keith from Lincoln, IL

Given that Vic is still a topic of II conversation, does the fact that you two will be referred to on these hallowed pages long after you depart 1265 Lombardi Ave. amuse you, confuse you, or concern you?

Yes.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ

Trust me, I doubt winsome Vic was all broken up about the Steelers snagging a player he deemed to have great upside after the Packers passed on him. He worked for the Packers but he bled black and gold. MMUR

Fair point.

Del from Wheaton, IL

What I remember most about the Pisarcik fumble against the Eagles in 1978 (which I thought was hilarious at the time), was that the Packers finished 8-7-1, which was a half game behind the Eagles in the wild-card standings. So, that fumble cost the Packers a spot in the playoffs that year.

You and a parking lot full of II readers mentioned this. I get the math, but I found it hilarious only two of those countless submissions (at the time I filed the column) noted maybe the Packers' 1-5-1 finish after a 7-2 start had more to do with missing the playoffs that year than Pisarcik's fumble.

Jon from Germantown, WI

Joe Pisarcik, Jim Marshall, Leon Lett, Mark Sanchez, and ... T.J. Rubley.

I was waiting all week for someone to bring him up.

Vince from Warm Springs, GA

I would add the so-called Miracle at New Meadowlands. Matt Dodge, by all accounts including his own, was to kick the ball out of bounds at all costs. Instead he put it in play where DeSean Jackson bobbled but secured the punt and returned it for a walk-off TD. In Week 15. Of 2010. The Packers connection is that had the Giants held on to win that game, the Packers would not have made the playoff field. And Lombardi No. 4 and championship No. 13 never would have happened (nor would "It. Is. Time.")

I've heard this contention and dispute it, if only slightly. While the last-play punt return TD by Jackson helped put the Packers in control of their playoff fate with two weeks to go (win both and get in, no other help needed), had the Eagles lost that game, there's no guarantee they would've made the playoffs along with the Giants to keep the Packers out. Maybe, maybe not. Too many variables to call it absolute.

Dave from Peshtigo, WI

Speaking of barreling players, ATMM (according to my memory) WCBR, John Brockington broke a tackler's vertebra when his thigh hit the defender's helmet.

Not sure I've heard that one before, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Graydon from Menomonie, WI

Cliff Christl is a Wisconsin treasure. As Norm Peterson once said, "Machines can't drink beer. They can't appreciate it. They can't love." Others write about Packers history; Cliff lives it and loves it. His article highlighting inaccuracies at the Wisconsin Historical Society proves the difference between documenting history and truly knowing it.

I've never met a more tireless, meticulous researcher than Cliff. It's not so much that he knows all the history (which he does), it's that he knows how to confirm what's actually true and debunk what's not, and he doesn't stop that process until all resources have been exhausted.

John from Portland, OR

In response to Corey from Richland, WA (a fellow Pacific Northwesterner), the recent trend has been for new stadiums to reduce seating capacity from those being replaced, primarily because more space is devoted to luxury boxes and suites. So less seating but more revenue. Bears season ticket holders will soon face this new reality, including costly PSLs. Thankfully, when the Packers renovate it's to add seating not reduce it. Thanks for all your great coverage.

Also, there's all sorts of complicated formulas involved, but it's my understanding not all suite revenue is shared with the rest of the league. The owners get to keep some of that for themselves.

CJ from Marion, IA

If someone gets drafted in the first round of the supplemental draft does he get the same contract as if he was drafted in the regular draft?

I believe so, yes.

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

I've oft heard a player's income is affected by the location of the team he is employed due to differing taxation regulations. Is it impacted by where they travel throughout the season or does one day a week affect it much? However, I've always heard it described as a literal "game check" so I was curious. If that is the case, how are international games handled differently if at all?

Players (and team employees) are taxed by the states in which the games are played, except where reciprocity exists. But my paychecks were no different after the games in London and Brazil.

Mick from UK

Having lost Rashan Gary and Quay Walker, who do you see being elected as a captain this year?

Whom, and there are any number of possibilities on the defensive side. Micah Parsons, Xavier McKinney, Zaire Franklin, Edgerrin Cooper, Devonte Wyatt, Javon Hargrave … and I wouldn't rule out Javon Bullard or Evan Williams either.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

Can you tell us about a Packers player who completely changed your first impression of him? Whether it was through his play, personality, or just his growth over time?

Charles Woodson. He was rather standoffish when I first met him (not just to me), and he became one of my favorite players I've ever covered.

Andy from Boscobel, WI

Just waiting for ONE SEASON where we go literally ALL IN and bring the Lombardi back home. As I've mentioned before, Les Snead with the Rams does a great job of managing both flawlessly. Howie Roseman is another aggressive great GM. Just want more CALCULATED wise aggression like the Parsons, X, and Josh Jacobs deals lol.

But aren't you the same Andy from Boscobel who wanted the Packers to wait a year on the new deals for Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft, and take the risk of having to spend way more money to keep them, which would limit other acquisition opportunities?

Oscar from Boston, MA

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but given the first-team reps for Jager Burton as well as MLF's praise, do you think it's possible he starts Week 1? What do you think it would take for that to happen? I'm all for O-line competition and would take a top five O-line over any other top five positional group right now. Thanks for all you do!

I think it would take an injury for Burton to be starting Week 1, but if he earns the sixth spot (which is entirely possible), then any injury and he might be the guy. If a guard or center goes down, he steps in, and if a tackle goes down, Anthony Belton might move out there and Burton goes in for him. Just spiffballing a bit. All that said, my answer at this point is relative to Week 1. Who knows what things look like in Week 10.

Sal from Moorestown, NJ

As OTAs are ending, any player or players catch your eye who may be flying under the radar to us fans?

I'll second Wes's motion on receiver Isaiah Neyor as a player to watch during training camp and the preseason. But it might take the Packers keeping seven receivers for him to make the 53.

Brian from Chaska, MN

Spoff wrote about how Matt Orzech has to keep Whelan realistic when weather conditions affect his stats. Did Orzech or the coaching staff share any specific sideline strategies or "reset words" they use during a game to keep Daniel Whelan's perfectionism from turning into negative momentum?

No, but I got the impression from Orzech they just let Danny be Danny and he has his own way of working through it. Fortunately, there's always time to reset between punts. They don't occur one moment on top of another.

Carl from Sheboygan, WI

Morning II readers, have you seen any specific football player dominate a particular game the way the Miz and his 15K performance dominated the Phillies? I've watched games on TV where OJ, Walter Payton, and Adrian Peterson dominated with over 200 yards rushing in games. Just wondering if you've seen anyone in person dominate a football game like the Miz did.

In person, two come to mind. Rodgers in the 2010 NFC Divisional playoffs in Atlanta, and Peterson in the 2012 regular-season finale at the Metrodome. The way Rodgers was escaping sacks and throwing darts all over the Georgia Dome was just astounding. Never seen anything like it and doubt I will again. Two years later, the Vikings had to win to make the playoffs. The Packers needed a win to get a first-round bye. It became a Rodgers vs. Peterson shootout. Rodgers threw for 365 and four TDs. Peterson ran for 199 on 34 carries, coming up eight yards shy of Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105 but clinching the MVP (the last non-QB to win MVP, by the way). The Vikings won, 37-34, on a walk-off field goal set up by Peterson's 34th and final carry, which gained 26 yards. The Packers actually played good defense on a lot of his totes that day – 18 of the 34 went for 3 yards or less – but the threat was ever-present. He ran for 28 yards on second-and-27 (!) to set up a TD in the third quarter. That last rush was his seventh for 12 or more.

Randall from Manasquan, NJ

I know I shouldn't but I will. Mike, did you follow the Brewers when they were in the AL? They spent just shy of 30 years in the AL and now almost the same in the NL. Did you like the move and if so why?

I absolutely followed the Brewers in the AL, and I loved the move because at the time I was a much bigger fan of NL ball with the pitcher batting and all the lineup strategy involved. I totally understand why MLB went to the universal DH and came to peace with it long ago, but I loved the old double-switch in the batting order.

Jonathon from Sierra Vista, AZ

Question for Mike, and at the risk of turning off baseball haters, I love all my Wis. sports teams, especially the Brewers. I am troubled by a stat dealing with relief pitcher wins. It's cool that Ashby leads the MLB in wins, but I don't think it's right for a RP to earn a win after he has given up a run(s) that cost the SP the win, especially if he pitches only one inning. I understand the rule on this, but it seems this rule needs to be refined. Do you have an opinion on this?

Yes, I think the official scorer should be given more discretion in selecting which pitcher gets the win, or the loss for that matter. Another example, last Saturday in Brewers-Phillies, the Crew's reliever came into a 3-3 game after the starter put one runner on. He got knocked around and the inning ended 8-3. The Brewers rallied but never re-tied the score and lost 9-8. But because the fourth run was charged to the starter, he took the loss, not the reliever. That statistical stuff gets inane in baseball but they'll never change it because they'd have to redo 150 years of history and stats.

Brent from Delano, MN

In response to Tom from Bismarck yesterday, what is wrong with a little Positivity? A little Excitement? A liitle Confidence? We all know it doesn't mean anything until the pads go on but creating some positivity around a young defensive player and a new defensive scheme is EXACTLY what the coaches are supposed to be doing this time of year. So fill the rest of your glass or move on.

It's called the baloney season for a reason. That's the understood backdrop, at least for me. It's OK to ponder and pontificate as long as that's not forgotten.

Jeff from Janesville, WI

Has the baloney stopped yet?

We just ducked under the 90-day mark this past week. Hooray? Happy Friday.

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