Dustin from Kansas City, MO

If Cliff is Herodotus, then I guess Vic would be Thucydides, which would leave you two as Xenophon and Plutarch. On a related note, I guess my history teacher knew what she was talking about when she said learning this stuff would come in handy someday. If you're reading this Mrs. Greenwood from Webb City High School, you were right and I was wrong.

Football can't get here fast enough.

Garrett from Rockford, MI

When is "Unscripted" returning?

We relaunched yesterday.

Dennis from De Pere, WI

I feel like I would like to be in a room with Cliff Christl and go all Cliff Claven and tell factually incorrect stories of the history of the Green Bay Packers. Just to watch his eye start twitching and have him shut me down. I don't know why.

Christl & Claven sounds like a sitcom in its own right.

Ron from Attica, OH

Thank you for the Countdown to Camp articles. I appreciate the detailed info and pedigree for the players working for their spot on the roster, as well as your perspective on how things MAY fit together. Logic would say that this series of articles will reduce the Inbox submissions of redundant questions that repeatedly get asked over and over. Since gambling is not allowed here, I wouldn't bet on it.

All we can do is try.

Doug from Roberts, WI

So Aaron Banks is on the PUP list, but can return at any time? Please explain how this is different from the in-season PUP list that requires a player to miss games and when the designation has to change. Thanks for the II vault of knowledge!

Anyone placed on PUP at the start of training camp can be activated at any time. At the roster reduction to 53, players who have been on PUP for the entirety of training camp can be transferred to regular-season PUP, but must sit out the first four games (as well as practice for the first two weeks). Any player activated during camp is not eligible for regular-season PUP and, if injured again, would have to go on IR at roster cuts as one of two designated to return (after a minimum of four games) in order to not count against the initial 53. Any other injured players the team would like to bring back at some point will have to be on the initial 53 before being placed on IR.

Steve from Land O'Lakes, FL

Am I missing something? It looks to me that Green Bay significantly downgraded kickers by going from Havrisik to Lenny Krieg. At least that's what it looks like on paper. Less accuracy and shorter distance. Color me stumped.

I don't know anything about Krieg. I'm curious to see him kick in practice. I admittedly didn't see this move coming, but the personnel department always has its reasons.

Keith from Lincoln, IL

Patrick Mahomes and Micah Parsons suffered their knee injuries on the same day. Mahomes had surgery two weeks before Micah (due to swelling issues). Mahomes has been "fully cleared" for training camp with Micah out at least the first four weeks of the season. Do the differences tell you anything about medical philosophies across teams? Or are they just due to differences in injury severity?

Not all ACL surgeries/knee reconstructions are alike.

Herb from Mosier, OR

I'm laser focused on our cornerbacks this camp. IMHO cornerback is by far the most difficult position (other than QB) in football. My cornerback IQ is limited; please help. When we play zone coverage, does our slot CB stay with his guy or hand him off? Who would he hand him off to? Will our new DC play more zone or man-to-man? What criteria determines if we play either coverage? How is the coverage communicated to the DBs? I've gotta go-there's smoke on the horizon in Oregon.

Stay safe out there. I can't speak to which types of coverage Gannon will prefer, or which he'll feel his players execute best. Coverage calls also can be dictated by opponent matchups and/or pass-rush packages, such as playing man behind a certain blitz, or zone when a blitz is bluffed and players drop back. Generally speaking, mixing coverages on the same play isn't advised. There may be very rare instances or matchups where it happens, but having defenders playing different coverages is usually a recipe for breakdowns.

Doug from Salem, OR

Is Devonte Wyatt our new Kenny Clark?

Works for me.

David from Chestertown, MD

Hello II scribes and readers. It is cool that Daniel Whelan is so talented but with the advent of the going-for-it-on-fourth-down metric doesn't it seem as though field position has become an arcane art? Here's to hoping he has plenty of time on the sideline! GPG.

Field position remains valuable. Kickers are trying to drop kickoffs just short of the end zone so the ball doesn't come out to the 35. Punters pinning opponents deep helps prevent them from going for it on fourth downs.

Mark from Winona, MN

I keep hearing from numerous pundits that the GBP will only excel if Jordan Love is able to "take that next step." What would that look like to you? I can't really think of any statistical numbers that would warrant this narrative. Personally the only thing I guess I would like to see is using his athleticism to take off running a bit more when things break down in protection.

I think it's about keeping the offense humming more consistently, which means being able to continue moving the chains and scoring points when explosive plays aren't necessarily available.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

We all know Jordan Love probably will not play in the preseason. With the value of Tyrod Taylor's experience, is it even worth having him play any snaps? I would let the two young guys battle it out and make sure our top two at the most important position are as healthy as possible.

That's up to Matt LaFleur, and I would imagine Taylor's comfort level with the offense as camp progresses will dictate some of those decisions. He's only going to get so many reps in practice because Love will be taking the bulk of them.

Tim from Augusta, WI

I am so happy for Coach McCarthy and his family. What an opportunity to go home and coach your childhood favorite. He has to have one of the greatest careers ever. Not only has he had tremendous success and longevity, but he will retire having coached the most storied franchises in the league … (and the Cowboys).

Ha. It was impressive enough he'd coached two of the league's signature clubs, and experienced success at both. Now he's onto a third. We may never see another coaching tenure like it.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Hey Spoff, let's refresh our memories given the discussion of PE related to player contracts. One potential advantage is the ability for other teams to use PE funds towards guaranteed money, right? That money has to be held in escrow and comes from organizational/owner money outside of the salary cap, right? So theoretically if the league continues the trend towards more guaranteed payouts, it's another risk factor for us?

Potentially, but time will tell. The Packers have $700M (and climbing) in their corporate reserve fund and remain judicious with contract guarantees. Private equity or not, exorbitant guarantees can get your cap in trouble, so cap management still takes precedence. For now.

Mike from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

I've heard people say that Matthew Golden had a disappointing rookie season. Seems to me, he caught every ball he could get his hands on. I'm expecting big things from him this year.

When he was healthy, he produced. I detailed it early in the offseason. The critics conveniently leave out the injuries he fought through last year, and their impact, which is greater on young players trying to find themselves at this level. He will reward this organization's belief in him.

Scott from Noblesville, IN

Two-fold question as we/you start yet another camp. Who, if anyone, was somewhat of a star of a "Packers underwear league" who broke your hearts when the pads went on? Vice versa, and hopefully with more positive answers, who maybe seemed to just blend in during the underwear league, and then proceeded to "jump out" once the pads went on?

The former is usually receivers and DBs who fade as the game gets more physical. Draft picks like Jerron McMillian, Josh Jones and Josh Jackson come to mind. The latter is usually linemen, and undrafted guys nobody was paying attention to, who begin to emerge, like Don Barclay and Lane Taylor.

Gary from Tompkinsville, KY

When will the players practice in pads?

Sunday.

Phillip from Wonder Lake, IL

What will the Packers do with seven TEs?

Not keep them all.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Mike, my observation of Carrington Valentine as a CB was he was solid in coverage but did not appear to be a willing tackler. Does he need to display tackling ability to win the CB2 spot?

He's a willing tackler, and has the ability, but he must sharpen technique to become more reliable.

Bob from Emmaus, PA

How do the defensive line coaches ramp up the aggressiveness of the edge rushers to make up for Micah Parsons' absence in early games without making them vulnerable to rushing plays? What do you expect to see in training camp practices and preseason games?

The coaches can't be asking the players to make up for Parsons' absence by being more aggressive. The young edge rushers must improve and develop their games and put their best selves out there, while the coaches must be in tune with their strengths and put them in position to maximize on them.

Harry from Bessemer, MI

There is a lot of speculation about running back No. 2 and possible practice team signings for RB. Can you give us stats for what their contribution has been on the teams they have been a part of prior to the Packers?

Damien Martinez spent part of last season on Seattle's practice squad after the Seahawks drafted him in the seventh round, but he hasn't appeared in an NFL game. Pierre Strong Jr. has 99 carries for 499 yards and two TDs, plus 26 receptions for 193 yards, in his career from 2022-24 with the Patriots and Browns.

Arthur from Eau Claire, WI

Mike/Wes, what one game this year would be "the one" that you would most want to watch as a fan with absolutely no job-related duties and why?

If it's 28 degrees and snowing when Josh Allen and the Bills come to Lambeau in mid-December, I'll probably wish to be sitting out in the bowl. But the view from the press box will still be pretty cool.

Nik from Moore, SC

Mike, the Brewers are having a year. Traditionally they are not the team to add big contracts at the deadline. This may be the year to change that. What would you add? Starting pitcher stud? Closer? Big bat in middle of lineup? Power-hitting 3B? The farm system is stocked with good young talent. Why not take a real shot this year?

An accomplished starting pitcher would be a fantastic addition, but a hard-throwing bullpen arm is probably more realistic.

James from Chicago, IL

At work we interviewed two candidates for an opening. We're currently in a debate. One candidate, solid performer. Good and relevant experience. The other, decent experience, but just a mountain of raw talent. Some managers see the first candidate see how well they'd perform the job. I look at the second candidate and see all the other things they can potentially do with the right training. This must happen with coaches all the time?

And with scouts and personnel execs, yes.

Dick from Sarasota, FL

Good morning! Training camp is finally here and a new season awaits! It's also the beginning of clickbait season which I dutifully avoid. Judging by the headlines many pundits are down on our team. I say let them be! We will surprise many fans and perhaps some other teams. No one picked Seattle to win the Lombardi Trophy last season. Bring on the challengers.

You're right, nobody was picking Seattle last year with a new QB taking over. In 2024, nobody was picking the Eagles after they bombed out in the first round the year prior. But the baloney doesn't officially stop until the ball is in the air Week 1. Can't wait.

Dan from Kewanee, IL

Going to miss seeing Bryan Nehring at practice.

Me, too.

Kevin from Indianapolis, IN

I get the fan obsession with signing a free agent right before camp, but to quote the great Norman Dale, "My team's on the [field]." I'm thrilled to see the development from some of our young guys!

That's what this time of year is all about. Happy Wednesday.

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