Inbox: His health will play a big part

Lee from Cleveland, OH

"Duke Bobber," if ever there was a name born for NASCAR, that's it. That or the Bassmasters tournament. I was going to change my name to Packy Packer but I see it's long been gone. Instead I've chosen "Slug Barrel." It may prove useful come deer season. I can also use it to cover over the name my wife had sewn on my No. 1 Packer jersey…Stud Muffin. Thanks for playing.

Nothing says TGIF like this does.

Dale from Harpers Ferry, WV

When will away game pep rallies be announced?

Everything should be finalized in July.

Jordan from Osterdock, IA

Did I miss Kitan Oladapo being moved from safety to corner?

Wes was referring there to the work Oladapo has gotten in the slot.

George from North Mankato, MN

Are there any starting spots up for grabs when OTAs start? How many UDFAs do you think have a shot to make the 53 this year?

I don't know enough about the UDFAs yet to rank their chances, but as far as starting jobs open heading into OTAs, I'd say CB2 and EDGE2 are at the top of the list.

Tony from Oconomowoc, WI

When I first looked at the schedule after it was released, I noticed the Packers play in Pittsburgh during the preseason. I immediately wished that game would have been at Lambeau so Rodgers could experience one more "gameday" in Green Bay, even if it's only preseason and he likely won't play. That wish is even heavier now that he announced this will be his last season.

I can appreciate that, but I also think there's something a bit poetic about Rodgers not playing at Lambeau Field for any team other than the Packers.

Jeff from Littlefork, MN

Just saw an (obviously short) video of "all" five of Rodgers' interceptions in his 2014 MVP season. Four of them bounced off receivers' hands and a Buffalo CB just jumped a route on the fifth. How spoiled were we by 12? (and he'll always be "12"!)

Rodgers' numbers in his four MVP seasons are just absurd: 1,422-of-2,079 (68.4%) for 17,438 yards and 168 TDs with 20 INTs for a cumulative 117.0 passer rating. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, who won eight MVPs between them, topped 117.0 in a season just once each. Rodgers hit that mark for a collective four years. It's mind-boggling how good he was at his best.

Randy from Carrollton, TX

I'm sure either of you or maybe some of the Insiders will have the answer to this question. How many current players on the Packers roster were on the last roster that Aaron Rodgers was on?

I count seven – Keisean Nixon, Jordan Love, Isaiah McDuffie, Devonte Wyatt, Christian Watson, Zach Tom and Sean Rhyan. The last four were all rookies in '22, and it was Nixon's first year here. McDuffie played two years with him, and Love three.

Nathan from Williamstown, MA

To Phil from Paris's point about injury luck in the Rodgers era, you have to add that if David Bakhtiari doesn't blow out his knee in practice at the end of the 2020 season, the Packers probably win it all that year. If Rodgers had his normal time to throw, he would have put up enough points to beat Brady, and then Mahomes was nowhere near healthy in the Super Bowl. Plus, who knows how much better the following seasons would have turned out if Bakhtiari had been available.

The Packers' offensive line wasn't good enough in the playoffs without Bakhtiari on the two best LaFleur/Rodgers teams (2020 & 2021). Ten sacks in those two postseason defeats … when Rodgers was sacked a total of 50 times in the other 34 games those two years.

Thomas from Madison, WI

There seems to be some concern around the inter-webs regarding the Packers' pass rush before Micah Parsons comes back from injury, with folks clamoring for a veteran free-agent pickup. Selfishly, I hope (and am fairly convinced) the Packers stay put, as I'm excited to get a look at depth players in real time. In your opinion, does playing in a base 3-4 defense provide an easier or more difficult path to the quarterback for the less experienced EDGE player?

Pass rushing is pass rushing, and whether 3-4 or 4-3, there are still edge-setting, run-stopping responsibilities. So I'm not hung up on alignment either way. I expect the Packers to let the young dogs hunt, too. They spent fourth- and fifth-round picks on Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver and Dani Dennis-Sutton for a reason.

Michelle from Darlington, WI

Like many, I was sorry to see Malik Willis go to another team but also very happy that they were able to sign an experienced QB like Tyrod Taylor. How does the dynamic for Jordan Love change with someone like Taylor who has been in the league longer than Malik Willis?

Taylor just has more examples to draw upon from his experience when they're in film sessions together, studying opponents, breaking down stills on the sideline, whatever. The conversations can be more robust.

Chuck from Santa Ana, CA

Have to admit that the stats that Tyrod Taylor has put over the years are pretty impressive. And having started as many games as he has is a huge plus. Seems like a perfect QB2. Which begs the question. Why was he available?

Not all teams are looking for the same thing in QB2. Some focus on developing a young prospect in that spot. Others, like the Packers, want to make sure they can still win games if QB1 goes down. Price also matters. The value a QB2 like Taylor brings isn't the same to every team.

Dick from Sarasota, FL

Good morning. There's an old saying that "football players are made in the offseason, while football teams are made in-season." Wondering what your thoughts are on that. I can see that being the case, but also not the case. Thanks.

I used to hear that more about basketball than football. I do think there's something to the camaraderie developed in a football offseason when the players are training together and hanging out, mostly outside of media coverage and scrutiny. But training camp matters more because there's such a difference in this game wearing pads versus not.

Matt from Kewswick, VA

Hello II, which tired, old NFL cliche needs most to be retired? For me it's what play will coach "dial up." I believe that originally referred to a baseball manager phoning the bullpen.

Or it's from the old days of communicating with coaches upstairs via sideline telephones. Whatever the case, this one doesn't bother me as much as some others.

Yotam from Israel

Just heard that some NFL stadiums had to change their artificial grass to natural to host FIFA World Cup games. Do you know which stadiums and whether the change is permanent? Seems like it could be a change for the best in many cases.

I haven't heard about any of those changes being permanent, which is a shame.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Were you surprised the owners voted that games can't be protected from going international? I couldn't believe they didn't hedge that and at least say except for division games. How unfair would that be for one team to get to play a division game at home and the other one does not? I really don't like that one.

It creates competitive imbalance, for sure. But I also understand the league's interest in putting some of its great rivalries (Packers-Bears, Steelers-Ravens, etc.) on the international stage.

Michael from Germany

With Packers and Chiefs having international marketing rights in UK and Germany and both teams are not playing international this upcoming season, do you think this is a potential matchup for the Berlin Game in 2027 or one of the London Games in 2027?

Green Bay is scheduled to travel to Kansas City in 2027, and with teams no longer allowed to protect home games, plus the international rights you mention – both teams have the UK, Ireland and Germany, actually – I would think a Packers-Chiefs matchup in Ireland or Germany is a distinct possibility. I'm guessing not the UK because the Packers were just there in 2022, and I'm thinking the league will want them to play elsewhere abroad next.

Dar from Mansfield, TX

The Packers this season play on five of the seven days of the week, the only exceptions being Saturday and Tuesday. And it's possible (though highly unlikely due to the previous week's MNF game) the Week 18 game against the Lions could get flexed. Has an NFL team ever previously played five or six different days of the week? Seems crazy to me.

According to NFL Research, in 2024 the Chiefs became the first NFL team to play on six different days of the week during a regular season since the 1927 New York Yankees.

Marcus from Duluth, MN

Insiders, a lot of talk about the RB2 spot coming up. I'm interested in how the Packers can be more effective with RB1. I know Josh Jacobs missed a couple of games, but we seemed to not get as many explosive runs from him or have the run game stall at times overall. I think stability at the O-line and run formations under center will help Josh, but is there anything else that could help him get back to 1,000-plus yards this season?

His health will play a big part.

Herb from Mosier, OR

My grandson (Sam age 9) is not a Packers fan, even though his grandfather and father are devoted to the team. I asked Sam if his buddies are NFL fans, he said no. Turns out they're all huge professional soccer fans. Why? Probably because they all play soccer. And his mom and dad don't want him to play pee wee football. My point is that the NFL's popularity may be peaking. What is the league (and the Packers) doing to develop interest in football for the next generation?

That's where the league's ongoing flag football initiatives come in.

Shannon from Ovilla, TX

Are the Brewers a good example of draft-and-develop in MLB? They seem to have a good pipeline of talent and are always having to replace players they can't afford. Great to see them sweep into first place.

They're also shrewd dealmakers in the trading market. Not every trade works wonders, but when you pull off a couple of heists it can change fortunes. The Yelich trade with the Marlins in 2018 and the Harrison/Drohan/Hamilton trade with Boston this past winter might as well be called Ocean's 14 & 15.

Darren from Wakefield, MI

Hey Mike, I know we don't do predictions here, though don't tell James Jones. I can watch every year. It never gets old. Being a big Brewers fan and never been to Wrigley, where was my wink and nod to have me go to the last three games?

I know, right? Here I took a weekend in April to watch them get swept by the stupid Nats, and I easily could've taken PTO this week. So it goes.

Mark from Madison, WI

Besides me, how many others feel the Brewers got the better deal when our manager left for the Cubs?

I think the larger question is how many people five years ago would've said the Brewers could be better after Stearns and Counsell leave? Nobody. But they are better under Arnold and Murphy. No denying it. OK, enough baseball. Thanks for indulging. Happy Friday. Enjoy the weekend, everybody.

HAVE A QUESTION?