Inbox: It's a different game at this level

Brian from South Lake Tahoe, CA Is it mandatory that you include a "Brian" question in every Inbox, or are we just too good at asking questions? Brians have come here to chew bubblegum and ask questions…and they’re all out of bubblegum. Good morning! Dane from Franklin, WI There’s a perennial discussion about the skills and habits rookies learn in training camp. Are there any skills from college football that rookie players often need to unlearn? Aside from refining footwork and technique, the biggest change most college players have to make is understanding the volume of a pro playbook. As Jim Hostler mentioned a few weeks ago, a college receiver might need to know only four or five route combinations on the perimeter. In the NFL, that number might be as large as 150. Oh, by the way, you’re also catching passes from Aaron Rodgers now, too. It’s a different game at this level. The receivers who master it such as Davante Adams and Randall Cobb are the guys who last. Zhoujie from Boston, MA Do you think the Packers should consider moving DeShone Kizer to WR? Terrelle Pryor had success making the switch. Can’t we let the guy play quarterback first? Mike from Novato, CA Hey guys, quick question about the role of TEs in the NFL, and on the Packers. With 6-foot-5 E.Q. St. Brown, what's the functional difference between a WR at that size, and someone like Graham, who isn't going to block? In both cases, you have someone "too big for corners, too fast for LBs" and you're not having them block a lineman. This blocking thing got out of control among fans this offseason. I understand the reputation, but this assertion Graham refuses to block is mind-numbing. He’s more than capable, as Marcedes Lewis attested to shortly after signing. What’s the difference? Graham is 265 pounds, whereas St. Brown and Michael Clark are in the 210s. Who would you rather have chip-blocking a pass-rusher off-tackle?Chris from Eau Claire, WI Is No. 10 too high, too low, or just right? Is that a trick question? Alan from Honea Path, SC Do players really care who rates them and in what spot? Or do they just let their performance speak for itself? It depends on the person. From my world, some journalists live and die during awards season, while others keep their accolades in dust-covered boxes. I view the “Top 100” in a similar light. It’s a nice feather in the cap for a player like Davante Adams, who probably hasn’t received as much attention as he deserves, but I don’t think Aaron Rodgers is losing any sleep coming in at No. 10. If it makes the chip on his shoulder any larger, all the better. Jeremiah from Madison, WI AR at No. 10 on the NFL Top 100. I know he missed some games, but to me that seems a little low. Though I guess it adds fuel to the fire. Which brings me to the question; is it #revengetour or #rodgersrevengetour? I think the kids refer to it as #comebacksznKevin from Louisville, KY I’m working on something for my Packers cave. Where can I find a list of all the quarterbacks that have been sacked by Clay Matthews? I've looked everywhere and I'm unable to find a list. Jay Cutler (8½), Christian Ponder (6), Alex Smith (4½), Sam Bradford (4), Matt Ryan (3½), Jameis Winston (3), Joe Flacco (3), Trent Edwards (3), Eli Manning (3), Ben Roethlisberger (3), Matthew Stafford (3), Josh McCown (2½), Drew Brees (2), Daunte Culpepper (2), Colin Kaepernick (2), Kevin Kolb (2), Kyle Orton (2), Mark Sanchez (2), Michael Vick (2), Nick Foles (1½), Donovan McNabb (1½), Cam Newton (1½), Tony Romo (1½), Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater, Matt Cassel, Andy Dalton, Brett Favre, Shaun Hill, Jon Kitna, Andrew Luck, Jake Locker, Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton, Carson Wentz, Mike Glennon, DeShone Kizer. Good luck.Calvin from Jacksonville, FL The Bears’ lead over the Packers for most wins in the league has dwindled to eight. When will the Packers take the mantle of winningest team in the NFL? The smart money would say this year or next unless Mitchell Trubisky can get this thing turned around in Chicago. Rob from Buckinghamshire, UK Has a team ever finished as the top seed in the playoffs with only an 11-5 record? Could it happen this year where seemingly every NFC team has the ability to make the playoffs, leading to everyone beating one another? The last time it happened was in 2002 when 11-5 Oakland earned the top seed in the AFC. Could it happen this year? Sure. As Kevin Garnett once said, “ANYTHING IS POSSSSSSSSIBBBBBBLLLLEEEE!” Nick from Chicago, IL Who do you think has the best chances of becoming Comeback Player of the Year - Rodgers, Wentz, Watson or someone else? If Wentz delivers an MVP-caliber season after tearing his ACL last December, he’s the comeback player of the year. That turnaround would rival Adrian Peterson’s comeback given the timetable and how tricky ligament tears can be. Watson would be impressive, too, but he had a two-month head start on his recovery. Ryan from Algoma, WI Was wondering if Kevin King is eligible for the comeback player of the year award? He sure is, but no cornerback has ever won the award. The closest a defensive back came was in 2015 when Kansas City safety Eric Berry beat Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Craig from Reeds Spring, MO Please tell me Josh Sitton will be enshrined in the Packers Hall of Fame. Also, love the Jay Cutler choice but I'd prefer a crack back on Anthony Barr. You guys and Anthony Barr. Sitton certainly has the resume for eventual enshrinement. With the influx of talent on this roster over the last 10 years, the Packers Hall of Fame committee is going to have some tough calls to make in the next decade or so. Regardless, Sitton accomplished so much in Green Bay. I don’t know how many offensive linemen in franchise history have been voted to the Pro Bowl four times and made the All-Pro team on three occasions. Adam from St. Louis, MO Who would you want to put a legal tackle on? For me, it is definitely Anthony Barr. That guy needs to learn what a perfectly legal, by-the-book, yet "very physical" tackle is like. Also in this scenario, I play LT for Jay Cutler and he just threw another interception. Glad to know I forced a turnover during my only NFL snap. Move over, Rudy. Tom from Vista, CA How did you feel on your first day on the job with the Packers? Fortunate…and slightly lost. Ben from El Paso, TX What would you think about the new leading with the helmet penalties and ejections being included in the tiebreaker procedures? Interesting. It’s kind of like MMA referees taking a point from a fighter for illegal strike or grabbing the cage, which often can determine the outcome of a close decision. I don’t think it would fly in the NFL, but it’s not a bad idea. Chris from Eau Claire, WI I see tickets for Family Night are going on sale. How do you get on the field during the fireworks part of Family Night? Convince Brian Gutekunst to sign you.Dan from Denham Springs, LA Just a quick comment on remembering the wins versus losses. I feel the same good emotion when the Packers win a game whether it's regular season or playoffs. I still cannot watch any part of Super Bowl XXXII whether a highlight, game replay, or anything else without a deep feeling of nausea and sadness like I feel at no other time. Especially when I realize the Packers were the better team and should have won. That game is a perfect example of how a team won because they wanted it more. It’s why Ron Wolf’s quote after the loss remains one of the most powerful in NFL history. It encapsulates how thin the line is between champions and dynasties in an imperfect game that demands perfection. It’s what makes the game maddening and beautiful in the same breath. Brady from Minturn, CO I’m sitting across the street at the Lodge Kohler watching the moon set behind Lambeau. How do you think building Titletown will change game day? I don’t get to games as often but I’ve only parked in one family’s yard my entire Packers fan career. It’s a game-changer. They hit it out of the park in my opinion. It’s brought new life to the West side of the stadium. On a side note, the “46 Below” cafe is a hidden gem in Green Bay. The coffee is amazing. I love the way the field, playground and overall space has come together. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet on game day, I highly recommend it. The energy is incredible. Matt from Allentown, PA Just about every sports fan I know has bought at least one jersey that they regret buying. For example, as a kid, I loved Na'il Diggs because I thought his name was cool, so I asked for a Diggs jersey and he was released the next year. Still stings to this day, though on the bright side, owning a Na'il Diggs jersey makes me part of a pretty exclusive club. Do you have any jersey-buying regrets? Easiest question of the day – my Gary Payton Bucks jersey. I’m fairly confident it’s the only jersey I’ve ever thrown out. Josh from Nicholasville, KY All this talk about the Fail Mary and the agony of defeat opens some old wounds. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that. If the refs had done things what I like to call “the right way,” how much effect do you think it would have had on that season? Not to throw salt in there, but I think it could have had massive implications. That 2012 team was balanced and a lot better than what it’s remembered as being. Kim from Muskegon, MI Great job, Insiders. Nathan from La Crosse, hit the nail on the head regarding "worst calls in baseball.” Armando Galarraga had a perfect game with two outs in the ninth. Umpire Jim Joyce's blown call cost Armando a perfect game. After reviewing the call, tears in his eyes, he approached Galarraga and said: “I'm so sorry, I cost you a perfect game.” Armando gave Joyce a hug, smiled and said “Don't worry about it, I'm still young.” Class act. I give Galarraga points for sportsmanship in what should have been his shining moment. He’s a bigger man than I. At the same time, he’ll be remembered more for his forgiveness than if he’d actually been credited with the perfect game. Sometimes sports can be more than just wins and losses. Tim from Tamworth, England As it's now downtime for football, how do you think the game would change if yards were swapped to slightly longer meters, so first-and-10 meters and the field was 100 meters long? Don’t push your metric system on me, Tim. I have a difficult enough time driving through Canada with it.Joe from Rhinelander, WI What can you tell us about the training camp refs? Who are they? How do you get to become one? They’re former coaches, referees, teachers and chain-gang crew members. I’m not sure how you become one. Several guys have been doing it forever. Brady from Lodi, WI Good to have you back, Wes! Did you achieve the coveted Victory Royale during your time off? And, more to the point: who do you think are the best Fortnite players on the Green Bay Packers? I think David Bakhtiari said on Twitter that if he is better than Aaron Rodgers at anything, it's Fortnite. Is anybody on the team a rabid fan like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Le’Veon Bell? I took second the first time I ever played. No joke. And haven’t finished higher than seventh since. Bakhtiari is high on the list, but I know Blake Martinez takes it very seriously, as well. I’ll have to ask around. Charlie from Racine, WI Wes, congratulations on being a dad. It's a great thing. Two bits of advice. Before you go to work, check under your fingernails, and check the burping shoulder of your shirt. Have fun! I’ve already developed a sixth sense for checking my clothing after burps. Cillian is a silent assassin with his spit-up. HAVE A QUESTION?