Inbox: It's undeniable at this point

Jason from Ridgeland, SC

Wow, Wes! The wrap-up to Tuesday's II was poignant, astute and on-point! Hall of Fame-worthy closing to add to the annals, and a must read reflection/words to live by for us heartbroken Packer fans! Time is fleeting, so make the most of what you've got left! We'll get 'em next year!

It's hard watching your team come up short. I was despondent when the Milwaukee Bucks lost to Philadelphia in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in 2001 because I felt like that was going to be their best shot at winning a championship in my lifetime. But you never know when the breakthrough might happen. It happened to be 20 years later and that pursuit keeps me coming back.

Mike from New Orleans, LA

Now that the season is over, let's talk about former draft picks. As we know, it takes a few years for players to develop, so I was looking at the 2023 class. My untrained self sees two excellent picks in Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft and six with big upside, possibly not yet reached (Lukas Van Ness, Luke Musgrave, Colby Wooden, Dontayvion Wicks, Carrington Valentine and Karl Brooks). Even with the other even not being on the team, it seems like excellent work from Brian Gutekunst and the scouting team. Am I right in my assessment? What do y'all see I'm missing?

The 2022 and 2023 classes are probably 1A and 1B as Gutekunst's best all-around drafts. Those two years expediated the Packers' turnaround. It's a shame the 2022 group couldn't get past the divisional round, but those players had a huge impact on Green Bay making three straight playoff appearances. Hopefully, the 2023 class helps the Packers take the next step next season.

Tim from Superior, WI

Aaron Rodgers seemingly played with a lifelong chip on his shoulder, Brett Favre epitomized intensity and fire, yes Jordan Love is ice, but is ice alone enough to propel his team to its highest level? The premier quarterbacks almost appear to will their teams, especially late in games. Does Love need to display more fire to go along with that ice? Or is being genuine and true to yourself a more important ingredient of leadership?

Any question that starts with "Does being genuine and true to yourself…" will always end in a yes. That's true in football and any walk of life. Favre and Rodgers were Hall of Fame players for this franchise, but they aren't here anymore. This is Love's team and that locker room responds to his authentic leadership.

Chuck from Hudson, WI

I absolutely believe two No. 1s for Micah Parsons was a great trade. To get a known top-five NFL player for the cost when so many No. 1 picks don't deliver value was a winning move. My question is, does/will Gutey have the cap space to add a couple top free agent talents to make up for the first-round void?

It depends on which veterans Green Bay holds onto this offseason and whom it looks to extend from those fruitful 2022 and 2023 draft classes. Trading for Parsons was the best move the Packers could have made for the future of this organization, but there is a financial cost with that. It's up to Gutekunst and his scouts to determine how they proceed this offseason with building the rest of the roster.

Mark from Dallas, TX

Just listened to "Packers Unscripted" talk about injuries to key players on and off the field, true. Honestly, I felt going into the playoff game that we had lost too many stars to make a legit Super Bowl run, esp. all on the road. But I don't think that's a fair excuse for the Bears loss, where the Packers showed they had the talent and plan to play with and beat them, but (like most of season) couldn't finish. If LaFleur stays, how can he address this and create a fighter identity?

As I've previously stated, that question will be easier to answer once we know which direction this boat is moving. But point of emphasis is an ever-changing target. As we talk about the Packers' need to finish, the conversation in Chicago this week has been the Bears' need to start faster.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

With the year now at its end, who was one Packers player you enjoyed watching over the course of the 2025 season?

Kraft. The guy is the future. It's undeniable at this point. He's the future of the Packers' offense and he's the future of NFL tight ends. Like I said on Tuesday's "Unscripted," we talked all offseason about Kraft becoming a focal point of the offense in 2025 and yet he still shattered expectations before the ACL injury. Plus, he's thrilling to watch. Kraft is like a prize fighter who's talented and entertaining. To me, the steak lost its seasoning when Kraft went down.

Richard from Caledonia, WI

Great article about Kraft. Love him and his positive attitude and candid approach. His comments and other players' about Coach LaFleur resonate a positive view for at least allowing him to complete his current contract. Still have reservations about a longer extension given the five-game end-of-season stretch! Your insights? Injuries certainly a factor but lots to clean up, too!?

Sure, but this team's captains and returning veterans are confident in their ability to do it. Like Kraft said, the team lost many of the weapons the offense and defense were built around. That's fine if you don't believe that to be the case, but Kraft, Parsons, Devonte Wyatt and so many others get another swing at proving doubters wrong next season.

Eric from Wrightstown, WI

Nothing like an intense rivalry between roughly equal teams. That said, Ben Johnson seems to want to take Packers/Bears back to the Gregg/Ditka days. I just hope if does not escalate to the Kenny Stills/Matt Suhey level!

Rivalry, rivalry, rivalry. Everyone wants to talk about the rivalry. It's always been a rivalry. It ain't the Packers' fault the Bears were in hibernation for the better part of 30 years. I mean, nothing like returning to the party with a boombox on your shoulder to remind everyone that you're back. Sure, fine, whatever. Congrats.

Matt from Keswick, VA

Thank you, Insiders, for helping me recover from Saturday night. For a couple days I was quite open to replacing ML after yet another collapse. Then I was scared spitless when I read a clickbait that a just-fired Harbough would be a perfect fit in Green Bay. Now I realize I am a Packers fan for its culture of integrity, not just the titles that it produces. Consistency at HC, I believe, will pay off just as well as stability at QB.

This whole ordeal has been the perfect example of our mantra that "Nothing is official until it's official." The Packers are in a strong position right now with a talent-rich roster. If LaFleur is back, organizational stability remains in place. If it doesn't work out, the Packers' job becomes the top head-coaching position on the market and LaFleur is probably the top coach available. We can talk through all the hypotheticals, but a domino must fall for any real conversations to begin regarding next season.

Thomas from Cedar Rapids, IA

I would like to make a request to the schedule-makers: I want the Packers to play the Bears in Week 1. And believe it or not, I would kind of like it to be in Chicago. Parsons won't be back yet, but it still can't get here soon enough. I hope the team has the same mindset.

I could see that. I also could see the NFL scheduling Packers and Bears for the regular-season finale, too. Neither of those teams is going anywhere and clearly Ben Johnson doesn't mind walking around with a gasoline can in one hand and lit match in the other.

Jeff from Saratoga, WI

Good morning, my question has to do with how you think Matt LaFleur will handle the post-game handshake with Ben Johnson next year. I'd hope that he responds the same as he was treated this year.

I'm sure LaFleur will conduct himself like he did the previous three times…you know, like an adult.

John from Elgin, IL

Well, the reasons for not extending Matt LaFleur's contract are numerous. My question is what are the reasons for retaining LaFleur? A contract extension should be a reward for positive results. Over the last four years, those positive results have been few and far between.

The Packers made the playoffs three straight years with the NFL's youngest team. Is that not successful enough for you? You might enjoy being a fan of the Steelers (no playoff wins since 2016) or Bengals (a pair of gut-wrenching 23-20 losses in Super Bowl LVI and 2022 AFC title game after 20-plus years of no playoff wins since 1990). I don't disagree the Packers having had their share of bitter defeats since Super Bowl XLV, but you're using personal disappointment as a gauge of overall success. That's the wrong tool.

Alan from Butternut, WI

Will Sean McVay or Robert Saleh make a call to Matt LaFleur this week regarding their matchup against the Bears?

They'd be foolish not to, right?

Chris from Waukesha, WI

Benefits to marrying my NY-born wife: I automatically have a backup team to root for, and to Spoff's point, Josh Allen/Buffalo is easy to root for anyway, and their fans are among the best in the NFL. Our CB room/depth, especially Nate Hobbs, was underwhelming (maybe acquire a Calvin to help him?). Even though Trevon Diggs can be released with little to no financial hit, what are the chances his contract is reworked to stay here?

There is no financial hit for Green Bay past the 2025 season. The rest of Diggs' contract is tied to base salary and gameday bonuses. The Packers will have to either tweak his pre-existing deal to keep Diggs or let him go before the start of the new league year in March.

Mark from Portland, OR

In Wednesday's II you suggested LaFleur being too eager for the kill shot Saturday. It was also mentioned weeks ago that the big play is their identity. If LaFleur made long drives their identity it could flip the script on our collapses. It's very hard to close out games when your defense is consistently gassed in the fourth quarter. As a boy, long TDs (to James Lofton) were all I wanted. As a man I crave more dinks, dunks and a shelf full of punch-you-in-the-mouth jars. Let the big plays come naturally.

Sometimes the best path is taking what you're given and seeing what you can do with it. I've said it several times now (because this is a six-day-a-week column), but the Packers' four-minute offense was lacking this year. The short passing game is part of that.

David from De Pere, WI

I haven't heard much about Mike McCarthy and all the open jobs. Now that Pittsburgh is open, I would think that would be an option as he is from Pittsburgh. Do you think he wants to or will get back into coaching?

It's my understanding McCarthy wants to coach again, but I haven't seen or heard anything tying him to the Steelers' opening quite yet besides his Pittsburgh roots.

Josh from Whittier, CA

I'd be happy if we kept Trevon Diggs and Nate Hobbs and only drafted offensive and defensive linemen. Throw as much as you can at the wall and see what sticks to fix our issues.

I'll probably write something on Hobbs sometime next week, but the Packers have tough calls to make at cornerback. Hobbs has a sizeable roster bonus coming up while Keisean Nixon and Valentine both enter the last year of their contracts. With no first-round picks until 2028 or drafted cornerback prospects in the pipeline, it may not be a bad idea to bring Diggs back on a prove-it deal.

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

I don't know. If I were forced to pick one play that might have had huge implications on the results Saturday night it would have to be the missed 44-yard field goal with 2:56 left. That would have been pretty awesome to have an attempt at a walk-off field goal in the waning seconds of that game.

It was even earlier than that for me. I felt the pendulum swung before halftime. Not only with Brandon McManus missing from 55 yards but also the offense falling a little out of rhythm on that drive. It was a Chris Brooks checkdown and Jordan Love run that put Green Bay on the edge of field-goal range. To me, that was the spark for Chicago that lit the Bears' fire in the second half.

Kip from West Bend, WI

Hello II. I know each season is different, but why do you think the Packers have had a low-ranking special teams unit for so long? Every time there is a misstep from that unit it's just the pit in your stomach thinking "hope that doesn't come back to bite us" and more often than not in important games it has for us.

The numbers are what they are. I think the Packers have improved in many areas with their special teams. They've developed one of the league's top punters and the coverage units have been solid the past two years. On the offensive end of special teams, the Packers have struggled to replace Mason Crosby at kicker and Keisean Nixon on kick returns.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Wes, when the Rodgers-led Packers lost to SF in that gut-punch playoff game at Lambeau Field, I felt that the window of opportunity had officially closed. With Rodgers and Adams set to move on, darkness was on the horizon. But with the ascension of Love's play and an infusion of young talent, the window re-opened quickly. The loss this year was another gut-punch given the way it unfolded, but I believe the window is wide open into the foreseeable future. Rose-colored glasses or reality?

The last time I checked Green Bay didn't get relegated after the loss to the Bears. The Packers will be back next season, and they will remember.

Ray from Lady Lake, FL

Read Wes's Inbox a day late but props for his Jan. 13 closing comment. He expressed why so many of us invest ourselves in sports. Being either supportive or ever participating in it, there is a high of being involved which comes legally. We get a rush with success that doesn't come like that often in our daily lives. How do we cope with the downside of losing? Accept there are some things we can't control, recommit and look forward in a positive frame of mind. Tomorrow's another day.

And we all hope it's brighter one, my friend.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

If ever something deserved to be on a T-shirt it should be "I heard the North Koreans are tough in the red zone." That is absolutely hilarious. Thanks Mike and Wes, we may not have a Super Bowl (this year anyway), but we'll always have the Inbox.

Anything to take the edge off this week.

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