Inbox: It should be fun

Jason from Ammon, ID

I'll bite and AI verify. Scott is indeed a world record holder. Boy, II casts a very wide net. What a community.

Unlike any other.

Eric from Holiday, FL

Not sure if Scott from Lincoln City, OR, is aware, but his Asteroids Deluxe record was broken in 2010. But he held the record for 28 years which is mighty impressive!

Time to take it back, Scott! II Nation is counting on you.

Jay from Big Flats, WI

Mike, as long as we're talking about old men playing video games at the beginning of the video game revolution, I declare Williams Defender the best, and my favorite from my barroom days. I put enough quarters in to buy a machine, which I did. It is still in the basement with my high score of 2,379,100. Do you have any high scores on Ms. Pac-Man that you can remember?

I don't recall my score, but one time I got to the third "musical interlude" where the screen changes to a fourth different maze. Getting to that fourth maze felt like I had conquered the world.

Adrian from Oregon City, OR

The .50 cal ammunition belts feeding WWII US fighter aircraft (P-47, P-51, etc.) were 27 feet long. So if a pilot expended the ammo on one target, he gave it "the whole nine yards." What's this got to do with football, if you end up one yard short?

Several readers shared this explanation. I always appreciate learning something new.

Sue from Tomah, WI

Best of the morning to you. The feature on our new rookies trying cheese curds for the first time was a hoot! I believe a whole new fan base has been created. Do sales of cheese curds in GB rise at this time of year as the rookies discover them? Good to see our staff is training them in the best things. GPG!

While many have chimed in the rooks need to try raw, fresh cheese curds as well to get a more complete picture of Wisconsin, I continue to be amazed at how many people not from these parts have never consumed fried cheese curds.

Shawn from Kissimmee, FL

Even though he was an addition after the regular season started, but Rasul Douglas off another team's practice squad was the name that came to mind of someone I'd wonder where we would have been without him that year.

Indubitably.

Josh from Vancouver, WA

Reaching a bit further back, Desmond Howard might be the ultimate example of a player who barely made the roster and completely changed the result of the season.

Good call. All indications in camp were he'd have a tough time making the team, and then he returned a punt for a TD in the second preseason game. That got him his spot. The '96 Packers still would've been plenty good without him, but do they go all the way without his postseason return heroics – in the mud vs. San Fran and in the Super Bowl against the Patriots? Debatable.

Jeff from Champlin, MN

I get keeping the OL pipeline stocked to a point, but it seems like we could experience an injury and still have an overabundance at the expense of DT and/or CB … then again I suppose we can go old school/new school and have them play both ways like others are now doing.

I don't see that transpiring. But the Packers got caught short last year on the O-line. When Elgton Jenkins went down in the playoff game, and Jordan Morgan wasn't available as the sixth man, the offense hit the skids against that Philly defensive front. That can't happen again.

Matty from Durango, CO

Following up on Markus from Aurora, how important is a Super Bowl win to coaches? Would most coaches trade a coordinator career and a ring for a head coaching gig with no rings?

I'd say no. Most coaches want to reach the top of their profession and challenge themselves with a head job. They believe they can win or they wouldn't strive for it. Not all succeed, of course, but they want that opportunity to prove themselves.

Bill from Menominee, MI

I don't know how to phrase this into a great comment/question, but Kristian Welch will certainly cause some tough decisions in that linebacking group. He's one of the most opportunistic preseason players we've seen in recent years. There's a reason he wasn't able to be retained on the practice squad last year.

I always say tough decisions are much better than the alternative.

Patrick from Coppell, TX

I am excited to see what becomes of our new and returning receiver corps, but what excites me the most is our defense. I am interested to see how Hafley uses all the LB talent on this team, combined with an athletic, penetrating D-line. I've always heard that QBs hate pressure in the middle most. With all the large, fast, athletic LBs we have, I anticipate more middle blitzing. Thoughts?

Hafley's blitz percentage was relatively low last year compared to the rest of the league, and I'm sure he'd like to keep it that way if he can. That'll be up to the standard four-man rush getting the job done more often than not. Blitz-wise, I suspect he'll continue to utilize simulated pressures to keep seven in coverage, which was effective last year. Then the change-up is actually sending that extra guy when and where he's least expected.

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

I'm here for all the Frosty love. Not speaking about speculative progression or how his career ultimately plays out, but strictly from Edgerrin Cooper's rookie season highlights is there a linebacker comparison you'd give him from the film he put out there in year one? Here's to hoping he can stay healthy this season because he's such a fun player to watch and huge asset to this defense.

It's reminiscent of when Nick Barnett came on the scene as a first-round pick in 2003. Unlike Cooper, Barnett was a full-time starter right away, but he had a similar widespread impact from an off-ball linebacker spot. Barnett finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, posting three INTs, six passes defensed, two sacks, and racking up a bunch of tackles. The biggest difference other than playing time was Cooper got into the offensive backfield a lot more – 13 TFLs to four.

Adam from Rapid City, SD

This is more an observation than a question in response to the question/response posted by Bob from Emmaus, PA. The players that wind up on the 53, be it a surprise or not, are the ones that work hardest despite draft position or undrafted player. I always go back to the saying, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." Do you hard-working writers agree?

For the most part, though, talent is generally given greater latitude to show the hard work before moving on.

Ray from West Des Moines, IA

I frequently hear players comment about spending time in the "film room" and studying "tape" in order to better understand the game and the challenges they face, but it's been a long time since film and videotape have been used for recording. I am curious how players and coaches have incorporated advancements in live-action recording into their analysis. Can they now analyze the game whenever they want? Are the recordings used during practices? How extensive is the content available for study?

Players and coaches watch their own practice film all the time. It's a regular part of meetings. As far as game film, everything is digitized and sorted in all kinds of ways. So, for example, when a game against the Lions is coming up, Xavier McKinney can ask the video department after practice for all of Detroit's third-and-medium and/or third-and-long snaps from the season, and they'll be downloaded to his tablet by the time he's out of the shower. There is no live-action review during games, though, by rule. The tablets on the sideline have still shots only, not video. Replays shown on the stadium video boards and on the TV broadcast are all that's available to anyone.

Jeff from Foothill Ranch, CA

Mike, I'm an Angels fan in So Cal and took my 3-week-old and 3-year-old daughters to the game today – memories make us rich! One thing about the Angels, they sign players that "can play anywhere on the diamond, and both corner outfield spots," etc. I get the same vibe about our secondary. At what point are players not good enough to be the guy in a specific spot? When is one type preferred over the other? Or just do what you can with what you have?

I don't know if it's about preferences or being good enough, etc. Versatility helps the unit when injuries strike (because it's when, not if), and while knowing they can count on a guy in multiple spots, the coaches are always figuring out what he does best to create the optimal combinations for personnel/situational/matchup packages. If everyone stays relatively healthy, this Green Bay secondary will have a number of different combos it can turn to, and it should be fun seeing a DB coach by trade like Hafley utilize them all.

John from Stevens Point, WI

It seems like the Packers young team is building towards something very positive. What does this edition of the Packers need to do or become to take the next step?

Continue to grow, start big games faster, and then play their best when it matters most.

Ben from Buckeye, AZ

In the 2007 NFC Divisional, I'll never forget Brett Farve's underhand toss to Donald Lee after breaking out of a sack. This was that snowy game against Seattle where the Packers went down 14-0 early before quickly coming back. That game made me fall in love with the NFL and the Packers. I was about 10 years old. What made you fall in love with the game? Has the grind of football as a career spoiled it for you?

It hasn't spoiled anything. I wouldn't say I ever fell in love with the NFL or the Packers. I love baseball. That's the game I love. I'm more fascinated by football at this level. That's how I'd put it. It's so complex, played by such incredible athletes, and everything happens so fast. It never ceases to intrigue me.

Scott from Sauk City, WI

I have a baseball etiquette question. Early in the game, the guy sitting right next to my 11-year-old daughter caught a foul ball, and kept it. Doesn't that violate the baseball fan code of conduct? The kid always gets the ball! I'm still annoyed at that guy. So much for Minnesota Nice …

If he had a kid at home to give the ball to, he gets a pass. Otherwise, yeah, not cool.

Jay from Altoona, WI

What alternate uniforms are available to the Packers for the 2025 season? Do they get the 1950s uniforms for another year? Will the Winter Warning uniforms be used again? Or will there be something new and different?

I hear there's something in the works. Stay tuned I guess.

Mark from Winona, MN

The talk of going to Vegas and potential gambling made me wonder if there is an official policy regarding betting on football in general, Packers specifically, as an employee of the Green Bay Packers?

I am a huge "Caddyshack" fan, but there's also a reason "Gambling is illegal at Bushwood" remains one of my oft-used phrases.

Bret from Hertel, WI

When are the "Outsiders" questions going to be posted for this 4th of July?

The plan is to post the Outsider Inbox questions in tomorrow (Tuesday) morning's column, and submissions will need to be in by Friday, July 4, for consideration to be included in the OI series, which is going to run from July 7-14.

Steve from Lisbon, WI

Not a question, sorry, but wanted to acknowledge a smile brought to my face of an image of Andy Dufresne and Ted Thompson sharing a cold one. Classic II imagery! Thanks!

I want to hold onto that image for a while. A couple more days from me and then Wes will be back. Happy Monday.

HAVE A QUESTION?