Brian from Charlottesville, VA

What jelly flavor is the next big thing? (Please don't say, "We'll see.")

We'll see.

Bob from Rome, NY

Mike: I have good news. The high school I teach at granted my request to move my planning period to 9:01-9:41 EST to coincide with the release of daily II. Working out just great! Thank you.

We are nothing if not a welcome distraction.

Donna from Darien, WI

Will Mike's Mid-Week chat be back this Wednesday?

Indeed. I'll be logging on around 1 p.m. CT.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Who is one Vikings player we should be watching on Sunday, but might not be familiar with?

Safety Josh Metellus. There's a ton of attention on Harrison Smith coming back at the last minute for a 15th NFL season, and rightly so. But Metellus has taken on more and more playmaking responsibility in Brian Flores' defense over the years and seems, to me, on the verge of a true breakout.

Davy from Watertown, WI

Aside from the QB situation, I haven't really kept tabs on the Vikings. What's the biggest coaching or positional change for them that will be worth keeping an eye on this weekend?

As I mentioned on "Unscripted," the Vikings have very much the same team as a year ago aside from the QB change. It's a veteran group that doesn't have many if any rookies in prominent spots.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

Generally speaking, I prefer divisional games later into the season. But might there be any advantage to playing the Vikings on the road, this early, before they have a chance to "settle in"? Or is that a knife that cuts both, so to speak?

Another topic on the podcast. I think in this case it works to the Vikings' advantage, because they're a veteran team that'll never be more healthy with a fuller tank than now, and they have the element of surprise with how the new QB will run O'Connell's system.

Jonah from Wallkill, NY

If the Kyler Murray experiment pans out for the Vikings and he generates let's say 3,500 yards and 28 TDs, is the NFC North the toughest in the NFL and are the Vikings just as much of a threat as the Bears and Lions for the division throne?

Probably.

Tim from Superior, WI

Wasn't the Vikings starting QB Murray benched by the new defensive coordinator Gannon while he was head coach of the Cardinals? I've yet to read about Murray's reaction to this personnel move. Is it expected that we'll see a highly motivated Minnesota QB Sunday?

Murray is playing to resurrect his career, so I expect that to be motivation enough. He's a former No. 1 overall pick entering Year 8 who has played in just one career playoff game and hasn't earned Pro Bowl recognition since Year 3. Injuries have played a part in that, along with other circumstances beyond his control. If Gannon on the other side adds anything, so be it, but the bottom line is his career hangs in the balance here.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Keeping Murray in the pocket is a key. He has issues seeing over massive O- and D-lineman. If the Packers can contain and pressure up the middle, it will be a long day for the Vikings' offense. If he gets outside, it could be a long day for Green Bay. Agree?

The number of times the Packers sack Murray could be the least relevant statistic in this game.

Ryan from Ripon, WI

What is the biggest question mark going into Week 1?

The health of two veterans on the offensive line.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

What area of the team are you most interested in seeing in Week 1? For me it's how the running backs perform, or should I say instead can the offensive line open space for the runners?

For me it's seeing the Packers' top group of perimeter weapons – Tucker Kraft, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden – on the field together and how they handle a veteran, seasoned defense. Individual matchup-wise? I'll say Brandon Cisse vs. Jefferson.

Richard from Denton, TX

Do you think that by letting Jordan Love call the plays during the preseason game gives MLF more confidence in potential two-minute or up-tempo situations to just tell Jordan call the play in huddle? Get back to when quarterbacks used to call their own plays.

That happens frequently in two-minute and hurry-up situations already.

Rob from Spring Lake, NJ

Why is there so much sturm und drang about MarShawn Lloyd's limited number of carries in college? The flip side is a back who has pounded the rock for 30-plus times for 7-8 seasons (including college)...then people worry about what's left in the tank. To me, the only worry about Lloyd is whether he can stay healthy, and if his body is right, he will be able to take whatever the coaches want to give him. If he remains hexed, it won't matter since he may not make it through Game 1.

Point taken.

Jason from Ammon, ID

Greetings, friends. Exciting that this week we're blessed to watch our beloved team perform. The speculation and thoughtful guesses will be confirmed or not. We'll win, or we won't. One of my favorite things about sports and competition is the extra effort behind the scenes to improve. The stuff not easily visible. The work not the words. Is there a player or players you wouldn't mind mentioning who're quietly grinding that we may not be aware of? Thanks, and enjoy your day.

I wouldn't be able to single anyone out. I've come to learn at this level if you aren't "quietly grinding" you won't last long. Every snap of every game is getting scrutinized to the nth degree, and the players know it, because scouts and coaches are always looking for where their team needs an upgrade. Nature of the beast.

Tom from Bend, OR

This question may have been asked in the past. What is the process for selecting team captains?

The players vote, and based on how the vote totals fall, guys from each phase are chosen. Last year, the Packers had seven captains (three each on offense and defense, plus one on special teams). This year, five (2-2-1), presumably because there weren't as many "top" vote-getters.

Roger from Eau Claire, WI

I know Zaire Franklin was a captain on his last team but it seems very impressive to be one of five on a new team. Is this unusual or does it happen more often than I realized? Congratulations to all of the captains.

It speaks to first impressions, as well as natural leadership qualities. If the Packers had acquired Micah Parsons last year earlier than the eve of Week 1, he almost certainly would've been voted captain. Two years ago, the Packers had weekly captains, not season-long ones, but I got the impression based on their past experiences and early approach that Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs would've earned those votes in their first year with the team, too.

Bill from San Antonio, TX

When you elevate a player from the PS to the active gameday roster, do you have to release a person from the 53?

No, but if that elevated player is on the gameday 48, another player on the 53 must be on the inactive list.

Eric from Oshkosh, WI

The comment was made on Monday about how much communication, timing, etc., is needed for the O-line to be in sync. If that is true (and I wholeheartedly agree that it is) then my question is this: Why is this particular coaching staff so committed to rotations and cross-training rather than letting players get settled into their positions so they can develop? Together? I realize injuries play a part, but it seems like they are creating unnecessary inconsistency at times.

Cross-training is a necessary evil because only eight O-linemen are going to be active on gameday. There isn't room for 10 to have a backup at each position.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Another question on kickoff return rules. You have to have two players in the landing zone, correct? Can they stand together at the kick, then have the preferred returner run to the ball? Or do they have to be split apart?

They can line up wherever you want, but if you have both guys in the middle of the field to execute the strategy you suggest, it would be very easy for a kicker to drill a low line drive to one side or the other that bounces into the end zone for a touchback on the 20. Because hang time is irrelevant on kickoffs now.

Devin from Bondurant, IA

Hey boys. This isn't necessarily related to Week 1 but I'm curious given how the broadcasters like to talk about coaching "trees" in the NFL. I'm probably forgetting a bunch, but do you consider Hafley to be the first true "branch" of MLF? Given he came from college and his first true HC shot came after being under LaFleur and his process/system. I know Matt inherited some quality guys when he first became our HC and they have gone on elsewhere but I guess I'm just wondering.

I don't view Hafley as a branch from anyone's tree. When he first jumped from college to the NFL, he was with Greg Schiano at Rutgers and went with him to Tampa Bay. Then he worked under Mike Pettine in Cleveland, and under Chip Kelly and Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, before going back to the college ranks (Ohio State, Boston College) and re-entering the NFL under LaFleur.

Patrick from Marvin, NC

Great to see a college game at Lambeau, and it looked like a great environment for all. My wife was asking me how long it will take the ground crew to prep the field for a pro game since the hash marks and logo on the 50 need to be repainted.

That's why the Packers don't have a home game until Week 3. It was the same in 2016 after the Wisconsin-LSU game on Labor Day weekend.

Tallon from Castle Rock, CO

So glad football is finally back! From the locker room interviews it sure sounds like the Packers players have heard the outside noise and are looking forward to showing the world what they've been missing. What non-Packer game are you most looking forward to watching/hearing about? Bills-Texans is my pick.

That's a good one. 49ers-Rams over in Australia on Thursday night is another, and I think Bears-Panthers in the early window Sunday will be a better game than most think.

John from Jupiter, FL

There is a lot of national skepticism about the Packers this year. I've seen many more articles picking them third or even dead last. I know here in the II the outlook is much more positive. Is that because we follow our team more closely and have a better handle on the team or is it hopeful optimism? Thanks.

The outside narrative is the Packers don't have Parsons and couldn't win last year without him, there's sizable uncertainty surrounding Jacobs, and this is a team that has fallen short of expectations the past two years, so the outside expectations are lower. It doesn't mean anything, just as it didn't mean anything two years ago when the Packers were everybody's darling team on the rise after nearly reaching the NFC title game in the first year of the QB transition. Go play the games and see what happens.

Camden from Altoona, WI

Do you think we have a legit chance of beating the Vikings Week 1?

Depends what it would mean to have an illegit chance.

Alex from Chicago, IL

Week 1 is finally upon us, and baloney season is *almost over. I added the almost because even after Week 1, win or lose, there's always SO much baloney (not the word I used in my mind) in response to the outcome. Care to give us fans your annual perspective check in this regard?

It's called overreaction Monday for a reason.

Vince from Seattle, WA

Spoff's great story on Micah Parsons' "burden" has me viewing this season through a different lens. Even if his comeback takes longer than expected, the influence he is having on players like Van Ness and Sorrell can only elevate this team. Imagine elements of his engine infused throughout the defense! That could make for a very long season for opposing QBs. GPG!

I hope everyone enjoys my yearbook cover story, and I'm glad I had a chance to post it before the season starts. I really enjoyed my sit-down conversation with Parsons back in June and learned a lot more about how he views all this. Hopefully I conveyed it accurately.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI

Boy, oh boy, am I ready to say, "The baloney stops now." But I won't say baloney.

T-minus four days and counting. Happy Wednesday.

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