Brian from Twain Harte, CA

Shout out to Justin from Sonora! I always assumed that there were other Packer Backers in sparsely populated Tuolumne County, and it is great to know there are others in my backyard that read II. The Packer community is truly everywhere, and I appreciate the II for illustrating that point 5-6 days a week. GPG!

A big thank you to both Justin and Spoff for that intro Friday. I couldn't stop laughing. The best part was I didn't realize our social team also used that line for the Twitter copy. So, I read the "Pa Hod x 11 maybe" line before I even had a chance to read Spoff's column. A true double-double.

John from Stevens Point, WI

Do you get to take a deep breath now that the draft is over? Did Murph give everyone Monday off to recover from the long weekend? Time to hit the (Bay) Beach?

In due time. When players speak, we write and this past weekend there was a rookie minicamp to cover.

Justin from Thousand Oaks, CA

Just want to shout out that the draft wrap-up video the Packers released Friday is fantastic and not gonna lie, made me a little misty. It also provided a little bit of that backstage peek we all crave, including the draft room (though not the board). Brian Gutekunst's jolt in his chair and "He's here?" reaction when he learned Barryn Sorrell was on-site makes that moment even cooler.

For me, Gutekunst's reaction to Barryn Sorrell walking on stage was the high point of a tremendous package our video team put together. It was the ultimate surprise. I appreciated how Packers fans shared that moment with Sorrell, too. I mean, think about the unlikelihood of fans from the NFL's smallest market embracing the fourth-round pick who bet on himself and made the cross-country trip to Green Bay...We'll be talking about that moment for decades.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Wow! Six of eight draft picks are already signed? That seems early relative to other years, but maybe I'm not remembering correctly. Is this historically ahead of schedule?

Getting the third-round pick done this early might be a bit surprising, but those Day 3 deals usually get done during rookie weekend. There's more to hash out on the guaranteed money front in the first two rounds.

Bill from San Antonio, TX

Every year, the pictures of the new guys getting their equipment never fail to bring a smile to my face. The culmination of their grind to get to the NFL is now realized. Awesome.

A lot of Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame careers have started in that shoe room.

Jim from Mundelein, IL

The eyes have it; you have seen the rookies, UDFAs, etc. Please give us your first impressions. Did anyone stand out as a person that might really exceed expectations?

It wasn't that type of practice. It was mostly an introduction to position drills. I will say Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma looks the part and flashed a live arm in QB drills. Talking strictly about the interviews with draft picks, I couldn't believe how large Anthony Belton was in-person. He is a full-grown man and carries his weight well.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Where does Warren Brinson rank on favorite rookie interviews?

Right near the top with the likes of Eric Stokes, Aaron Jones, Corey Linsley and Micah Hyde (all for different reasons). Brinson was gifted with the personality gene, for sure.

Sandy from Green Bay, WI

Good morning! Likely an obvious answer, but is rookie minicamp attended exclusively by the rookies, or if veteran teammates are around, are they able to join in? Thank you!

Only rookies and players without an accrued NFL season are eligible for rookie minicamp. Veterans can only participate if they're unsigned and in on tryout (e.g. Jacob Eason last year).

Chuck from Santa Ana, CA

As part of the rookie, or new player for that matter, orientation … do the newbies get taken through the Hall of Fame? Seems like it would be an important part of becoming a Packer.

Yes. Matt LaFleur and director of player engagement Grey Ruegamer do a phenomenal job of giving players a proper background on the history of the Packers franchise.

Curt from Westby, WI

I think a good comparison for Matthew Golden would be Tyreek Hill: 4.29 in the 40, 191 pounds, 5-10. Hill was an impact player with KC and Miami. I'm hoping Golden can have that type of impact with the Packers.

I'll continue to leave the comparisons up to all of you, but Golden has every tool to become an impact player in this league. He has the compass to help get him there, too.

Matt from Fitchburg, WI

"Get thick on you in a hurry" is easily my favorite of that bunch, but it's also one I can't intuitively figure out. Is it referring to an offensive lineman squaring up to prevent a pass rusher?

More or less. Again, I completely understand what Jon-Eric Sullivan was saying after seeing Belton in-person. I can only imagine how difficult it can be for a defender to get away from his grasp once Belton gets his hands on you.

Tyler from Stetsonville, WI

Looking ahead to the schedule release on May 14, what are your hopes for the season schedule? Primetime games? December games at Lambeau? Now that we got the WR taken in Round 1, I think the next biggest bridge to cross is having the Week 1 at Lambeau Field curse broken.

It's been nearly seven years, and the organization requested it for the 100th season. Dear NFL, it's time the Packers host a Week 1 opener at Lambeau Field. It is time.

Kevin from Janesville, WI

I am super excited about the competition this year's pickups will inject into the equation, along with the probability of adding healthy bodies and second-year jumps. With the nature of today's NFL, and everybody chasing their next payday it seems most teams are a collection of mercenaries. Can either of you speak to how Packers players balance the locker room comradery we often hear about, with the looming reality that they're competing every day against the men in their position group for a job?

Players spend so much time together it's only natural for brotherhoods to form. While it's cliché to say most camp competitions come down to individual players vs. themselves, there is truth to that. Because one way or another, you gotta put it on film. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't, but your performance is strictly on you. If you do the right things, teams will find you. Kristian Welch and Grant DuBose didn't crack the Packers' 53 last summer but still made Week 1 rosters in Denver and Miami, respectively.

Will from Rochester, MN

LaFleur was asked if he spoke with Xavier McKinney about Isaiah Simmons, and "X" gave ML a thumbs up. ML said all he needed to hear was that Simmons was a good teammate. Do you think it's difficult for players to express that a former teammate isn't a good teammate?

Not at all. The stakes are high in the NFL and the Packers want honesty. LaFleur and Co. wouldn't have asked McKinney for his opinion if they didn't A) value it and B) think he'd respond earnestly. If the Packers didn't feel Simmons was a good fit, they wouldn't have signed him.

Benjamin from Evergreen Park, IL

Greetings! Has the league failed Isaiah Simmons in its deployment of his talents? He was really effective as more of a strong safety in college. He dominated in between the safeties and linebackers. Now, it's a different game and a different field altogether. But watching his deployment in New York and Arizona, it seemed like he had trouble in tighter areas, doing "Mike" linebacker stuff. Is he really just better as a safety?

I haven't watched Simmons enough to know what happened in Arizona, but LaFleur said the Packers plan to play him at linebacker. Simmons is still only 26 and possesses the speed to make a difference. In addition to his work on special teams, Simmons could add an interesting wrinkle to Jeff Hafley's defense depending on how the Packers use him.

Mike from Geneva, IL

On Friday, Mike relayed a story about Ron Wolf and the replacement of players. At some point, all NFL players will experience that; even superstars when beyond the prime of their careers. The fact fans will say a player didn't try hard or isn't getting better astounds me considering that constant threat. Everyone has a bad day and none of us meet our potential every day at our job. Could you imagine the pressure if you were at risk every day of losing your job for an off day?

You realize I worked in newspapers for a decade, right? I once had a survive a "Duck, Duck, Goose" competition to keep my job (…kidding, but not really). No question the NFL is a tough business, but I give Wolf credit for being honest. Players always knew where they stood.

Rich from Grand Rapids, MI

For a visual depiction of Spoff's route-running answer, watch Will Howard's combine workout on YouTube. Throws the same route to several receivers, and although the ball is (mostly) thrown to the same spot at the same time, the results vary – some balls caught in stride, others miss badly – because of the timing and quality of the route by the WR. Misses look like QB's fault when, in reality, there were bad routes.

Hence why Aaron Rodgers was so particular about how his wideouts ran their routes. In the NFL, so much is based on anticipation and timing. The quarterback is counting on his man to be where the ball is going. The results can be disastrous if the wideout doesn't come through.

Sue from Three Lakes, WI

What's your take on the Packers picking up the fifth-year option on Devante Wyatt but not Quay Walker? I guess I was a bit surprised. Gutekunst said he'd like them both back. He never shows us his hand.

Picking up a fifth-year option on a player is a bigger decision for teams today than when it was first introduced in 2011 because that fifth year is now fully guaranteed. The Packers have made it known they still want to extend Walker regardless of whether the option was exercised.

Juan from San Antonio, TX

An undrafted cornerback given No. 37! Keeping my eye on Johnathan Baldwin.

Gutekunst talked after the draft about his excitement level for the undrafted class the Packers were assembling and we're starting to see why. Baldwin is a playmaker who had 14 PBUs, three interceptions and 3½ sacks while manning the slot in UNLV's defense last year.

Mark from Minneapolis, MN

I've read previously in the Inbox the Packers benefiting from their staff (coaches and football ops) being in alignment. Listened to Sullivan's presser earlier this week on the cell and again today on the laptop. His focus on player traits is why those pressers are a great listen for any fan and also mirror LaFleur's comments in Friday's presser as well as the Dan Patrick show. Milt Hendrickson's comments on overcoming adversity reflect Gutekunst's priorities as well.

One of the true strengths of the Packers' organization is how well-aligned the personnel department and coaching staff are. It's something for which Mark Murphy doesn't get nearly enough credit after promoting Gutekunst to GM in 2018 and hiring LaFleur in 2019. By elevating Gutekunst, the Packers kept a strong personnel department together and that group only grew stronger once Hendrickson came aboard a year later. Every scout will have their own opinion, but that group rows together in the same direction. Sturdy leadership has made the Packers one of the NFL's most consistent winners.

Scott from Sauk City, WI

An interesting thing that my group noticed while walking around the draft last weekend was the abundance of Super Bowl XXXI championship hats. I submit that to this day, there has never been a cooler championship hat presented to any person in any sport. Am I being a homer because that was a Green Bay championship? I still have that hat and cherish it deeply, for both what it was (the end of a nearly 30-year drought) and how cool the design was. XLV hats? Yawnnnnnn...

I remember standing in line for the Super Bowl XXXI hat when I was a kid and being ecstatic when I landed one. I think that design has aged wonderfully, especially with how it organically captured the New Orleans vibe.

Joe from Swansea, IL

Hi, II! What does the NFL do with the Packers-Steelers game if Aaron hasn't made his decision by May 14? Rock, hard place.

It still wouldn't surprise me to see Pittsburgh booked for September, especially if it doesn't involve Ireland.

Shannon from Ovilla, TX

100% agree with Mike on the Keith Jackson take. I remember watching him as a kid and you knew it was the biggest game of the college weekend. Growing up in Wisconsin in the 1970s and '80s meant you were watching someone other than the Badgers. I fondly remember his pronunciation of Alabama. I now have a child attending Alabama and every time we visit, I hear Keith's voice in my mind. Memories truly do make us rich!

I caught Jackson during the final stretch of his career, but what a titan of sports broadcasting he was.

John from Fort Myers, FL

How was the drone show at the draft? I heard the promotions for the drone show BUT haven't heard anything about it or even any video clips of it. Did it happen? Was it entertaining?

I heard it went well. But like the Brad Paisley concert, I was writing draft-pick stories when all that was going down.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

A Muppet Show reference. Now I've seen it all. Scratch my back with a hacksaw. I can kind of picture Spoff and Hod reading the Inbox questions laughing and making snide remarks like those two judges upstairs during "The Muppet Show."

I'm clearly Waldorf.