Paul from Ledgeview, WI

As a veteran, Memorial Day is always strange for me, a day of mixed emotions. Simply put, II was a pleasant surprise on a day generally oriented towards reflecting on those men and women I know who have made great sacrifices in service to this nation. Thanks to you both.

Thank you for your service, Paul. I hope you and all our readers had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend filled with appreciation and reflection.

Lori from Heredia, Costa Rica

Did Mike offer (beg?) to be sent to Milwaukee to cover Jordan Love throwing out the first pitch at the Brewers game on Monday? It would be fun to hear 10's perspective on the difference between throwing a baseball and football. Good thing Christian Yelich has good reflexes and jumped up to catch the ball, just a wee bit outside of the strike zone.

Hey, the man is a quarterback, not a pitcher. But what a cool weekend for Jordan Love. He hosts his charity softball game in Appleton on Friday and then travels down to Milwaukee to throw out the first pitch for the Brewers-Red Sox game on Memorial Day. That is face-of-the-franchise stuff right there. Love has embraced that role with all his heart and it's awesome to see Wisconsin sports fans respond to his authenticity. The guy is the real deal who's also a helluva QB.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

How can the Packers avoid a slow start?

Starting at home helps. That's been a difficult hurdle Green Bay has needed to clear throughout the Matt LaFleur era. While Detroit and Washington are considered frontrunners in the NFC, winning those first two games would quickly tip the pendulum in the Packers' favor.

Dan from Oklahoma City, OK

Offseason thoughts. I give thanks the "haven't drafted a WR in the first round" statement is terminated. If Edgerrin Cooper was on the stock exchange, I would buy all I could. Our possibilities for so-called gadget plays are now off the charts with recent additions, maybe used against a certain team from the east at home? Thanks for providing the forum, patience and thoughts.

LaFleur's adage about creativity is only limited by one's imagination isn't just a nifty little phrase. It perfectly captures this era of Packers football. Think about everything we've seen from LaFleur's offense over the past six years – plays built off pre-snap motion, designed runs for receivers, multiple RB packages, Dontayvion Wicks throwing passes, Tucker Kraft taking direct snaps, and so much more. To your point, Green Bay can really kick it up another notch if Matthew Golden, Savion Williams and some of these other new additions prove capable in Year 1.

Amanda from New York, NY

I was excited and not surprised that Jayrone Elliott is a favorite former player. I was at training camp back when he was a UDFA in 2014, and I was too shy to approach most of the players. Jayrone stopped to autograph for those of us not flocking to the stars, and he was kind enough to hang out and chat. You could tell he was incredibly personable. That football still only has the autographs of Jayrone and Mark Murphy (who unsurprisingly also found us), and I intend to keep it that way.

Jayrone remains one of my favorite people I've ever covered at any level in any sport. He just happened to play in the NFL. Elliott is doing big things in player retirement, too. This offseason, Elliott rejoined his former Toledo football coach, Matt Campbell, as director of student-athlete development at Iowa State. That is a perfect role for him.

Al from Tulsa, OK

Footnote on the signing of CB Gregory Junior: He may be the first player ever to have been drafted out of Ouachita Baptist University, but a friend of mine who graduated from OBU told me Cliff Harris was a classmate of his there. Harris was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as a UDFA in 1970 and became a Pro Football Hall of Fame safety, who played in five Super Bowls.

File that under the more you know…

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi II, is it too early to ask if the first offensive play of the regular season might be a deep post play to Golden?

It's possible. Christian Watson's first NFL snap was a go ball at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Arn from Kenosha, WI

Why not embrace "assisting the runner"? How about Tucker Kraft through the hole with two running backs and a re-formed OL giving the push?

Sure…like I said last week, I think the Packers intend to use that rule to its fullest potential.

Greg from Big Lake, MN

I enjoyed the Johnny Blood info. Reminded me of a story my dad would tell. When he was young, he and his friends (and many others) would hang around the gate where the Packers would enter the stadium on game day. The team doctor would sometimes pick someone to be a gopher for him during the game. One time, when he was eight or nine in the late 1920s, my dad was picked. The thing he remembered most was Johnny Blood dislocating a finger, getting it taped and going right back into the game.

What a tale for your pops to tell on what I suspect was just a routine day at the office for the tough-as-nails Blood. Cliff left me howling with laughter after reading his paragraph comparing the legendary Bill "Jartz" Schmidt's moniker to those who refer to Blood as Johnny "Blood" McNally. It's also the perfect time for me to send hearty congratulations to Jartz on a well-earned retirement after more than 40 years at WBAY-TV in Green Bay. He's a Hall of Fame broadcaster but an even better person who was so kind and encouraging to me as a cub reporter back in the day.

Bill from Las Vegas, NV

I was intrigued by an oldster (I'm one also) reminiscing about a six-game preseason and 14-game season, wondering if a soon proposed 18-game season will eliminate all previous season league records. Who, other than Packer fans, will care or know about Paul Hornung's scoring record? Does the NFL keep records that reflect averages? Such would be the total points scored, or yards gained divided by games played. Had he had the opportunity to play 17 or 18 games, Hornung would have easily scored 200-plus points.

You know what they say about how records are made to be broken…It just kinda stinks when you're changing the game to break them. The NFL will keep moving, though. There's nothing the league loves more than record-breaking performances.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI

I'm tired of hearing the Packers are the youngest team in the league. At some point don't we need to get away from that and start getting a tad bit older to add more consistency? We always hear they're young and need time, but doesn't that come with the reason we make so many mistakes and fall behind the other more veteran teams?

First, the Packers will be a more veteran team this year by proxy of all those young players getting another year older. While you may tire of hearing Green Bay was the youngest team, isn't it worth considering how impressive its accomplishments were the past two years? As I wrote Monday, the Packers need to take a step in 2025. No doubt about it. But they're well-positioned to do so thanks to the youth movement the team underwent in 2023-24.

Brian from Sugar Land, TX

Erwin from Leesburg, GA, mentioned the "blatant double standard" regarding the tush push, saying, "Older fans are sick of the BS!" Here's the thing with the BS. The game evolves to the entertainment tastes of its contemporary market. The Lambeau Leap would have been shut down in the Lombardi era. Now we celebrate. Us older fans may be sick of it, but we keep tuning in or maintaining our season tickets. Next abomination is flag football as an Olympic sport.

You're not wrong. You have to meet the audience where they are, and obviously offensive football is the driving force behind the NFL's popularity. That said, big plays generate the most excitement and suspense. I stand in agreement with Ben Johnson's assertion the tush push doesn't make for compelling sport. It's a barnacle on the ship, not the cruise.

Mark from Eureka, IL

Why does the league ask teams to submit rule change proposals? Is the league not permitted to do so on their own?

Again, we're dealing in the grey area here of reports and innuendo. But to your point, I am a bit confused it was the Packers who stepped forward with the proposal instead of let's say the NFL competition committee.

Mark from Big Bear City, CA

Good morning gentlemen, I hope you had a great holiday weekend with your family. I just read an article about Johnathan Baldwin – WOW, sounds like a solid young man. His position coach at UNLV Akeem Davis, who was an NFL CB, and had nothing but praise for him and said the Packers got it right. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does sound like a good fit for the locker room and the team. I'm thinking Jeff Hafley must have had a little input on him.

A lot of new faces. A lot of interesting incoming talent. I can't wait to find out what it all means in training camp.

Zak from Huntington Beach, CA

I doubt anyone is throwing literal wrenches at players, but what is the most unusual drill you have seen in practice or training camp?

I'm sure the beat writers in the 1980s saw some interesting things, but in my era, it's gotta be Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb catching falling bricks during special teams periods.

Bill from Wilmington, DE

Been a while since I've submitted, still read every day. When do you expect the Jaire Alexander situation to be resolved? I'd like him back if he is physically and mentally ready to be the player we all know he can be!

Good to hear from you, Bill, but unfortunately nothing new to report on the Jaire front. Sometimes the answer is there is no answer. Deadlines spur action and we're currently deadline-less.

Joshua from Milwaukee, WI

I've heard about teams having a "low bar" for measurables (e.g. cornerbacks should be at least 5-10, QB hand size, lineman arm length, etc.). I hear less about a high bar. For example, tall CBs can be good, but 6-3 seems to be the cut off. WRs can maybe be a bit taller. 10-inch hands for a QB are fine, but 13-inch hands are dysfunctional and look weird. Do teams have upper limits on body types too? Outside of weight, I don't hear much about it.

Football is an interesting sport because there seems to be a standard minimum and maximum height for players that most teams adhere to. Basically, you can't be too tall or too short. Even a position like offensive line where taller players can thrive, pad level becomes a concern once you get near that 6-9 mark.

Tucker from Belton, TX

My oldest son, who is on the spectrum, turns 10 this summer. While there are some challenges associated with it, one thing we've always connected on is the Packers. He loves them. While taking him to a game may be a challenge for several reasons, Family Night might be the perfect way for us to get up there together. Do you know typically when that date is announced?

I agree, Tucker. Family Night is a tremendous event for children of any age. Last year's date was announced June 10, so hopefully we'll have some news here soon.

Bill from Clive, IA

Just to add to the absurdity started by Andy of Ellsworth about the 0.2-mile marathon in Arkansaw, WI, we have something similar in Des Moines, although considerably more grueling. It's a 1K beer run across the Racoon River downtown starting at one tavern and ending at another. You start the race with a full beer cup and see if you can make the finish line without spilling any. Of course, once the race begins, you're allowed to drink said beer first, and then sprint...but who wants to?

Pure madness, I tell ya.

Patrick from Marco Island, FL

Hi Wes, never heard of Arkansaw, WI? It's a fine little town! Two bars and a post office. I grew up there. I have not lived there for 35 years but still have friends and family there. I have not heard of the 0.2-mile marathon but it must be part of the annual Creek Park Days held the last weekend in June. You should attend!

Trading in Arkansaw for Marco Island is a definite flex, Patrick.

John from Superior, WI

I work for a liquor distributor, and I remember the first time I delivered to Arkansaw. The main drag is one block long, and there are two bars on opposite sides of the street. Gotta love Wisconsin!

Small-town Wisconsin really is the best Wisconsin. Have a great Tuesday.

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