Inbox: Maybe not all, but a good chunk

Jef from Wautoma, WI

No doubting Tom from Keota did a nice Job, but after Hebrews his coffee tomorrow he will realize what Acts like this can do to the Inbox. We all know the NFL is all about Numbers.

It would appear my vacation is starting at the right time.

Erik from Anchorage, AK

Wonder if this depth perspective is off/on: Zaire Franklin for Walker, Matthew Golden for Doubs, Javon Hargrave for Wooden, Benjamin St-Juste for Hobbs, Jordan Morgan for Walker. Does this match? Next step is to build depth and competition in the draft?

Pretty much.

Paul from Chicago, IL

The NFL uses an optimization software package to create its schedule. Most likely humans select the final option from a small pool of possible schedules which are closely ranked in terms of TV viewing, travel times, bye week placement, etc., but a substantial portion is done by the computer already.

I sometimes wonder when that final selection from the most viable options is made, are they thinking, "This is definitely the best schedule," or because of all the complications and quirks, is the sentiment more like, "This is the lesser of all the evils."

Jessi from Sterling, KS

Okay, I try not to believe any clickbait out there. Please tell me where the "rumor" is stemming from that Ed Policy would even consider selling the stadium or naming of facilities to raise money? Have I missed an interview or something he stated where this "idea" is coming from?

Policy did an interview recently with the Sports Business Journal, and the article was published this past weekend. In it, he stated somewhere along the line – emphasizing not anytime soon but as a long-term future consideration – the Packers might have to sell naming rights to the stadium as one way to keep up financially due to the ability of all the other NFL clubs to raise mountains of cash in a hurry by selling private equity shares. The average NFL club is valued at around $7B now, and rising. Sorry for the math, but most clubs can raise a nine-figure sum at the drop of a hat by selling just 2% of their franchise's value, something the Packers can't do as the league's lone publicly owned team. Yes, the Packers can sell stock, but those proceeds can be used only for stadium improvements, and the last two stock sales (in 2011 and '21) raised roughly $65M each. That's a pittance compared to what the rest of the league can get its hands on. For most of the league, a half billion isn't even a 10% equity share. Policy was simply acknowledging it's a disadvantageous financial reality for the Packers, and he must be aware of it and deal with it appropriately down the line. There's no "for sale" sign on the Lambeau Field name now, and there won't be next week or next year, but it might have to be considered at some future juncture.

Tim from Fitchburg, WI

Gentlemen (and I use that term loosely :-) ), thoughts on how GB will improve the cornerback room? Will they make a run at FA Sneed? Would love to see them use a high pick on a corner and one or more later in the draft. I know veterans often are cut loose as well around camp time. With the strength of the passing games in the North, seems like this is critical to address this year if they want to take the next step.

I don't expect the Packers to make a run at Sneed, but I guess you never know. I agree with you on the draft. The current state of the roster after the initial wave of free agency and cap moves puts corner at the top of the need list for me. We'll have to see how the draft board falls, but at this point I'll be surprised if Day 2 of the draft goes by without a corner sitting atop the board when need is factored into BAP.

James from Appleton, WI

There always has to be a tension between a GM and a coach, where the coach wants to make any move to win now and the GM has to say, "Yes, win now, but in a way that we're also winning three and five and 10 years from now." It's a good tension. There should be a similar tension between coach and QB, where the coach may want to get conservative and the QB says, "Attack!" That's the step I'm looking for Jordan Love to take this season.

I don't think I want the QB at odds with the head coach/play caller when he's coming out of the huddle, if that's what you're saying. Discussing things on the sideline to get on the same page based on what the defense is giving them? Absolutely. That helps produce play sequences that give the QB the opportunities to make checks at the line and take advantage of what he sees.

Troy from Westminster, CO

I don't think there's a "decline in the desire to give huge contracts to tackles" as much as a decline to give huge contracts to tackles who aren't worth huge contracts. The pundits kept saying Walker would get paid top dollar because he was the best available LT. All I kept thinking was he's not a top LT and not even close to being worth top dollar. Sometimes timing is everything but in his case, I believe, game film was everything. The huge money went to guys who can change an offensive line.

But I still wasn't expecting a position/market-altering contract at center. Mercy.

Josh from Nicaragua

Can you help me understand why the Packers would give Zaire Franklin a pay raise before he ever played a down for us? Not only did the restructure cost us $2M against the salary cap overall, but giving him a signing bonus now results in a dead cap hit next year if it turns out he doesn't fit our system and we cut him (see Nate Hobbs). I have no problem rewarding a player that performs above his contract, but I don't know why we'd voluntarily make a contract worse that we just traded for.

Perhaps it was a condition of the trade? Rashan Gary had to accept a pay cut from Dallas for the Packers to get that fourth-round pick.

TK from Grafton, WI

Cap room? If Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft are/can stay healthy, I'd wager their extensions will account for all of it!

Maybe not all, but a good chunk. Throw in Devonte Wyatt possibly, too.

Brendon from San Antonio Tlayacapan, Mexico

What is involved in switching the green dot helmet between plays? For example, if we take Franklin off the field for a third-and-long, and leave Edgerrin Cooper in as our only linebacker in a dime package, do they have to physically switch helmets?

Only one green dot is allowed in the huddle at any given time, so the "backup" communicators have spare wired helmets on the sideline if a switch is necessary. Practically impossible to do in the middle of a series, though, so if Franklin's not an every-down LB, I would think either Cooper or Xavier McKinney would wear the green dot.

Eric from Kenosha, WI

Goodbye Big Play Slay, and best of luck in your next adventure. We couldn't stand you when you were with Detroit then all those years we seemed to play Philly annually (and yes, that is meant as a compliment to his abilities on the field).

His pick of Love on the deep sideline ball in Philly in the wild-card game 14 months ago got a bit lost in the shuffle, but that was one whale of a play.

Cody from Thunder Bay, Canada

I read something I found interesting. This goes back to the Vic days but I believe the common phrase was "you pay it, you cap it." I just read an article that said Evan Williams earned over $1 million is performance-based pay followed by "performance based pay does not affect the salary cap." So is this something that's changed since Vic's time, or is the article incorrect?

Performance-based pay (PBP) is a CBA-negotiated pool of money distributed equally among all 32 teams. I'm not sure if it's technically correct to say it's separate from the salary cap or baked into the overall formula, but because every team pays out the same amount of PBP, it has no cap impact.

Kerry from Lakewood Ranch, FL

I know the Packers are in a win now mode, but if there is not much value when their time to make their picks in the draft could you see them trading out for 2027 picks in what many people say is a loaded class?

The Packers already are stockpiling a lot of picks in '27 and have only seven this year, and the last time Green Bay made only seven picks in a draft was 2016. So I won't dismiss your suggestion, but I consider it unlikely.

Bruce from Jackson, WI

Mike, basing future performance on past performance under certain coaches (Gannon) seems like you're "jumping the shark" to be optimistic. Besides maybe a couple anecdotal instances can you back that up? Any studies or data? A more logical assumption would be the players were younger and they might have been in a better situation. Still, count me in the camp hoping our veteran acquisitions find the grass greener in Lambeau. GPG!

I don't recall basing anyone's future performance on their past work under Gannon. I simply pointed out that those veteran additions familiar with Gannon can help ease the transition to a new system for the entire unit.

Eric from Oshkosh, WI

I heard Gutey say he believes Morgan won the starting job at left tackle in camp but he was needed somewhere else due to injuries. Yet our starting lineup was LT Rasheed Walker, LG Aaron Banks, C Elgton Jenkins, RG Sean Rhyan, and RT Zach Tom. This was our starting lineup for Week 1 vs. Detroit. Morgan played three snaps. And that was after Walker was out for most of camp. Are we really supposed to seriously buy that? Seems like he's just trying to talk the guy up and justify his first-round pick.

Banks and Tom dealt with injuries throughout camp, and they weren't sold on Rhyan as the full-time right guard. So Morgan was the contingency plan for various spots with Walker unable to play any other positions. Even though the Week 1 starting unit was as you outlined, Morgan was needed in the super sub role very early. He started for Banks at LG in Week 2, took over for Tom at RT after one snap in Week 3, was back in for Banks in Week 4, and started ahead of Rhyan in Week 6. He wound up starting seven games at RG, two at LG and two at RT by season's end.

Erik from Rydal, GA

Filler question – Who is your favorite athlete of all time? I'm 51 and it's a close one between watching MJ float in the air or Tiger transform the game of golf.

Walter Payton.

Graydon from Menomonie, WI

In response to yesterday's submission about Milwaukee's Opening Day starter … If Brandon Woodruff is healthy, there's no debate he should get the Opening Day nod for the Milwaukee Brewers. He's earned it. If he's not ready, give the ball to Jacob Misiorowski. "Miz" has the stuff. Let the kid take the stage.

That's what I'm expecting. Selfishly, I'm hoping they hold Miz a day or two because I won't be at Opening Day, but I might make it for the first weekend. Unless another blizzard is on its way.

Chad from Rhinelander, WI

If Savion Williams does get moved to running back, do you think Luke Musgrave would be willing to switch numbers with him?

I really am outta here now. Be nice to Wes. Talk again in a couple weeks. Happy Wednesday.

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