Scott from Berrien Center, MI

Went to Costco. Thought my Sunday was busy. Sheesh.

Never a dull moment around here.

James from Asheville, NC

As of mid-afternoon the Packers have made three trades in one day. Has that happened during your time in Green Bay?

Can't recall any such occurrence.

Dan from Rice Lake, WI

BG seemed to confirm that the cutdown date was moved up due to the Rams/49ers game in Australia, but this game won't be played until the 11th. Does establishing the final rosters two days early really make a difference? I don't understand.

The Australia game is being played on Thurs. Sept. 10, and I think the combination of when the Rams and 49ers are traveling there, plus the kickoff game in Seattle being played on Wed. Sept. 9, factored into the change of the roster decision deadline. Selfishly, I would've preferred it be Monday so our entire digital/social staff didn't have to give up a Sunday to work, but so it goes.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

Gutey was busy yesterday, huh? Which trade stood out to you? I love the Kaleb Johnson move. He was a beast at Iowa and provides crucial depth until Josh Jacobs' situation is resolved.

Kaleb Johnson is a talented back. Why it didn't work out in Pittsburgh I have no idea, but maybe a change of scenery and a chance to reset is just what the young man needs. We shall see.

Matt from Omaha, NE

I can't help but think the Packers have found another Hawkeye who will help. It seems like Gutey has always respected Iowa and there are a lot of shared values between the two programs.

Gutey is scheduled to address the media Tuesday morning. I wonder if we're going to hear how much he liked Johnson in last year's draft. In the third round, the Steelers took Johnson four picks before the Packers took Savion Williams, and the Williams pick raised eyebrows because the Packers had just drafted Matthew Golden in the first round. Makes you wonder.

Tom from Lisbon, WI

As I understand, the exempt list is a waiting place while the NFL reviews Jacobs' case. He still gets paid, and the Packers have the roster spot available (which is obviously nice to know before cutdowns). But who is paying his salary – is it still the Packers? That doesn't seem fair if so, since they can't use his services. And would he still count against their salary cap? If he is ultimately suspended, will time lost on the exempt list count as time served? Sorry to pile on, but I'm curious.

Time on the exempt list would count toward serving any potential suspension. The salary part will sort itself out. Any games he might miss, and therefore not get paid, would generate cap credits to the team.

Bob from Orland Park, IL

I can't believe how far Gutekunst will go to save face. He traded up to draft Jordan Love then overpaid him. He let Willis go, I can see he didn't have the money to pay him. But now to trade McCord for a '28 sixth-rounder. He doesn't want anyone around that is better than Love. What do you think?

I think if that's what you think then I can't help you.

Jonathan from Sierra Vista, AZ

Wow. Just read that the Packers traded Kyle McCord for a 2028 sixth-round pick. That tells me BG was not going to place him on the 53 and figured they would lose him on waivers.

And the Dolphins didn't want to risk someone ahead of them in the waiver order putting in a claim.

Dale from Prescott, WI

Well, it's obvious the Packers figured they were going to lose McCord to waivers so they got what they could for him, I get it. Can't keep everybody. On a positive note, it's obvious the Packers are good at picking quarterbacks. Wishing McCord the best of luck at Green Bay South.

It's not the picking so much as the developing. Where the Packers got Willis and McCord to in relatively short periods of time is impressive.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Mike, while conventional wisdom may dictate Tyrod Taylor over McCord for QB2, I would take the youth with higher ceiling. We won't know until the end of the season, or the offseason, if keeping Taylor was the right call. I am guessing the Dolphins did not offer a sixth-round pick for Taylor … So there ya have it!

That's a false comparison. The Dolphins are in full rebuild and get-out-of-cap-jail mode. The Packers are a contender. Their views of the value Taylor and McCord bring are different based on those circumstances.

Tim from Bellevue, WI

Not that I know what I'm talking about, looks like the Packers figured that McCord would not clear waivers and wanted to get some value for him and Luke Musgrave's injury recovery is a long-term project and need to add to the TE room. Are those logical assumptions?

I don't want to speculate about Musgrave's injury without knowing any additional information. What we do know is he's on regular-season PUP and will be out a minimum of the first four games, plus any ramp-up time after that considering he missed all of training camp. That said, Gutey pulled off a significant overhaul of the depth at the position the past couple days. They evaluated what they had over the past month and saw opportunities to get better. Same at running back. In this league, competition is never just in-house.

H.R. from Henderson, NV

I don't get the trade for Johnson. I get they needed an RB with Jacobs' situation. But was Strong really not the best option here?

Clearly, Gutey didn't think so. As he often says, roster building is 24/7/365.

Mark from Eureka, IL

Days like today is where GMs earn their money, and BG certainly earned his. He knew McCord wouldn't get past waivers, so got a draft pick for him. Lose your RB, trade a draft pick for another. Solidify your TE room. A very good day despite losing Jacobs. And the roster looks very solid. GPG!

There are some new depth pieces that need to get up to speed quickly over the next two weeks to be ready to contribute Week 1, but this is where the extra week between the end of the preseason and start of the regular season comes in handy.

Rick from Harrisburg, PA

Now that Love has gotten a taste of play calling will we see more of it in the huddle?

The QB always has a certain level of autonomy in no-huddle and two-minute situations when there are fewer personnel changes. But calling all plays, including personnel groupings, while also processing everything a QB must process during the course of a game would be awfully tough duty.

Matt from Omaha, NE

I know as fans we are only supposed to have one favorite team. Mine will always be the Packers, but after reading the article about the LaFleur family it will be hard not to root for the Cardinals when they are not playing Green Bay. I hope Mike turns that franchise around.

Also tough duty, and he's going to need to find a franchise quarterback, probably in next spring's draft. There are supposed to be ample candidates.

Keith from Springfield, MO

Guys, would you be willing to make a comparison between this year's expected first season game starting O-line as compared to the first game starting O-line of last year? Thanks for all your work. I have noticed you both have put in some very long hours the past two weeks. After serving in six submarines, I know about long hours.

Week 1 last year was (L to R) Walker, Aaron Banks, Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, Tom. This year, health permitting it appears it'll be Jordan Morgan, Banks, Rhyan, Jacob Monk, Zach Bako-Bewele. The biggest difference to me is experience. It's a young group that'll have to come together. With good health I believe it can.

Joel from Show Low, AZ

The one stat I found amazing from last year was the fact that Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Golden and Tucker Kraft never played a down together. Think of all the possibilities there are for that combo this year.

Too many to ponder.

Jack from Chicago, IL

Weeks 1-8 Golden played average of 55% of the snaps. Weeks 10-17 he played 20%. Practice time matters and so does being limited in how much you can play and still heal. If he was playing 55% early in the season and he has the talent everyone sees you would have expected his snap count to increase. Just goes to show the level the injury robbed him of opportunity.

That's pretty much the point I've been making for months.

Randy from Chippewa Falls, WI

More of an observation. Our special teams under the new coach have been outstanding. Certainly it's preseason but they looked 1000% better. I am giving credit to the new coach full of energy and ideas.

All I want is to keep the penalties down. If that happens, a lot more could follow.

John from Canada

Hi II. Are you surprised that there are only five LB on the 53 roster? For what it's worth I am.

Not really. Gannon's defense rarely has three linebackers on the field at the same time, so five seems adequate.

Dan from San Antonio, TX

10 offensive linemen? Is that an indication that Banks and Bako-Bewele may not be ready for Week 1?

Not necessarily. As Wes pointed out in his detailed notes about the roster, this is the fourth time in the last five years the Packers have kept 10 O-linemen.

Joe from Swansea, IL

We'll have a QB on the practice squad, won't we? How many players cut Sunday do you think will return to the practice squad?

I have to believe a QB is on the PS radar. I'll guess around three-fourths of the PS will consist of players who were here in camp.

Kerry from Lakewood Ranch, FL

With your best defensive player out at least five games and your second-best offensive player out indefinitely, what would be your expectations for the first third of the season?

Win games. In the season's first seven contests, the Packers face only one team that made the playoffs last year, and that one team they had on the ropes twice without several of their best players down the stretch in December/January. Green Bay can still get off to a strong start despite the challenges mentioned.

Mark from Sheboygan, WI

After 30-plus years on the waiting list, Friday night was my first game as a season ticket holder! After the game as I watched the players walking off the field, I noticed many of them just looking around taking it all in. Then it struck me that for some of those players it could be their last game in Lambeau and for them it was so much more than just a game.

It's hard for me to fully comprehend the confluence of emotions in that moment for guys who know what's coming.

TC from Waunakee, WI

While appreciating the Mora-esque response to the query regarding GB's odds of making the playoffs…and with full understanding that betting is still illegal at Bushwood…futures markets say 53-58% chance. Unlike the talking heads, these markets don't have faith in a repeat from that team below the state line. For entertainment purposes only, of course.

Of course.

Sandy from Green Bay, WI

The NFL is fully embracing the introduction of alternative uniforms to be worn several games each season. Why? Do the players care? Do they get excited/more motivated when notified they will be suiting up in one of these special edition uniforms for a game? My cynical self tends to wonder if it is designed to sell more unique specialty jerseys to fans.

That's exactly the intent, which I don't consider cynical. The NFL is big business.

Jake from Perkinsville, VT

Good morning Mike, I hope all is going well. I am greatly looking forward to the season starting and I appreciate all the you and Wes do. I saw your comment on looking forward to the clam chowder in NE. As a native to NE and the game being in the beginning of November, might I direct you to finding yourself an apple cider donut, preferably one topped with apple pie filling.

Noted.

Brad from Olympic National Park, WA

Hello II. This is Brad from Bozeman. I just completed the first 75 miles of backpacking in the Washington Rockies and am resting my legs by the ocean tonight. Heading out for the next five days tomorrow. When I get home on the 5th, I'm going to read two weeks' worth of Inboxes, articles, and analyze the 53-man and practice rosters, while sitting on my patio with a cooler full of ice cold beers. I have a pretty good feeling about this season. From the bottom of my green and gold soul, Go Pack Go!

Happy Monday.

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