Randy from Highland, IL
II, just a comment today. Having spent four years in Germany while in the Air Force I know that most of Oktoberfest occurs in September. So when/if the Packers get a game in Germany, it would have to be an early regular season game for it to coincide with Oktoberfest.
This is when I slap my hands on the side of my face and in my best Vinnie Barbarino voice cry out, "I'm so confused!"
Dan from Northfield, MN
Hoping Badgers don't overlook the Huskers this weekend! Do you think Coach Gard should get strong consideration for COY?
In the Big Ten, the award should be his, no questions asked. Nationwide, he should definitely be in the top-three conversation.
Linda from Lakewood Ranch, FL
Good morning, Mike! Second time recently saying that. (Seems strange. Does it seem that way to you?) How did you get to go to the combine and leave Biff behind? And why did you leave before the combine was over? Did you have to get back so he could take his break?
Wes had some more important things on the home front to attend to, so we went without him. Chalk it up to bad timing. As for coming back so soon, we decided to just cover our GM/head coach's media sessions and not stay for all the media stuff with the prospects. I'm going to dive into this draft class more later in the month.
Lane from Hurricane, UT
I'm curious how the player interviews are conducted at the combine. Are there rules on time limits and question parameters? Are there public interviews with multiple teams in attendance or are they exclusive to a particular team? Thanks.
There's a combination of formal and informal interviews. Teams are limited to a specific number of formals (it used to be 60, now it's 45), and they must submit their requests in advance so the league can coordinate the schedule. Those are exclusive meetings in hotel rooms, usually with several members of team personnel in attendance. There are also nightly informal interview sessions where the players are made available and coaches/scouts can just walk up and talk to anybody, joining conversations with others, etc.
Guillaume from Nantes, France
Hello everyone! I wonder, does Brian Gutekunst ask players about their former college teammates?
If not Brian, someone on his personnel staff seeks that input whenever it's available.
Jim from Eau Claire, WI
What time (CST) do you think the London game will start at? I want to adjust my sleeping habits so I am prepared.
I believe previously I said the early TV window, forgetting that traditionally the London games actually have kicked off in the "early-early" TV window, meaning 8:30 a.m. CT.
Ben from Pensacola, FL
I'm probably in the obvious majority, but I really don't want the Pack to have to tag Davante Adams, and I'd love for them to be able to find a way to keep him. He's become my favorite player to watch play the game, and while I like to listen to all the player press conferences, he is actually one of my favorites in that regard. He embodies a great part of the Packer player identity.
I don't think the Packers want to tag him, either. But barring the sudden signing of a new contract in the next 72 hours, I would expect the Packers to tag him by end of day Tuesday to buy themselves until July 15 to work out a long-term deal.
Mike from Baraboo, WI
Who is the top FA on our team that we need to try and sign besides Rodgers and Adams?
To be clear, Aaron Rodgers is not a free agent. But the answer to this question hasn't changed for me or Wes since the season ended – forced to pick one player, it's De'Vondre Campbell.
Loughlin from Indiana, PA
What is the news on Mason Crosby? With having signed a kicker this offseason, does it show that Crosby's time in Green Bay is over, or is it a precaution that Gute is taking in case that Crosby decides to retire? Has Crosby talked about retiring, or if the Pack move on from him will he try to sign with another team?
I've heard nothing as far as Crosby retiring. Gutekunst indicated he wants Crosby to remain the kicker on this team, but there are salary cap considerations. My gut says kickers Molson and Eberle are both on the roster right now in case the dollars don't work out with Crosby.
Scott from Las Vegas, NV
Many of the draftniks are predicting a RT as the Packers' first or second pick this year. I know the Packers have drafted a boatload of O-linemen in the last few years and I thought you said they typically convert guards to tackles. My question is do we really need a RT if they can't keep Billy Turner?
The Packers have converted many tackles to guards over the years, not so much the other way around. You can never have enough big guys.
Chris from Milwaukee, WI
Finally watched the first edition of Three Things from the combine. Larry did not disappoint. Are the Three Things features more unscripted than the Unscripted features? Or is the script something like a jazz chart?
Here's an example of a pre-production meeting for Three Things … Larry: "All right, Mike, whaddaya got?" Me: "Well, I thought I'd start with (this) and finish with (that)." Larry: "Sounds good. Let's go."
John from Topeka, KS
In reference to H.R. from Las Vegas, I have to feel that the team winning the coin toss still has the advantage. If we see a touchdown, then a touchdown, we're effectively back to the original OT sudden-death rules, and the team that won the coin toss has the ball. Nothing changed, except it's 10 minutes later in the afternoon, and players are even more tired. That doesn't do it for me – though drop those two cents in a parking meter and see how much time it buys you.
That's the point I was trying to make the other day, along with the idea that if you actually add strategy to the start of OT – like the spot-and-choose method – then not nearly as much hinges on the coin toss. Yet I still got accused of leaving it up to the coin toss. I give up, people.
Nate from Hartford, WI
Not to perseverate on the OT but here's an idea: If the game ends in a tie, there is no OT, and both teams get a loss. Wins are what matter. Hello! You play to win the game! Less wear and tear on players, and many more do-or-die strategy scenarios toward the end of the game. Also, no potential tie-to-get-both-teams-in-the-playoffs scenarios.
Ding ding ding! We have a winner. Yes, this is it. This is what I want. I absolutely love this idea. It'll never happen, but I love it just the same. Commissioner Nate, you made my day.
Gordon from Newport Beach, CA
Wes and Mike, when you compare each of your tenures working for the Packers, who's the luckiest? In other words, what are the Packers W/L records for each of you?
In the games I've covered for packers.com since 2006, Green Bay is 178-100-2 (including playoffs) for a winning percentage of .639. Since Wes came on board here in 2016, the Packers have gone 66-38-1, .633. So yeah, he's clearly dragging the squad down.
Matt from South Bend, IN
One play shouldn't keep a player out of the HOF? Careers are defined by one play! If Mike Jones doesn't save the Rams, does Kurt Warner get a Super Bowl ring? If Tyree doesn't make the helmet catch, does Eli win the Super Bowl and MVP? If Matt Stafford doesn't hit Cooper Kupp in the final minute, do the Rams even get out of the divisional round? If Charles Woodson's forced fumble of Brady was ruled a fumble, does Brady get to and win the Super Bowl and is he even the starter the next year?
All valid.
Tom from Fairfield Glade, TN
Que the slings and arrows. While 12 is one the greatest quarterbacks ever, history shows that he will not win a Super Bowl. If he wants to play, the Packers should trade him and get some assets and a head start on a rebuild rather than mortgaging their financial future. If he walks after next year the Packers get nothing and start their rebuild with less money and fewer assets.
"History shows"? Tom Brady once went 10 years between Super Bowl wins. John Elway lost three Super Bowls, and then eight years after that third loss won two in a row. Peyton Manning went nine years between Super Bowl wins. Kurt Warner came basically one play away from winning Super Bowls nine years apart. All this guarantees nothing, of course, but history shows HOF quarterbacks have overcome droughts.
Mike from Franksville, WI
Are there any Packers losses that were devastating in the moment but you learned to make peace with and maybe appreciate over time? Looking back, Favre ending his Packers career slinging away into the night at a frozen Lambeau Field feels right to me. Super Bowl XXXII I can kind of appreciate that after the '70s and '80s the Packers in the '90s became so dominant that nobody saw their loss coming. On the flip side, that 2014 championship game in Seattle will haunt me to my grave.
I do not have the same feeling as you about Favre's final game as Packers QB, but going further back, it became pretty clear in 1998 that Green Bay never should have been a two-TD favorite over Denver in SB XXXII. It felt like a colossal upset in the moment, but the Broncos proved the next year they were more formidable than given credit for at the time. I'll never make peace with Seattle, but the two OT playoff losses at Arizona I've come to appreciate more as the years have passed. Those comebacks were absolutely epic, and as much as I'm a "you never know" guy when it comes to the playoffs, those '09 and '15 Packers teams would have had monumental tasks at New Orleans and at Carolina, respectively, the following weeks.
Tim from Clear Lake, IA
I think Wes misdiagnosed Ryan from Sun Prairie, WI's question about the date for the owners meeting. Wes answered it regarding the NFL owners meeting in March. I'm pretty sure Ryan was asking about OUR owner's meeting … and if Ryan wasn't meaning that, it is something I am interested in as a new owner of the Pack. Any date set for the Packer shareholder meeting? Thanks.
In the past, the date has been announced anywhere from early May to early June. My best guess at this point is the meeting will be scheduled during the week of July 25.
Richard from Farmington Hills, MI
Mike, writing this on a plane to Florida for my annual spring training trip to Lakeland (Tigers). If you read Verducci (SI), Passan (ESPN), Rosenthal and McCullough (Athletic) you will see that the owners are FAR more responsible. All you really need to see is the chart that shows how much revenue has grown versus players' compensation over the last five years.
Oh, for sure. The owners are the bigger bad guys this time, no doubt. My point the other day was it's not about one negotiation, but decades of them during which neither side was willing to meaningfully address the fundamental economic inequities that continue to damage the sport. The two sides have never been able to work together for the betterment of the game, and that's how we got here. Now it looks like half the league will be making the postseason in order for an agreement to be reached, so MLB is simply going to join the NBA and NHL in having a meaningless regular season. Wonderful.
Michael from Baraboo, WI
Can't wait until the beautiful mystery is solved.
We shall see what next week brings.
John from Jupiter, FL
Morning Mike! In light of current world events I believe the Inbox mantra of "enjoy the ride" takes on new meaning. Nothing is guaranteed, nothing lasts forever, enjoy what you have when you have it, be happy. Thanks for everything.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
