Inbox: Seems like an oversight

Tim from Augusta, WI

Mike, remember, serenity now, insanity later!

Oh, I'm aware.

Bret from Hertel, WI

Dear Mike or Wes, what was the biggest story to ever break from the end of mandatory minicamp to training during your time with the Packers?

The one that started the tradition of breaking news while I'm on PTO, in the summer of 2008 when I was at Cub Scout camp with my son. I don't think I need to explain.

Dennis from Ellsworth, WI

Going into training camp, what do you view as the Packers' greatest strength and weakness?

In a general sense, it's the same answer for both. There are still so many young players coming into their own, there's no knowing what they're capable of. There's also no knowing if they're capable of the projections and expectations.

Scott from Reno, NV

Have to believe that the Pack would have kept Ja if he had been willing to do a deal like he gave the Ravens. Did he misjudge his value? Did he want out? Or is he just doing a one-year prove it deal in hopes of getting one last big contract?

I don't know. Perhaps. Entirely possible. Look, the Alexander questions are endless right now. I get the overwhelming curiosity as to what the Packers offered. I'd love to know, too. But this organization doesn't do business that way and I totally respect that.

Kyle from Los Angeles, CA

It sure looks like the Ravens got a stud at a bargain. While I wish him the best, it would be hard to watch him turn in another Pro Bowl season for so little. How did the signing strike you?

It struck me as a player super excited to reunite with one of his best friends and an uber-talented one at that.

Tyler from Stetsonville, WI

I appreciate the comments on Lukas Van Ness and hope he has a big year. My concerns are with the CBs, losing JA is not insignificant, but I hold onto the fact that the back end didn't really fall apart last year while Alexander was injured. Nate Hobbs helps, but is playing Bo Melton at CB really the answer? I hope we add more experienced depth to that position group before the season begins. I'm enjoying the baloney but am looking forward to the point where it stops.

I see the potential of Melton at corner in a regular-season game as an emergency option only. I'm expecting the personnel department to assess how it feels about the cornerback group after a preseason game or two and proceed accordingly. Gutey wants all the young guys to compete and see what they have.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

Which undrafted player or players that the Packers have picked up so far have the best chance to make the final roster?

According to reports, the Packers gave out $100K (or more) in guarantees to four of their UDFAs – DL Nazir Stackhouse, OL Tyler Cooper, LB Jamon Johnson and DB Johnathan Baldwin. That doesn't mean they're going to make the team, but that list is where I start trying to read the tea leaves with the undrafted rookie class.

Ed from Green Bay, WI

Seems like Policy is already getting the fanbase nervous with his talk of "keeping the Packers in Green Bay." There's zero chance of you offering a non-biased opinion on that statement, I'm just curious if you'll address it at all. This is why I say Inbox is entertainment but not trusted journalism.

Call it whatever you want, and my opinion about the statement is some in the media are making a talking point out of nothing. Setting aside how any relocation of the franchise could actually happen within the strict bylaws, "keeping the Packers in Green Bay" is simply a general mantra and guiding principle to which the top executive here has always adhered. It means advocating for items within the CBA, like revenue sharing and the salary cap, among many others, that keep a small-market team viable. When it comes to potentially contentious leaguewide issues, the side you're on at the helm of this franchise is the one that helps the Packers stay put. Policy verbalized that to assure the fanbase it remains his guiding principle, as it was Murphy's, Harlan's, etc. That's it, that's all.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

What's one fact about Ed Policy that might surprise people?

Hearing in his interview with Larry that his father-in-law is one of the founders of the Blue Angels was pretty cool. I saw a Blue Angels show once sitting out in my uncle's boat on the Chesapeake. Incredible stuff.

Ryan from Mount Zion, IL

Mike, now I'm curious. If you would please, in a quick summary, how does Mark Murphy look at the game vs. what us armchair QBs look at? What am I missing?

From the press box, there were times I could tell he had his All-Pro safety hat on like he was watching film. He could see the plays that were difficult to defend, where the defense simply did a good job not giving up a touchdown or a really big play. He could also see the ones where somebody was just a half-step slow in breaking on the ball or jumping a route, the proverbial missed opportunity. The dude knows ball.

Herb from Mosier, OR

Like you two, I'm amazed at the Packers' ability to cherry pick Malik Willis from the Titans for a mere seventh-round pick. It's gotta be the steal of the decade. That said, I'm intrigued by his value (as a Packers asset). Clearly he deserves a shot at starting QB money somewhere else. We're not going to pay that. We're also not going to trade him anytime soon. So, let's make you temporarily Packers GM. What's the best way to wring every ounce of value out of this incredible asset?

To be honest, I'm hoping the Packers already got their greatest chunk of value out of Willis when he won two starts and another game in relief last year. Getting more than that would not necessarily be good overall for the 2025 squad. That said, my hope for Willis and the Packers is he totally balls out in the preseason and sets himself up for a nice payday and new opportunity.

Brendon from San Antonio Tlayacapan, Mexico

Does the defensive coordinator typically have time to relay offensive personnel changes to the "green dot" player between plays, or are the players just expected to identify any substitutions, based on their prep time the week before? Asking for Savion Williams, MarShawn Lloyd and Mecole Hardman.

The defense generally calls its personnel group based on the offensive personnel in the opposing huddle. Players usually have watched enough film to know what the matchups are when they're subbing in.

Chris from Canada

Much attention is paid to the GB pass rush and sack count (or lack thereof). But does it really matter if you get the sack, or is it enough to press the opposing QB out of their timing and make him throw before he'd like? Where did GB rank in forcing early throws? Is that "pressures" or just a "time to throw" stat of some kind?

Pro Football Reference has a "pressures" stat that combines sacks, hurries and knockdowns. The Packers ranked 14^th in pressures last year with 143 and 16^th in pressure percentage at 22.1%.

Jeff from Foothill Ranch, CA

Mike's answer about Zach Tom's interviews, or lack thereof, got me thinking. I'm sure some guys love the attention, others would prefer to be left alone. As journalists, do you guys ever "encourage" those that are maybe more reserved? After an interview with such a player, have you ever said something like, "You're really good at this, we'd love to hear more"? Would that cross a line?

Not at all. With guys who are reluctant to share their thoughts, the beat corps collectively will express to them how insightful they are (if indeed that's the case) to hopefully get them to open up more. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Billy from Verona, WI

Hi II, players usually have agents to help with contract negotiations. Do head coaches, or more generally all coaches, also have agents?

Head coaches do. I'm not sure about assistants.

Dalton from Scottsville, NY

For the guys that are longshots or possibly practice-squad bubble guys that might get cut, how are they paid during the offseason with minicamp, OTAs, and training camp?

All players receive daily/weekly stipends during training camp. The stipend is lower for first-year players but they still get one.

Nathan from Williamstown, MA

ATMR etc., the 2021 Rams are just the most recent team to win a Super Bowl when two of their division-mates (Cardinals, 49ers) also made the playoffs. The '07 Giants were the only team to do so while there were only two wild cards per conference. The era with three divisions and three wild cards per conference was bookended by the 1990 Giants and 2001 Patriots pulling off the same feat, along with the Cowboys in 1992.

'Preciate the knowledge.

Rob from Louisville, CO

Wes mentioned Charles Woodson was "a bit of an afterthought league wide" when he came to the Packers, which made me read up on his career a bit. Coming off a broken leg the previous year, he had only 17 career interceptions by his 30th birthday, then had 48 more the rest of the way. Can you think of anyone else who had a late-career run like that?

Woodson's career split pre- and post-30 is among the most dramatic. I know fellow Hall of Famers Ed Reed (33) and Rod Woodson (39) both had more than 30 INTs after turning 30 as well.

Eric from Kenosha, WI

Good morning. A national sports outlet posted a "Top 25 players from the past 25 years" article this week, and their top 25 did not include Charles Woodson. Just curious, do you know what those guys were smoking?

I saw that. The cornerback group selected was Champ Bailey, Ronde Barber, Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson. No offense to Peterson, but that's the one I quibble with. I realize Woodson's Defensive Rookie of the Year honor and first of seven All-Pro selections came prior to 2000, but he's still got six All-Pro nods this century compared to Peterson's three, plus nearly double the INT total and that Defensive Player of the Year award in 2009. Peterson deservedly will get in the Hall of Fame someday, but he's not a slam-dunk, first-ballot selection like Woodson. Seems like an oversight to me.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

Chuck Fusina was a Packer? Did he throw a pass for us?

He was 19-of-32 for 178 yards and an INT in 1986.

Jon from Rockford, MN

Question for Mike, now that we are in the dead zone officially. The Brewers had a rainout in Chicago, and decided to make it a five-game series now in August, when they could have just played a day-night doubleheader the next day. I thought it was more common to just play two the next day, and get the games in.

I suspect they chose to plug the extra game into the August series to provide more time for ticket sales, rather than play an extra game on short notice in a half-empty Wrigley. It's a tough break for the Crew, because that extra game is now plunked into an 18-day stretch without an off day, so they'll be playing 19 games in 18 days. Milwaukee has two more days off this month and a doubleheader now would've been much easier to manage.

Bryan from Madison, WI

Mike, since we are in the dead zone, were "Heart of Darkness" and "Catch-22" part of Freshman Studies for you at LU? A fellow Lawrentian would love to know. I'll throw in Italo Calvino's "If on a winters night a traveler" as another book worth reading (that was our assigned summer reading for my first Freshman Studies term).

"Heart of Darkness" was for Freshman Studies, yes. "Catch-22" was from a lit class on satire I took as a junior. That was probably my favorite class of the four years.

Joshua from Milwaukee, WI

Quote from "Catch-22" (referencing pennants awarded to squadrons for marches): "Like Olympic medals and tennis trophies, all they signified was that the owner had done something of no benefit to anyone more capably than everyone else." It's not 100% true, but it gives me perspective when I'm cursing my golf game or yelling at a Packer game on the screen. It's a bit silly. Do we care about sports too much? (Hopefully this quote eases your mind when golfing as well. You're welcome.)

The psychology of sports team fandom is an industry all its own. I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs of it, but escape is a big part of it, and some of us turn that escape into our careers.

Kevin from Markesan, WI

If II had an audio version available, who would do the voice overs for Mike and Wes? Some Sean Connery? Mel Gibson? How about a few of the regulars? Perhaps some Rosanne Barr for the whiny submissions? When cap math is involved maybe the scientist from "The Simpsons"? I've often wondered these things, but figured I'd wait until the dead zone to submit such a useless question.

Happy Friday.

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