Ron from Mitchell, SD

Just watched the 2025 season preview video. The ghost of Vince Lombardi standing at the center of the field was awesome!

That's the hype video to beat all hype videos.

Rod from Eau Claire, WI

It was strange to see Kenny Clark in a Cowboys uniform tackling AJ Dillon in an Eagles uniform. Good to see AJ back on the field.

All true.

Karen from South Beloit, IL

When is the last time someone was ejected prior to the first snap? What on earth was Jalen Carter thinking?

He wasn't.

Dave from Kaukauna, WI

With the season about to start, can you remind us of the rule changes?

Well, beware of anything that resembles taunting or disrespect for the opponent. That was evident Thursday night. The biggest change is replay assist can be called upon for a number of safety rules (eureka!) – facemask, horse collar, defenseless player/contact to head or neck area – to confirm whether a flag was correctly thrown. But replay assist cannot be used to throw a flag the officials on the field missed in these instances.

Thomas from Cedar Rapids, IA

I know you don't like predictions, but let me toss a softball question. If the Packers win the toss, what does LaFleur do? I say he defers.

I agree.

Matt from Bloomington, IN

A little ways down my wish list for Sunday – somewhere after getting the win and avoiding any major injuries – I'm hoping not to see too much blue in the stands. I'm very excited that we finally get a home opener, so I hope it looks and feels like one too. Go Pack Go!

I concur.

John from Chicago, IL

Can. Not. Wait!

I accede.

Matt from United States

Hard to believe in one week's time we'll be talking about the result of the Pack's second game of the season.

I submit.

Joe from Swansea, IL

Leadership defined: "We wanted to set a standard so high that it's not hard to see what it is." Nos. 8 and 29 have talked the talk and walked the walk; can't wait to see 0 and 1 and all the rest join that quest. GPG!

I've run out of these answers.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Hey Spoff, remember when you coined the term "optimism without expectations" many years ago for that season? What do you have for us this year? Help me Spoffi Wan Kenobi. I'm feeling uneasy with all the sports shows anointing us SB champs already. I have optimism, sure. But so many things need to go right for that to happen and the unknowns can kill you. Right now I'm feeling what I'd call precarious optimism. Perhaps precarious is too strong a word. Maybe guarded optimism?

If memory serves, I posited that line for LaFleur's first season in 2019. There's something more than optimism now. I think we can all feel it. And there's a certain level of expectation that goes along with where this team is, but you can't take it too far or any potential joy is robbed. So I guess my corollary would be to believe but don't assume. A distinction without a difference, perhaps. There's reason to be genuinely fired up, but nothing can be taken for granted.

Rick from Shawano, WI

Am I somehow less of a Packer fan? I have been a fan since 1956. Suffered through some horrible seasons. But I consider the optimism and enthusiasm for this upcoming season to be over the top. I want, as always, for my team to excel. But I see far too many questions marks for so many unrealistic prognostications.

I hear you. Believe me, I do. I'm the biggest one-game-at-a-time guy there is, but as a pre-emptive strike I'll say this: One week from today, we're going to be talking about the Packers being either 2-0, 1-1 or 0-2, and everyone will have a narrative as to where the season is headed, but no one will really know anything.

Dave from Comer, GA

Just a reminder that over the past several years, the first two or three games of the season have been of preseason quality. League-wide. Regardless of on-field talent and/or coaching prowess the first few games can be accurately predicted with a coin. Regardless of whether the Packers end up with the W or the L, it isn't indicative of the whole season. So sit back, enjoy the game, and don't give it more importance than its 1/17th.

That, too.

Brandon from Imperial, MO

Good morning, in the answer to Kirsten from Madison, WI, Wes said something that shouldn't be overlooked for other players. When it is crunch time for a contract to get done quickly, BG and RB can get done the largest non-QB contract ever in a small amount of time. When people are asking you why they don't extend this player or that, do you think the answer might just be they need more evaluation? Possibly they want to see how things shake out before committing resources?

That's always in the equation, but in this particular case, I'm convinced the Packers' negotiation on Jordan Love's massive contract just a year ago had a lot to do with how quickly this came together, with the same agent, and fell Green Bay's way.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

If memory serves, Russ Ball, Brian Gutekunst and Elliot Wolf were all finalists for the GM job after Ted Thompson retired. I think one of the more underrated points of Mark Murphy's career was being able to retain two of the three by promoting BG and keeping Russ Ball crunching the numbers. He very easily could have lost Ball as well as Wolf after they didn't get the GM job.

No lie told.

Paul from Northglenn, CO

Could there be any more sidebars to Sunday afternoon? Micah Parsons's arrival sure put a new spin on home opener. When it's all said and done could we all be praising the accuracy of Brandon McManus's leg?

It's difficult for me to recall so many storylines for an opener. Wes and I were discussing on "Unscripted" the '13 opener in San Francisco as the only comparable one, and I still think this one surpasses it. As for your final comment, this game coming down to a kick would not surprise me in the slightest.

Terry from Green Bay, WI

Good morning, Mike. Detroit is known for being very aggressive on fourth down. Now their OC is in Chicago. Do you expect Chicago to be more aggressive? Will the Packers (and Vikings) have to be more aggressive to keep pace? Thanks.

That fourth-down aggression comes from the head man, Campbell. That's another topic on our latest "Unscripted," how the Lions make you defend third-and-mediums different because they're so likely to go for it, in reasonably good field position, if it's fourth-and-3 or less. Being prepared for a running play on third-and-5-to-8 and reacting to the pass is a tough way to play, but that's what they make opponents do, and I don't see that changing with their new OC.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

I know the first 25 or so plays are scripted, but I have often wondered if that plan gets tossed out depending on great or poor field position after the opening kick?

Whoever began using the word "script" for how teams start games really did fans a disservice. It's not a script in the traditional sense at all. Game plans have priority plays for every situation – the first handful of calls in normal down/distance, the first couple for third downs, for red zone, for backed up, for short yardage. That's what is meant by plays being "scripted," which is entirely misleading. Rodgers referred to them as "first thoughts," and in my yearbook interview with Love for the story that posted the other day, his term was "openers." They're the plays at the top of every situational listing within the game plan. Hope that helps.

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi Mike, your article regarding the communication between LaFleur and Jordan Love was a fantastic piece. Amazing how much prep and discussion goes into a game plan, and how those two work together. The insights that you and Wes give us makes watching the games more enjoyable for a lot of us. I was wondering what it would be like to stand behind the players' bench during a game. Have you ever been able to do that?

Ha, no. It would be fascinating, but that area is beyond off limits for someone like me.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

If memory serves me, one of the areas Packers management wanted to accomplish in the offseason was for the team to get more physical. Perhaps looking at teams such as the Eagles and Lions, we will see very soon how much progress, if any, the team has made. What are your thoughts?

I thought both sides of the ball took a step in that direction last year, based on how the Packers ran the ball and stopped the run. With Josh Jacobs in Year 2 and the changes on the O-line, that trend line should continue. The defensive side is more wait and see with removing Clark from the run D at the 11th hour.

George from North Mankato, MN

What or whom do you think will be the best approach to slowing down Hutchinson and the Lions' defense this weekend?

Nothing neuters a pass rush better than a running game to set up play-action. I expect Detroit to take the exact same approach.

Larrie from Mt. Hope, WI

Where does Lukas Van Ness fit in? Could we see all three "edge" guys on the field on the plays?

In certain situations, sure. I see defensive personnel packages evolving the more Parsons gets incorporated.

Seth from Bennet, WI

What all goes into the decision-making process for Jayden Reed to not have surgery? I see he missed practice, admittedly I did not research his injury other than what was reported, but feel like if it's going to cause him to miss what feels like an important game immediately maybe he should have had the surgery. Go Pack go, just win!

My understanding based on what I've read is if he opts for surgery, his season is over. So he's going to try to deal with the injury as best he can.

Sal from Toms River, NJ

How fluid is the Packers WR depth chart? Will we be seeing guys play the outside and slot and move around, or will we see some movement with who lines up where? With all the weapons the Packers have, different looks seems like a good idea.

I'm guessing the coaches have already thought of that.

Jake from Sheridan, NY

With recent past success and potential for success, the NFC North appears to be one of the best and possible toughest divisions in the NFL and a possible measuring stick of how good a team is. Has Coach LaFleur and the staff put any extra emphasis and pressure to win the division games this season, especially starting with the Lions Week 1?

There is always an emphasis on division games. The results weren't there last year, but that's not some indication the Packers didn't emphasize those games enough. They just have to perform better, particularly early.

Doug from Union Grove, WI

I think one of the keys Sunday is getting the Packers' offense off to a fast start. Don't fall behind early and keep the fans in the game so we're not sitting on our hands. You?

The two games against the Vikings last year started 28-0 and 20-3. The two against the Lions started 24-3 and 10-0. That's a collective 76-point hole (sorry for the math) in four games the Packers lost by a total of 17. It's no secret what it takes to give yourself a better chance in these games. It's hard to win a game early, but you sure can lose one.

Josh from Arvada, CO

With Parsons now wearing green and gold, has there been any indication there could be a change coming in who wears the mic on defense? Seems like it's something Quay Walker has taken pride in, and Hafley in grooming his middle linebacker. However, Parsons presents as a much more cerebral player than I anticipated, so the switch could make sense. Did he wear the green dot in Dallas?Thanks for all the insight, go Pack!

He did, at least at times, but I haven't heard that discussed and I don't see the communication helmet going to a player who will be learning the playbook on the fly right now.

Pam from Kohler, WI

Who do you think will make the most immediate impact on the team: Matthew Golden or Micha Parsons?

Yes.

Tom from West Salem, WI

I hope the Packers introduce the defense before the opening weekend game with Parsons being the last one. The Lambeau Field crowd would go insane.

QB1 had the exact same thought.

Scott from Sauk City, WI

Welcome to the regular season, gentlemen! Spoff, the end of this MLB season is shaping up to be the most exciting in my lifetime as a Brewers fan. I'm lucky, though. I can watch the entire Brewers game, then flip channels and there are the Packers three hours later. How much attention will you get to devote to the Brewers now that the NFL season is in full swing?

I still follow the Crew as closely as I can. Three of four Sundays in September I'll have to check out temporarily, though.

Amy from Chippewa Falls, WI

What are you most looking forward to this season?

Real games.

Mike from Baltimore, MD

One last baloney sandwich for lunch tomorrow.

Happy Friday.

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