Lori from Winona, MN

"The thing everyone seems to forget with technological advancement and the rise of artificial intelligence is you still need source material. Information just doesn't appear out of thin air." Thank you. Without research, there is no knowledge.

So let's do some.

Jerry from Rockford, IL

Good morning gentlemen and all Insiders. This time of year I try to find out different anomalies in the NFL. Is the only person to win the MVP and rookie of the year Jim Brown in 1957? Also, who was the last rookie of the year if any to win it for the Packers?

Yes, Brown is the only rookie to win MVP (it was called Most Outstanding Player in '57). The Packers have had two winners of the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in running backs John Brockington ('71) and Eddie Lacy ('13) and one AP Defensive ROY in cornerback Willie Buchanon ('72).

Jeremiah from Middleton, WI

I just realized that assuming Kyler Murray starts for the Vikings, every other team in the NFC North will be starting a first overall draft pick at QB for this coming season. Weird how that worked out. Has this happened before in a division?

That one I don't have time to research right now, but I'll open it up to the readership.

Bob from Jensen Beach, FL

Insiders, I read a breakdown of Christian Watson's contract which includes base salary, signing bonus, workout bonus and then per-game roster bonus. Does that mean if injured or not playing, he doesn't get that portion of his salary?

Correct. Watson has around $2M per season broken up into per-game bonuses for being active on game day. If he's inactive or on IR for any given game, that week's bonus portion isn't paid.

Andy from Boscobel, WI

Been infatuated with WI sports all 37 years of my life. Especially with the Packers. I know what's coming next and I'm somewhat unsettled with how Gutey is operating. Giving massive contracts out to guys who haven't "earned" them yet. ALL projection and potential. I LOVE KRAFT. And I love Watson as well! Wouldn't the wiser move be to just wait ONE SEASON to see how they come back health-wise first and foremost, then production-wise? Keep plugging more holes Gutey! Forever Packers.

You have to understand that waiting, and seeing what you want to see, only drives the price up. Plus, the closer any player gets to free agency, the greater the chance he'll actually ride into March to see what's out there for him. Then all it takes is one suitor to overpay and either the team is in a bind or he's gone. So taking the wait-and-see approach risks losing the player, or being forced to pay him considerably more, which means someone else can't be re-signed. Big decisions in this league are all about having the courage of your convictions. If you believe, then act.

Mark from Snellville, GA

Mike and Wes, I met you briefly at the rally in Tampa in 2022 and fingers crossed, Mike hinted New Orleans is on the radar for a rally this season for my ninth Packer game in six cities. I so appreciate the work you both do, and the quantity and quality of the content you post. As a diehard fan in Atlanta, I live on this site to keep me connected. Can you share something from OTAs that you've wanted to comment on but haven't been asked about? You both see and hear things we don't know to ask about. GPG

If it's not written in a “5 things” practice recap or discussed on "Unscripted," it's nothing noteworthy. I don't spend the spring hiding or saving up any observations.

John from Brookfield, WI

With all of the talk about speed and players 40-yard dash times, I wonder if you can help me understand just what the difference is. If a player is .1 second faster than another, how far are they apart after 40 yards?

2-3 feet.

Flavio from Brazil

Hello, Mike. Nice piece on Sean Rhyan and the complexities of playing center. In one of his answers, he mentioned the fact that centers are "between four other dudes, getting rolled up on...", which made me wonder if injury rates and severity are higher among centers in relation to guards and tackles. Is it so?

Couldn't tell you, but it's a head-on-a-swivel position not only for picking up pass rushers but also to keep an eye on who's crashing into you.

Chuck from Santa Ana, CA

A couple of questions about rookies in general. With so many players coming out of college with five, six or even more years of experience is the transition a bit easier now? What three positions, in your opinion, are the easiest for college players to make the jump to the NFL?

I don't think the transition gets any easier because the pro game remains dramatically faster and more complex than the college game. Outside of specialists, I'd say running back, wide receiver and inside linebacker have a better chance to provide ready-made impact, but it still comes down to the player more than the position.

Gordon from Newport Beach, CA

How does the decision to get bigger on the offensive line fit with the Packers' zone-run identity? Is the scheme changing, or is the added size meant to serve a different purpose than traditional zone blocking expectations?

I think the goal has been to have the personnel and capability to run both zone and gap schemes. Bigger linemen, as long as they're athletic enough, give you an advantage either way.

Jay from Lutz, FL

Guys, I think the casual fan forgets the devastating injuries that we suffered last year. My question is, had we not had those unfortunate events, how far could we have gone?

Nobody has forgotten, but we'll never know. What I do know is having already lost Tucker Kraft and Devonte Wyatt, the Packers were the No. 2 seed in the NFC when Micah Parsons and Zach Tom went down, and if they'd beaten the Bears in the second meeting and won the division, they'd have been no worse than the No. 3 seed, not the No. 7.

Scott from Manson, IA

IMHO, player salaries are increasing at an insane pace. Do you think we will reach a point where the amount of money needed to fund payroll will outstrip what fans are willing to spend? With ticket prices jumping, $15 beers, etc., to me it seems inevitable.

But that angle matters little. Player salaries are going up at the rate they are because TV money continues to skyrocket. Ticket revenue – large chunks of which are captured by the secondary market, while the clubs collect face value plus a sliver of re-sales – is a drop in the bucket compared to the broadcast/streaming deals. Yes, eventually I believe ticket prices will reach a breaking point, and teams may have to adjust accordingly so enough fans show up, but it'll be a relatively minor blip in the revenue picture regardless.

Gene from Greenville, WI

At what home game will the throwback jerseys be used?

TBD.

Vincent from Seattle, WA

Given the results, do you ever wonder what might have been if John Schneider had been hired by the Packers as GM?

Not really. The year the Seahawks hired Schneider away from Green Bay was the same year the Packers won the Super Bowl. Beyond that, the stars never aligned as far as job availability and contract status. The Packers reportedly were denied permission by the Seahawks (duh) to interview him in 2018. That would've been a fascinating decision, had it come to that, between him and Gutekunst, who are among the most respected in the league. Schneider also was reportedly a candidate in the recent president/CEO search, but that's obviously a very different position. Knowing John personally, I'm happy for all his success, but let's also not be prisoner of the moment here. In the 10 years after the game that shan't be discussed (2015-24), the Packers went to three NFC title games while the Seahawks went to zero, and Seattle missed the playoffs one more time than Green Bay (4-3). Unlike the Packers, the Seahawks to their credit have cashed in when they've reached the conference championship, which I chalk up to more the vagaries of playoff football than who the GM is.

Caleb from Mooresville, NC

In 15 games last season, Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,381 yards, 23 TD passes and six interceptions. Since becoming the full-time starter in 2023, Love's yardage and TD totals have decreased each year – but his passer rating has increased each year, reaching a career-high 101.2 last season. Do you think he will break the yardage and TDs curse?

I don't consider it a curse because those overall numbers have been more about his health and availability than anything else.

Mark from Winona, MN

Hello II. My question is, in your opinion, where has this team improved since last year? It could be anything. Players, coaches, facilities, etc. Other than injury luck (or lack thereof) what reasons would lead you to believe we are better than 9-7-1 this upcoming season?

Nothing's known yet. Health issues are paramount. Those can't be discounted. But whether the Packers take steps forward this year will be determined by the strides made by all the Year 2-3-4 players they'll be counting on to be better individually than they were last season. The list is long: Lukas Van Ness, Jordan Morgan, Edgerrin Cooper, MarShawn Lloyd, Matthew Golden, Anthony Belton, Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, Savion Williams, Barryn Sorrell, and on and on. That will boost the collective. The more that happens, the higher this team's floor rises.

TK from Grafton, WI

Which one is harder: covering the draft or covering training camp?

Oh, training camp for sure. The hot August days can get brutal out there, and there's no place for us to sit down during practice. It's not anywhere near the grind it was when two-a-days were still around my first handful of years, but it still wears on you.

Luke from Dubuque, IA

Not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed when it was announced that Family Night was on a Friday this year. We've been coming the last few years and have spent the day enjoying the Titletown festivities until the event started. It's going to be difficult to make it this year since we are traveling. What prompted the event to change from a Saturday to Friday?

It's fallen on a Friday in other years, not sure which ones. The first preseason game being the following Thursday likely played into it.

Bruce from Las Vegas, NV

The unwavering interest in II during the dead zone reminds me of a business trip I made to Vancouver some years ago. On the way to dinner I casually asked about hockey. He demonstrated three 24/7 local radio stations dedicated to hockey talk. It was the middle of summer, but interest had not waned a bit.

Entertainment passions are part of the fabric of society, wherever you are.

Zachary from Macon, GA

No question today, I just wanted to thank you guys for all the work you do in keeping us updated on the team. After five years of watching every game, my streak will indubitably come to an end as I am about to be sworn in as a firefighter. I'll watch as many games as I can, but the bell will most likely hit during the game (hopefully not at the end of a close one). When that happens, I know that I'll be able to read all the articles and catch up on all the actions that I missed.

My best friend from grad school is now a deputy chief with the Chicago Fire Dept. Having visited his firehouse (which actually serves as a shooting location for the show "Chicago Fire") during trips to play the Bears, I've gained a greater appreciation for the non-TV drama parts of the job. So congrats, and we're here for you. Happy Wednesday.

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