Inbox: That's a new one

Dennis from De Pere, WI

Weston is against adding an 18th game. Methinks he doth protest too much. I'm sure the 18th game would result in a concurrent and proportional increase in II salaries...

Um, it doesn't work that way.

Sue from Three Lakes, WI

I sure do miss my Saturday fix of you two and all the II folks. When are you gonna get back at it on Saturdays?

Training camp.

Terry from Green Bay, WI

Good morning II. I'm excited to see how the Packers use Savion Williams this year, he has some unique abilities. Some "experts" are critical of his route running. But when I think about the physical traits of a receiver (size, speed, hands, etc.) isn't route running the most coachable trait and therefore, the area he should be able to improve on fairly quickly? Thanks.

The Packers were very open and upfront with the media when they chose Williams, calling him "raw" as a receiver while providing plenty to work with. They wouldn't have spent a third-round pick on him if they didn't feel he's very coachable and able to progress rapidly from that "raw" label.

Scott from Noblesville, IN

Of the many things for me not to like about our schedule, I do not recall ANY previous season when all three of our NFC North "rematches" were on the road, as they are this year!? The schedule is indeed rugged, so no time to cry, let's clean up the spilt milk and hope iron sharpens iron. GPG!

Since the current divisional alignment was implemented in 2002, I could not find any prior season in which the Packers played all three division foes at home first and on the road second. So that's a new one, yeah.

Steve from Plover, WI

I have no doubt that when the schedule came out, all 32 teams (or at least their fans) felt they were getting shafted. I like to think of it as for every disadvantage, it's countered by an advantage. A four-day turnaround for a Thursday night game is balanced by a ten-day mini-bye, for example. In the final analysis, all the teams have to play the same number of games over the same stretch of time. Everything comes out even in the wash.

And as LaFleur likes to say about any particular circumstances at any given moment, "Nobody cares."

Douglas from Johnson Creek, WI

With the number of teams that play in a dome or are building a dome increasing, do you see any connection to the Packers only getting two home games in December/January? Hopefully, we will create our own cold-weather home games beyond that, but is the NFL trying to eliminate snow and cold games?

Not at all. Cold and/or snow make for ratings winners. Sometimes it's just what the computers spit out. The league certainly doesn't want things to look biased toward any outdoor, cold-weather teams, though.

Kenny from Provo, UT

We're all talking about our excitement of the prospect of a fit Jordan Morgan and MarShawn Lloyd, but one guy I am interested in seeing the progression of is Kitan Oladapo. Played more football than the other two I mentioned, but was still used sparingly. Very interested to see where he ends up in a crowded, but potential-laden, DB room.

Oladapo was behind the 8-ball injury-wise when he was drafted, but he got himself to a good place by the end of the season. His route to the field right now is via special teams, and to position himself as best he can on the depth chart for whenever he might be needed on defense. It's pretty clear the top three safeties are Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard. The fourth looks like an open competition between Oladapo, Zayne Anderson, and others.

Brandon from Imperial, MO

Good morning, reports are that EJ isn't pleased with his future earnings potential at C and wants to rework his contract so he isn't participating in the offseason program thus far. It's rare that BG rework a contract with more than a year remaining (unless, or course, it's QB1) so do you think this potential "holdout" gets resolved sooner rather than later? If EJ is a potential Pro Bowler at C isn't it worth reworking his deal so JL has some continuity?

I understand why all the questions are coming in regarding Jenkins. I view it as a business situation that'll get sorted out one way or another. The player is looking out for his best interests, which is understandable. The team has a lot to consider, too. We'll just have to wait and see, and nothing I say in this space will help resolve anything.

Bill from Coeur d'Alene, ID

Hello Mike and Wes, has the start date for training camp and the time and date for the Family Night scrimmage been announced yet? If not, do you know when those dates are expected to be released?

Nothing's been announced yet, and we usually get that info during the OTA/minicamp period, which this year runs from May 27-June 12.

Carl from Sheboygan, WI

Good morning, II. With Detroit and Washington coming to town in Weeks 1 and 2 respectively, a fast start would be great in both games. So, can we assume ML will want combined practices again with at least two of the preseason opponents? Likely the Colts and Seahawks?

I've heard nothing on joint practices either, but stay tuned I guess.

Scott from Snoqualmie, WA

Apparently Caleb Williams' biggest fear was that he would nuke Chicago and then Chicago would draft him. Well now he's the starting quarterback and his dad is helping a journalist write a book that includes the words, "Chicago is where quarterbacks go to die," all while Caleb is trying to establish his career as a quarterback. Can Caleb recover? You've got to feel for the kid.

All he has to do is focus on football, and I'm sure he will. The leaked excerpts indicate Williams changed his tune considerably after making a pre-draft visit to Chicago, which is receiving far less headline attention. He returned from that committed to leading a turnaround, and everything he's done since being drafted points to that. If I'm him, that's what I stress in my public comments about the book. Honestly, I don't think anyone could blame him for his feelings about Chicago before that visit, given what transpired with Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields. If he goes out and wins games, the fans will never care about what's written in that book.

John from Ashland, OR

What do you think of Matt Burrows' suggestion on The Athletic of the 1816 solution for an 18-game schedule? No player can play more than 16 games with the exception of QBs and kickers. Expanded rosters including game-day availability and practice squads. Lots of chess moves with personnel, but cutting back on individual exposure. Seems intriguing.

Not to me. This has been brought up countless times previously, and I hope the league goes nowhere near such a structure. "Who's going to sit out which games" becoming an ongoing, never-ending media narrative would not be good for the sport. At all.

Jeff from New Lisbon, WI

Remembering Luke Musgrave was selected in round 2 of 2023 and Tucker Kraft in round 3, it's really exciting to think of what the Packers can scheme up with the two of them on the field at the same time. Whatever particular skill set he possesses over Kraft to warrant the earlier selection seems it has yet to be on full display due to the injury bug. Do you know what may have been the one attribute that stood out? Speed, hands, height, etc.? They picked him in round 2 for a reason.

Musgrave's overall athletic measurables were just a touch better (4.61 in the 40 vs. 4.69, 1.54 10-yard split vs. 1.59, 36 vertical vs. 34, 10-5 broad jump vs. 10-2), and the slightly better athletic profile basically meant one round on the draft board.

Jeffery from Monticello, WI

Hello II, one player no one talks about much but one of my favorite picks is Kalen King. I know he was slated to be a first-round pick but fell off his senior year so he fell to the seventh where they got what I believe to be the steal of the draft. I truly believe he could surprise us all and become the corner they need. How's he looking with his training this year?

Defensive passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley had some very positive things to say about King the other day.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

I know it's been discussed, but the extremely early and late bye weeks need to end. The league has four doubleheader MNF weeks this season. If the argument of not having enough quality games is the reason to spread out the bye weeks, couldn't they just have less games scheduled at the same time? If eight teams are on a bye, it still leaves 12 games to play each week: nine non-primetime, three in each window. And only for four weeks. I know, no math.

That sounds as sensible as having all safety rules reviewable, and I bet your face is turning blue.

Jerry from Boynton Beach, FL

In response to Eric, the scheduling computer must be broken because the Ravens, Patriots and Titans all have three-game road trips scheduled.

I'm going to let an Edgar Wildcat chime in here.

Mike from Edgar, WI

For NFL scheduling tidbits you should check out the Mad Dog show on SiriusXM from Thursday as he had the guy responsible for the schedule on. He addressed the three straight road game scenario. It "used to be" a rule but that is no longer the case. They do try to minimize them but with all the caveats they are under it's nearly impossible to avoid. One example is stadiums that have a concert or other event scheduled the third week.

There you go.

Craig from Green Bay, WI

The game times for many late-season games are TBD. Who makes the final scheduling? The NFL, TV networks, combination? Do the Packers have any say?

The Packers have no say. The league, in conjunction with the networks, decides.

Alex from Fennimore, WI

Do you think the fact that the Packers played Washington in the first Monday night game following 9/11 has anything to do with them playing the Thursday night game on 9/11 this year?

I don't know. This year will be the 24th anniversary of 9/11, so it's not a milepost in that regard, but I guess we'll find out.

Dave from Lake Zurich, IL

A draft lottery doesn't discourage a team from tanking (which I believe doesn't happen anyways). A team that did tank, however that would be accomplished, and finished with the worst record, would still have the best odds of winning the lottery. The difference is the team wouldn't be assured of the top overall pick. I believe that the leagues which do have a draft lottery really do it for publicity and a night of TV drama.

There's definitely some truth to that.

Grant from Green Bay, WI

Just gotta say, the idea of a team tanking to get the No. 1 pick is ludicrous. Over the last 30 years, the only times a prospect has been preemptively named that once-in-a-generation player has been, maybe, Trevor Lawrence, Andrew Luck, Mike Vick, and Peyton Manning (though even then there was the Leaf debate). Despite many great first overall picks, rare is the one so ahead of his peers that it's worth risking countless careers. The draft doesn't need a lottery because it already is one.

Well said.

Gary from Davenport, IA

My son is getting married on Oct. 4 and his bride's family roots for the Bears. We planned to get together with the in-laws the day after the wedding and I was concerned about everyone missing their game. Turns out both teams have their bye week that weekend. Would that be considered a good omen for a long-lasting marriage?

I don't know but it sounds like you won the wedding-date lottery.

Tom from Keota, IA

Hi II. Regarding Pete Rose, I read a Jim Palmer quote today that put a fine point on it for me. MLB was looking ridiculous keeping Rose out of the HOF while simultaneously having broadcasts sponsored by Draft Kings. I'm agnostic on Rose in a vacuum, but if MLB is gonna take a duck to the dance, they better expect some quacking.

It wouldn't surprise me if that was the primary motivation behind the decision, realistically.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

I thought the Canadian fields were only 80 yards long?

Andy gets the double-dip today because this was just too good.

Jim from Wauconda, IL

I am predicting the Pack goes 6-2 for the first eight games. Give me your thoughts?

(Sigh.) I'm not going to say it in May. I'm not. I'm just not.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Schedule, schmedule. OK, we've all had a few days to absorb it. So, is it too early to say, "Just beat the Lions!"?

You da man, Al. Happy Monday.

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