Inbox: The coldest Packers game in Milwaukee was …

Richard from Canton, GA

In light of those queuing for a refund, I will pay double for this free column, and throw a generous 50% tip in for the writers. Just don't do the math.

And once again we're off, so we might as well get going.

Phil from Madison, WI

Can a 327-pound mountain of a man squeeze into a go-kart? And if he does, will it move?

A bunch of NFL players, no matter their size, racing go-karts just sounds like a recipe for some nasty crashes. The competitiveness would be off the charts.

Scott from Issaquah, WA

These multi-billion dollar stadiums have to be paid for and it's near impossible to pay for them using only NFL money. The players say they want natural grass fields, but I highly doubt they're willing to compensate the owners for the lost revenue of all the other events you'd miss out on by using grass. People act like it's all about the money for the owners, but I think it's much more reasonable to say it's all about the money for both sides. Especially when they say it's not about the money.

Especially.

Chris from Kennesaw, GA

Good morning, Insiders. Haven't you guys or someone on your team compiled and posted the list of UDFAs and their stats/college info on the site in the past? Did I miss it this year?

It was posted on May 1. Here you go.

Jay from Fenton, MI

Hi II, you mentioned that "relaxed testing standards" helped seal the deal for the last CBA. Why would the players push for this? Doesn't keeping the roids and other drugs out of the game keep the game popular (see baseball roids scandal) and safety better? Do players want it easier to cheat?

I believe Wes was referring to marijuana testing there.

Eric from Keene, NH

Much as Vic may be appalled, a World Cup watch party in Green Bay is not only not crazy, it may be a harbinger of things to come. Since April 2025, the Steelers have had an official cross-market partnership with Borussia Dortmund, a leading team in the German Bundesliga. Inasmuch as the Packers have a marketing interest in Germany, I won't be surprised if they find their own Bundesliga marketing partner in the not-too-distant future. Not exactly a prediction, but a strong suspicion.

Stay tuned, indeed.

Josh from Seattle, WA

I think the value of paying Tucker Kraft top of the market TE money would be way better than paying top of the market WR money. If we can sign both then hallelujah! Do you think GMs have a dollar they allocate to each position group? Like the OL is worth $80M/yr and the WR is worth $50M/yr?

It doesn't work like that. The top-dollar contracts are offered to the players the organization deems deserve them, and to players they'd like to build around. The decisions are individual, based on how they fit the big picture, and on future projections, not necessarily a particular position. Evaluation comes down to whether the team believes the player is worth the market price, and discipline is required in the decision-making process. Otherwise, the player you really wanted to keep ends up walking because another player was previously overpaid to fill a hole.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

Could a sixth thing to watch for in OTAs be the string of new coaches we have? How they interact with players, what their routines could look like, what their points of emphasis are, etc.? Or would that be too far down the list to give it No. 6?

That's as good as any.

Gordon from Newport Beach, CA

Why did the early McCarthy Packers seem to develop waves of new Pro Bowlers, while the LaFleur era has produced fewer breakout stars despite more regular-season wins? Is this a drafting issue, development issue, or just perception?

Perception. For the most part, the Packers have received the individual honors expected when the team does well. In LaFleur's first three seasons, when Green Bay won the NFC North each year and earned the NFC's top seed twice, the Packers had a total of 15 Pro Bowlers. Since then, with one playoff-less season and three No. 7 seeds, the Packers have had eight Pro Bowlers.

Dale from Aurora, CO

Shall we take another look at the Bears playoff game. 21-3 at half. Packers come out in second half and call plays to establish ground game, move the ball and perhaps use up the clock while playing more conservative football. A slight change from the more aggressive, creative play calling in the first half. Is there any consideration on the effect of the players, psychologically that tones down their spirit?

I'm not going to relitigate the entire second half of the playoff loss (OK, maybe I am), but the narrative that has taken hold this offseason declaring the Packers got "conservative" in blowing the lead is lazy and misguided. So, I'm setting the record straight. During the struggling stretch of four straight possessions that produced just one first down, the Packers ran a total of 10 plays on first and second downs. The run-pass split of those 10 plays was 4-6. More passes than runs, before third down even arrived. The calls were just as aggressive as earlier. The difference? The Bears changed their attack up front and the Packers didn't block it well, and when they didn't block it well, the Bears kept throwing changeups. Then after the Packers got moving again, two good drives produced just six points because the kicker left four out there with his second and third missed kicks. If he misses only one of those two kicks, the Packers are in position on their final drive to win the game or get to OT rather than be forced to go for the end zone. That's how a very winnable game was lost, and it occurred in a fashion very different than the other second-half leads that got away.

Jerry from Las Cruces, NM

With all this chatter about streaming services, why not try the blog with the fabulous Keyboard Mike. I for one will be on the blog even if the game is on TV. Personally the blog is way more informative than the talking heads on the broadcast.

I do what I can.

Erich from Sheboygan, WI

Netflix wants you to sign up for the free month then forget to cancel like the other 10 subscriptions you're paying for and no longer using.

That, too.

Jerry from Green Bay, WI

The Doug from Salem, OR, question sounded like the opening to "Soap" back in the late '70s. All these questions and more will be answered on this episode of "Soap." But isn't that the NFL? How you answer the questions hanging over your team during the season and in games as well. It's what keeps us coming back. Tune in next month as we start to answer those questions. Man, I'm aging myself.

And me.

Mike from Bar Harbor, ME

This is Mike from Geneva, but I'm currently vacationing in Maine. Needless to say, I'm overdosing on seafood. If you could move any food option in the country to Green Bay so you could consume it regularly, what would it be?

Grouper.

Richard from Lac du Flambeau, WI

Alright! Go Packers! Mike and Wes, since mentioning cold-weather games at Lambeau and Soldier, was wondering what was the coldest and snowiest game at Milwaukee County Stadium? And a baseball question please. Back in the early-mid '60s my dad took me to an MLB game there after the Braves left for Atlanta and before the Brewers arrived in Milwaukee. I think it was a scheduled series, if I vaguely remember right, it was Saint Louis and the Cubs or the Dodgers. Could that be right?

I don't know about the snowiest games at County Stadium, but I can tell you since the franchise began recording game-time temps in 1959, the coldest Packers game in Milwaukee was the 1967 Western Conference Championship against the Rams (Dec. 23, 20 degrees), eight days before the Ice Bowl. The coldest regular-season game was against the Browns in 1964 (Nov. 22, 25 degrees). As for the baseball after the Braves left in '66, the White Sox played a handful of scheduled games in Milwaukee in both '68 and '69 before the Brewers arrived in '70.

Gary from Davenport, IA

How far do you think Jacob Misiorowski could throw a football? I'm pretty sure I would not want to be a wide receiver on his team if he was my quarterback.

Is this a way of talking baseball but making it a football question?

Jeremy from Weston, WI

I can admit that I laughed to both of your responses to my comments about baseball and math. Sorry, not sorry. Bring on the football! Go Pack Go.

All good, man. The offseason can get long. We all know that.

Tom from Estero, FL

What one move would you like to see Gutekunst make right now?

Hand me two months of PTO.

Dennis from Maryville, TN

From stolen lunches to root beer I for one am glad for the humanity of writers/editors. Any chance we could get a few more fishing references? Makes me nostalgic for my Wisconsin roots and beers.

I'm casting my lot this weekend, so I can update you next week. Happy Wednesday.

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