Inbox: The game doesn't need that anymore

Marty from Rancho Cordova, CA

Oh, Hod has lit the fire! I hereby officially launch the Spoff till 80 campaign.

Here's an even worse idea.

Jason from Rochester, NY

So hear me out, we upload all the Insider Inbox responses from Spoff to AI. Then we can create SpoffAI to handle all the snarky Insider responses once he decides to hang up the keyboard and mouse...

Now we're really off, so we might as well get going.

Mike from La Villa, IL

Spoff, early retirement? Shortened lifespan? We all hope you are doing ok. Can you give us more insight into how the bus ride from O'Hare was such a harrowing experience?

I'm no expert on Chicago traffic, but the police escorts to and from O'Hare just aren't very effective. So the bus drivers are constantly slamming on the brakes, re-accelerating, slamming on them again. It's just awful, nausea-inducing stuff. Even though those rides would take longer without escorts, sometimes it feels like that would be preferable, and it's never as bad to and from Midway.

Bob from Jensen Beach, FL

Mike, when evaluating potential draft picks, what is the most important part of the decision? Collegiate career stats and tape, combine results or personal interviews? I know it's a combination of all, but is there a piece that helps make the decision?

I was given the analogy long ago to think of the scouting process as a pie, and there are all these pieces that make up the pie. Game film is always the largest piece, or multiple pieces if you prefer. Always. Evaluating how a player plays the game, and how the skills he shows on tape can translate/grow/improve at the next level, carries the most weight. The other pieces fill in the whole picture/pie.

Austin from Randolph, WI

What does an interview at the combine involve?

There are both formal and informal interviews in Indy. The informal sessions just throw a bunch of prospects in with scouts from across the league and it's catch as catch can, sometimes in groups, not necessarily individual conversations. The formal interviews, which are requested in advance and each team gets a certain number during the week (45?), take place in hotel rooms in 15-minute intervals. Beyond get-to-know-you stuff, they can involve a player looking at his own game film and evaluating certain plays, explaining the X's and O's, assignments, etc.

Mike from Stevens Point, WI

Is the combine where we find out who came to a player's birthday party?

That info is on a different NFL Network feed.

Gary from Tompkinsville, KY

Who decides what college players are invited to the NFL Combine?

I believe National Football Scouting, Inc., handles the invites, but the organization also consults with NFL and college personnel in compiling the list.

Herb from Mosier, OR

Who determines the 2026 salary cap? What role, if any, does the players' union play in the cap? When will the 2026 cap be finalized?

It's not determined by a "who" but by math based on the CBA. In the simplest terms, a percentage of league revenue from the prior year is divided by 32 and that sets the cap for each team. The league already announced this year's cap will be between $301.2M and $305.7M per club, with the figure to be finalized closer to the start of the new league year in March. Apparently some final accounting on the previous fiscal year needs to take place.

Sandy from Waterford, WI

When do the Packers start heading back into some type of training routine?

Voluntary offseason workouts begin in mid-April.

Craig from Sussex, WI

Which team frightens you more, the Lions or the Bears?

Frightens? Whether as a fan or reporter, I've never looked at an opponent with fear. Both of those rivals have different sets of questions this year, though. The Lions are in bounce-back mode after an impressive multi-year rise fell off in a playoff-less season, with several key players aging. The Bears will be challenged to maintain their newfound level after a worst-to-first surge in the division, but getting 30-plus turnovers again on defense isn't likely to happen. The Packers and Vikings have plenty of questions, too. We'll see what happens in free agency and the draft, but I don't envision anyone being labeled the "clear favorite" in the division for 2026.

Jeff from Omaha, NE

No question, but a tip of the cap to the fearlessness and toughness of players from previous generations. I recently watched "Rise of the 49ers" and had forgotten how violent the game used to be. QBs took vicious hits all the time, and guys like Ronnie Lott would be ejected/suspended/arrested for some of those hits today. It's amazing that while still incredibly physical and rough, today's game is nothing like those days.

The game's violence drove its popularity for decades. As the league was trying to find and grow its TV audience in the '70s and '80s, it's debatable whether it ever would've become the country's most popular sport under today's rules. The big hits were celebrated and promoted, widely, as long as nobody went to the hospital. The game doesn't need that anymore, the over-the-top violence to draw an audience, and everyone's better off.

Al from Hartford, WI

I see the UFL banned the tush push, however it appears only for the quarterback. The UFL apparently will still allow the scrum push for other ball carriers. Do you think this lowers the likelihood of the NFL addressing the play, as they'll take a "let's see what happens" stance?

Not really. I do find it odd that after 22 of the 32 teams voted to revert to the pre-2005 rules on helping ballcarriers last year, now nobody seems to care. It feels like the owners just don't want it in the news anymore.

Stephen from Menomonee Falls, WI

Surprisingly little talk about former third-rounder Desmond Ridder stepping into the QB2 role.

I want to see how the QB room takes shape before commenting too much. Ridder is definitely intriguing based on his experience. Kyle McCord also was signed to a futures deal, and the Packers could spend a Day 3 draft pick on another prospect. Too many reserve QBs have come and gone over the last few years (Pratt, Clifford, Elgersma, Tune) that I'm not jumping to any conclusions yet.

Thomas from Madison, WI

If Quay Walker leaves in free agency, the Packers presumably have a roster spot to fill since there should be X number of ILBs. With the impending change to a 3-4 defense, does that become less of an issue? Does having Collin Oliver on the team impact this decision?

Oliver's tweener status could make for an interesting piece in Gannon's defense, but I'm not pegging anything as 3-4 or 4-3. I don't see that being the basis for any decisions. Gutekunst did mention linebacker as a position in need of more depth, and that need becomes more acute if Walker departs.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Hey, so, Gute always talks about being a draft and develop team. It's our history to find guys who develop into long Packer careers but we are something murkier now. The BG pattern is becoming that we sign maybe one or two from a class to second contracts. I understand the salary cap ramifications, of course. But we're more like draft and try to get enough of a contribution from cheaper rookie contracts before we let them go and draft again. It's an oversimplification but am I wrong?

There's some truth to that, but the average of 1-2 second contracts from a draft class predates Gutey. The develop in draft and develop pertains to the contributions you get from players in Years 2-3-4 (or even 5 with a fifth-year option or short extension) as well as developing long-term mainstays. It's a necessity in the salary cap world to remain consistently competitive, even if it means letting quality players earn their bigger money elsewhere.

Nick from Prescott, WI

Hi guys, we have our anchor on the offensive line in Zach Tom, and the Packers paid him as such. After him they have two high draft picks on their rookie contracts, and neither of their positions have been settled. After those three I see nothing but questions because of contracts, age, ability, position fit, etc. Is it unfair to say the Packers need to revamp their offensive line this season?

Revamp? I wouldn't say that. I laid out in this story many of the current considerations.

Chris from Kennesaw, GA

Good morning Insiders. In reference to Mike's article about intriguing decisions to be made on the offensive line, I feel pretty good if we go with, L to R, Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton and Zach Tom. Barring injury, that's a solid starting five. Then add a few new pieces in the draft or UDFA. Thoughts?

That's certainly one way this could play out, and a reasonable one. I said in this space a few weeks ago I'm confident the Packers will put together a solid starting five. Where they end up depth-wise is the larger question for me.

Tallon from Castle Rock, CO

With almost all of the international home teams announced it looks like the Pack will keep their nine home games! And we may not even have to travel outside the country, which I'm sure you all will love. There is a possibility of traveling to play the Lions in Germany, personally I like our chances in Detroit more than abroad. What do you all think?

The Packers have done fine at Ford Field lately, but I don't see the Lions wanting a huge division game moved overseas, so I consider that Germany matchup unlikely. The possibilities for the Packers to go international in '26 do appear to be dwindling.

Jeff from Littlefork, MN

Alright Spoff! What is the best and/or most informative things you learned in Indiana? Plus, who we taking at 52?

I was only there to cover Gutey and didn't stay for any prospect interviews. I'll be starting research for our Prospect Primer series probably next week. We're working on a plan to focus the Primers on Day 2 (Round 2-3) prospects this year with a different format. Stay tuned.

Jeff from Janesville, WI

Another month down until the baloney stops.

It's barely started, man. Happy Thursday.

HAVE A QUESTION?