Inbox: The key is always whether he can do it again

Richard from Greenwich, NY

Hi Mike, having never seen "Caddyshack," I assumed the phrase, "So I've got that going for me, which is nice," just sprang from the zeitgeist, uncredited, until yesterday while scrolling YouTube I paused to watch the Bill Murray scene. So I've got that going for me, which is nice.

If only we all could've seen the moment of enlightenment. I like your zeitgeist characterization of this column, though.

Joe from Swansea, IL

Traded for a half-eaten pack of gum? Gotta ask: Which half? Also, as training camp beckons, what's your level of optimism? Frame of mind? More excited than years past, given the growth of the team? In this part of world, I can't wait to see the position battles unfold.

My frame of mind is similar to most years around here. I believe the Packers are playoff contenders, but nothing's guaranteed. Pray for good health, maybe a few breaks along the way, and if they hit their stride at the right time, who knows? This will be my 20^th season with packers.com, and I can count on one hand the number of times I didn't feel this way, which I don't take for granted.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Good morning, Mike. That sure was an eye-popping article about the 2025 draft's economic impact on Green Bay. Big numbers all around. But my question is … how do they quantify the energy, buzz and electricity generated by Mark Murphy's announcement of Matthew Golden as the Packers' first pick?

Ha. That pop of the crowd noise is forever etched in my brain.

Parker from Blanchardville, WI

Do the players' families get to travel with them when they go to away games?

Not on the team charter. But many do make their own way to other stadiums, and players will get them pregame passes to see them on the sideline during warmups. There's also a postgame gathering area near our team buses for families to meet up before we head to the airport.

Brandon from Imperial, MO

Good morning, Dan from Neenah brought up Ben Sirmans and how prolific he's been with our RBs. I'd like to bring up Edgar Bennett. Not only as a player but as a coach. He presided over the WR room when it seemed like GB was never going to run out of Pro Bowl WRs. That, plus his time as the RB coach, OC, and a player make him one of the most underrated people in the organization. He's spent time with other teams, but do you think he'll get another shot at OC or even HC again in the league?

EB is one of my all-time favorite people I've had the pleasure of working with in this business. I don't know if he'll rise to the level of coordinator again, that's not for me to say, but he's an incredibly well-respected WR coach. He preaches fundamentals and ball security, drills them, and gets them out of his players. I saw it firsthand whether he was coaching RBs or WRs. He spent the last seven years with the Raiders' WRs – working for three different head coaches (Gruden, McDaniels, Pierce … four if you count Bisaccia as interim in '21), which says something. Now he's the WR coach in Jacksonville. I'd consider him an underrated member of any organization, and I look forward to the next time we share a handshake and hug.

Mark from Hanover, PA

In Mr. Spofford's article on RBs it states that MarShawn Lloyd is "built differently than the others." Could you elaborate? He is 5-9, 220. All of the others are between 5-10 and 6-1 and between 205 and 223. Is that a significant difference?

Yes, when you see them in person and how/where they carry their weight on their frame. It's the look as well as the measurables.

James from Chicago, IL

Had Reggie not stopped in the USFL for those two years, by what margin would he be the NFL all-time career sack leader?

I have no idea how to pinpoint the hypothetical margin. The facts are that White finished his NFL career with 198 sacks, two shy of all-time leader Bruce Smith's 200, and prior to entering the NFL, White recorded 23½ sacks in two USFL seasons.

John from Stevens Point, WI

In the Green Bay Packers' first official NFL game in 1921, Art Schmaehl scored the first regular-season touchdown. Who is your pick to score the first touchdown of the 2025-26 season and how will they score?

Am I having too much fun if my choice is Keisean Nixon and I leave the how unanswered?

Tim from Olathe, KS

Insiders, I visited the 1978 training camp when I was 14. A shirtless and ripped Johnnie Gray gave me an autograph. Now I am visiting training camp at age 61 for the first time since 1978. What will have changed the most if you could name a few things?

Well, the players don't generally walk around shirtless anymore. I didn't watch my first NFL training camp practice until 1984, but I'd say even when in full pads, the amount of contact is rather limited now compared to back then.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

As training camp gets ready to kick off, what is something you think us fans should pay more attention to that may not necessarily show up on stat sheets or highlight reels?

I've always cautioned fans, in trying to pinpoint the next sleeper to make the roster, not to fixate on the hot name of the day. Someone might have a great practice or dynamite preseason game, and we'll all write about him because that's the job. But the key is always whether he can do it again. When his reps are elevated from the threes to the twos, is he still showing up? When he's facing better competition in the preseason games – playing in the second quarter versus the fourth quarter, for instance – does he still look like he belongs? Those are admittedly hard questions to answer, but that's the perspective required, rather than looking solely at how many yards or tackles someone piles up in August.

Brett from Pasadena, CA

Lots of discussion with local and national pundits regarding Lukas Van Ness and whether he will take the next step to becoming a franchise player for the Packers. We know the Packers have brought him along slowly as they did with Rashan Gary. My question is, where does LVN need to improve to earn his next contract?

He's already a solid and reliable run defender. He just needs to find his comfort zone as a pass rusher and build from there. Is his best rush spot from the edge or interior? What's his best move to complement the bull rush? If he can settle in, stay healthy and answer those questions in Year 3, he'll be on his way.

John from Worthington, OH

Your reference to QB Tyler Shough as the possible holdup to the signing of second-round picks made me wonder. It seems the primary reason/motive for guaranteed money is that a player that has proven himself on his rookie contract fails to receive his full potential money due to a career-ending injury. The QB is the least likely position to sustain a career-ending injury, and therefore the least in need of guaranteed money. What am I missing?

It's not just the injury factor. A contract isn't really a contract in the NFL if the money isn't guaranteed, because a team can release a player at any time and not owe him anything else. Players are simply trying to get what they can. It looks like some got tired of waiting on Shough, though. As of late afternoon Thursday, a handful of second-rounders from the bottom two-thirds of the round had signed, so dominos are starting to fall.

Venny from Montgomery, AL

What's the reason centers are less valued than guards? Doesn't the center position carry more responsibility? Are they technically the "QB" of the offensive line setting the protections? They also have to handle the ball, which can be disastrous when not done properly. They also have to pull as guards do on various run and screen plays so a similar level of athleticism is needed.

Wes explained this very well yesterday, while everything you said about responsibility makes sense. I'd only add that because elite three-techs on the other side get paid a lot of money, too, a dominant guard can have a greater impact on a game than a dominant center, hence the pay discrepancy.

Andrew from Chicago, IL

We praise Elgton Jenkins for his versatility but then wonder why he's unhappy being slotted at the lowest-earning position on the line with what will likely be his last chance to earn a big extension looming on the horizon. He saw the dollar amount on that Trey Smith deal. I don't blame him or any player one bit for holding out to get what they think they're worth while they can.

I don't begrudge players trying to maximize their earning power, either. These franchises are worth billions of dollars. Business is business.

Arthur from Eau Claire, WI

I keep seeing people say Josh Jacobs needs more touches, Tucker Kraft needs more touches, receivers (pick a name) needs more touches. There is only one football so realistically how would Coach Spoff or Coach Hod give more touches to Jacobs or Kraft without overusing them before the playoffs? Yes, I believe they will make it to the dance.

I don't think Jacobs needs more than last year's 337 touches, which came out to almost exactly 20 per game on average. Game plans and game flow will dictate greater usage some weeks over others. I definitely see Kraft catching more than last year's 50 passes, and I'm not as concerned about overuse at that position.

Herb from Mosier, OR

I was intrigued by Spoff's comment that "all offensive linemen prefer to run power plays." I get the "attacking vs. defending" mentality of an offensive lineman. But why not always attack the defensive player in front of you? It seems to me that those huge guys have much better balance moving forward than backwards. What are your thoughts?

Generally speaking, it's better to react in pass protection because if you attack and the rusher's first move wins, there's no time or space to recover and the QB is a sitting duck.

George from North Mankato, MN

What position batters do you think offer the greatest chance for an UDFA to make the roster this season?

Defensive back and offensive line are the first that come to mind.

Scott from Sauk City, WI

Mike, I really want to know your take on The Miz making the All-Star game. Is it fast? Sure. But the kid is a star in the making. Nick Castellanos seems a little bent for no reason. Do you think the kid circled that Sept. 1-4 series on his calendar, hoping for a start? If I didn't already have enough reasons to hate Philadelphia, this week has given me a bunch more.

MLB was well into the substitute list when it tapped The Miz, so I think the outrage was a bit excessive. The Phillies had a couple of pitchers with strong arguments. I get it. But were those guys going to draw a few extra eyeballs to the TV broadcast like a flamethrowing phenom might? There's your answer.

James from Orlando, FL

Good morning II. Did you enjoy baseball All-Star Game? I liked the way the tie score was quickly settled.

Baseball got a lot right with the midsummer classic this year, from allowing players to go back to wearing their own duds to the fun tiebreaker. Plenty to like.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

Is Wes even allowed to say "indubitably"? I thought there were rules in the Inbox.

It's not like I copyrighted the comment. He's just keeping everyone on their toes.

Jeff from Edgerton, WI

Good morning, Mike. When do we return to having Saturday Inbox? So many questions and so few days.

Tomorrow will be the final Saturday without a column until the upcoming season ends. Inbox returns to six days per week now that training camp is starting.

Pete from Caledonia, MI

Just a comment, from a IIer since the Vic days. I 100% concur with Jennifer IIFOY. WesHod and Mike are just genuinely honest, real, intentional, rational guys. The writing is superb but, the ability to be "after-loss rational" and level-headed in the current, over the top, media storm is special. I'd be happy to purchase a root/IPA beer and chat about anything. Thank you, for always making my day. #GPG.

'Preciate that. Truly do. Happy Friday.

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