Chris from Weston, WI

Mr. Hodkiewicz, Acrisure Insurance on line one...

He's forwarding all calls to his agent.

Mike from Stevens Point, WI

Hi guys, do you think Keith from Mount Pleasant got more than he bargained for from Cliff’s history lesson?

Who doesn't? The one part I truly didn't know regarding Micah Parsons getting No. 1 is that the NFL's current number rules don't allow linemen to wear single-digit numbers, but Parsons was classified as a linebacker when he broke into the league so it was OK to give him one.

John from Worthington, OH

So, no clear evidence including pictures exists of Curly Lambeau wearing No. 1, and many people close to the Packers were unaware of it until 2002. What evidence was discovered at that time and who discovered it?

That was a few years before I got here, but my understanding is the communications department undertook a project to document all uniform numbers worn, and by whom, in regular-season games. Game programs in archives here and at the Pro Football Hall of Fame were the source for a lot of the long-ago (and forgotten) information. They managed to put together a pretty definitive list that dates back to 1925 – info from 1919-24 was only sporadically available and therefore not complete, with numbers not always worn back then – and it makes for a handy resource in the annual media guide.

Tyler from Cornell, WI

Thank you for rightly admonishing those who look past the Browns. I've gotten after some in my office for the same. Lest we forget the Tommy DeVito Giants where we thought we'd cruise to an easy W on the road on a Monday night? Take no game for granted! This will be as much of a stuff test as Detroit in Week 1 – eyes on the ball, y'all. It's the NFL. Stay locked in and let's get to 3-0. Go Pack!

That's why I repeated the point on "Unscripted" that if Cleveland's kicker makes a chip shot in Week 1, the Browns are 1-1 with a win over the pre-Burrow-injury Bengals, and everyone's talking about this opponent very differently.

Kathryn from Greenville, WI

Can the Browns' defense force Packers QB Jordan Love into making his first turnover of the season? Let's hope not!

As much as I respect the Browns, I feel very strongly if the Packers don't turn the ball over or give a struggling Cleveland offense short fields in any other fashion, Green Bay should win. That DeVito game reminder above? The Packers turned it over three times that night and don't even have a chance late in the game if Barkley doesn't fumble it back to give Green Bay life. Turnovers are the ultimate equalizer.

Jeff from Middleton, WI

I see Parsons wasn't on the injury report on Wednesday. Do you think he's ready for a full workload on Sunday?

LaFleur was asked this very question in roughly the same manner. His answer: "We'll see."

Bongo from The Woodlands, TX

Mike, which player do you think has the highest ceiling/make an impact that has been under the radar either due to injury/missing camp or adjusting to the role with the Packers?

I'll echo how Wes answered a similar question yesterday: Dontayvion Wicks. You'd never know he basically missed all of training camp, and Wes provided a good look at his strong start to the season.

Derek from South Point, OH

Wes and Mike, I was watching the "Rock Report" the other day (thanks for all the wonderful content to the whole staff), and it prompted a question. Larry commented about Parsons' techniques. I know players are carefully scripted where they are supposed to be (stunts, gaps). If they aren't told to be in a certain gap, are they instructed to go inside or outside, or that more of the man-vs-man chess match?

Players have assignments on any given play. If they can execute their assignment by beating their man to either side, then it's up to them.

Dale from Fenton, MI

I know I'm brazenly throwing numbers around here, but how does this sound with regard to the impact on winning the game? Decision to receive the kickoff or defer: 0%. What happens after kickoff: 100%.

Thank you.

James from Appleton, WI

Mark Murphy changed the organizational chart so that instead of the head coach reporting to the general manager reporting to the team president, both HC and GM report to the president. Have all the consequences of that, if any, been behind the scenes, or have you noticed any changes to business as usual? Do Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur work better together as equals?

I wouldn't know how to judge, and I'm not sure they would either, as they're first-timers in their positions and haven't held those spots under any other structure. What matters is it's working and both men feel good about the arrangement.

Doug from River Falls, WI

I'm of the opinion that LT Rasheed Walker should be getting more respect than he gets. He wears the stigma of being a seventh-round draft choice, and only keeping the seat warm for his inevitable replacement. ATMRWCBW, prior to his final college season, he was predicted to be drafted in the second/third round. Injury during his final season caused his draft stock to drop, much like Stefon Diggs falling to the fifth round after his injury. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if he got a second contract.

We'll see what happens regarding Walker's future, but everything else you said rings true. A first-round pick gave him a run for his money this summer and Walker held onto his job. The label on him should shift from "seventh-round pick" to "three-year starter."

Mike from Coleman, WI

On punt returns, opposing gunners are frequently running with relatively little resistance (often followed by our outside blockers). Is our strategy to pick up the gunners later in the play or are we just missing assignments of earlier contact and resistance?

I believe Bo Melton's absence was felt on special teams in Week 2. I know he had a penalty in Week 1, but he's one of this squad's best players in that phase. Him making the team as a cornerback was indeed a great story, but his bread and butter here is special teams and I hope he's back out there Sunday.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

If you can pick one player to have a "first" on Sunday who would it be? I'm talking touchdown, interception, forced fumble, etc. I will go with Javon Bullard with his first career interception. To my untrained eye he has been all over the field for this defense and I think he's due for a big, game-changing play.

I concur. That or Colby Wooden getting his first career full sack (he's had two half sacks to date).

Jack from Black Mountain, NC

The injuries to Jayden Reed and other teams' starting quarterbacks are a sober reminder of the risks of pro football to these men's bodies. Manufacturing companies measure months and years without lost time injuries. In the NFL 100% of the players will lose some playing time due to injury at some point in their careers. Winning can often depend on who is healthy and how deep the team is to cover for injuries. It appears that the Packers are in good shape in the depth charts for most positions?

Agreed, but that can change at any given moment in this league.

Sean from San Diego, CA

We learned last year how valuable a backup QB is. I don't want to hear any talk of getting a draft pick for Malik Willis. This is the most secure I have felt with a backup QB in a long time. I know we have had a couple of quality backups over the Favre/Rodgers years, but I also remember a year we went through several backup QBs who had to start with little success. Do you think we have had a better backup QB during this time?

In my 20 years here, the Packers were in pretty good shape in Rodgers' Year 3 (2007), Love's Year 3 (2022), and Flynn's Year 4 (2011). Otherwise, not so much. Flynn saved the season in 2013 but he wasn't initially here. He was brought back as the third different backup QB to try.

Spencer from Canada

In response to Jason from Wausau, WI: I can vouch for Steelers fans being first class. The night before the '17 tilt (when we thought Hundley might turn the corner as an elite backup), my buddy and I wore Rodgers jerseys to a Penguins game. After plenty of heckling, the fans behind us invited us to their Steelers tailgate. They fed us and welcomed us like their own. Steelers fans truly are the Packers fans of the AFC – passionate, knowledgeable, and classy.

Doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

John from McHenry, IL

How might the rule change to eliminate the tush push? Do you think they would re-instate the "helping the runner" penalty?

That was eventually what the owners voted on, reverting to the pre-2005 rules that prohibited assisting any runner, and more than two-thirds were in favor (22-10), just not the three-fourths required to institute the change.

Ryan from Chippewa Falls, WI

Wes, or Mike. Can either of you clarify the situation with Tom Brady? He is a minority owner of the Raiders and color commentator on FOX broadcasts. On Monday night, he was upstairs with what looked like Raiders coaches/ownership, and on the headset listening to play calls, etc., presumably. The ESPN broadcast team went on to talk about how involved he is with the team. At the same time, his broadcasting job gets him inside access during production meetings with other teams. Seems fishy.

I touched on this briefly in my mid-week chat but I'll clarify a few details. Brady isn't allowed to attend network production meetings in a team facility or team hotel. He can only attend remotely (which he wasn't allowed to do last year, but can this year). If teams are apprehensive about what he could learn from those meetings, they don't have to share info. If FOX ever feels like Brady's remote presence is compromising the value of the meeting/broadcast, you'd think the network would take the appropriate steps. All that said, whether Brady is actually getting or using any information to help the Raiders, the appearance of impropriety is inescapable. It raises questions that'll never go away. It's a bad look for the league.

Joseph from Sioux Falls, SD

Just a few months out from getting that M.D. behind my name and I am not at all concerned with Reed getting the foot surgery. Given he was outpacing NFL defenders seconds before breaking his collarbone, he likely had a minor plating procedure to perfect the bone approximation. Often, this actually decreases total time to full recovery. His foot will still be better before his collarbone.

I'm suddenly hearing those sounds when adults speak on the Charlie Brown shows.

Zach from La Crosse, WI

Have you read "Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell? It's great read and describes the phenomenon of adding a player like Parsons to a situation that was already good, but on the verge of exceptional. It's where the potential is unlocked by the right piece.

I have not, but it's now on my list. With that, the rest of today's column was written by the readers, as I felt their post-worthy comments did not require a response.

Hank from Centennial, CO

Is there any play in the game today that resembles the old Packers power sweep? And, if so, any teams that currently run it? Or is that play too slow developing and "readable" to succeed in the game today with so many linebackers running 4.5 in the 40-yard dash? I loved watching that play as a kid, but it seems clear to me the game was played at a different speed back then.

Yup.

John from Spring Hill, TN

To the point about special-teams penalties, these guys also play on the edge in order to gain an edge. As Kevin King learned in 2021, sometimes the other team gets away with it while you don't.

Yup.

Patrick from Alexandria, VA

Defensive end Preston Smith was traded to Pittsburgh in November for a seventh-round draft pick. He was released by the Steelers in February. He has returned to Washington. I'm glad Mr. Smith is back at work. Seems the Packers were prudent with this decision.

Yup.

Jam from Minneapolis, MN

Look no further for COY nonsense than last year. Kevin O'Connell won it despite a coach in his own division having a better record and beating him twice, the second of which was an utter dismantling in Week 18 with a division title and No. 1 seed on the line. I'm quite sure ML is OK as long as the wins keep coming.

Yup.

Andrew from Chicago, IL

It is, indeed, a week-to-week league. I can tell how old I am when I recall who the 1997 defending Super Bowl champions lost to in Week 12 (Game 11) of that season.

Happy Friday.

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