Mitch from Orange, VA
No question, just a thank you for keeping the content coming when there seems to be nothing to talk about.
We're doing our best, and we appreciate the readership.
Ivan from Little Chicago, WI
Hey fellows. I also enjoyed the "How it Happened" article on Matt Flynn's 480-yard record day. Wasn't that the game Coach McCarthy gave up the play-calling duties, and turned them over to Aaron Rodgers? Guess he had a big part in both 480-yard records!
That story got a little blown out of proportion. If I remember correctly, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was calling the plays that day and Rodgers was on the headset making an occasional suggestion.
Ted from Amherst, NY
Any chance the "How it Happened" series can go back to some old records? I'd be very interested in stories about records like Don Hutson scoring 29 points in a quarter or the Packers scoring 41 points in a quarter (same quarter), both NFL records.
I would love to dig into some of those older single-game records (like Billy Howton's 257 receiving yards, to give another example), but to get all the accurate details, I need access to the league's official play-by-play booklet of the game. Digitally, all I can tap into from home is the last 40 years of NFL games. Perhaps another offseason when I'm back in the office and can dig around in the archives, I'll turn the clock back a bit more.
David from Rio Rancho, NM
Not so much a question but observation. Let's have a silence-the-crowd, away-game best of. I was at Denver when Favre to Jennings in '07 silenced the home crowd. From roars to oh, crap.
That's a pretty good choice, and an intriguing category because there are plenty of road venues you hear a legitimate roar from Packers fans in a big moment. Because of that, the only other ones that immediately come to mind for me are playoff road games, when the home fans truly dominate. Mason Crosby's game-winning kick at Dallas in '16 would be one. Another would be the Atlanta game in '10, two different times in the second quarter, actually. First, right after the Falcons ran a kickoff back the distance to take the lead, the Georgia Dome was going nuts. The Packers fumbled the ensuing kickoff out of bounds inside the 10, and the noise was ear-splitting. Then Rodgers started dodging sacks and firing darts, and in a handful of plays he had the offense knocking on the door to score again. The other moment was, of course, Tramon's pick-six to end the half.
Jake from Athens, GA
All this business about jealously and gloating has had me chortling the last couple of days. Is chortling allowed if it's only at Wes's expense?
No. The no chortling rule in the Inbox is sacrosanct, no matter who's footing the bill.
Mike from Ames, IA
As an alum of a school with a quarterback entering his third year post-high school, I've been thinking a lot about draft possibilities if the NCAA season is canceled. Do you have any thoughts on how NFL teams would view the lost season? Happy that there's less wear on players? Concerned about conditioning? A bit of both?
Conditioning wouldn't be a big hang-up because players can stay in shape without football, and less wear and tear on certain players like running backs would be a positive. I think the biggest concern would be mental maturation due to a lost year of experience competing at a high level. Players learn the intricacies of schemes and nuances of the game by playing while their bodies and minds are still maturing. A lost year for many would make the jump to the NFL that much harder.
Malcolm from Fennimore, WI
I think the rules state no other teams can scout free-attendance practices, but they could go to Family Night since fans had to buy tickets to get in. With no fans for Family Night and no paid attendance, does that mean other teams' scouts can't watch it?
Presumably, though it wouldn't be difficult to get the in-state television broadcast recorded if they were that interested.
TK from Grafton, WI
It's fun to watch GB games from the 1980s on YouTube. Some notable differences from then to now: O-linemen in the 270-pound range, split backs with fullbacks getting notable carries, lines dug in three inches above the turf on third-and-short and at the goal line, "wildly diverse" to actually bring in a third wide receiver and nickel back on third-and-long. Wow.
And the '80s were revolutionary compared to the game in the '50s and '60s, too. It's never stayed the same.
Charlie from Cameron, NC
At the risk of being criminal, if no hypotheticals, how about a day of rhetoricals? Who doesn't love rhetorical questions? I'll see myself back to read-only mode.
Please do.
Don from Riverton, UT
Great chat between Wayne and James Starks. It's been a long time since I've heard James speak. For such an intense looking guy he has such a mellow voice. Who has surprised you the most in your coverage of the team in a "that voice out of that body" sort of way?
Starks would rank up there, for sure. Chad Clifton had an incredibly gentle voice for a 6-6, 320-pound mountain of a man.
Michael from Granite City, IL
With the tarps covering the fences and the Packers practicing outside, how do the Packers deal with drone control over the practice field?
Rodgers has a pretty good arm.
Corey from Henderson, NV
There is a proposal on the table to allow players to opt out of the upcoming season should they not feel safe to play. Should the pandemic subside, would players then be allowed to opt back in at some point later in the season? I could see allowing that to be abused by veteran players who may want to keep their bodies fresh for the playoffs.
I don't see that happening. Players who opt out would be making themselves ineligible for the full season.
Jeff from Athens, WI
With the concern about COVID-19 when the players return, is there a league-wide policy for handling player testing and quarantines or is some of that up to the teams to work out? Who would perform the tests? Will someone monitor the player(s) to ensure they are actually quarantined? Would a player be able to participate remotely in meetings for their position group(s)?
I've said all along I have to believe the testing will be done by the league or an independent medical group. I'm not sure if the players would be monitored during quarantine except to ensure they're not around the rest of the team. Not following that protocol would only increase their chances of testing positive again. A lot of meetings will still be virtual anyway, so anytime remote participation is possible, players would take advantage.
Jim from McLean, VA
So wait, you're saying our viewing experience could possibly become even MORE disjointed and frustrating?
I knew someone would say that.
Nic from London, UK
I know you're not a fan of rankings but you also have your finger much closer to the media pulse than I do. Is Jaire Alexander starting to gain national recognition as a top 10 CB? I'm seeing his name crop up different places even though I don't remember him being a featured talking point much in-season. If so, good for him, normally there's a one- to two-year lag between performing at that level and being recognized for it (see: Bakhtiari, David).
I think Alexander is viewed as a strong candidate to vault himself into top-10 status very soon.
Mike from White House, TN
The Derrick Henry signing (four years, $50 million) seems to be friendly for both Henry and the Titans with it not resetting the market and Henry making more than his franchise tag. Do you think that will be a ballpark number the Packers could try to re-sign Aaron Jones to?
It's certainly more palatable than the numbers in the contracts of Christian McCaffrey and Ezekiel Elliott. I'm not sure Jones will go from 1,000 rushing yards in Year 3 to 1,500 in Year 4 like Henry did, given the Packers' other backfield options, but we'll just have to see.
Cindy from Mesa, AZ
Hi Insiders, judging from social media, the Packers' rookies are in Green Bay. Will you get access for virtual interviews before training camp?
Not that I'm aware of.
Mike from Franksville, WI
I've noticed that defensive stats in the Packers media guide (tackles, passes defensed...) don't always match the totals on nfl.com. Who compiles the stats for the media guide? Is there a reason they don't match what the league has?
The defensive coaches compile the stats the team publishes for tackles, passes defensed, etc., when they review the game films, so numbers frequently differ. If there's a discrepancy regarding a sack (such as whether or not it should be a shared sack with a teammate), the team will send the play in to Elias Sports Bureau for an official determination.
Sean from Springfield, OR
Do you think the Packers (or any team) will retire a non-QB number in the future? Maybe Gronk or Larry Fitzgerald? With the emphasis on passing and the QB I'm not sure other positions will gain the long-term acclaim for number retirement.
I wouldn't be so sure. I could see the Cardinals retiring Fitzgerald's number, and the Texans retiring J.J. Watt's, as examples. When a megastar, Hall of Fame-caliber player's off-the-field, community impact matches or exceeds his on-field exploits, it makes the franchise's decision easier.
Dave from Germantown, TN
I think the Packers have between 40 and 50% of the salary cap tied up in eight players (Rodgers, Adams, Bakhtiari, Linsley, the Smith brothers, Amos and Turner.) The other 46 contracts account for the balance which is less than $2.5 million per player on average. Is this normal for the majority of the teams in the NFL to have 20% of the roster get half the money? Second, what challenges does this make in the locker room?
It's pretty standard, and it underscores how important it is to draft well and get elite-level contributions from young players who aren't getting paid as much in order to win consistently. In the locker room, I think it's just viewed as the nature of the beast, and players see the big payday on the second contract as a rite of passage, so to speak.
Jeff from New Richmond, WI
So there will be a Mahomes vs. Rodgers in the Super Bowl someday, maybe not this year. Thinking of best QBs to match up in Super Bowl history, I have Bradshaw vs. Staubach, Favre vs. Elway, Brady vs. Wilson, Montana vs. Anderson, Montana vs. Elway, Stabler vs. Tarkenton, Bradshaw vs. Tarkenton. What you got? Best QBs to face each other.
The list is too long, frankly, and while I wouldn't want to try officially ranking them, I do have a few that would rank equal to or above some of yours: Montana-Marino, Brees-Manning, Rodgers-Roethlisberger, Starr-Dawson, Warner-Roethlisberger.
Curt from Algonquin, IL
If the NFL must play the season in empty stadiums, it would be a surreal environment for men who have been playing in front of cheering crowds since they were children. That has to have an effect on their mental state; there are legends of the lengths players go through to make sure every moment of game day follows their routine. However, elite athletes have a nearly superhuman ability to shut out distraction and to focus on the game. Which part of their brain wins that contest?
Sure seems like we're going to find out.
Lucius from Akron, OH
So I work for a promotional products company … If you really wanted a line of II merch … If you could have one item branded for II what would it be? Hand sanitizer, facemask, T-shirt, speakers, a simple pen?
How about a lunch box? Have a great weekend, everybody.
