Inbox: There should be a lot to look forward to

Kyle from Los Angeles, CA

In all my life, I don't think I ever saw a double contraction until Mike from New Orleans said, "y'all're." II truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

Maybe I shouldn't've let that one slide.

Kevin from Dubuque, IA

Spoff, I asked around at Uno's several times, nobody remembers you. I thought you were a legend in Platteville.

Ha, I've made no such claim myself. Uno's is much more legendary. I even knew the original owner.

Bill from North Liberty, IA

I guess Vic might have to soften his view of soccer now that Antonio Freeman's son is playing on the U.S. national team!

Don't count on it.

James from Appleton, WI

The U.S. Open had a 301-yard par three on Sunday. That's like the NFL deciding that the red zones in the Super Bowl should be covered with broken glass. In terms of good decisions, baseball hit it out of the park with the pitch clock and the NBA took away the fouls from shooters launching themselves into defenders. What's the NFL's best rules change in recent years?

Ever since the PI replay fiasco of 2019, every time the league has added aspects of the game to the purview of replay, it's been classified as an improvement, in my opinion.

Fred from Omaha, NE

I welcome the idea of Bo Melton getting reps in practice. But has Kalen King fallen that far down the depth chart? Like to see him released and allowed another chance if so. Junior year at Penn State remember, King was a top 25 projected prospect. Just curious if the team gives him a chance like Cox.

King was wearing a cast on his arm during mandatory minicamp and not practicing.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ

I might have missed this, but did the Packers sign their 2025 second-round pick?

Not yet. Anthony Belton remains the only unsigned draft pick. As previously mentioned, fully guaranteed deals are starting to creep down to the second round now, so there's some waiting and posturing going on with both sides, league-wide.

Michael from Montevideo, MN

Greetings II, Mike regarding your reply to Rich from Grand Rapids: "And Hendrickson turns 31 this year." Are you saying he is getting too old to play? If I recall Mike Holmgren called Reggie White and told him this is God calling, Reggie was 36 at the time. When a player can change a team like Reggie did, don't you think Hendrickson could do the same for Green Bay?

Actually, White was 31 when he signed with the Packers in '93, and yes it worked out wonderfully. But with any player at that age, it's buyer beware, and what White did as a generational talent means nothing as it relates to anyone else. Hendrickson appears at the top of his game, with 17½ sacks each of the last two years, but my point in mentioning his age was twofold. 1) He is not at the career stage the Packers have typically invested in since, well, White, especially with the cost in this case being the double whammy of a high draft pick and big contract, and 2) There's no telling how much he's got left. Maybe he's a 15-sacks-a-year guy for the next 4-5 seasons yet. It's certainly possible. Would I bet on it? No. And he's not about to take two-year money. He's looking for his last mega payday, and I don't blame him. If the Packers could rent Hendrickson for a year or two and then get out from under any investment made, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But that's not how this works.

Rob from Louisville, CO

Another thought on Trey Hendrickson; did you notice he had 6.5 sacks after three years in the league? Does that mean some of our current guys could get better, too?

Funny how that works sometimes.

Steve from Bloomington, IL

At the risk of introducing math, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams obviously have a fair number of touchdowns as a QB-WR pair. Are there any other QB-WR pairs who have more TDs than Rodgers/Adams while playing together on two separate teams?

Brady and Gronk have more, and 13 of theirs came with the Buccaneers.

Robert from Nashville, TN

There's a lot of talk here, and everywhere, about players watching film on opponents. How much do players watch film on themselves to cure techniques and habits that give away their motives?

During the offseason, players study themselves quite a bit to focus on the details and nuances of their game. Once the season starts, most of film study is spent preparing for opponents.

Mike from New York, NY

Now that we are more than a full season out, how would you review the decision to trade Rasul Douglas midseason in 2023? I was caught by surprise when it happened, but you guys were able to bring some understanding to the business choice of the decision at that time. I wonder what hindsight tells us of that move? To be clear, I was unaware of the clamor to re-sign him until I searched to check the spelling of his name. I'm not looking to open that conversation.

With the Packers 2-5 at the time, acquiring a future third-round/top 100 pick for a player the Packers weren't planning on keeping and paying beyond '23 made sense. Had Gutey known the team was going to get hot down the stretch and make a run, would he still have done it? Only he knows. He used the pick in '24 to draft Ty'Ron Hopper, so full evaluation of the trade remains pending.

Nick from Gresham, WI

How does the salary cap work with the large amount of room they have right now? Is this a good opportunity for some extensions (Zach Tom sure would be nice. Quay Walker? Maybe some kind of one-year extension for Christian Watson?). Do they just carry all of this room over? Other?

My belief is they have contract plans for the cap room between now and the end of the '25 season, but no specific deadlines for immediate action at the moment.

Rick from Trempealeau, WI

Just curious, and without doing any research (WODAR), where does Coach La Fleur rank in terms of head coaching longevity, both in terms of total years and years with the same team?

LaFleur is tied with Cincinnati's Zac Taylor for seventh on the current NFL coaching longevity list. Both were hired in 2019. Those who have been with their current teams longer are Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin ('07), Baltimore's John Harbaugh ('08), KC's Andy Reid ('13), Buffalo's Sean McDermott ('17), the Rams' Sean McVay ('17), and San Fran's Kyle Shanahan ('17). Three-quarters of the league's current head coaches (24 of 32) were hired in 2020 or later.

Bob from Winneconne, WI

As I'm watching the UFL Championship Game (I know, but it's the dead zone…) Saturday night I took notice of two broadcast features not seen in the NFL. First, a "real time" – during the game – interview with the head coach via his headset. Second, a sideline interview with QB2 explains the play call and what to watch for before the play was run. That is dependent on play calls broadcast prior to each play. Do rules/contract restrictions prevent doing so in the NFL?

In-game, play-call explanations I suspect would be viewed as TMI/proprietary and a potential competitive issue over the long haul. As for the interview via headset, coaches would despise it, but I wouldn't rule it out someday.

Phil from Paris, IL

I'm not sure why, but I've always really liked the way Emanuel Wilson plays the game. I'm really hoping that he can stick on the team and doesn't get lost in the shuffle with Josh Jacobs and MarShawn Lloyd returning, as well as Chris Brooks. This could be a make-or-break year for him in GB. What's your crystal ball look like for how that battle plays out? GPG!

I don't have a crystal ball, but I don't see four running backs on the 53. Not out of the question, but not my expectation. Value on special teams likely will factor into the final decisions.

Pat from Ptown, IL

Tom and Tucker Kraft started the season with lingering pec injuries, Jordan Love was actually healthy for like maybe three games all year, Luke Musgrave was obviously injured all year even when he played, Jaire played only seven games, Romeo Doubs's concussions, Edgerrin Cooper dealt with injuries, and Devonte Wyatt got hurt early. It was fitting the last game went the way it did but am I crazy for thinking Lukas Van Ness will have the best comeback year even over all those proven vets? If this team can stay healthy we will go far. GPG

As I've said many times, if the players on their first contracts continue to progress as projected, there should be a lot to look forward to. But they have to do so. Also, it's pretty rare around here for the Packers to be relatively healthy all year but not very good. In my time, 2008 and 2018 are the only seasons that come to mind. If they can stay healthy, they've gotta make it count.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

What's a moment in Packers history that hits you harder now than it did when it happened? Something you have begun to look back on differently with time.

When I take the time to stop and ponder it, the more I appreciate the wild-card playoff win at Washington in '15. Down 11-0 early in the second quarter, coming off two straight losses to finish the regular season, and with the press box ceiling at FedExField leaking in our section (par for the course there), it felt like that year was headed for a truly dismal ending. Then the team came to life, we were treated to a 35-7 domination of Washington the rest of that day, a valiant, shorthanded effort the next week in Arizona with the Janis Hail Mary and all that, and a whole new collection of memories.

Craig from Combined Locks, WI

I'm really looking forward to training camp! When do you expect the training camp schedule to be released?

It could be any day now. Last year, the schedule was released right around this time.

Michael from Hammond, IN

Has the team improved enough to challenge for the division?

Yes. I would consider taking the division champ to the wire at their place in primetime in early December a proverbial challenge as well, but I do believe the 2025 Packers will be better.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

What will be the biggest camp battles?

LT, RG, RB2/3, LB3, Edge3/4, plus CB and WR depth.

Dave from Germantown, TN

I may be looking at the Packers' roster from a biased fan's perspective, but it looks to me there is a lot of depth across the roster. Is there any position group that you are anxious to see how the room shakes out? Also do you think there is any position room that needs more competition?

There's a lot to sort out, and I'm eager for all of it. Decision time will be very intriguing this summer. I don't see any position screaming out for more competition. I've said before this feels like one of the deepest 90-man offseason rosters I can recall. But surprises will occur, because they always do.

Laura from Arlington, VA

Any predictions for the first regular-season game?

The baloney will stop.

Jeff from Green Bay, WI

Hi Mike, you really need to make that trip to Fenway happen. Make sure to take the tour in addition to going to a game. There's nothing like walking around the warning track up to the Green Monster and staring up at it. It's been 20-plus years since I've been there and I'm dying to go back!

It's going to happen. It has to. I just don't know when.

Chuck from Santa Ana, CA

Mike, just wondering if you have had a chance to take in the Savannah Bananas? What a hoot! I know it's not baseball as you know it, but there is a lot of skill (and entertainment) out on the field.

They're on my list as well.

Zak from Huntington Beach, CA

Will either of you be heeding LaFleur's words from Mike's story? "You can't take your foot off the gas for one second in this league, because if you do, people are going to bypass you." I envision an '80s-style training montage of Spoff 'n Hod using finger weights, playing cat's cradle, and cross-training with a stenography machine. Two titans, battling for the IW1 (Inbox Writer No. 1) spot on the depth chart. And if I'm wrong, I don't wanna be "write." (I'll see myself out)

What a way to start the first full week of the dead zone. Happy Monday.

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