Scott from Salem, OR
Vic refused to consider writing a book (and as far as I know, he hasn't). Would any of you consider writing one? Fiction or non-fiction? "From Platteville to Pro Bowl: The Spoff Story" or "Hod: Older Than He Looks"? Has Larry ever mentioned writing a book? Or reading an audio book?
How about fictitious non-fiction? If Wes ever writes an autobiography, no one would believe it's true. "Green Bay native hates cheese, won't drink beer, works for Packers." Are you kidding me? How do you sell a book that's totally real but seems made up?
Mike from New Orleans, LA
Coldest games? Aren't you sitting in your cushy chairs in the heated press box? Hot dogs and popcorn delivered to you like King Louis XVI?
Delivered? Ha, if only. There are times we go onto the field pregame so that's what Wes was referring to. The coldest non-Lambeau game I've ever experienced was Week 16 at Chicago in 2007. The wind off the lake was the most brutal I've ever felt on a football field.
Jason from Austin, TX
On second thought, what's the hottest game you've been a part of?
The 2016 opener at Jacksonville. Bar none.
Derek from Eau Claire, WI
Which Packer do you think has the best chance of making their first Pro Bowl this season?
Rashan Gary.
Bill from Fort Worth, TX
I really enjoyed Cliff’s story about Majik. I grew up watching the teams of the '70s and '80s, and I remembered how exhilarating it was finally seeing the Pack win, in exciting fashion to boot. Barely predating the wild-card format, until we had success with Brett and I could move on, I often wondered what that '89 team might've done in the playoffs as that wild-card team. With Majik's magic, every game seemed winnable that year.
Actually the Packers' only playoff chance that year, as it turned out, was as NFC Central champ, because they tied with the Vikings at 10-6 and both NFC wild-card teams (Eagles and Rams) were 11-5. Green Bay, which split its two games with Minnesota, lost the tiebreaker to the Vikings based on division record. But there was no stopping the Niners that year regardless. They beat the Vikings in the divisional round, 41-13, then the Rams in the NFC title game, 30-3, and finally the Broncos in the Super Bowl, 55-10. I certainly understand, though, how much it would've meant at that time just to get in the postseason party door.
Brad from Oshkosh, WI
If the new TV deal is projected to be enormous as you stated, why isn't every team doing as the Rams do, push tons of money to the future and try and buy another Super Bowl?
Not every team is in legitimate contending mode, so making future cap sacrifices now makes no sense for them.
Jim from Provo, UT
Weston or Michaelangelo, given Tom Clements' history as a Golden Domer has he ever imparted some stories of his time there? I mean being the guy running Ara Parseghian's Wing-T offense sandwiched between Joe Theismann and Joe Montana at that time period, where passing offense was about to blow up in higher levels of football had to have been something else!
Tom doesn't live in the past in his interactions with the media, but I'm sure he's already forgotten more stories than he'll ever be able to tell. Won a national title and All-America honors at Notre Dame, starred in the CFL for a dozen years, coached at Notre Dame and for six different NFL teams, including as position coach for Rick Mirer and Ron Powlus in college, then Jake Delhomme, Kordell Stewart, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Kyler Murray, among countless others, in the pros. What a career, and he's not done yet.
Russ from Henrico, VA
Until someone puts their stamp on WR1, I assume it's going to be receiver by committee for awhile. What will teams who like to have a CB follow the No. 1 do when playing the Packers?
Determine the receiver they believe will be the primary target and adjust during the game if needed. Plans change on the fly in this league all the time.
Alex from Duluth, MN
Mike, are there any UDFAs that have "looked the part" so far in this minicamp period?
I'm very curious to see what running backs Tyler Goodson and BJ Baylor do in the preseason games, when they should get a ton of work. But beyond watching those two in drills, I honestly haven't looked much at the rest of the UDFA class yet.
Tom from New Braunfels, TX
In regards to the A. Rodgers picture with Samori Toure, a reference was made to running a route on air. I have not heard that term before. Does it mean running a route without being thrown the ball, or is my thought floating on air as my wife sometimes accuses me?
It just means running a route with no defense on the field.
Monty from Hazen, ND
I'm all for the kinder, gentler Aaron Rodgers but what happens when the calendar flips to August? I want AR to chew butt when receivers run sloppy routes or miss assignments. The mentally tough young guys will make it, the others won't. Simple.
I think as he's gotten older and grown into a larger and larger leadership role, Rodgers has learned to strike the right balance. I also think he's learned that it's not so much about his reaction, but what reaction is going to generate the best response from that particular player.
Joe from Wausau, WI
I'm getting a sense Shawn Davis might be an underrated story. Any info on him other than what I read in his biography on the website here?
I don't know much more than that, but by all appearances through the spring, he's going to enter training camp as the No. 3 safety.
Craig from Brookfield, WI
I'm starting to feel like the Detroit Lions of getting a question answered by the Deuce. Sure, no one can compete with perennial fave Lori tossing "panegyrics" out there. But yesterday was rock-bottom for futility. A dude from CO got in with "Did anything exciting happen lately?" C'mon, man! My Hail Mary: With Stafford gone and no dominating defense in Minnesota or Chicago, has the division ever looked more winnable for the Pack? Is it okay to get cocky about this?
No chortling allowed. Remember that. But I've maintained all offseason the Packers are the clear favorites in the NFC North, and I don't think there's any disputing it. Two of the foes are starting over with new regimes and the other has a second-year coach coming off a three-win season. The facts are the facts.
Brian from Morrison, IL
What does a successful inaugural season in Green Bay look like for Sammy Watkins in terms of catches/yards/TDs?
13 or more games played. If that comes to pass, the rest will take care of itself.
Mike from Cascade, ID
Hi Mike, after watching the locker room interview with Sammy Watkins two words come to mind: grateful and motivated. I hope he stays healthy and looking forward to how he can contribute.
My thoughts exactly.
Brian from Columbia, MO
How much, if any, attention is paid in training camp specifically to: 1. Likely areas of focus on the part of the league and the referees for penalties in the 2022 season. 2. Previous season habits or tendencies resulting in being flagged. Or is this a case of the coaches advise the players on a constant basis that they're going to draw a flag if they do that in a game?
Every year in training camp a crew of officials visits to show a video and lead a discussion about rule changes and points of emphasis for the new season. I would expect the timing to be coordinated around Family Night or during the joint practices with the Saints.
Bret from Hertel, WI
Dear Mike, it was great seeing you before practice Wednesday. The rain made the crowd smaller but seeing the Packers media waiting to go into the Don Hutson Center brought a question up by my wife. She thought the number of media covering the practice was low. What is a normal media coverage of a practice? Is it limited? And what are peak event times of the year?
Nice to see you, too. Aside from gameday, the most media you'll see covering the team is during training camp. The minicamp contingent was actually pretty robust on Tuesday, when the weather was great and Rodgers spoke in the locker room after practice. Nothing compares to gameday, though.
Kevin from San Francisco, CA
Another player who left the team and returned was Johnny Jolly. His perseverance to make the team again after battling drug addiction for years and spending time in prison on related charges was incredible. It was so easy to root for him. Unfortunately the neck injury cut the season short, but he earned his second chance.
Very true. For the record, the list of players the other day was focused on those who left to play somewhere else and then came back.
The Green Bay Packers held their first practice of minicamp at Ray Nitschke Field on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Doug from Neenah, WI
If the Denver Broncos franchise sold for $4.65 billion, then what are the Green Bay Packers worth? Thanks.
Last summer, Forbes placed a value on all the NFL franchises and set the Packers' at $3.475 billion with the Broncos' at $3.75 billion. Take that however you will.
Stan from Merrill, WI
I've always been one to have patience after the Packers draft a player. Often, it isn't until the third or fourth year until we know what we have. I begin to get excited at the start of Year 2, and your articles just feed the flames. My question is this: Between first- and second-year players, how many roster spots do you think will be accounted for on the Packers this year?
On the 53 in Week 1? It'll probably be around two dozen, give or take.
Tim from Rosario, Argentina
Hello Insiders, Bears lost one OTA practice due to live contact rules violation. What is all considered live contact in regards to this rule?
Players getting knocked to the ground too much is generally considered over the line.
Ross from Hudson, WI
I looked for a stat on blocked punts or kicks by the Raiders under Rich's tenure as coordinator but failed to find any. Is that something his squads are known for? Has that been mentioned as a point of emphasis? As we are all too well aware, blocked kicks or punts are demoralizing and game-changing – and the Packers have been lacking in those departments for some time.
I didn't have prompt access to any listing of blocked field goals, but according to my research (which could be wrong), a Bisaccia unit hasn't had a punt blocked since 2016 (Dallas).
Michelle from Ringgold, GA
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the Packers this year?
The same one they've had the last couple of years – embracing the grind. When you're a contender who's fallen short and wants nothing more than another shot, the hardest part is starting over every year and accepting how long the road is just to get back to where you were. If you dread it, you're done in this league.
David from Janesville, WI
All this talk about the offense evolving, I believe it is edging toward the ground game and it started down that path way before Tae left. Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan are just a few bigger bodies with athleticism brought in to make the line bigger and stronger. AJ Dillon isn't here by accident. LaFleur wants to be able to move the rock on the ground, and if the opposing defense has to cheat to stop the run Rodgers will pick them apart. I think we may just see an acceleration of the vision all along.
We indeed may.
Tom from Platteville Township, WI
I thought the three quotes from movies that Jim from Eau Claire, WI, wrote about ("No peacocking in June," "It's real and it's spectacular," "You're either in or you're out") WERE in reference to Mike's entry into the Grant County Bodybuilding Competition. My bad. If Mike shared the results would that qualify as peacocking?
It's been a long week. Happy Friday.