Matt from Waunakee, WI

Me vs. Deacon Jones if we were both in our primes: One head slap and I'd be in the concussion protocol the remainder of my natural life.

You and me both.

Matt from Dyersville, IA

I was able to attend the Packers Tailgate Tour event at the Field of Dreams Thursday night. Wanted to thank the players and organizers for making it a great night for all in attendance. The players took the time for photos, handshakes, etc. and are great representatives of the Packers organization. I do think Mike and Wes should be on the tour, too!

There's only so much room on the bus, and only so much I want to travel in the offseason given what this job entails. That said, I visited the Field of Dreams about 25 years ago and enjoyed every minute of it.

Alex from Lucketts, VA

Bryan Bulaga, Iowa. They might take away the player intros at some point, but they'll never take that gem from us.

Legendary.

Erick from Lake Oswego, OR

Comment and a question. While Spoff was right about Justin Pugh's "straight off the couch" being the funniest player-intro comment, I suggest Jared Allen wins the award: "Homeschooled. Thanks, Mom." For my question, is there any position you'd be surprised to see drafted this year? I would have said kicker, since it seems we'll already have a competition, but there was a Prospect Primer for kickers, so now I'm curious.

We did a Primer on kickers just to cover all positions without prejudice, and to reach an even dozen installments (the last four will post this week). Would I be surprised to see the Packers draft a kicker with Brandon McManus and Lucas Havrisik already here? Yes.

George from North Mankato, MN

Good morning II, reports of a lower than expected value for Dexter Lawrence have proven false. Do you think the Bengals overpaid for him?

It's a trade that certainly sent some shockwaves through the league. I can't help but think the Bengals went through every possible draft scenario in the top 10 picks and couldn't reasonably find an outcome that gave them acceptable value (for the contract they'd be forced to pay) at No. 10 overall, so they saw Lawrence as the better route. It certainly speaks to how one team views this first round beyond the top choices.

Steven from Birchington, UK

Is there a player on the current roster who reminds you of a past Packer in terms of trajectory, not just play style?

Check out Wes's receiver story being posted later this morning.

Gary from Chippewa Falls, WI

After EP's latest presser, the sports talk shows were full of fans complaining how EP was seemingly oblivious to fans wanting ML fired. Fans need to realize EP has a full-time job and doesn't take time to listen to all these programs. EP answers to the board, not the fans.

Ed was not oblivious to that vocal segment of the fan base. He said as much. He admitted to being "shocked" at the volume of negativity toward the head coach, but he was very much aware of it, and he emphasized these are not decisions for fans to make. Rightly so.

Bob from Rome, NY

Gentlemen: Just a comment about the Mike from Oshkosh, WI, question about another stock sale that I hope you can clarify. Funds raised from a stock sale can only be used for stadium renovations and not for player salaries whereas the private owner can dip into private equity for both stadium renovations and player acquisitions. Not sure if a stock sale can offset this scenario.

It can't, not only in terms of usage but in terms of sheer dollar amounts. Which is why Ed has remarked about having a "healthy paranoia" about the future of NFL economics and keeping this franchise ahead of the curve as much as possible.

Tom from Cambridge, MA

To follow up on Phil from Madison, WI's response to Brian from Pensacola's point (and I hope no one follows up on this because then it's X following up on Tom's follow up to Phil's response to Brian and I'm already losing track) it's interesting to note that Bart Starr (R17, 1956, No. 200) would be at the top of both lists in his era.

Indubitably.

Ross from Summerville, SC

Gents, are Keisean Nixon's days on special teams over?

If he's going to continue playing every snap on defense, I'd say probably. Each of the last two years, he's played more than 1,000 defensive snaps while his special teams snaps have declined from 200-plus to 149 to 73.

Cary from Sioux Falls, SD

While cleaning out my basement I found an old Packer Report dated 9/10/81. The Packers defeated the Bears in Week 1, 16-9. TDs scored by Gerry Ellis and Eddie Lee Ivery, who was lost for the season with an ACL. For you Spoff, Walter Payton rushed for 81 yards and the lone Bears TD. Other interesting notes: You could purchase a Packers yearbook for $2.75, an official Packers jersey for $21.95, and book a four-day trip to New York for the Pack vs. the Giants for only $494. Ah, the good old days!

And for the second straight year the Packers lost three straight after beating the Bears in the opener. Looking back, I just realized Bart Starr had multiple wins in September only once in his first seven years as head coach. Mercy.

Dave from Germantown, TN

Since the Packers probably won't have a place to play in Milwaukee, does that preclude the Bears from returning to Wrigley Field?

Not necessarily. There have been a number of college football games played at Wrigley in recent years. But with the Bears going to an entirely different location for their new stadium, I'm assuming they'll continue playing at Soldier Field during construction.

Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua

Am I the only one concerned about gambling-related impropriety with regards to replacement refs and "command center" oversight on calls? You'd have to have your head in the sand to not recognize gambling is already impacting the game, and short-term officials would definitely be easier to "get to" than tenured employees.

I hear you, but to my knowledge those running the command center are league employees, not members of the officials' union who would need replacements if a new labor deal isn't struck.

Eric from Oshkosh, WI

I don't watch any film on players or anything, but I've been doing mock drafts for a while now and all the players I like for the Packers keep shooting up the draft board. They all are going a round earlier now and we probably won't get them. I guess that means all the draft experts are finally catching up to me, right?

Apparently.

Tony from Davenport, IA

During the draft does Ed Policy have any input on the picks, or is that all on BG and ML?

The buck stops with Gutekunst when it comes to the draft. Policy is not involved, and the coaching staff provides some scouting reports in the pre-draft process. But the personnel department builds the board and Gutey makes each and every final call.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

Unless someone gets "Tunsiled," will Gutey's board have very little movement the next few days?

That's a fairly safe assumption. By this point, the hay is in the barn, as they say.

Ethan from Milwaukee, WI

Can you describe what it is like to be an NFL GM during the draft? How many people are actively working for him, running numbers, making calls, etc.? How many calls is he receiving? How much of the work is done beforehand with all the different if/then scenarios? I imagine that is the one time a year Gutey feels like he has to perform like a quarterback during the two-minute drill (rather, 8- or 5- or 4-minute drill).

I don't know exactly how many people are working the phones, making and taking calls on his behalf, but it's several. The whole point of doing all the homework is to avoid that time on the clock feeling like the no-huddle offense. They've built the board, worked through various scenarios in advance, and felt out multiple trade opportunities along the way. When the work is put in, the decisions speak for themselves.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Gutey seems like a master of not backing himself into a corner for the draft. He addressed, at least somewhat, his three areas of major need prior to this draft (corner, DL, OL). Whom did he learn this strategy from? Seems he pulls it off each year allowing him to take the best player available.

I don't know if he learned it from anyone in particular, but I agree he routinely covers his bases to not be forced into anything during the draft. This year that also included the return game with the signing of Skyy Moore.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Mike, when was the last time a Packers' first-round pick lived up to their billing? Raji? Matthews? That we have eight picks seems more important to me than not having one in the first round.

The Packers made a great investment with their first-round picks this year and next, and their track record with first-rounders over the last 15 years has its share of letdowns. But to go all the way back to 2009 is a bit myopic, ignoring Bryan Bulaga, Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander and Jordan Love, with the jury still very much out on the last three first-rounders in Lukas Van Ness, Jordan Morgan and Matthew Golden. Every team has a handful or more of first-rounders in the last 15 years who haven't "lived up to their billing," as you say. Go take a look. The Packers are not immune.

Oscar from Boston, MA

Hello II! While I know what my draft night plans are to be, I don't know what those three days/nights look like for you two. What are you doing? Do you get to be in the draft room? Are you to be live? How long after picks are made can we expect to hear from you?

Do we get to be in the draft room? Ha. In our dreams. We're still finalizing all our content plans, but other than a quiet Thursday night watching the draft while I work on Friday morning's II, the rest should be business as usual – Wes and I will be in and around the media auditorium throughout to handle bulletin stories and instant reaction videos as soon as picks are made, plus longer stories on the draftees, Three Things recaps, etc. Our crew also will be posting photo galleries of the picks, press conference videos, conference call audio, and anything else pertaining. It's all hands on deck and we will be geared up to go.

Jacob from Grand Rapids, MI

You had a question whether the front office would be playing sheepshead or euchre on night 1 of the draft. You addressed the draft night part, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the card games. Growing up near Milwaukee, but now living in Michigan, I enjoy both and am curious to hear your thoughts.

I enjoy both as well, thoroughly. I'd been a while for me with sheepshead, but after a quick refresher I'd be back in the groove for sure.

Rod from Chugiak, AK

Friday, we lost Roger from McGrath, AK to cancer. Years back, I'd seen his Inbox submissions. Having been through it by dog team, I knew his village to be so tiny a letter addressed simply Roger from McGrath, AK, with zip code would connect. Connection gifted us a wonderful six years of tight fellowship. A Yuper, he was a Packers lifer. His Super Cub cowling sported a huge green G. ATMR (WCBW), it sticks in my mind (and I CBW) that none other than our Roger from McGrath originated the WCBW.

So sorry about Roger. He was a faithful reader and submitter whether he got posted or not, and he left us a legacy. It'll live on. Hearing about your friendship and how you connected warms my heart. RIP to a member of this community's foundation and what it stands for.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

If I could, I'd bet my entire retirement fund on the coaches putting together a cut up of dropped INTs last year to use now. For fun they could go to the live blog transcript for a mash up of the exasperated Spoff/fan response. Many a word was typed about lost opportunities. And so many could have been game changers to end what turned into scoring drives. Other than injuries, would you agree it was a major factor in our record? What would it have been if even half of those drops were INTs?

I have no idea. I'd have to go back and look at the when/where of all the missed chances. But the image of a video mash-up with cartoon bubbles of the real-time reactions coming from the press box laptop is just too funny.

Vince from Warm Springs, GA

Hi guys, why is the third level of the defense called the "secondary"? I really feel it should be called the tertiary.

Have I said the draft can't get here soon enough? Happy Monday.

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