Inbox: Enjoy the game, everybody

Lydia from Boyle, MS

Do we get an extra draft pick for hosting? Lol!

Mark is still waiting to hear back from Roger on that.

Jessi from Sterling, KS

I appreciated Wes's memory lane about Crosby. He's one of my favorite players through the decades as a fan, because he was such a great man off the field as well as embodying what it meant to be a Packer. Would you share one of your memories with us Spoff, whether it was on or off the field?

Having covered his whole career here, I'll never forget him hitting the game-winner in the '07 opener in his first NFL game. What a moment, and it jump-started what became one of the most unexpectedly successful seasons. Also, I know I refer to it as the game that shan't be discussed, but it's worth bringing up as it relates to Crosby. His 48-yarder to get that game to overtime, after everything that had gone wrong, was hands down the most clutch kick I've witnessed, considering the stakes and circumstances. I made a point to write a feature story about it in the 2015 Yearbook, because it's probably the biggest kick in Packers history nobody talks about, for obvious reasons. Chatting with him one-on-one about that kick the following spring was a neat conversation. One final thing … the last time I saw him was in the summer of '23, after the Packers hadn't re-signed him. My wife and I were out to eat, and I spotted him at the other end of the restaurant. I didn't want to bother him because he appeared to be hosting a big family gathering, but after we made eye contact, he trotted over to my table to say hi and catch up for a minute. That sums up the Mason I know more than anything.

Gents from Janesville, WI

Gents, Mike's comments about only the coaches knowing the play call and being able to judge performance got me wondering. Is there a method used to record the actual play call on each snap or is it obvious from the formation? I mean MLF is choosing the call live based on the situation, and I assume there are multiple calls from a single formation. Is an assistant listening and jotting them down? The green dot microphone is recorded for later? I doubt it's simply by memory.

I'm not sure who does it, but someone is charting all the play calls, and then those are matched to the all-22 film of each play as they're catalogued into the video archive, along with down/distance and other sortable info.

Derrick from Dell Rapids, SD

Wes's response to Douglas from Parker about draft and develop leaders, "It took like a month for me to realize what a player like Xavier McKinney brings to a locker room." My question is was McKinney a locker room leader with the Giants? Or was leaving that franchise and starting fresh with a new one something that makes a player take that next step to becoming a locker room leader?

McKinney was a captain with the Giants, wearing the official "C" patch and everything. Same for Josh Jacobs with the Raiders.

Reed from Kansas City, MO

What are your thoughts on Josh Jacobs saying in interviews that the team needs a proven No. 1 receiver? Not if you agree but about the fact that he's talking about it in public?

I admire Jacobs' passion and desire to win, and he's going to give his honest opinion in interviews. How, when and where is his business. Personally, I think this No. 1 receiver narrative is an overreaction to the uptick in dropped passes and the late-season struggles. A little more than a year ago, these (mostly) same Packers – with a far less reliable defense – beat the NFC North winner, the eventual Super Bowl champ, and the NFC East winner, and almost beat the eventual NFC champ, without a true No. 1 receiver. Things got off course in 2024 for various reasons, but that course can be corrected. With Watson missing most of next season, I can see the Packers considering an investment in a veteran/No. 1. It would make sense, at the right cost (which may be prohibitive anyway). But labeling this a desperate "need" for 2025 has always felt over the top to me. I'm sure I'll be accused of being a company shill for saying that, but it's my honest take.

Pat from Hudson, WI

After making 95.2% of his field goals, what kind of contract will McManus command on the FA market?

McManus made $1.2M (prorated) last season, which ranked 27th in the league among kickers. Turning 34 this summer, he may not get a long-term deal, but he'll probably expect his APY to be in the top half at his position, which will require more than tripling last year's number.

Dave from Hollywood, MD

With the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day both approaching, some group did a poll asking if football fans would rather meet their soulmate or have their team win the big game. Detroit Lions fans came in on top with 74% saying they would prefer their team win the Super Bowl. Their frustration is real.

Or it's the American city with the most wedded bliss per capita.

John from Carpinteria, CA

How deep are Super Bowl rings given out, practice squad, partial-year players, all the coaches and staff, and are they all identical?

It's up to the club. My understanding is the league gives a stipend to the championship team to spend on its rings, and the team can add to that pool of money (or not) regarding ring design/value, distribution, etc., as it sees fit.

Scott from Las Vegas, NV

Do you think with MarShawn Lloyd only playing a few plays last season that next season will be much like a rookie season for him, or was his participation in training camp and practices, although limited, enough for him to perform as a second-year player?

He won't be a rookie in terms of learning the playbook or the preparation routine, which matters. But the game at this level doesn't slow down for players until they've actually played it.

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi II, with all the talk about Mahomes this week, I wondered if he'd be what he is without Andy Reid. It seems like teams with long-term success have top shelf QB/head coach tandems. Montana and Bill Walsh, Brady and Belichick, Bradshaw and Chuck Noll, Staubach and Tom Landry, and not to forget: Bart Starr and Lombardi, as well as Favre and Holmgren (No more rocketballs!). In your opinion, do Love and LaFleur have the potential to be considered in this status?

I think you're mixing QB/coach tandems in terms of those who worked together closely and those who represent how their teams are remembered. Belichick, Noll and Landry were all defensive coaches. They weren't running or calling the offenses for those QBs. Montana-Walsh and others were very much offensive partnerships that to me are different from other tandems and shouldn't be conveniently lumped together.

Carolyn from Greenlawn, NY

Regarding the international NFL schedule, should we, as Packers fans expect to the team to be traveling internationally at least every other season? Personally, I enjoyed the London game (despite the outcome), but skipped the Sao Paulo game due to the cost (and flight time).

That's probably a reasonable expectation, with more international locations being added (Australia for 2026 the latest). I don't know if I'd count on a patterned rotation, but a couple of international trips every 4-5 years could become the norm.

Tom from Keota, IA

Regarding refs, I agree that it's a bit silly to claim there's a conspiracy. That's because, apologies to Hanlon's law, "Never attribute to conspiracy that which is adequately explained by individual incompetence." Bad calls might go to the defending champs simply because individual refs are humans who know "the Chiefs are the champs." They don't even need to be actively thinking about it. Cognitive biases work that way. One or two individual biased calls is all it takes, no conspiracy needed.

I think the unintentional bias is more toward Mahomes specifically than the Chiefs in general, just as it's been in other sports with all-time greats like Jordan in basketball. Those guys get the benefit of the doubt here and there, and here and there adds up after a while. When you see some – and I stress some – of the RTP/late hit/etc. calls that Mahomes gets, which he shamelessly tries to draw with the timing of his body movements and reactions, there is no way QBs like Tyrod Taylor, Gardner Minshew and Malik Willis would get those same calls. They just won't. As much as officials will say they aren't biased, and I don't think they set out to be, it's somewhat built into the human condition. Which is another reason why …

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

And. That's the word we need here. Not but. But contradicts the first statement. We need and, because seemingly opposing statements can all be true. Goodell talks of how much work the officials put in. MT5 responded with the same. True. Officials have a hard job. True. AND it's not good enough. AND it's critical to improve with so much on the line. AND technology can help. I think fans wouldn't lose their minds if the league would just include the AND statements with onus to act.

And amen to that.

Laurie from Sheboygan, WI

One other thought on making safety plays reviewable: If the league decides NOT to make them reviewable, maybe they need to rewrite their media contracts to keep the broadcasters from replaying every single possible angle at super slow speed. There were probably just as many errors in the Good Old Days, but there were fewer camera angles and the cameras were not as high quality, so we never knew for sure the calls were wrong. I doubt the media would agree to that, though.

The four major networks (FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN/ABC) are collectively paying $9-10B per year to broadcast NFL games through 2033, up from around $4.4B per year under their previous deals through 2022. Do you think they're going to agree to such a massive increase and shell out that kind of money to the NFL only to be told how to show replays?

Steve from Waukesha, WI

If the NFL bans the "tush push," how is that different from a runner who gains five yards and then has three linemen pushing him and three or four defensive players trying to stop him from matricuating the ball down the field? A reference to Hank Stram. Both plays should be banned. Right? Thank you.

Agreed. Just go back to outlawing assisting the runner, and officials need to blow the whistle when the runner is no longer advancing the ball on his own. I don't think it's that hard.

Matt from Middleton, WI

Hi Mike, talking with my high school senior and he told me gambling is more of a problem with his sports friends than drinking or drugs. Pat Hoberg might be the tip of the iceberg.

There are serious long-term issues on the horizon. I'm convinced of that, whether they arise in the NFL or other sports. What's alarming to me about the Hoberg case is MLB's apparent lack of concern for the bigger issue. The league said it found no evidence he had bet on baseball, and any baseball bets were placed by someone else with whom he shared the betting account. That's why he was dismissed, along with deleting messages pertinent to the investigation. But there was evidence of Hoberg betting on football, basketball and other sports. So apparently MLB isn't concerned that one of its umpires was a regular sports bettor, and the potential ramifications therein? That's just a "nothing to see here" rest of the story? I know from having done the NFL's annual gambling policy training that even I – yeah, little ol' me – am prohibited from placing bets on any sporting events, period. I'd be fired in an instant. Even playing fantasy football (which I don't, for other reasons) is limited to a $250 payout or any of us as employees are subject to termination. I know we joke around here that "gambling is illegal at Bushwood" but it's actually no joke to me and Wes.

Kelly from Stoughton, WI

Have great vacay Wes! Serious question specifically for you Commish Spoff. Given the evolution of sports gambling and the proverbial train having left the station, what should the NFL's relationship with gambling be? Can't see a scenario where they wouldn't try to profit from it. It drives viewership and engagement so even if you weren't profiting directly it still benefits to team up and encourage safe, ethical, clean gambling. Curious to hear thoughts.

I realize I'm old school (or just old), but the league had no official relationship with the gambling industry for a long, long time, for what seemed like good reasons, but now suddenly those reasons don't apply. Let's just say on an issue like this I seek full consistency. Cutting sponsorship deals with gambling outfits just feels too cozy to me and carries risk that isn't worth it. I'd rather the league stay out of it and not profit directly from it, because then you avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

Daniel from Allerod, Denmark

The selection process for the senior/coach/contributor process sound more like a math assignment in junior high school than a real election process. Why are these incredibly different categories lumped together in the first place? Why don't they just nominate fewer candidates and then give them a straight up vote mandating 80% support for entry?

That's what they used to do, but it became a case of the full selection committee mostly rubber-stamping the finalists brought forward outside the traditional process. So they've decided to make it more competitive. We'll see how it goes.

Dave from Waterford, WI

Do you think the Eagles will be able to beat the Chiefs Sunday in the Super Bowl?

I do, but as long as the game approaches the entertainment value of their matchup two years ago, that's really all I'm seeking. And with that, this column is taking a brief hiatus as the big boss is closing the offices both Friday and Monday to give everyone a long Super Bowl weekend off. Who am I to argue? So I'll be back with you Tuesday morning, hopefully to discuss a Hall of Fame selection (or two) and a fun finish to the NFL season. Enjoy the game, everybody.