Dar from Mansfield, TX
OK, so chortling is not allowed in the Inbox. And gloating is frowned upon too. What about glowing? I feel a warm glow building inside me as we head into the bye week. Am I allowed to let it out and just glow?
I'll permit glowing as long as it's no brighter than 60 watts.
Roger from McGrath, AK
"The Packers' playmaking carousel stopped on Robert Tonyan Monday night and the third-year tight end delivered." Did you do a fist pump when you wrote that as the very first line in your Big Bob article? We know you called it.
Ha, no. I was just thankful to think of a passable lede when I started working my sidebar at 1 a.m. CT. The cool thing about Tonyan's story is his progress has been gradual and measured. He's not this overnight success story. He's been developing in Green Bay's system for nearly three years now. Because of that, there's reason to believe it will last.
Aaron from Scottsdale, AZ
Maybe it's time we can all trust the Packers organization regarding player personnel decisions? I think their track record over the past few decades has been among the best in the NFL. And it appears they're proving it once again. #BigBobForPrez
The Packers signed Robert Tonyan, Allen Lazard, Chandon Sullivan and Lucas Patrick as street free agents. Both Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst did a great job turning over stones to find hidden gems and the 2020 team is better for it.
Markus from Sea Ranch, CA
I'll think of Aaron Rodgers' next interception as a scratch on a new surfboard. Mentally it isn't a bad thing to get that first ding, so one doesn't worry too much about keeping the board pretty and goes back to charging waves with moderate aggression. It doesn't appear Aaron is worried about a scratch or interception, at least not to the point of playing safe.
I don't get too wrapped up in the no interceptions thing. I've covered Rodgers long enough to see this narrative bubble to the surface before. The bigger thing is what Jamaal Williams said on Tuesday – you know how consistent Rodgers is going to be, so it's almost more incumbent on the skill-position players to not allow a deflected pass to turn into an INT. He's bringing the best out of everyone.
Arthur from Altoona, WI
I notice 12 dancing with the team and on Monday night even run up and pose after a score. It seems to me he is having a great time and is a lot looser than previous years. Have either of you seen anything different this year in his demeanor?
I don't think it's any secret – Rodgers is in a good place mentally and feeling great physically. And the results have reflected that.
Carol from Chicago, IL
Do you think there has been a little silver lining to Davante Adams's being out since Robert Tonyan and Jamaal Williams got more opportunities and looked good?
I've covered Packers teams where you kind of knew the offense might be in trouble if it was down two or three featured skill-position players. The 2020 squad continues to rise above that. The Packers need Adams – make no mistake about that – but they've proven the train won't go off the tracks if No. 17 isn't on the field. It's important the Tonyans and Williamses are being counted on now…because you don't know when you might need them down the stretch.
Gretchen from Dousman, WI
Wes, thank you for the story on Mason and Molly Crosby. It's a heart-wrenching/heartwarming Hallmark movie of a story but made even better by the way you told it. You are a treasure. Thanks for being part of packers.com.
I appreciate Spoff's kind words Tuesday, but just want to say the credit goes to Mason Crosby and Molly for allowing me to tell their story. The Crosbys have been affected by cancer in a way few families will ever experience and their openness towards discussing it has helped a great number of people.
Rhonda from Siren, WI
What an awesome article on Crosby and his family. Wes you did a great job, it was very heartfelt. I am seriously thinking No. 2 will be my next jersey. Thank you for your hard work.
As much as I'm sure Mason would appreciate that gesture, might I also suggest this year's Packers vs. Cancer knit hat with $5 from each purchase going to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.
Scott from New Orleans, LA
What has impressed you the most with this 2020 Packers squad through the first four games this season? For me, it is the offensive production and the minimal mistakes despite all of the moving parts.
Winning first down and the overall success of the four-minute offense have really stood out to me. Those are two areas the Packers struggled in the past. Because it's not just scoring points – there's also something to be said for winning the battle for time of possession and field position.
Michael from Winchester, VA
Will we ever see the 8-yard completion to Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the third quarter that ESPN buried beneath an unnecessary replay of the play before, or is that simply lost forever? Do they even have tape on that? Just curious.
I don't know but it was a great throw and catch. It's the type of move-the-chains play the Packers have wanted to see more of from MVS this year. While I'm at it, I should probably mention the Packers' success on third downs as another area that's impressed me this year. Green Bay is fifth in the league through four games (51.1%). It was 23rd last year.
Bruce from Appleton, WI
The Packers showed a different offense on Monday with three running backs on the field at once for the passing game. Did this surprise the Falcons? Because they could not cover them all that well.
It wasn't totally out of the leftfield using packages with multiple running backs, but I think they had Atlanta reeling with their misdirection plays. Tyler Ervin only had one touch (a catch for 8 yards) but he must have run a 5K with all the motioning he did over the course of 60 minutes.
Pat from Kennesaw, GA
Can you tell me the difference between "signed to the active roster from the practice squad" and "elevated from the practice squad to the active roster"? Are not all players on the practice squad already signed by the team? Thanks.
"Signed" means the player has been added to the active roster. "Elevated" means the player remains on the practice squad but will be on the game-day roster. Teams are allowed to do that twice with practice-squad players before they must be signed to the 53.
Patsi from Riverside, CA
Hi Wes. Now that the Packers have successfully completed the first quarter of their season, which part of their schedule after the bye week do you feel will be the most challenging? Do you anticipate that the next four games in the remaining first half of the schedule with three road games against veteran QBs will be the most difficult?
Yeah. Houston and Minnesota have dealt with a lot of adversity but I still say it's this upcoming second quarter for me. The Packers have back-to-back away games coming out of the bye, followed by the always-tough Vikings at home and then a road game in San Francisco on a short week. That's not walk in the park.
Joe from Dundee, IL
Hi Wes on Wednesday. How about that name for a video or chat with Wes held each Wednesday? My football question: I feel like the Falcons helped the Packers with the timeout they took in the last minute or so of the first half. Any insight on why they did that?
Spoff is the chat guy. I'm not here to steal his lunch (chat). Atlanta was trying to get the ball back. Mike McCarthy used to do that quite a bit, too, near the end of the first half.
Brandon from Pleasant Prairie, WI
Seeing how the Packers are doing these last four games, do you think the bye week at this point (although needed for healing and rest) will impact the team's momentum/play coming out of it? Even with the injuries, they just seem to be clicking right now.
No. They'll be fine. They're not breaking for the summer.
Matty from Janesville, WI
The Packers were supposed to have a down year this year according to the "experts." Yes, there is a lot of season left to play, but part of the continued success has to be the lack of turnover on the roster. NFL rosters historically turn over rather quickly. How many Packers on this year's team were on last year's team, including practice squad?
Forty-one of the 53 players currently on the active roster.
Bob from Leiden, Netherlands
My favorite quote from one of the announcers was that JK Scott "might as well be in witness protection" since it was only his sixth punt of the season.
It was a funny line, but all jokes aside, I think this is a good thing for Scott. He's gotten off to some really solid starts the past two years but also battled some leg fatigue late in the season. He's on pace to punt like 24 times or something crazy. Hopefully, that keeps him fresh and booming.
Paul from Nevada City, CA
Spoff/Wester-truly a "carousel," a GREAT word choice. While I thought AR should and could have had another TD, I quickly viewed the game as an ML play-calling experiment simply trying unexpected plays for results to put into the vault. Concur his goal-line play calls were more than suspect – too conservative. Just sorry to lose the 40-plus point average!
LaFleur lamented the fourth-and-goal but he also had a lot of great calls in that game he'll never mention. I'm sure Packers fans appreciate the 4-0 start but this offense is just flat-out fun. LaFleur has created an entertaining, and successful, brand of football.
Lee from Norwich, England
Keeping Davante out until the bye is a great call by ML. Julio Jones comes back from a hamstring and had to leave the game. I want Davante back to stay. Is Big Bob Tonyan the new Gronk? Watch out!
Uh, he reminds me more of Wesley Walls.
Brett from Omro, WI
Does No. 85 TE Robert Tonyan remind you of No. 85 TE Wesley Walls?
There we go. Much better. Seriously, the comparisons are getting out of control, people. Let Robert Tonyan be Robert Tonyan and appreciate him for his Robert Tonyan-ness.
Steve from Rockville, MD
How much longer will Kenny Clark be out?
At least one more week.
Keith from Dodgeville, WI
I thought the Packers drafted AJ Dillon so that they would improve on short yardage, then why not try him on a fourth-and-goal?
Because they want to give you night terrors.
Brian from Quarryville, PA
Since the IR rules now mandate a player only has to spend three weeks on it, can a player be put on IR multiple times?
Yes.
Elliot from Hopkins, MN
Do either of you guys watch the Pat McAfee show when Rodgers pops on Tuesdays? It is fun listening to him talk about different topics outside of the typical interview questions.
I catch parts of it when I can. Rodgers has an obvious rapport with McAfee and A.J. Hawk, which allows him to let down his hair a little. It's been nice hearing Rodgers' thoughts on various matters unrelated to football.
Andy from Minneapolis, MN
"I sometimes laugh when people talk about down years for me, because a lot of times down years for me are career years for most quarterbacks...it's just the facts, bro." Aaron Rodgers is a BAAAAADDDDDDDD MAN. I think I watched that clip about 20 times just to hear Aaron say that followed by McAfee's response. Aaron's on a mission this year and I like it, "bro."
There is a lot of truth to what Rodgers said, especially the media wave. It's the same theme-park ride, over and over again. He's regressing. Wait, he's playing like an MVP again. Nope, he's regressing. Wait, he's an MVP again. Rodgers is human. He's an incredibly talented human but a human nonetheless.
Karl from Fort Collins, CO
Per Gamebook PDF, AJ Dillon, Ka'dar Hollman, Vernon Scott, John Lovett, Jonathan Garvin, Randy Ramsey, Josiah Deguara, Jon Runyan, Reggie Begelton and Jace Sternberger all played. Getting those guys more experience is great to see, but is this the style of ML and the coaching staff, or is this just "splicing rope" to get past all the injuries?
I'd throw Krys Barnes into that group, as well. Injuries have played a big part in those rookies getting on the field, but I thought Scott, Runyan and Hollman have really put some good things on film during the first month of the year. Typically, injuries are the reason many young players see the field for the first time and they have to be ready for it. Because when it's your time, it's time.
Mike from Janesville, WI
Why must we be subjected to Savage57 day after day in the comments section?
And people ask why I no longer pop in down there. I actually enjoyed interacting with folks in the comments section for a time, but the air is much better up here. Last year, I followed Mike's lead and chose to stick with the voices I care about most – the ones in our Inbox every morning. The rest is a falling tree in an empty wood.
Daniel from Atlanta, GA
I chuckle each time I see a coach covering his lips with his play sheet while talking into the mic despite his entire face being covered with a mask. Chill out! Nobody's reading your lips right now!
Old habits die hard.
