Dave from Middletown, CT

Will's submission in Monday's II made me wonder: If the NFL set up an international game in Cheddar, UK, would the Packers be the home team?

Indubitably.

Eric from Kenosha, WI

Good morning. What is this strange new world we live in, with Day 1 Packers free agent news every year?

Never a dull moment anymore.

Matt from Hawthorne, NJ

I cannot keep up with the moves across the league! Insanity hits immediately. I'm almost more shocked to see GB sign a guard for that much coin. Yowzer! I have to assume this means Elgton Jenkins is shifting to center and Josh Myers walks? Granted I am probably missing someone or something here.

The first day was a little nuts, eh? With the reported signing of former 49ers left guard Aaron Banks, I don't see Myers coming back. I'm guessing the Packers move Elgton Jenkins to center and Banks takes over at left guard, where he's played his whole career. I thought Sean Rhyan might be an option to move to center as well, and he still could be I suppose depending on how it all sorts out. But the best bet is Rhyan stays put at right guard, and Jordan Morgan competes with him and/or Rasheed Walker at left tackle.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

If gambling were legal at Bushwood, how much would we all have lost on Aaron Banks?

I didn't see it coming, and the first thing that hit me when I saw the news was how Green Bay's O-line depth didn't hold up in the playoffs when the unit lost Jenkins (shoulder stinger) and couldn't turn to Morgan (shoulder surgery). The Packers don't want to be in that position with the season on the line again. On another note, nobody had cornerback Nate Hobbs tied to Green Bay, either. Hobbs is a capable corner both outside and in the slot to give the Packers another versatile piece to deal with matchups and injuries. Hobbs, Nixon and Bullard can all play the slot as well as another position. Hafley is a DB coach by trade so he's gotta be loving this.

Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua

If we were going to drop $80M and reshuffle our O-line wouldn't it have made more sense to sign a tackle and shift our RT to a position where he is believed to have HOF potential than shift our only Pro Bowl guard from his natural position? This move doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense for a team that already has three quality guards under contract.

A lot to unpack there. First, you're calling Morgan a guard when he could also be a left tackle of the future with Walker in the final year of his rookie deal. Nothing's set in stone there. Second, all the outside talk about moving Zach Tom from right tackle to center didn't take into account that might only jeopardize being able to sign him to a contract extension. He'd surely make more money at right tackle than center, so moving him risks souring the relationship with a potential future mainstay, setting him up to walk away next year when the Packers could have their right tackle for years to come. Third, in that same context, moving Jenkins instead of Tom makes sense because he's already been paid his big-money second contract, has two years left on that deal, and will be 31 when it expires. Bottom line – there's a lot of business to consider, not just football.

Garrett from Burkburnett, TX

I know that Brian Gutekunst isn't the GM to overspend on big-name players but sometimes I feel as if he needs to be more aggressive. When you start looking around at the rest of the NFC, they are not afraid to add some juice when it's needed. Eagles gambled with Saquon last year and it paid off huge. Sean McVay just added Davante Adams to his already stacked arsenal. We can't always just depend on the draft to get us over the hill. Gutey says he wants to start competing for championships, right?

He signed two guys at the top of the free agent market a year ago at this time, and it appears he's signed two more this year as free agency opened. Your post came in before the bell rang on Monday after various wide receivers and edge rushers made news. That doesn't mean Gutey was sitting on his hands, obviously. You just needed a to wait. He's not afraid of anything. He's just going to make sure the player is worth it, because spending big on someone who doesn't work out has greater repercussions than one underperforming spot in the starting lineup.

David from North Potomac, MD

Do most fans not understand Gutey's ability to walk away because they don't practice tough negotiations in their own lives? Don't like the car deal being offered, walk away. Just another example of football reflecting life.

I'm sure it's never easy to walk away from a player you want. But value is part of the evaluation process. It's built into it, literally and figuratively. The Packers stick to their value judgments more often than not.

Joe from Swansea, IL

I have to admit, every time the talk turns to NFL contracts, prorated salaries, bonuses and the cap, my brain starts to hurt. Whatever we pay Russ Ball, every penny is earned. Does he have a staff to help him through the weeds, or is it all in his head? If so, who is helping him make it safely to his car in the parking lot every day?

Russ is outstanding at what he does, and director of football administration/player finance Melanie Marohl has been at his side for a number of years now.

Scott from Seattle, WA

Greetings II. I see you were taken back by the Geno Smith trade. Local fans had been predicting this, and they are overjoyed that it happened. However, they're not all that thrilled about Sam Darnold coming to town. My question, what do you think will happen with the Vikings this season at QB now?

Maybe they try to re-sign Daniel Jones and then see when the right time is to turn things over to J.J. McCarthy. Or they send the entire football world into the déjà vu machine … which I honestly don't even want to ponder.

Mitchell from Indianapolis, IN

What are the biggest strides Jordan Love needs to take next season?

Staying healthy is the biggest one. That allows him to focus on his game, rather than his body, every day. That matters. After that, it's continuing to strike the right balance and timing of when to protect the ball versus push the envelope. That'll just come the more he plays with a healthy body and free mind. Lastly, both Gutey and LaFleur have mentioned wanting him to take charge of the team more vocally. It's his next leadership step.

Matt from Fitchburg, WI

Regarding the covered post, great explanation. Was the uptick in illegal formation calls this past year due to nuances of that rule being "emphasized" by the NFL? Was it due to TEs and WRs not being far enough off the line? Would be interesting to know.

The emphasis was on making sure offensive tackles lined up all the way on the line of scrimmage and didn't cheat back a step to get an edge in pass protection. The other offensive linemen's helmets are supposed to overlap the center's belt in order to be considered "on the line." When they weren't, illegal formation flags flew.

John from Fort Myers, FL

In your answer to Tony's (Cedarburg) question, you said that you need seven players lined up on the line of scrimmage for it to be a legal formation. Does this mean that eight players on the line of scrimmage is an illegal formation, which is what the rest of your answer seems to imply?

Seven is the minimum. Eight or more is allowed, but then the offense doesn't have as many eligible receivers as usual due to eligibles being covered up.

Steve from Middletown, KY

Good morning. Is this the year we target specific players based on need vs. best available player? We have a young team with a lot of arrows pointing up. If those guys take the expected leap this year, the team will already have improved. With less draft picks, maybe this year we go after the best available for that position of need, unless the overall best available player in that moment is too obvious to pass. Hope that makes sense. GPG!

Need is baked into the draft board to a degree, but the Packers' roster stays balanced enough that several positions can be considered "needs" heading into any given draft, which allows for sticking to best available player the vast majority of the time.

Jeff from Mequon, WI

I would like to add that Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs have definitely heard all the noise about GB needing a WR1, and I can assure you they don't like that idea. The ideal scenario is for the guys we have to step up. Let us not forget Davante's drop-riddled sophomore season. These guys have earned the opportunity to prove themselves, and although I believe we do add through the draft, they will be ready to prove the doubters wrong in 2025.

That's much the way I see it as well.

James from Appleton, WI

What if this is the year the Brian Gutekunst drafts a WR in the first round? Is that good look for national TV for every Packers fan to suddenly go silent and stare into space like medieval serfs at a solar eclipse? I really think there's a 50/50 chance Gutey does it. Am I way off?

Not at all. The "no receiver in the first round" narrative has taken on a life of its own. Gutey would never confirm his thoughts or intentions publicly, but there were numerous reports the Packers were interested in both Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk in the 2020 draft. The Vikings took JJ at 22, and then the Niners moved up to take Aiyuk at 25. Had Gutey been looking to jump up to get one of them, too? When those guys were gone, he hopped from 30 to 26 and took Love. That's the beauty of the draft. You just never know. He also moved up to take Watson at 34, barely outside the first round, in 2022. I think back to 2008 as well, when Ted Thompson probably would've been perfectly happy taking Jordy Nelson at 30, but figured he could get him later and was right. Moved back to 36 and still got him. My point is, would I be head-sewn-to-the-carpet stunned if Gutey takes a receiver this year at 23? No.

Chris from Weston, WI

I understand that the No. 2 will not be retired. Has there been a kicker since Crosby to wear it? While Malik Willis has it now, and with it not being retired, what are your thoughts on not giving 2 to another kicker? With the advent of position players wearing more single digits, it seems more possible?

Interesting thought. Maybe. Willis is the only one to wear it in a game since Crosby left.

Grant from Grand Forks, ND

Any idea how many "daggers" Mason Crosby delivered during his years in Green Bay?

The Packers media guide has him for 14 game-winning or game-tying (send to OT) field goals in the regular season, and he had two more in the playoffs.

Nick from Gresham, WI

Who's your draft crush?

Not there yet. Just started researching some Prospect Primers.

Jose from Sister Bay, WI

What are the plans for the draft if Green Bay is hit for a raging blizzard on April 24th? Just wondering!

Snowmobile rides for the draft picks, I hope.

(Previously Roxanne) from Helena, MT

Mike, I think it is finally time. After hearing that song almost daily for 50 years, I'm ready to change my name. As someone who sees lots of names for your work, do you have any suggestions?

Is that song 50 years old? Mercy. Happy Tuesday.