Inbox: That's certainly worth monitoring

Matt from Madison, WI

If you didn't have to work, how would you attend this year's NFL Draft? Go all three days? Try to get close to the action?

I'd rent out my house for a boatload of money and hit the road to watch the Brewers.

Mark from Westminster, CO

Studying in Spain? I presume Spanish American Institute of International Education on Calle Cuna in Sevilla. Nothing like having to wait two days to catch up on NFL scores reading a USA Today purchased at VIPS in Barrio de Triana.

I actually got a multi-scroll fax of the sports pages back home every week. Such privileges came with being the son of the SAI's co-founder and director. I found myself far more engrossed in the Badgers' renaissance football season of '93 than anything going on in the NFL. It was awesome to fly home for Christmas break and have a big Rose Bowl party on New Year's Day.

Mike from Geneva, IL

It took 57 years for the first NFL team to have a shot at a three-peat and many would say the Chiefs were the benefactors of referee assistance. There have only been six three-peats in the history of the four professional leagues in North America, with the last occurring in 2002. With the parity of the NFL, do you think a team will ever three-peat? If so, how long before it occurs?

We just went 20 years between anyone winning it all twice in a row. I would not be surprised if it's at least another 20 just for the next three-peat opportunity to arise.

David from Oak Hills, CA

Well, it's never too early to look ahead to the 2025 season. Looking at the Eagles' home opponents they play the following teams: Bears, Lions, Broncos, Raiders, Rams, and their NFC East rivals. Come September who do you think Philly will face to kick off the new season and the road to Super Bowl 60?

I would anticipate the league setting up a Week 1 NFC title game rematch with Washington, or putting Detroit in that kickoff opener.

Rob from Wilmington, NC

In regard to the HOF game. At a quick glance, Packers and Chargers are the only combination that don't play each other in the regular season. Would that have some pull?

Perhaps.

Tom from Orlando, FL

Where does Rodgers end up? PA?

While gambling remains illegal at Bushwood, I see the Steelers are the odds-on favorite. If I'm Pittsburgh, I'd roll with Justin Fields and see if he could be the guy. What I'm trying to figure out is if Rodgers does end up in Pittsburgh, would that preclude the Packers playing in the Ireland game? The league wouldn't want a Packers vs. Rodgers matchup kicking off at 8:30 a.m. CT, would it? Or would it?

Jay from Altoona, WI

I know the usual practice has been for the Packers to have a single announcement of any postseason coaching or staff changes. Unless I missed it, this announcement has not yet happened despite outside outlets having identified people filling those roles. Is the delay in the announcement due to contracts not yet being officially signed, or is LaFleur still determining official roles?

I don't know. Could be some of both, or additional factors only others are privy to. It could be as simple as vacation schedules, too, for all I know.

Kevin from Seattle, WA

With the season over and looking towards free agency and the draft, starting to wonder how Cooper was there when the Packers picked him in the second round? Realize the draft isn't an exact science but was there a knock on him teams were concerned about? His combination of speed and size doesn't come through that position often.

If I recall, there were some concerns about over-aggression and needing that speed to compensate for mistakes. With all those physical tools, if he'd been a perfectly buttoned-down, disciplined linebacker, he's probably a top 20 pick.

Gordon from Newport Beach, CA

Would it be fair to say that the Packers should have thrown in just a modicum of capital and moved up a few draft spots in the first round of the 2024 draft? All the picks just before theirs were huge contributors.

Jordan Morgan hurt his shoulder and needed surgery. That had nothing to do with his draft position.

Joe from Swansea, IL

All this Cooper DeJean regret has me thinking: If we'd taken him, the feel-good find of Evan Williams doesn't happen. With a more discerning eye than I have, can you compare and contrast their two rookie seasons? Interested in an Insider's view.

I'm not going to evaluate a player I watched in only a couple games and compare him to one I cover. All I know is Williams is a keeper, and it appears the Packers got great value there in the fourth round. As Wes has said previously, there's so much about Williams that's reminiscent of Micah Hyde. It's kinda spooky, actually.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, I think it is agreed that the front four didn't provide enough consistent pressure last season, and I seem to recall there being a breaking-in period before the players were considered comfortable with the new defense. When there are inevitably new players brought in on the defensive line, does this process start all over or is it made easier due to the majority of the players already having experience in the new scheme? How much does a new D-line coach stir the soup as well?

Scheme knowledge and experience never hurts. The new D-line coach may have different techniques he'll want the players to learn and utilize, so there's always adjustment. Aside from any new players brought in, a big key in any "Year 2" is a coordinator like Hafley knowing all his players so much better than when he started.

Wayne from Stevens Point, WI

I see a lot of draft capital on our defensive front seven. Our defensive line overall was what we hoped for except the "splash" plays. How can a new defensive line coach change seasoned professionals so the output of the group improves? I can imagine Kenny Clark being better next year because he won't have a nagging toe injury. But the rest?

I'm hoping for the same with Clark. That's certainly worth monitoring. The Packers were so much better against the run up front. There's no denying that. If they'd gotten gashed against the run in the playoffs like the Rams did, no one would care about 16 sacks in two playoff games like LA had. Now it's up to the players and coaches to combine being able to play the run on the way to the quarterback.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

I think the big offseason domino that needs to fall is what the Pack does with Jaire Alexander. You agree?

I see cornerback as a position to target for long-term reinforcements regardless of what happens with Alexander.

Keith from Brodhead, WI

While I was obviously impressed, and jealous, with the mayhem the Eagles' pass rush caused, I was more blown away by the complete lack of adjustment by the Chiefs. I didn't pay enough attention to it at the time, I just really didn't care, but I don't remember seeing a single delayed handoff or draw play. I think I remember a screen pass, maybe one. Thinking back, I never got the sense that there was any running threat at all? Did you get the same feeling?

I got the feeling the Chiefs just had no answers for getting whipped up front by basic defensive calls.

Mary from Pewaukee, WI

Do the players' contracts contain an incentive if the team reaches the Super Bowl?

Rookie contracts don't. Some veteran contracts do. All players receive postseason bonus money depending on how far their team advances.

Ed from Burlington, WI

Regarding players rising and falling on draft boards, how much "noise" is generated by NFL teams actually trying to cause movements? Or is this strategy made up by us fans who really don't know anything?

There's some level of subterfuge. The experienced, veteran reporters should know when they're being fed something for a reason, though.

Al from Hartford, WI

Good day to you Mike. When answering Shawn from Colby's question about players rising and falling in the draft, didn't you intend to include the "how many players came to the birthday party" metric?

My bad.

Pat from Hudson, WI

I was born in 1959 and have watched all 59 Super Bowls. Over the last 25 years I've been treated to halftime shows by favorites like U2, Shania, P. McCartney, The Stones, Prince, T. Petty, Springsteen, and The Who while enjoying shows by B. Mars, Pitbull, Shakira and J Lo. So, I have no issues with the NFL featuring a current superstar like Kendrick Lamar and I wish people my age would chill out a bit and understand that we had our day and let the next generation now have theirs.

Fine by me as well. I wasn't interested, so I didn't watch. No harm, no foul. As far as I'm concerned, nobody will ever top U2's Super Bowl halftime show after 9/11 anyway. That was the all-timer.

Scott from Noblesville, IN

Though one can only speculate due to his injury on "what might have been," and, though not as rare as it now seems in baseball, I do smile knowing Sterling is a career Packer as he enters Canton.

He will be the 11th of the Packers' 29 inductees to have not played/ coached anywhere but Green Bay, joining Hutson, Hinkle, Canadeo, Starr, Nitschke, Hornung, Wood, Kramer, Dillon and Butler.

Alan from Saugerties, NY

Mike, with regards to Bryan from West Salem's point about Eli Manning not being a Hall of Famer, if you let Eli in, how do you not let Jim Plunkett in? Eli was 118-118 and Plunkett 77-80 (for his injury-shortened career). Like Eli, Plunkett won two Super Bowls and was an MVP in one of them. In the two Super Bowls he played, he had a passer rating of 122.8 with 433 yards and four touchdowns. He was also a Comeback Player of the Year recipient. Does the name "Manning" make a difference?

Certainly, but you're also right that putting Eli in creates a strong argument for Plunkett, whose two Super Bowl wins may not have come against HOF QBs but they did come against HOF coaches (Dick Vermeil, Joe Gibbs). Assuming Brady, Mahomes and Roethlisberger get into Canton, which seems safe, the only QBs with multiple Super Bowl wins left to be inducted would be Eli and Plunkett.

Darren from Wakefield, MI

With all the HOF talk, is there a waiting period for the Packer Hall of Fame similar to the NFL's? Crosby is a shoo-in (no pun intended), so when would that be?

Oh, that pun was definitely intended. For players, it's four years after retirement for the GBPHOF, five years for Canton.

Nathan from Abingdon, MD

The answer about Mike McCarthy putting his hat in the ring for a coaching job in '26 got me to thinking. There's the expectation that multiple head coaching jobs will be open. It's the nature of the industry these days. When was the last time there were no head coaching vacancies in the NFL? Recent memory can't recall one. Probably occurred back when there was more appetite for growth and no "win now" mentality. Just a thought, not an indictment on current coaching carousels.

If anyone knows the last year there were no NFL head coach hirings, please pass it along.

Mike from Lena, WI

II guys, have you had the chance to see the movie "Green and Gold"? We had the chance Super Bowl Sunday afternoon to go see it. It was really well done, of course it helped it involved the Packers and filmed in Door County. Great local angle. Craig T. Nelson and Madison Lawlor were outstanding. That 1993 season really set the tone for "super" things to come for the Packers.

My wife and I went to it the other night and enjoyed it. Hadn't been to a salt-of-the-earth movie like that in a long while. I agree on the two lead performers, and with the exception of some dramatic license with the historical accuracy of the '93 season that probably only bothers nerdy editors like me, it is well done.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

Alright Super Bowl is over. CAN I GET A PROSPECT PRIMER!

Not until probably April.

Markus from Aurora, CO

Slowly, offseason creeps along, but the rumor mill runs rampant. I will try to just lean back and wait. After all, I'm neither on the coaching staff nor the front office. I'm glad my livelihood doesn't depend on creating (fabricating?) clickbait headlines, and I'm equally glad yours doesn't depend on it either.

Amen to that.

Matt from Albert Lea, MN

Will the Packers, in your opinion, still have cap room to sign Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby after trading for Myles Garrett? ATCJW (According to Clickbait Jackwagons) WCBW, this is all the rave.

Happy Thursday.