Inbox: That should serve him well

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Come on Spoff, you know you love us and missed us.

I will neither confirm nor deny.

Mark from Fremont, CA

Welcome back Mike! Hope you had a relaxing sabbatical. Wes did a wonderful job while you were out. The II topics were mostly on the draft and owner meetings. He said that while he is off he doesn't read any Inbox coverage and gets all his info from Pa Hod. How about you? I thought I once read you were the II editor. If not the case, who is and does this mean Wes is on his own while you're off? If so, then for Wes with great power comes great responsibility and he admirably held his own. GPG!

I am the editor (of the entire website, for the record, not just this column) and I eventually catch up on everything Inbox before I dive back in. But while I'm gone I leave Wes to his own devices with no worries. He more than holds his own, always. He also navigated some unexpected technical trouble while covering the league meetings this week and handled his duties with aplomb. I probably would've rage-quit and thrown my laptop into the ocean given what he dealt with.

Tom from Cambridge, MA

The best analogy for what MLB is feeling right now is the feeling some of had the first time a guy played in our foursome with Big Bertha. Had to be illegal... that's cheating... And within a decade everybody had one. That said, when do Prospect Primers start up?

They started Monday. There will be 20 in all posted between now and the draft.

Bryan from Green Lake, WI

Don't forget Billy Sims' RB leap over the line into the end zone. He preceded Sanders, Smith and Payton and was unstoppable.

Payton was drafted five years before Sims.

Richard from Canton, GA

Mike McCarthy's diplomatic non-answer in "Out of Darkness" cited by Cliff in his draft article now has me absolutely intrigued. Which did QB he want as the 49ers OC? Draft boards be damned, THAT is the one thing I would like to know about the 2005 draft. Maybe in Mike's own future memoir...

If Rodgers had been McCarthy's choice, he would've said so long before now. He wasn't. He's admitted he leaned toward Smith. What McCarthy has always objected to is the characterization his preference was the driving force behind the call rather than one piece to a collective decision.

Gary from Medina, OH

Is there a reason these exclusive rights free agents have not been signed? Zayne Anderson (S), Daniel Whelan (P) and Emanuel Wilson (RB). They all contributed in the 2024 season.

Probably because they simply haven't been in town to sign the tenders. Once players return for offseason workouts later this month, those formalities are executed.

Mike from Racine, WI

With the departure of T.J. Slaton, who will take over as the run-stuffer on the defensive line?

The Packers don't really have another in the Slaton mold, and perhaps they'll draft one if desired. Slaton was a fifth-round pick and those space-eaters who aren't particularly adept at rushing the passer don't normally require a high pick. But the defense also might focus on not sacrificing pass rush in order to stop the run. That would be ideal, but easier said than done.

Ross from Hudson, WI

Most fans long for a flashy splashy first-round pick – wide receiver or edge rusher are probably the most pined-for. The desire for instant, dramatic impact outweighs deeper thinking. A first-round pick should be someone who will play the most snaps and have the greatest impact over the next 4-5 seasons. Given the recent player vacancies and upcoming expiring contracts, would you wager on a D-lineman being called at 23?

If the next Kenny Clark is sitting there at 23, I'd have a hard time passing on him.

John from Freedom, WI

I've been clamoring for decades for the NFL to use technology to determine first downs instead of the chain gang. However it recently occurred to me this will remove one of the highest dramas with the game on the line. Waiting with bated breath while the chain gang stretches out the chain. Seconds feel like hours. Will. The. Chain. Stretch. Far. Enough?

Am I the only one who hasn't been surprised or caught off-guard by a chain measurement since the advent of the yellow first-down line? I know that line isn't official but if your eyes know where to look during the broadcast … Anyway, moving on.

Markus from Sea Ranch, CA

Will the expansion of replay assist regarding picking up flags on safety calls really cause more flags to be thrown? Not if throwing a flag only to be overturned affects the evaluation of the official. I imagine the officials are highly motivated to be evaluated well so they are selected for playoffs and the Super Bowl.

I won't discount that factor, but I think the natural reaction when in doubt will be to throw the flag to assure the call can be reviewed.

Daniel from Appleton, WI

Who gets the vote at the annual meeting? The team owner? General manager? Or coach?

Each team's owner gets a vote. In the Packers' case, the team president/CEO represents the club.

Joe from Swansea, IL

Is it possible the Tush Push vote was delayed because the proponents of the rule change didn't have the votes they needed? If so, what form will the lobbying take, and do you think the delay means it's more or less likely the play will eventually be banned?

If reports are accurate, teams' opinions are split roughly 50-50 across the league right now. I have no idea how the lobbying is or will be done, but it sounds like the pre-2005 rule against assisting the runner will be discussed, which could provide meaningful context that it's not just about one play. Other readers have mentioned the lack of drama and that it's a "boring" play the league shouldn't want to showcase. All salient points. If a vote is indeed taken at the May meeting, I'm guessing those in favor of the ban (or of reinstating the pre-2005 restrictions) will have a majority by then. Whether they'll have the requisite 75%/24 votes to make the change is an open question.

James from Appleton, WI

I walked into a convenience mart and smack into a display of "gas station roller hot dog" flavored potato chips, a taste I wouldn't want to encounter outside the original food. It's like what the tush push has done to the QB sneak. We already had a potato chip, and now you've gone too far.

I admire this kind of analogous brilliance.

Kevin from Lake Forest, IL

I think the easiest solution to the overtime issue is the most obvious one. Just bring back ties and eliminate overtime entirely during the regular season. I think that would motivate more teams to avoid ties and at the same time add some extra excitement to the end of the game (do you go for a tie at the end of the game or the win?).

I'm not entirely against that, but it's a moot point because it'll never happen.

Steve from Algoma, WI

How about this for a simple solution to overtime? First score wins, period. No coin toss. Use alternating possession just like halftime. If you win the initial coin toss and choose to defer in hopes of "doubling up" at halftime, the risk is your opponent starts overtime with the ball.

Many readers have suggested this before as well, and again, I wouldn't strenuously object. But I don't see that happening, either.

Roger from McGrath, AK

So Mike, with the new OT rules would you choose to play defense so you know what you have to match, or take the ball and hope you can drain the clock? I doubt anyone would ever defer.

I'm not so sure about that. With possession now guaranteed, getting the ball second has its advantages. Specifically, if the other team has scored, you've got four downs on every series to keep moving the chains rather than just three.

George from Lacey, WA

Do we try to restructure Jaire Alexander's contract to more performance-based with incentives or let him go?

Alexander would have to agree to any restructured deal or he could just demand his release. Gutey made it clear in Florida the Packers would prefer not to lose him for nothing. It's wait and see.

Greg from Glen Ellyn, IL

Thinking about Elgton Jenkins, Zach Tom and various other examples of Green Bay offensive line positional versatility, even within a single game, do you get the impression that Green Bay has higher expectations for offensive linemen in having the entire play/concept memorized across each position on the offensive line, for the majority of the playbook? Or just that we've had the right horses in the stable to pull this off in big moments (this year's wild card game excepting)?

The Packers have drafted for versatility and cross-trained their linemen for years, so they're expected to know their linemates' jobs as well as their own. That helps with the continuity of execution as well as dealing with injuries.

Dan from Maquoketa, IA

The questions about if our receivers can reduce the number of drops this year have had me thinking about the difference between a drop and a DROP! A running back dropping a first-down swing pass that would have lost yardage if caught is easier to take than the third- or fourth-down drop that results in a turnover, field goal or punt. While we didn't lead the league in overall drops, we may have led in DROPS! This points at your crunch-time attributes. Will an extra year experience fix this?

While I don't disagree there were plenty of costly third-down drops, I don't ascribe that to anything lacking in crunch-time ability from the players. Crunch time is back half of the fourth quarter, tight game. The Packers overall were actually better in those situations in '24 than '23. On whatever down they occurred, the drops were just lapses of focus and execution.

Hank from Centennial, CO

The Packers ranked fifth in rushing yards last year even though the offensive line dwelled in the lower tier in terms of run block win rate. I think the O-line personnel overall has improved and, given that, and with MarShawn Lloyd back in the mix, do you think we might lean even harder on the run in the coming year? Maybe more plays from under center and more two tight end sets? The top six rushing teams in 2024 all made the playoffs. Two of the top six passing teams did not.

Matt LaFleur's ideal offense runs the ball with purpose to set up play-action for explosive gains down the field. I wouldn't say the Packers are going to lean on the run more than they did last year – their 526 rushing attempts were 70 more than any other season in the LaFleur era – but I believe they're going to find and implement passing concepts that are better married to what Josh Jacobs does best on the ground. Maybe that existed more than I perceived last year, and the drops were the bigger culprit in the passing game. But my "feel" for things was the offense struggled to find rhythm on a consistent basis, particularly late in the season, and rhythm is rooted in the run and pass games being in sync.

Craig from Sussex, WI

What would you say was the most important thing (lesson) Jordan Love learned from last season?

I think he learned how to prepare with and play through injuries in ways that only experience can teach. That should serve him well moving forward.

Bill from Menominee, MI

Hiring a former defensive coordinator as the D-line coach … Strategic, forward-thinking move considering our current D-coordinator is gaining leaguewide attraction.

Indubitably.

Jesse from Colorado Springs, CO

Hey guys, what is the best Mark Murphy moment all-time?

For me personally, I don't have one, but countless times I sat next to him in the press box for road games and always enjoyed bantering about live football with him. Our seating arrangements changed in recent years, so I've already missed it but appreciate the memories nonetheless.

Kerry from Canyon Lake, TX

Rule changes, technology, player safety! Is anyone else exhausted?

Baloney season isn't even two months old. Happy Thursday.