Zak from Huntington Beach, CA

I share Wes's disdain for mayo, and the thought of mixing it with peanut butter (which I love) is physically nauseating. What's your stance on rhubarb? For my money, nothing beats a strawberry rhubarb pie. I recently had my first strawberry rhubarb milkshake while I was in PA visiting family, and it was fantastic!

I'm a big rhubarb fan. Have some in my own yard and I make jam, crisp, dump cake, you name it. Great stuff. I actually prefer mixing in various cherry types as a secondary flavor.

James from Appleton, WI

I was walking on an indoor track when Tuesday's deluge hit the roof, so no big deal. But that kind unexpected adversity is candy to coaches, isn't it? They must be noting the players' adjustments and attitudes. Do coaches also create adversity?

They like a little stress during training camp, and when it happens all on its own, all the better.

Jeff from Albuquerque, NM

I guess my concern with Jordan Love's contract situation is that both he and the Packers know how important it is that he gets practice reps, so both sides must really be struggling to agree on numbers. No panic, just worrisome.

This should've gotten done sooner. There's no denying that. The reasons it didn't, I can't speculate. No one likes the fact Love is missing practices but I'm just going to hope he's out there sooner than later.

Matt from St. Paul, MN

Mike couldn't be more wrong in his assessment of the Love holdout. It's true that teams can cut players, but that is part of the contract that both sides agree to. On the other hand, participating in training camp is mandatory. Holding out is against both the spirit and letter of the contract, and an incredibly selfish move. Calling Love a diva for this stunt is not an overreaction; it's the only reasonable response. The Packers should refuse further negotiations until Love shows up to practice.

C'mon man, get real. You want to drive a wedge between your new franchise QB and the organization right now? Sheesh. When players vastly outperform a contract, they look for a new deal. When they underperform, it gets terminated or adjusted – and players who are asked to take a pay cut and refuse are often released, whether they agree or not. That's admittedly an oversimplification, but that's how the NFL works. Love ranked second in the league with 32 TD passes last year and threw for over 4,000 yards. He's scheduled to make $11M this year. That's absurd and everybody on both sides knows it. Love was here for the entire offseason program, when he didn't have to be, as a show of good faith. Your approach would do nothing but damage to any future relationship, and the Packers would not be better off in the long run.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ

I'm not sweating the Packers' window because they have to pay the QB. The average annual salary for the Packers top three receivers combined comes to 5.2 million (Spotrac). The Bears are at 46.3 million and Justin Jefferson alone makes about seven times the Packers' top three put together. We'll pay Love and we'll be fine.

That's the beauty, beast and burden of the cap. Nobody can pay top dollar at every position.

Bob from Jensen Beach, FL

Wes, your comment about Rashan Gary being "unblockable" is actually a little worrisome. Is he that overwhelming or is that a reflection on a weakness in the offensive line?

The Packers haven't had their starting right tackle, Zach Tom, participate in any 11-on-11 snaps yet this year, and that includes the spring.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, Rashan Gary has started the season hot the last two years, but the numbers didn't hold up as the year went on. The injury two years ago obviously wiped that out, but was last year a case of his play falling off slightly as the season wore on, or was he just as good but things just didn't turn into stats? If he can put up consistent sack numbers over the entire season like he started last year watch out.

He's still looking for that complete year, no doubt. But the three-sack domination of the Lions last Thanksgiving changed the way offenses dealt with him the rest of the season. In my view, he still had a significant impact on defense when you look at the bigger picture. Over the last five games of the regular season plus the playoffs, the quintet of Preston Smith, Kenny Clark, Lukas Van Ness, Devonte Wyatt and Quay Walker combined for 15½ sacks. That same group had 15 combined sacks in the first 12 games of the year. From 15 sacks over 12 games to 15½ over seven. Gary still mattered. The focus on him was a factor.

Lee from Sullivan, IN

I heard rumors of an 18-game season and players being limited to 16 games. That sounds like a disaster. If I paid for tickets to a game and found out the franchise QB was sitting, I'd be madder than finding asparagus on my brat. And do you have to declare who is playing? Do you sit all your stars at once or consistently put a subpar team on the field? No thanks.

The 18-game push is getting more momentum again, but this notion of sitting players is ludicrous. I don't know where that's coming from and don't believe it's feasible or sensible.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Good morning, Mike. Would you rather have a team that leads the league in fewest penalties, most takeaways or least number of games lost to injuries? Thanks.

Takeaways, takeaways, takeaways. Give me as many as I can get.

George from Edinburg, VA

I was surprised the Packers released former Wisconsin long snapper Peter Bowden to make room for the camp arm QB Jacob Eason, rather than an extra WR or lineman. Is this an indication of Bowden's performance or an inside deal Bowden returns after Love signs?

I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Steve from Flagstaff, AZ

Good morning II, with JL sitting out while his contract is resolved and signed, why sign Eason for the time he sits? Why not give those reps to Michael Pratt and Sean Clifford to see who comes out from that? I know it may just be a week but again why sign Eason for a week? Or is the plan to add more competition at that position to see if Eason is also the answer to being the backup? Is it also not to tire arms out? I just don't see the significance of signing a guy for a few days or weeks.

They don't want to wear out Clifford and Pratt. The number of throws required during drills is extensive – too many for just two guys. The 11-on-11 reps are most important, but their arms need to be in good shape after all the drills to make the most of those.

Chris from Port Coquitlam, Canada

In the PR piece announcing Jacob Eason's signing, it was announced that he would wear No. 7. Last time I checked, that number was taken by Quay Walker. Are two players allowed to have the same number in training camp?

All the time. In addition to 7, the Packers are currently doubling up on the following numbers: 2 (K Greg Josephh, WR Jalen Wayne), 16 (K James Turner, WR Rory Starkey), 17 (K Anders Carlson, QB Michael Pratt), 19 (P Daniel Whelan, WR Dimitri Stanley) and 44 (LB Ralen Goforth, FB Henry Pearson).

Bob from Emmaus, PA

Would Alex McGough been happier if he had stayed with the USFL rather than signing with the Packers and not seeing significant playing time? Is the possibility of playing in the NFL so great that a player will readily leave the USFL?

Almost certainly, and NFL practice-squad money is good money, with a better angle toward opportunity, than not being in the league at all.

Herbert from Palm Desert, CA

Good morning, Mike. It seems as though the change in coordinator and scheme have Packer fans expecting a shutdown defense this season. I don't know how many realize how difficult playing D is under the current NFL rules. Even the best struggle at crunch times some weeks. Would you agree? Hopefully, the D will simply allow fewer points than the O scores each week. I hope...I hope.

That's a healthy perspective. Only three teams in the NFL allowed fewer than 300 points in the regular season last year – the Ravens, 49ers and Chiefs. It's not a coincidence they were three of the last four standing. But the Ravens and 49ers each allowed 20-plus points in a game six times, and the Chiefs eight. Week-to-week shutdown defense is a fantasy.

Roger from McGrath, AK

Eric Stokes, Josh Myers, T.J. Slaton, and Isaiah McDuffie are in their contract years. Stokes is in the room with Carrington Valentine, Myers in the room with Jordan Morgan, Slaton faces competition with Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks, et al., and McDuffie will likely share time with Edgerrin Cooper and Ty'Ron Hopper from this draft. Barring injury, to whom would you like to give a second contract?

That's a great question after another 17 games (and hopefully more) are played.

Kurt from Sartell, MN

So the long snapper cannot be contacted until one second after the snap. Does the defender need to count to "one banana"?

Or "one Mississippi," if that's what the ref is going with.

Joshua from Milwaukee, WI

In addition to talent (or lack of talent), haven't spread formations also contributed to the disappearance of the 46 defense? I'm no expert, but the 46 is not typically a great personnel matchup in today's pass crazy NFL, correct?

Very valid point. As I noted the other day, the strength of the 46 was the front seven. An attacking box safety was in the mix, too. The proliferation of three-WR sets and, as a result, nickel defenses, removes at least one player from that front because you need three cover corners on the field most of the time.

Doug from Onalaska, WI

Recently, mention was made of a lack of depth at CB. When Hafley did his opening presser, he stated the nickel back was part of the safety group. While Nixon is the first man up at nickel, could the next man up be one the rookie safeties? If that's the case, we don't need the nickel backup to be a CB, and the backups would only be for the boundary corners. Maybe our depth isn't as thin as we thought?

I don't recall anyone questioning the depth at corner. Alexander, Stokes, Valentine, Nixon and Ballentine form a solid top five. That said, your point about the backup nickel – or a second nickel on the field as the dime – being a safety as an option is spot on. Gutekunst specifically hunted for that type of versatility in the draft.

Lori from Broomfield, CO

I'm curious on what if anything has changed in the locker room relative to new offensive leadership?

Based on my observations, I get the sense Love and Elgton Jenkins are two of the primary leaders on offense, with several others like Romeo Doubs, AJ Dillon and Myers leading as well. In Jones' absence and with the type of pro Josh Jacobs appears to be, I could see him growing into another offensive leader very quickly, too.

Adam from Richmond, WI

Forgive me if this is a stupid question but can you tell me the difference between the annual Packer yearbook and the annual Packer media guide? Descriptions for both on the Packer Pro Shop site look very similar except for the guide being bigger.

The media guide is like a mini-encyclopedia of all things Packers – extensive data on all the current players as well as the history of the franchise. The yearbook is more like a magazine with feature stories that look ahead to the upcoming season and statistics that review the previous one. The media guide is a great reference book. The yearbook is meant to be sit-down reading material.

Russell from Henrico, VA

Regarding press box decorum, are non-partisan expressions of amazement, disbelief, awe, etc., allowed for great plays (by either team)?

For sure. I don't consider those a breach of etiquette at all.

Scott from Sauk City, WI

I'm sure Blackberry Cobbler is fine and all, but if Spoff doesn't say "Chocolate Volcano," I've lost all faith in both of you.

Caramel Cashew.

Keith from Avon, IN

Maybe it's time for someone to go on vacation so we can get some breaking big news.

At this time of year? Sorry, not allowed. Happy Thursday.