Mark from Westminster, CO

From liking root beer to asparagus on brats, it seems hard to fathom that Wes wouldn't like butterscotch. Wes definitely wins the award for the "Most Bizarre Taste Palate."

I've given up on him. Honestly.

Jeff from Montclair, VA

Good morning II: In response to yesterday's question from Ben in McFarland, you stated that you hoped Packer fans "wouldn't overreact." Two points … hope is not a strategy, and yes, we're gonna overreact. That's what we're (not) paid for. Thanks for all you do (and get paid for!).

There's a reason every week after Labor Day starts with "Overreaction Monday." It's a fact of life in the NFL. Oh, and absolutely nobody is overreacting to Jordan Love sitting out practice while his contract gets done. Of course not.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

I was wrong. I thought that Jordan Love would sign a new contract just before camp. Will he be in camp for everything except those drills that could pose an injury risk?

Yes. Love is here, in all the meetings and other activities, but is not practicing to eliminate any injury risk until his contract is done. It's the only leverage he has to spur completion of the new deal, so I don't blame him. He was here all spring when he didn't have to be, exercising patience, but it's not done and he wants it done. So do the Packers. It'll get done and no one is concerned. Why is it taking so long? I have no idea. But to many readers who are calling him out for being some kind of diva and saying he's got a contract he should honor, it hasn't worked that way in the NFL for a long time now. Teams can cut players whenever they want and don't have to honor contracts either when there's no more guaranteed money involved. This is part of the business.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ

Question: Well, now what do you have to say about Jordan Love's contract? Answer: Same thing I said last week (and last month). I'm not worried. Ask me next week. (Glad I could help.)

'Preciate you.

Randall from Manasquan, NJ

Far from understanding all cap-related issues (does anyone totally), does the contract extension for Kenny Clark make a new contract for JL a step closer?

They're unrelated, really. The Packers had been planning on both deals this year. Clark's cap number for 2024 has actually been lowered slightly, but not by any amount significant enough to impact Love's contract.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

Has Kenny Clark ever missed a game? Not that I remember?

Over eight seasons, Clark has missed eight of a possible 141 total games, including playoffs. Over the past three years, he's missed just one game, when he was put on the Covid list.

Michael from Lakewood, CO

Now that Kenny Clark is signed, who, other than Love, are the next players needing attention?

Nobody's urgent at this point, but the regulars from the '21 draft class are in contract years ( Eric Stokes, Josh Myers, T.J. Slaton, Isaiah McDuffie), and the starters from the '22 class will be eligible for extensions after this season ( Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker).

Jill from Greer, SC

What player has the potential to fill David Bakhtiari's skill level prior to his knee injury?

No offense to Rasheed Walker, but the Packers aren't going to have a five-time All-Pro at left tackle this year, or maybe ever again. Nobody can fill those kinds of shoes. You move on and do the best you can, which the Packers always have, whatever the position.

Chase from Carmichael, CA

I got tripped on the LOS moving as well, but only because I thought you meant left or right. I wasn't thinking about the line giving up ground. Have you ever covered this detail in a WYMM?

No, but I'll look for it this season, if appropriate.

Robert from Corpus Christi, TX

The Lions won the last two games against Packers, and Bears and Vikings seem to have improved in the offseason, so how will the Packers compete?

The Packers won their most recent matchup with the Lions (last Thanksgiving), and the Bears and Vikings are starting over with new quarterbacks. I think the Packers will compete just fine.

Paul from Northglenn, CO

How impactful will a new DC be in the first quarter of the season with no tape to prepare from for opponents?

No way to know. I don't expect the defense to be where it needs to be from an execution standpoint in the first month of the season. There will be a process to reaching peak form, just as there'll be a process for teams to adjust to how the Packers are playing.

Lori from Broomfield, CO

How much more dynamic can the ML offense get in Year 2, and how critical to its growth is the diversity of talent?

A collection of multi-faceted weapons never hurts, but there's still a lot of unknown with this offense. Josh Jacobs is the new RB1. Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft played a grand total of 74 snaps together last season. Defenses have spent all offseason preparing to limit what Love does best. Nothing stays the same in this league.

Kerry from Lakewood Ranch, FL

The Packers' 2024 schedule looks very competitive. I could see most games coming down to the wire. What about this year's team makes you confident that the Packers can close out tight games?

Again, there's no way to know. I expect Love to be more efficient in late-game situations in his second year as a starter. He had many ups (Saints, Chargers, Giants, Panthers) and downs (Falcons, Raiders, Broncos, Steelers, 49ers) in that realm last season and should be better. Defensively? The jury is out even longer there, but crunch time was not a strong suit in the Joe Barry era.

Eric from Liberty Township, OH

Does Tom Clements teach the off-platform throw, or is it a habit that Rodgers and Love picked up along the way? Seems like something both do, even when they are not under pressure.

Clements drills game-like situations to make the QBs adjust and do what it takes. What may look like an off-platform throw when not under pressure might be the QB doing what he must to find a throwing lane without having the time to reset his feet.

Richard from Woodruff, WI

Hello II, I also was curious about Al's (from Green Bay) question about a lighter long snapper being a weakness on field goals and PATs. No team wants their punts and kicks blocked, obviously. I think the rule is that the defense can't line up on the center, correct? Thanks.

Yes, there are rules in place to protect long snappers. No one can line up directly across from them (defenders must keep their entire body outside the snapper's shoulder pads at the snap), and they cannot be contacted until one second after the snap.

Michael from Hammond, IN

Sure looks like the team wants to replace Anders Carlson as placekicker.

I wouldn't say that. I'd say they want to find the best kicker they can and will continue the competition for as long as it takes.

Joseph from Sioux Falls, SD

We have made it through the dead zone! One more question about nothing: How rare is it that we don't have any back-to-back away games this season? It seems that will be an advantage of some sort, but also means that we don't have any long runs of home games either.

I can't really speak for the players, but consecutive road games have always worn me out faster over the course of a season. So I would imagine it's a positive to the schedule – though technically there are back-to-back road games in Weeks 14-15 at Detroit (Thursday, Dec. 5) and Seattle (Sunday, Dec. 15), but with the mini-bye in between. ATMR (WCBW), the only times in team history the schedule did not include consecutive road games were 2013 and 1920.

Dana from Eau Claire, WI

The play call seems to tell how the offensive skill players are lined up and what routes to run but where/how does the O-line get the call – somewhere in that same play call or does the QB/center call the blocking scheme at the line?

Can be either/or.

Rudy from Tempe, AZ

Is it fair/realistic to say that "on paper," the Packers do not have any positional weaknesses from a talent perspective?

Sure, but more than 80 players on the roster are healthy and practicing right now.

James from Appleton, WI

I am amazed at how the Brewers coaches are pitcher whisperers. They look for whom they can help, they coach them and then put them in positions to succeed. The Packers have a similar mojo going with offensive linemen. Or would you draw the analogy to a different position group?

That's as good a pick as any. I think that's a testament to a run of outstanding O-line coaches here going back 30-plus years: Tom Lovat, Larry Beightol, Joe Philbin, James Campen, Adam Stenavich, Luke Butkus.

Mark from Carlsville, WI

This question could apply to both sides of the ball but I'm going with defense. When I assume a formation is called, the players know who has to go in. What happens if someone is injured and a formation is called? Do the coaches go to the backup and say, "Hey, X is injured so you have to go in," or is there some other way? Also, who determines when D-linemen get rotated in and out? Position coach or DC?

Position coaches handle rotations and communicating next man up in case of injury. That also includes the domino effect it could have on other packages and/or special teams. They have to be on top of everything with their unit so coordinators can focus on the big picture/calling plays.

Charlie from Morgan Hill, CA

In a copycat league why do you think the Bears' 46 defense has never been replicated? Defenses are trying to disguise and confuse and no defense did that better than that '85 squad.

Having four Hall of Famers (Dent, Hampton, McMichael, Singletary) in the front seven isn't easy to come by. Plus two of the other three in that front seven (Wilson, Marshall) made Pro Bowls.

Margeaux from Tallahassee, FL

Gotta say compared to the previous two offseasons that was a very restful one for myself as a fan. How was it for the two of you as the drink stirrers of the Inbox?

The fact that you're saying that when the franchise's third all-time leading rusher suddenly and surprisingly departed for a division rival speaks to just how unsettling the previous few offseasons had been, and your point is well taken.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Mike during your time covering the Packers has there been a player that exploded onto the scene somewhere between Day 1 of OTAs to the last day of camp, as if a switch was flipped turning night into day? That continued on a transcendent trajectory? For players expected to be great and complete unknowns?

The one that'll always stick with me is Chris Banjo. An undrafted rookie in 2013, he was signed almost a full week into training camp after Jacksonville released him. Barely 5-foot-10, he was a complete afterthought, but he just kept showing up on the practice field every day, and lo and behold he did make the 53. He played three-plus years with the Packers as a special-teams standout before going on to also play for the Saints and Cardinals in a decade-long career. Remarkable story and a super nice guy. I did a sit-down interview with him for the Yearbook once, learned his background, and came to respect the heck out of him. Somehow, some way, I hope to bump into him again someday.

Dave from Escanaba, MI

Received my 2024 copy of the Packers Yearbook on Saturday. Once again, great job by all involved.

Thanks for the shout out. For those interested, the book can be ordered from the Packers Pro Shop, right here.

Jared from Pittsburgh, PA

I would like it to be known that we are keeping Paul Skenes forever. Go Pack Go. That is all.

Unless the Pirates give him a Jackson Chourio contract, good luck with that.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Forget DQ. Culver's is where it's at.

I worked at DQ long before my town ever got a Culver's. But I'm not fussy. Happy Tuesday.