Inbox: Will the players rise to it?

Marty from Rancho Cordova, CA

The ocean isn't big enough for your laptop, Spoff!

I hear it's running out of shrimp, too.

Winston from Mukilteo, WA

Wow. I never knew the Packers had a third-round Comp pick in 1943.

Ouch. Please see yourself out.

Drew from Washington, DC

I'm enjoying the walk down memory lane of all the great goal-line jumpers. But if memory serves, the first back to make this a specialty was Sam "Bam" Cunningham, first at USC then with the Patriots. The man could soar!

Several readers chimed in about the Bam, who also had one of the greatest nicknames, of course.

Brian from Chesapeake, VA

Channeling my former 12-year-old self, circa 1980. It was always Walter Payton I was emulating as I launched myself (then Brian from Stoughton, WI) over the family couch.

Me, too. After my dad finished our basement as a kid, I used to pile up all the blankets and pillows on the floor and leap over them into the couch, a la Payton. Little did I know a few years later I'd be getting his autograph during training camp when the Bears started coming to my hometown every summer.

Richard from Madison, WI

Kevin from Lake Forest, IL, advocated just letting games end in ties after regulation. This got me to wondering about the least-consulted people involved: the players. They've already put in 60 minutes stretching their physical capacities to the limit and are beaten, exhausted, and sucking oxygen from tanks and then they're being asked to go some more? If THEY got to vote on it, how many do you suppose would say "Yeah, let's just leave it at that and hit the showers"?

I've been in the locker room twice after ties, against the Vikings in 2013 and '18. The impression I got in those instances is the players, after all their exertion, would rather have a more definitive conclusion to the game.

Richard from Aghada, Ireland

Just something that's been annoying me for years and now with the conversation about the Tush Push going into overdrive I feel I'm going to lose my marbles at some point. It does not resemble a scrum in rugby. No play in American football resembles a scrum. What it does resemble is a maul. How can we move this conversation to using the correct vernacular?

I'm sincerely hoping we never have to.

Richard from Farmington Hills, MI

I'm so pleased to read that the proposal to ban the "tush push" may be expanded to pushing any ball carrier. The sight of linemen pushing a running back down the field seemed so odd and unfair. I read today the rule against this was rescinded in 2004. Why was that done?

Three Richards in a row. Or maybe Richard III (but I digress). Apparently officials complained it was difficult to officiate, to distinguish between throwing a legitimate block and pushing the pile. It sounds pretty simple to me relative to what's been added to officials' plates in the last 20 years.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Does Mark Murphy get treated differently by the other owners because he isn't a massively rich actual solo owner of a franchise? I hope not?

By all accounts, he's treated as an equal, as he should be. He's served on multiple high-profile committees during his tenure, including the negotiating (for CBA discussions) and competition ones.

Steve from Middletown, KY

Good morning! Before moving Elgton Jenkins to center, does management go to him first before finalizing the trade? I'd think there would be a discussion with him to make sure he's on board. He's such a valuable cog in our wheel.

Gutekunst confirmed this past week that discussions took place.

Marvin from Vail, AZ

Do think the Packers will draft McMillan from Arizona in the first round? Could be a WR for a long time with the Packers.

I don't expect McMillan to be there at 23. I believe he'll require a trade up, which would seem unlikely for Gutey when he's going into this draft with fewer picks than recent years. But you never know.

John from Stevens Point, WI

This week's Packer Perks question pertained to the number of NFL receiving records Don Hutson held at the time of his retirement. His career was truly remarkable. What are the chances the Packers find another Hutson-like wide receiver in the 2025 draft? Do they even need to find a wide receiver in this draft?

Gambling remains illegal at Bushwood, but I think the odds are decent the Packers draft a receiver on Day 1 or 2.

Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua

I'm angling for my first double-up here with a follow-up question … I'm hearing Aaron Banks is our LG because he was a LG, and will always be a LG. Doesn't that throw out everything we know about what the Packers covet in their O-linemen? Positional versatility is an attribute they target, they cross-train their lineman to ensure continuity and manage injuries, and have always preached the "best combo of five" approach. Are we missing the forest for the trees?

Circumstances can factor in, so the thought processes behind drafting and developing a young player and signing a veteran free agent can differ, though not always. Nate Hobbs' versatility as a DB was certainly attractive. In Banks' case, his presence is viewed as an overall upgrade to the O-line in the wake of the unit's lack of experienced depth proving costly in the playoff loss at Philly.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Earlier in the week Wes listed his Mount Rushmore of seventh-round picks (since 1994). The list included DD plus three offensive linemen. It begs two questions: 1) Is it easier to find productive O-line guys in late rounds and 2) What would be your Mount Rushmore of great seventh-round picks on the defensive side of the ball? Feel free to tweak the answer to rounds 5-7 if that helps!

I don't know about O-line specifically, but I agreed with Wes's selections of Driver, Timmerman and Tauscher, with Rasheed Walker now replacing Wells as the fourth, primarily due to position played (left tackle vs. center). I'd add Matt Flynn as perhaps next in line. Defensively, in terms of the NFL career he's had, the best seventh-rounder might be a guy who never actually played for the Packers – Lawrence Guy, drafted by Ted Thompson in 2011. He spent his rookie season on IR, was signed off Green Bay's practice squad in 2012, and he's now played 13 years in the NFL with five different teams. As far as defensive seventh-rounders who did make an impact for the Packers, I'd go with Keith McKenzie, Brad Jones, C.J. Wilson (forever in team lore for his piano playing on the eve of SB XLV), and Carrington Valentine.

Matt from St. Paul, MN

Two comments to add to the regular-season OT discussion: first, it may still be a disadvantage to choose to kick, because you might only have a minute or two on the clock when you get the ball (actually, the first team can theoretically take all 10 minutes and not even give you a possession). Second, if kicking and receiving are both reasonable options, you can instead elect to defend a goal. If it's a windy day, that could make more of a difference.

I don't think you can make that OT decision worried about the defense giving up a nine-plus-minute drive. For one, those are rare. For another, you get two timeouts in OT to use whenever you want. Agree the wind could certainly be a consideration.

Scott from Sauk City, WI

John brings up a good point. The chain measurement was nothing if not dramatic. In all seriousness, though, how does that process even work? You can't tell me that the chain gang didn't (unwittingly, probably) have some outsized influence on key calls. Setting that back chain down on the exact same fractional yard line they had on the sideline? Even the original placement on the sideline always seemed like an inexact science to me. Did the on-field refs somehow communicate the spot to them?

When the chains come in from the sideline, my understanding is the back chain doesn't matter anymore. As soon as the chains are set at the start of a new series of downs, a small disc is clipped to the chain directly on the edge of a fully drawn yard line (like the 35 or 40, for example) that lies between the markers. Then when the chains come out, that disc is placed down on its precise spot, with the front chain subsequently stretched to measure. I don't know if I explained that very well, but that's how I saw high school chain gangs do it all the years I was roaming sidelines covering prep games.

Carl from Onalaska, WI

So a safety play can only be reviewed if a flag is thrown? And can do nothing if there's a blatant helmet hit not called … Sounds just like the goal line plays which are somehow only a scoring play if it was called a TD. It's as if the NFL just wants things to not make sense.

It's a classic half-measure by the league.

Jason from Mt. Prospect, IL

A lot of talk this offseason about the impact of switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 had on the defensive line. What can you tell me about the specific adjustments a defensive edge must make in order to go from 3-4 to 4-3 successfully? I understand that with a 4-3, there is more "help" from the interior to allow the edge defenders to let loose as a pass rusher. Why might this switch have caused a decline in our pass rushers' production? I would love to learn more about the scheme!

Mostly the change is with responsibilities vs. the run, depending on the package alignment, number of off-ball linebackers fitting certain gaps, etc. The goal with any defensive front is for the big guys to have enough knowledge and comfort to be able to play the run on the way to the quarterback (in normal d/d situations). When those run duties are adjusted, that's not so easy and it takes time to re-establish a level of efficiency.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Hi Spoff, last year the study of soft-tissue injuries being addressed at UW felt like a promising and substantive answer, and it was. This year I lack the same warm fuzzies about the study of drops and issue of focus. I assumed the WR coaches already drilled that to death after the pattern started, right? If not the team, I assume the players seek out any potential aide (like the tech Kirk Cousins used in "Quarterback") already. Matt was vague about steps being taken. Are you optimistic?

Receivers have spent, for the most part, their entire lives catching footballs. Slumps happen and can build upon themselves during the daily grind. Resetting with new approaches, whatever they are, should only help. All that said, it's a legitimate challenge and the ultimate question is this: Will the players rise to it? I've learned to never underestimate a motivated professional athlete.

Shanna from Corunna, IN

Hey II! I'm a band director and spend the first 15 minutes of my prep period every day reading Inbox. It seems like there's rarely a dull moment and I'm always learning something new. Aplomb, never knew the word existed. Thanks for the vocab lesson and making my prep period more than grading!

I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom.

Don from Cedar Rapids, IA

Speaking of salary caps … do you think the LA Dodgers will stay undefeated this year?

The collective start of those top four teams in the NL West is astounding.

Bob from Milwaukee, WI

Mike, is the toughest part of the job us? Be honest. LOL, I am not here to get published, just to mess with the boyz. Did you have hot dogs or brats for opening day?

Neither, but later today I'm making my initial 2025 pilgrimage to Am Fam Field to catch a couple of games this weekend. The first brats of the season will be on the tailgate grill soon.

Jonnie from Garden City, MI

Good morning, Mike! While it is baloney season, thankfully the NFL has greatly improved many aspects of the offseason with sprinkling in some steak and potatoes (the draft), some hefty scoops of mac & cheese (owners meetings), a couple sweet treats (schedule release and international game dates) all building up to when the baloney stops and football starts. Thanks for keeping us well-informed and grounded during the offseason so we can enter the season with hope and reasonable expectations!

I can't keep up with this culinary calendar.

Nathan from Laramie, WY

I think James from Appleton has just rebranded Baloney Season into Roller-dog Flavored Chip Season (RodFlaCS for short). Both brilliant and appropriate.

It doesn't quite roll (pun intended, I'll see myself out) off the tongue the same, but the sentiment is there.

Mark from Burnt Hill, Canada

Mike, as a "Backer" for probably a few more decades than most, it becomes increasingly difficult to answer my wife's same old question every year. "What do you want for your birthday, Hun?" As usual she asked me this afternoon, as my birthday is tomorrow. When I put my thoughts in motion, all I could come up with was a Happy Friday please? Without missing a beat she responded, "You'll have to ask Mr. Spofford for that one, Hun." Just thought I'd share that with you. I am a blessed man!

Indeed. Happy Friday.