Making the final decisions difficult is the personnel departments job

Mike Spofford

Jeff from Dorr, MI

NFL channel was replaying 2021 playoff game against SF. I may have missed someone but I could only find three players all on defense playing in the game that are still on the roster. Dog-eat-dog world and apparently a lot wearing milk bone underwear.

Appreciate the tribute to Norm.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, Aaron Jones came up in the Inbox again, and it got me thinking about just how difficult of a void that was forJosh Jacobsto step into, and how effortlessly he did exactly that. Now more than a year in Josh didn't try to be anyone but himself, and just did his job at a high level while being an exceptional teammate. We all fondly remember Aaron (and I still don't like seeing him in purple) but what a job Jacobs has done taking the RB1 spot. Year 2 should be even better.

No reason to think otherwise.

Al from Hartford, WI

As a follow up to Allan from Austin's question on picks run out of the end zone, I add the fourth-down interception 40 yards downfield from the line of scrimmage. Drives me nuts all the time. At the NFL level, in that moment, is it all about the stat and the next contract vs. field position for the betterment of the team? Same answer as went to Allan?

Pretty much, on both counts.

Doug from Richardson, TX

Mike, when you were on your soapbox about too many mediocre teams making the playoffs, according to record, you would have to put the Packers in that group. Are you saying the Packers are mediocre?

I think the Packers were incredibly fortunate to make the playoffs in '23 by winning six of their last eight games just to get above .500. There were five other 9-8 teams that year (Seahawks, Saints, Colts, Jaguars, Bengals) that did not get in. So yes, they were an average team playing well at the end of the year. Last season's full body of work (11-6 including a position-wise inconsequential loss in the finale) was a different story, even though they earned the same seed as the year prior. But I was also referring to what I believe will be the inevitable eighth seed and no byes, which would put half the league in the postseason with no advantage gained for anyone in the tournament except home field. A meaningful regular season should be about eliminating more teams, not letting more in, and rewarding the best teams for sustained success. I would have zero problem going back to six teams per conference with two byes (it'll never happen) no matter how it affects the Packers.

Jake from Madison, WI

Hypocrisy, thy name is Insider Inbox. A day after the tush push ban was shot down, we're in here talking about how it would "be foolish" for LaFleur not to utilize the play more. And yet, one of the principal reasons the Packers proposed the ban was supposedly for player safety. So to Kyle from St. Charles, I get why people call us crybabies. This whole thing reeks of sour grapes. Do you not see it that way, Mike?

No, I don't. First, credible reporting indicates the league asked the Packers to make this proposal. As a team with a non-owner and outgoing president, the Packers made sense as flak-taker. Teams do this at the league's/commissioner's behest all the time. Second, while player safety was strongly endorsed by the league, the Packers' primary message about the proposed ban reinforced by the rewritten proposal that was voted on and almost passed was that assisting the runner is not a football play and the league should go back to the pre-2005 rules. I wholeheartedly agree with that position and said so in this space from the minute I saw the first tush push. It's an absurd extension of the downfield scrums where runners are stopped but don't go down and then get a bunch of extra yards with the help of a posse pushing the pile. I don't like it and never have. Hopefully the proposal is revived next year and gets at least two more votes.

Gregg from Arlington Heights, IL

I cannot express myself well enough that will voice how much I dislike the "sneaky scrum" and the "movable pile." When the success percentages become so high, predictability becomes the norm and the magic of the game is lost. Back in the day, we would take matters on our own and cut the offensive players' legs, but alas, the game "evolves." Unfortunately, these plays remind me of the old electronic football game. We would pile our plastic players together, turn on the table and feel the hum.

Thanks for helping me crack a smile. Aside from what I said above, the other thing I truly dislike about this is the blatant double standard. So the offense is allowed to shove players from behind to convert in short-yardage situations, but it's still a penalty for the defense to shove players from behind to get inside push for a potential field-goal block. Either it's fair or it's not. Either it's dangerous or it's not. Make up your mind, NFL. I realize it's another typical rule that helps the offense, which is not a surprise in this league. But in this case it also makes for a boring play nobody really wants to watch. The fact that 2/3 of the league is now against it says a lot.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

The tush push vote went 22-10. The Eagles beat the Packers, 22-10. Does history rhyme?

Gimme 26-6 on Nov. 10 and let's see.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

It is a fact that Gute likes keeping the team young and on controlling contracts. Since he addressed all the perceived areas of need with the draft and UDFAs, is it safe to assume that we fans should expect several of our favorite vets to be traded or released?

Why would you think that? While the Packers won't be able to re-sign every pending free agent and some are certain to depart, a foundation of the Packers' MO is to keep the homegrown players they feel are crucial to the team's future core. A massive purge just because some holes were filled by the rookie class is not how this team operates.

Jeffery from Monticello, WI

Hello II, I know having a lot of great players is a good thing to have but when it's in one position it seems to be a little crowded, I meanChristian Watson,Romeo Doubs,Dontayvion Wicks,Jayden ReedandMecole Hardmanwere a tough room and now addMatthew GoldenandSavion Williamsthe room is not only full but it's a little on the packed side. Not to mention two TEs that like the ball as well. Do you see them keeping all these guys on the 53 this year?

Well, Watson won't count on the 53 at the start of the season, so that opens a spot until he comes back. But regardless, roster spots will have to be earned, and there's no set number being kept at a given position. At receiver, it'll be minimum five, probably six, and maybe seven. Tight end at least three, possibly four. Making the final decisions difficult is the personnel department's job.

Laurie from Sheboygan, WI

Does guaranteed money ever have conditions? For example, would it be out of the norm for a contract to have a caveat such as, "If the player chooses to participate in a known dangerous activity outside of NFL football and sustains an injury which impacts their participation in the NFL season, the guarantee is void"? This seems like it might be one way NFL teams could protect their teams' interests when players play in the Olympics.

You're talking about the NFI (non-football injury) designation, and contracts are not guaranteed for NFI reasons. An injury that occurs outside the team's purview can result in a player going on the NFI list, which halts salary payment.

George from Duluth, MN

Elgton G vs C money c'mon, what is this even a thing, for fans but especially forElgton Jenkins? He's already Pro Bowl guard, getting Pro Bowl guard money. No matter where he signs his next deal, and no matter if he's played center, he's still gonna be a Pro Bowl guard, who BTW can also play tackle. Do you seriously think he has to worry (if he's healthy) about getting paid down the line?

Apparently he does, so it must be addressed. He's looking at probably just one more sizable contract in his career, so I get it.

Bill from Clive, IA

Hey Wes and Mike, a question for either or both of you: With OTAs coming up, what do you spend the most time watching/analyzing? Related to that, to what are you NOT allowed access during OTAs?

We talked about this on our latest "Unscripted." We'll have access to one practice per week during OTAs, followed by a press conference from the head coach and locker room interviews. Rather than repeat myself I'll put in a shameless plug for the show.

Max from Annapolis, MD

I understand not wanting to get into the business aspect of the Jenkins situation and agree it will work itself out in time, but I am very curious about which players are taking the most offseason reps at C. That's the kind of football/depth insight that we can only gain when a starter is out for some reason.

If Jenkins isn't back next week when we get to view one practice, everyone in the media will be watching for that.

Doug from Neenah, WI

There was talk aboutEdgerrin Cooperlooking more like 240 pounds rather than the 229 he's listed at on the packers.com team page. At some point in the offseason, are players re-measured for height and weight to update their biography along with age and experience? Thanks.

Players are weighed all the time to make sure nothing's out of whack with their training that's negatively affecting their bodies. But we don't adjust a player's weight on the official roster unless the personnel department alerts us to a change. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

Tom from Emerado, ND

My prediction is this team will have 50/50/50 receptions from Jacobs/Tucker Kraft/Luke Musgraveand 75/75/75 receptions from Reed/Golden/Doubs and total 35 TDs. If MF calls the game plays balanced, we will come out with a playoff spot and a good chance at SB. Have you ever seen this type of offensive balance?

I'm going to break the no math rule here, but that's at least 375 receptions from just six players. I realize there are 17 games now, but only once in Packers history has a QB completed more than 375 passes in a season (Rodgers, 401 in 2016) and 16 different players caught passes that year.

Bill from Coeur d'Alene, ID

Do you know if there are any examples of a position coach change from one season to the next that resulted in a significant uptick in production? I'm thinking of the change to DeMarcus Covington, obviously, for the Packers. Do you know what difference he made for New England as a D-line coach, or any other examples of a position coach making a big difference when he first started with a new team? What's a realistic difference Covington could make for the Packers this season?

I don't think I can quantify it, but the change for me is reminiscent of Mike Trgovac (D-line) and Kevin Greene (edge rushers) taking charge of those units when Dom Capers came in. Granted, that accompanied a scheme change and the drafting of B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews, but now the scheme change is just a year old, and the Packers have two first-rounders up front (Devonte WyattandLukas Van Ness) on rookie contracts, so there's still a parallel. The Packers went from 27 sacks as a team in 2008 to 37 in '09 to 47 in '10. I'm not saying any quantum leaps are guaranteed, but getting the most out of the young first-round picks is paramount for the pass rush to take the next step.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

Kind of random one, but we're heading towards random season anyway. I recently saw a highlight reel of Eddie Lacy's rookie season. Man was he awesome! First official Packer jersey I ever bought. And potentially the last. Because I felt like by buying his jersey I'm somehow jinxed his once incredibly promising career. But maybe it wasn't me? Maybe it was that NFL also stands for Not For Long. What is your favorite memory of Eddie?

I'm sure I've told this story before. After Lacy's rookie year, I sat down with him for a Yearbook feature, and he told me everything he went through with his ankle injury just to be able to play in '13 when Rodgers missed so many games with the broken collarbone. His ankle was messed up so badly, he was in a walking boot every week until Thursday or Friday, when he'd remove it to take a few practice reps and get ready to roll again on Sunday. After the game, back in the boot. Rinse and repeat, week after week. Knowing all that put his Offensive Rookie of the Year honor, and all those 2013 highlights, in a different perspective.

Al from Green Bay, WI

I'm not a great golfer by any means. But every once in a while I hit a shot so well that it gives me a brief dopamine high. Do you have a correlating experience while writing/reporting? Do you have an example?

Pretty much every road trip. After I sign off from the live blog in the press box and write the bulletin at the final gun that tops off Wes's quarter-by-quarter updates, I rush downstairs for the press conferences to take live notes on my laptop. Once those are done, I hustle to the bus with the goal of getting the game recap (5 takeaways, with quotes) written and sent back for posting before the bus pulls into the airport. I can't recall a time I've missed that self-imposed "deadline," but I still get an adrenaline rush every time I'm trying to hit it. It's what makes gamedays away from home so intense and exhausting, but I sort of live for it now. I hustle plenty after home games, too, but without the travel it's less stressful.

Markus from Aurora, CO

Insiders, your remark regarding the market's pricing for Packers' road games is spot on: It's basic economics. I'll nonetheless see if we can't snag a couple tickets here for the Mile High showdown in December.

I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you. Happy Friday.

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