Hopefully it makes the point

Mike Spofford

Ingrid from Hugo, MN

Mike, did you go on vacation after you posted II on Friday?

Ha, actually no. I was working Friday, getting a jump on this morning's column (sorry, just broke the first rule) and lo and behold, found plenty to talk about.

John from Spring Hill, TN

This is probably the one hundredth question you have gotten on McManus. Can you help me understand why the move was made now? Why not let the competition play out?

It's possible McManus requested his release, meaning the Packers were actually planning on a full-fledged competition. Or perhaps this was coming all along once Smack was drafted, meaning the Packers paid McManus the $1M roster bonus in March as a hedge in case it didn't work out to getTrey Smack. Whichever the case, it's the shortest kicker competition I can recall.

Chris from Waukesha, WI

Well, that escalated quickly. Did Trey Smack's perfect kicking name win him the starting job? In all seriousness, I don't think any kicker will have the welcome that McManus did. From the couch to two straight walk-off field goals? Absolutely legendary.

That's unlikely to be repeated. But it just goes to show, nobody's start necessarily defines his future. Crosby made a game-winner in his NFL debut, while Longwell's first crack in the clutch was a blown chip shot (both against Philly, by the way), and Carlson made every kick in his first five games. You just never know.

Randy from Lebanon, KY

I find the timing of release of McManus quite interesting. Do you think he requested his release? And, with Achord stating he has had, and I think prefers, multiple kickers that they will sign another "camp" leg/prospect? If they do it would signal the request did occur.

I don't expect the Packers to go out of their way to bring in another kicker withLucas Havrisikstill here, but I guess never say never.

John from Ludgershall, UK

It seems there was more to trading for Trey Smack than meets the eye

As I said on "Unscripted" right after the draft, that's what I find so fascinating about this whole process. The Packers had an earlier sixth-round pick, but used it on another corner. If Smack gets taken in the sixth after the Packers tookDomani Jackson, he's not here and McManus in all likelihood still is. Gutey didn't feel he could stand pat in the seventh and get him, so he made the move, and it could alter the position in GB for a long time to come. Yet Jackson was the higher priority/better value just 15 picks earlier.

Stephen from New Lenox, IL

Now that McManus has been released, do the Packers owe him any more from his contract?

They don't owe him anything, but the remaining portion of his signing bonus that hasn't yet counted against the cap (from the contract he got last year) will become a dead money charge. It's being split over this year and next with the release carrying a post-June 1 designation.

Andy from Verona, WI

Since it's still the offseason, is there anyone on the training staff who can increaseJordan Morgan's arms 1/8 inch before the season starts so his arms will no longer be too short for him to play tackle?

This crowd's always got something.

James from Chicago, IL

George Koonce, I believe came to GB from the World League of American Football.

Good memory. Koonce originally signed as a UDFA with the Falcons, didn't make the team, and then played for Ohio in the WLAF before joining the Packers.

David from De Pere, WI

In regard to the question Friday, you need to addJonathan Ford, Davon House, Antonio Freeman, Doug Pederson, Gilbert Brown and Ryan Grant to the list of players who left and returned.

From my time here, I should've remembered House and I totally forgot about Grant. Thanks. Ford doesn't really count the same to me because he never played in a game his first go-round in GB.

George from Edinburg, VA

Good morning. Listening to you guys describe the new coaches in "Unscripted" was very enlightening. It made me wonder, the jump from college to the NFL being so great for players, wouldn't it be similar for coaches?

I'm sure there's an adjustment, but the speed of the game is the biggest change for players, and I don't think that really applies for coaches. Plus, in the NFL they can spend all their time coaching and don't have to dedicate a portion of their jobs to recruiting and the portal.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ

While you want to see how CB 2-3-4 shakes out, I'm interested in CB1.Keisean Nixonranked 41/144 CBs (PFF). He allowed a passer rating of 105, gave up seven TDs, had one interception (a big one) and was the most penalized corner in the league. I'm excited to watch the competition.

I can appreciate the sentiment for the Packers to be better at CB1, but I'd also like to see Nixon's stats/rankings before and after theDevonte WyattandMicah Parsonsinjuries. Regardless, he's unequivocally CB1 on this team, and his 17 passes broken up last season led the defense by a wide margin (Xavier McKinneywas next with 10, and the next-highest total by a corner wasCarrington Valentinewith four). Those 17 PBUs also ranked seventh in the league. I don't seeBrandon Cissebecoming this defense's top corner right away as a rookie, but could he be CB1 down the road? Absolutely.

Richard from Caledonia, WI

Has the Packers' second-round pick signed yet? Must he be signed prior to participating in team practices?

There's no issue until training camp rolls around.

Tyler from Cross Plains, WI

Hey guys, regarding the checks and audibles at the line of scrimmage, wouldn't it be advantageous to get the play call in and communicated ASAP soJordan Lovehas time to read the defense and possibly make adjustments after his initial cadence, when the defense shows their hand, a la Peyton Manning? Getting the play call in early and getting to the line of scrimmage hasn't been a strong suit for our offense lately, I hope we can get that cleaned up to give the offense a better opportunity to succeed.

It's always the goal, and the Packers have certainly been more efficient in some games than others. Often, if there's a delay, it's from a change in personnel grouping that takes a few extra ticks for everybody to get in the huddle.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

I am so old, I remember when the National Football League schedule used to come out before the draft. When was that, 2023?

Somewhere pre-2015 or so the schedule came out in April.

Mark from Westminster, CO

My wish for the year is to ban clichs and coach-speak when teams address the media. Any season wishes from Spoff or Hod, besides no flex games?

Good luck enforcing your ban. I always hope for road games outside the division (longer flights) to NOT be at night, with the L.A. road trip to play the Rams at the top of that list this year. But I'm sure I just jinxed it.

Dale from Prescott, WI

With the schedule set to come out Thursday, was wondering how long before some of the games start leaking out. When will you guys officially find out the schedule? A day or two before, then you'll be on double secret probation if you let it out? Then you could get a head start writing articles about it.

We get it a few hours in advance of it being officially announced. That's our head start to get all our content prepared. We're way too busy and on too tight a time crunch to leak anything.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Whenever the topic of having veteran backup QB is brought up, your usual rebuttal (and rightly so) is the cost. I haven't seen any contract info onTyrod Taylor, so what is his cost compared to Ridder? I agree with everything said about Taylor, but I was genuinely curious to see what Ridder could do being younger and a third-round pedigree.

The contract info I've seen on Taylor indicates the Packers got him for about twice the vet minimum, which feels like a good deal given his experience and track record. There are also some incentives charged to the cap the Packers presumably will get credited back to them if he doesn't have to play much. As for Ridder, I was curious, too, but I guess there's a reason the Packers were his fifth different team over the last two years. He had started only one game since leaving Atlanta.

Peter from Durham, UK

Hi Mike/Wes, with Micah Parsons being injured do you feel the reps the rookies get in training camp instead of him will benefit them or do you think the rookies would have benefited more by watching how he plays the game in training?

The additional repsLukas Van Ness,Barryn Sorrell,Collin OliverandDani Dennis-Suttonwill get in training camp (and the start of the season, presumably) in Parsons' absence will be invaluable. They'll all get way more work against the Packers' No. 1 offense in practice than they otherwise would, and the game action speaks for itself.

Gordon from Newport Beach, CA

TE would still appear to be a giant gap considering the last Green Bay Packers tight end to have a 1,000-yard receiving season was Paul Coffman in 1983. Are we really serious about attacking the middle of the field and sustaining drives without an Ertz or Kelce type of player to start the season?

Coffman never had a 1,000-yard season. But his 814 yards in '83 are the most in a single season by a Packers tight end.Tucker Kraftwas on pace to shatter the franchise single-season marks at his position for catches, yards and TDs before he got hurt last year. The hope is he'll be ready for Week 1, but even if he's not, nobody's finding an adequate replacement in the interim, or making any serious investment in a fill-in when Kraft's not expected to miss much, if any, of the season. That's unrealistic and wasteful on multiple levels.

Mark from Madison, WI

So pleased that the NFL and refs have reached a new collective bargaining agreement. We all saw what it was like under replacement refs. One step closer to another great season.

Glad it got done, and in plenty of time. Move along, nothing to see here.

Brad from Marion, IA

I saw the Packers gave a lot of guaranteed money to a UDFA this year. Is this a poison pill of sorts in that if they don't make the initial 53 then another team would need to pick up the guaranteed contract to sign them?

Not really. A big guarantee for a UDFA (say, $200-300K) is only a fraction of the minimum salary for a player who makes the 53, and a waiver claim puts the player on someone else's 53 anyway. What teams are saying with those guarantees is the UDFA almost certainly will have a spot on the practice squad (if not claimed via waivers) and the guaranteed money can be fulfilled that way.

Isaac from Camillus, NY

Hey, first time asking here. One of the main concerns while looking over the offseason moves was the fact that we didn't keep Nate Hobbs. I thought he played pretty well for us, so I don't really get the move to release him. Another was the trade forZaire Franklin. I know that Gannon is planning on running a 3-4 D similar to his squad in Philly during the '22 season. Will he be replacing Quay, and what will happen toIsaiah McDuffieif so? Will we still rotate him every now and again?

The Hobbs release was simply performance and injury risk not being worth the pricey contract, so they cut bait. Franklin is essentially Quay Walker's replacement, though it is a different scheme, so the most common inside 'backer pairing (at this point) will beEdgerrin Cooperand Franklin, with McDuffie probably a rotational player and/or the No. 3 for a potential three-LB package Gannon might cook up.

Tim from Olathe, KS

Insiders, you wondered what a head coaching interview is like. What is your guess? My guess is questions and scenarios about their management or communication style with coaches, staff, and media, how they hold people accountable, and how they relate to people in general. I'm thinking X's and O's is pretty far down the list.

If they talk X's and O's at all. Leadership I'm sure is the primary and overarching topic, however the club wants to explore that in the candidates.

Bruce from Jackson, WI

Hey guys, no other sport has as many players who all need to be on the same page on any play for it to go right. Sure, you can have busted plays, but generally speaking every player needs to execute his role for a play to be successful. Which would you rather have? Great coaches with good players, or great players with good coaches. My vote would be for great coaches who communicate well, get buy-in, and actively manage the game. What do you think?

I'll take great players every time, without hesitation. Jerry Rice and Bill Walsh are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and among the best ever at their respective jobs. Donald Driver and Mike Holmgren are in the Packers Hall of Fame following accomplished careers, but not in Canton, and even if they were, would not be considered in the same class. Given the choice of having Rice and Holmgren or Driver and Walsh, I'd take Rice and Holmgren in a heartbeat. Maybe not the best example, but hopefully it makes the point.

Marty from Rancho Cordova, CA

It's clear we can solve all of our defensive problems (and endless debate) by running a 3.5-3.5 front. But who do we cut in half?

Whom. Happy Monday.

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