Call it the beauty of this league

Mike Spofford

Sean from Chicago, IL

Goalposts at the 20-yard line? I thought we were past the 80-yard field nonsense.

Nicely done.

Steve from Grawn, MI

Moving goal posts? Almost sounds like a metaphor...

This one wore me out looking through the submissions.

Bruce from Jackson, WI

Mike, did you catch your daily limit over the weekend? I used to call those mental health days when you reset, and a reset you needed. I couldn't believe you agreed with David from Janesville that if needed we could find a starting RB who could immediately contribute off of the waiver wire or our PS. Heck, why would we ever draft another RB? I guess everyone can pick up stunts to protect Love, as well as having great hands when Love needs to dump it off. Hopefully, we won't need to prove that.

David's question wasn't about finding a starter. It was about finding another contributor. He mentioned the next Emanuel Wilson being out there somewhere, and I agreed. Wilson started only two games in his Packers career and rushed for 998 yards the last two seasons.

Ross from Pine Island, MN

Not a question just a thought on future of the Bears. Had the pleasure to meet Cliff Christl and get "The Greatest Story In Sports" signed. If not for Mr. Halas we wouldn't have a team. As much as I enjoy beating the Bears they belong in Chicago. We as football fans should be helping them to stay in Chicago. One of the most historic rivalries needs to be preserved.

I wholeheartedly agree and second all of Wes's sentiments from yesterday. But I'm not sure what Packers fans, or any football fans, can actually do. It's out of their/our proverbial hands.

Brian from Urbana, IL

As a member of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, I personally lobbied at the state capitol in Springfield on May 27 against the Bears being granted any taxpayer money for their stadium. We need more funding. All schools need more funding. Many states are in even worse positions than ours. I love football, but if taxes pay for better schools and hospitals and NFL teams move to Waukegan or Terre Haute, it's a price I'm willing to pay.

I can appreciate that position. The situation is very different than the one Green Bay faced 25-plus years ago. Chicago doesn't need the Bears for its local economy. This community does, and even here the referendum only passed by a few percentage points (53-47). I get where you're coming from, truly.

Dale from Aurora, CO

There is so much excitement aboutMatthew Golden's potential in his second year. My concern is his somewhat, shall we say, delicate physique in terms of NFL size. Is there any info regarding his offseason activities that he may have put on a few pounds of muscle that may benefit him?

Golden mentioned when he spoke with the media Tuesday he's put on some weight, but he didn't say how much. He doesn't look "small" out there, at least not to me. Yes, he's "small-er" thanChristian Watson, obviously, but he's not small. I've got more on Golden coming in a story later this morning.

Marshall from Mesa, AZ

With all due respect to James from Appleton, I wholeheartedly disagree. Why wouldn't you have the goal of being able to effectively rush with just your front four? Where's the downside? It frees up an extra man or two at least and gives you that many more options to confuse the offense on coverages. Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't see it. Show me a team that can rush effectively with four and also have a bad defense.

I'm with you. I'm all for sending an extra rusher or two when it makes sense, but the key is to be able to choose when to do so, not feel like you have to in order to succeed.

Dave from Gwinn, MI

Regarding blitzes, who in the secondary would be best as a surprise blitzer every now and then? One of the safeties orBrandon Cissein the slot? Is there a player you *wouldn't* have rush the passer because of his coverage skills?

I don't think any player should have a blanket "no blitz" restriction because opponents will notice, and the more that DB blitz is spread around to different guys, the more effective it can be. Under Hafley,Xavier McKinneymight've been the DB who blitzed the least, yet he made his share of highlight-reel plays when he attacked. That's not by accident.

Adrian from Chula Vista, CA

II, it seems that the Patriots are all in this year to play in Sofi Stadium in February. Do you think the addition of AJ Brown will have an impact on Romeo Doubs? And, I'm sure the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals are smiling from ear to ear today.

I think Eliot Wolf made a concerted effort to overhaul the receiver position for his franchise QB, Drake Maye, and the duo of Brown and Doubs is a major upgrade over what New England had. As for the AFC North, I'm sure those teams aren't sad to see Garrett go, but the last time the Browns finished better than 3-3 in division games was 2018 (3-2-1), and they should be able to use the trade assets to be a more formidable team in the near future.

Jim from Pewaukee, WI

Don't tell Gutey, but following Monday's blockbusters, the case for fewer Spoff PTO days is getting stronger.

Ya gotta take the good with the bad. I was on an airplane heading into Labor Day weekend last summer when theMicah Parsonstrade went down.

Martin from UK

Of all of the big non-Packer moves/trades around the NFL, which are you most looking forward to seeing in the new season? My Patriot-supporting cousin (completely letting the family down) can't wait for AJ Brown playing with a QB that might throw the ball to him a bit more. As always, GPG!

Garrett to the Rams will be one of the stories of 2026, just as Parsons to the Packers was the big story of 2025 until he got hurt. Draft picks aside, the Rams gave up a really promising young player in Verse (double-digit TFLs his first two years in the league) to land Garrett while Stafford is still slingin' it. I totally get the approach. The Rams sold out five years ago and won a championship when a ton of things went their way in the playoffs. Will it actually work in their favor again? We're a long way from January and a lot can happen between now and then.

Dan from Minneapolis, MN

The Rams really made an all-in move and are the now the favorite to win the SB (according to those people who are banned from Bushwood). That Thanksgiving time game might be the test of the regular season for the Packers. It's only one game on the schedule, but how important a measuring stick game do you rate that as being? Thank you.

Ask me that again when Thanksgiving week arrives.

Bart from Appleton, WI

Wow, what a day for a league that is months away from starting. Rams acquiring the best defensive player in the NFL. Eagles unload Brown to New England. Russell Wilson moves to broadcasting. At one point it looked like Wilson was a good shot at Hall of Fame, now I don't know. What's your read on it?

Wilson will be a fascinating case/discussion when he's eligible for Canton. On the one hand, it's hard for me to see a player with just one All-Pro selection (and a second-team choice at that, in 2019) getting in. Then again, despite the lack of All-Pro nods, he finished in the top five in Offensive Player of the Year voting three times and was a Pro Bowler nine of his first 10 seasons. It's a QB-driven league. He may have to wait a while, but he'll probably get in eventually.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

Does having a "seasoned" veteran QB2 inTyrod Taylorchange the dynamic of practice reps and/or potential snaps in preseason? Seems to me he'd acclimate fairly quickly, leaving more ops for the final two QBs to complete for what seems to be the one PS position. Or is more important to get Tyrod used to the new scheme and players?

Taylor needs to get as comfortable in LaFleur's system as possible, and in the two OTAs we've witnessed, he has taken plenty of 11-on-11 reps. The preseason approach may depend on just where he's at in the process.

Herb from Mosier, OR

Since the OTAs are non-contact drills, what do the linemen actually do during practice? Who are the No. 1 defensive linemen during these OTAs?

The linemen engage but it's all hand/arm contact, not full-body bull-rushing or anything like that. In the two practices I've seen, most of the first-team reps on the interior of the D-line have been taken byJavon HargraveandKarl Brooksalongside eitherChris McClellanorWarren Brinson(Devonte Wyatt,Jordon RileyandJonathan Fordare currently not practicing). On the edges, it's beenLukas Van NessandBarryn SorrellwithBrenton Cox Jr.andDani Dennis-Suttonnext up (Collin Olivernot practicing).

Kyle from Osceola, WI

In a recent photo post, I saw a mix of players wearing and not wearing Guardian Caps. Can you tell us what the rules for this are currently? Are they mandatory for certain player groups in OTAs, or is it optional until training camp? Thanks.

They're optional as far as I know.

Troy from Westminster, CO

Not to pick nits but what's unmentioned in the post about McManus remaining unsigned is most unsigned players at this point will wait to sign until the tea leaves start to fall. Why sign with a team now, just for the chance to compete for a roster spot, instead of waiting and basically guaranteeing a roster spot a la McManus signing with the Pack two seasons ago? I suspect the lack of interest isn't as much from the teams as it is from the available players.

It's both. Teams don't have the need until they do, and it's in the players' interest to wait until those needs present themselves.

Craig from Sussex, WI

What do you suspect the players will receive for having 18 games? I think they will eliminate the offseason programs (OTAs and minicamps).

I've been wondering that for a while now. I could see the offseason, for veterans, being reduced further, with less voluntary work that then becomes truly voluntary (no workout incentives in contracts), but with training camp starting sooner in the summer. Or the players will get post-career health care coverage extended, which they've fought for in every recent CBA negotiation.

Venny from Montgomery, AL

On average six to seven teams make the playoffs that did not qualify the previous year. Which six teams from this past playoff group do you believe will be on the outside looking in, and which teams do you see making it in?

If I had any idea, I wouldn't need to answer fan mail multiple times per week. Call it the beauty of this league. At this time last year, coming off their 2024 seasons, no one would've thought the Chiefs, Ravens, Commanders and Lions would all miss the playoffs in 2025. But that's what happened.

Dyson from Austin, TX

Talking about wheels on goal posts reminded me of this Allen Iverson quote. "We sitting in here we're supposed to be II readers, the origin story of lasers on goal posts, and we in here talking about wheels on goal posts. I mean, listen: We talking about wheels. Not lasers. Not lasers. Not lasers. We talking about wheels. Not lasers. Not the lasers that we've talked about for years. Not the lasers. We talking about wheels, man."

I need another fishing trip. Maybe Bruce is right about that. Happy Wednesday.

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