Michael from Granite City, IL
With the tarps covering the fences and the Packers training outside, how do the Packers deal with drone control on the training ground?
Rodgers has a very good arm.
There is a proposal on the table to allow players to opt out of the coming season if they don’t feel safe to play. If the pandemic abated, would players then be allowed to re-register at some point later in the season? I could see allowing this to be abused by veteran players who might want to keep their bodies cool for the playoffs.
I do not see that happening. Players who withdraw would render themselves ineligible for the full season.
With concern about COVID-19 when players return, is there a league-wide policy to handle player testing and quarantines or does part of it belong to teams? ? Who would perform the tests? Will someone be monitoring the player (s) to make sure they are indeed quarantined? Could a player participate remotely in meetings for his position group (s)?
I have always said that I have to believe that the tests will be done by the league or an independent medical group. I don’t know if the players will be watched during quarantine except to make sure they are not with the rest of the squad. Failure to follow this protocol would only increase their chances of being tested positive again. Either way, many meetings will always be virtual, so whenever remote participation is possible, players will benefit.
So wait, are you saying our viewing experience could get even MORE disjointed and frustrating?
I knew someone would say that.
I know that you are not a fan of the rankings, but you also have your finger much closer to the media impulse than me. Is Jaire Alexander starting to gain national recognition as a top 10 CB? I see his name appear in different places, although I don’t remember that he was a featured topic of discussion during the season. If this is the case, good for him, normally there is one to two years of delay between playing at this level and being recognized for it (see: Bakhtiari, David).
I think Alexander is considered a strong candidate to climb into the top 10 very soon.
The signing of Derrick Henry (four years, $ 50 million) seems to be friendly to Henry and the Titans, as it does not reset the market and Henry earns more than his franchise label. Do you think this will be an approximate figure at which the Packers could try to sign Aaron Jones again?
It is certainly more acceptable than the figures of the contracts of Christian McCaffrey and Ezekiel Elliott. I’m not sure Jones will go from 1,000 rushing yards in Year 3 to 1,500 in Year 4 like Henry did, given the Packers’ other backfield options, but we’ll just have to see.
Hi Insiders, judging from social media, the Packers rookies are in Green Bay. Will you have access to virtual interviews before training camp?
Mike from Franksville, WI
I noticed that the defensive stats from the Packers media guide (tackles, defensive passes …) do not always match the totals on nfl.com. Who compiles the statistics for the media guide? Is there a reason they don’t match up with what the league has?
Defensive coaches compile statistics that the team publishes for tackles, defensive passes, etc., when examining the movies of the match, so the numbers frequently differ. In the event of any discrepancy regarding a bag (e.g. whether or not it should be shared with a teammate), the team will send the game to Elias Sports Bureau for an official decision.
Sean from Springfield, OR
Do you think the Packers (or any other team) will be removing a non-QB number in the future? Maybe Gronk or Larry Fitzgerald? With the emphasis on passing and the QB, I’m not sure any other positions will earn the numbers retirement praise in the long run.
I wouldn’t be so sure. I could see the Cardinals removing Fitzgerald’s number, and the Texans removing JJ Watt, as examples. When a megastar, Hall of Fame caliber player, off the pitch, has equal community impact or surpasses his or her exploits on the pitch, it makes the franchise’s decision easier.
I think the Packers have 40-50% of the salary cap tied to eight players (Rodgers, Adams, Bakhtiari, Linsley, Brothers Smith, Amos and Turner.) The other 46 contracts represent the balance which is less than 2.5 $. millions per player on average. Is it normal for the majority of NFL teams that 20% of the squad receives half the money? Second, what challenges does it pose in the locker room?
It’s pretty standard, and it highlights how important it is to write well and get elite level contributions from young players who aren’t paid as much to win consistently. In the locker room, I think that’s just considered the nature of the beast, and the players see the big payday on the second contract as a rite of passage, so to speak.
