Inbox: He willed it to pass

[Cheesehead]

Derek from Eau Claire, WI


Every rep of an NFL practice is scripted to get the exact look that the coaches want to see. It will be interesting to see how that plays out when there are two coaching staffs both wanting to see different things. I suppose each team will be in charge for different periods.


They’ll want to see reactions and adjustments on the fly, too, which is how training-camp practices in general differ from regular-season ones. The fully scripted work in the sense you’re referring to is more related to scout-team work during a week of prep for a specific opponent. Pitting ones vs. ones in training camp, whether all one team or in a joint practice, is a different animal.


Steve from Neenah, WI


Will the practices with Houston be open to the public?


Yes, both of them.


TJ from Eagle, WI


With the way he played last year, Jaire Alexander has to be on his way to becoming one of the NFL's best corners. How long do you think it will take for him to really emerge as a star?


I believe we’re going to see significant signs this season. Alexander is potentially a major chess piece in Mike Pettine’s secondary.


Spencer from Brookfield, WI


Hey Mike, what is the most interesting thing you can remember happening around the league during the dead zone?


Brett Favre applying for reinstatement from the league in 2008. I was at Cub Scout camp with my son, which started a strange, several-year run of big news happening while I was on vacation.


Dan from South Range, WI


I saw the story on Koonce and Torkelson being voted to the board of directors. Is that common for the Packers? I guess I never paid attention to the board members so have no idea if there are other former players on the board.


Johnnie Gray, Larry McCarren, and Dexter McNabb are former NFL players who are current board members, while Willie Davis and Pat Richter are among the directors emeritus.


Bob from Taycheedah, WI


Today (June 20) you published a question from "Kevin from Starr Pass, AZ." Starr Pass? We need to rename one of our Wisconsin towns “Starr Pass” as soon as possible! Candidates include Disco, Embarrass, Fence, Ixonia, Luck, Random Lake, or Tichigan.


You aren’t nominating your own town? I’ve heard of every Wisconsin town you listed, but I had to look yours up to make sure it was real.


Jordan from Eau Claire, WI


Mike, back in the ’90s when the team proposed the Brown County sales tax to help fund the stadium renovations, I vaguely remember them threatening to move the team if the vote didn't pass. How real was this threat, and to where would they have moved? I think the vote was still pretty close, too. I could be remembering this all wrong though, since I was pretty young at the time.


The team wasn’t going to move, because with no controlling shareholder, no individual has the power to do so. The threat was without the stadium renovation the team would not and could not remain financially competitive with the rest of the league, which would inevitably lead to lack of competitiveness on the field and, at some point potentially, a folding of the franchise. The vote was close. Percentage-wise it was 53-47, and I don’t think it would have passed without Bob Harlan’s relentless public campaigning. He willed it to pass.


Tim from Green Bay, WI


What is the proper garnishment for a deep fried cheese curd?


Usually ranch or marinara, or various versions thereof. But it’s a rule to always eat at least one plain, with nothing on it. At least that’s my rule.


Joe from Parkland County, Alberta


To Eric and Ron about locking in 38-40 guys for guaranteed roster spots. Just remember most would have considered Josh Sitton a lock for a spot on the O-line a few years ago. Let’s just get through training camp and the preseason first.


The Sitton move was a genuine exception. It ranks as the most unexpected cut-down day roster move in my 13 seasons in this job, bar none. But it does go to show you just never know.


Jeff from Victorville, CA


Dead zone: one week down, five weeks to go. Looking forward to an intriguing training camp, preseason and regular season. No one knows if the Packers will win seven games or 13 games. I believe a win in Week 1 will push people into thinking 13 not seven. My question is, how much emphasis should we put into Week 1 results, and does a new coach with a new offense benefit the Packers more or the Bears more in Week 1?


I think there’s a small benefit to the Packers but it’s not something I’d hang my hat on. That’s going to be a veteran, savvy Bears defense that won’t take too long to get a handle on things. Either way, I expect a colossal overreaction to whatever happens at Soldier Field that night. All perspective will be lost, win or lose.