Jim from Prairie du Chien, WI

Good morning, all! With AR8 (that sounds quite weird) at Pittsburgh, how many Packers on the current roster were teammates with him? GPG!

Sixteen, though eight came via the 2022 NFL Draft. Only five veterans remain from the 2020 NFC title game.

Curtis from Moreno Valley, CA

So, Week 8 should be fun…

That whole week is stacked, beginning with J.J. McCarthy facing his former college coach on Thursday Night Football. To cap it all off, Jayden Daniels leads Washington into Arrowhead to face Patrick Mahomes for the first time on Monday Night Football.

Why all the mental gymnastics around the kickoff rules? Let’s see, if we move the touchback spot to the 35, that will disincentivize kicking to the end zone, therefore teams will intentionally kick short more often. Just move the freaking kicker back, and you’ll get more returns! Seems like the real intent here is to get to the point where the offense can just start at the 50.

I’m officially taking Keisean Nixon‘s stance on the kickoff changes: “I don’t really have a comment on that because it doesn’t really matter.”

Paul from Farnborough, UK

Dear Wes/Spoff, it might sound like a silly question but do all players have Super Bowl aspirations or do they just go where the salary is the highest and hope a ring might just come their way?

I can’t speak to the personal motivations of every NFL player, but I was around Marcedes Lewis and Julius Peppers enough to see what winning a Super Bowl ring means to veterans. While the goal is to provide for you and your family, all these men are competitors. It doesn’t matter how much you’re getting paid if you’re constantly losing. Guys want to win it all.

Theresa from Sylvania, OH

I noticed Brian Gutekunst on the sidelines in some recent OTA photos and was curious about how frequently he attends and if is there are certain times he is more likely to make an appearance? I find the role of the GM fascinating and love to see him watching the work “live.”

Gutekunst is almost always there during the offseason, along with the Packers’ top personnel executives. Most of the college and pro scouts are in town during the offseason, too, until their college and NFL commitments ramp up.

I know you’ve likely said this already, but I can’t remember. Do you have access one day during mandatory minicamp?

The media is allowed to attend all three minicamp practices, so plenty of stories and videos coming your way on packers.com next week.

Who do you expect to have a bigger impact on the Packers’ success this season, Edgerrin Cooper or Matthew Golden?

Golden has a lot of long-term potential, but I think Cooper could be one of the best players on this team next season after what I consider the most encouraging rookie season from a Green Bay defender since Clay Matthews.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

The Packers have had some great draft classes over the years. If you had to pick one single draft class as the most impactful in franchise history, which would it be and why?

The 1958 draft class slightly edges out 1956 in my book. The latter saw the Packers net two Hall of Famers in Bart Starr and Forrest Gregg. However, that ’58 draft really set the foundation for the Lombardi era with three future Hall of Famers (Jim Taylor, Ray Nitschke and Jerry Kramer) and Dan Currie. The Packers also took Ken Gray, who became a seven-time All-Pro with the Cardinals.

Chili from Pacific Beach, CA

I don’t know what all this talk is about stadiums and funding. I’m 68 and been a Packer fan my entire football life and been to three games. Candlestick, the Oakland Raiders and the 2018 Rams game at the LA Coliseum. Honestly, they were all miserable experiences. I much prefer watching from the comfort of my sofa with cheap drinks and food and a 20-foot walk to my bed. Maybe stadiums will be obsolete at some point. Although Lambeau is on my bucket list. That my change my mind.

If it’s within your means, I’d put Green Bay on your bucket list. There’s a lot of history at Candlestick and the Coliseum, but nothing compares to tradition and amenities of Lambeau Field. I’d say give it one more shake of the dice.