Mornin’ Spoff. Michael from Jacksonville asked yesterday about why the runner on an outside run doesn’t just throw the ball downfield or out of bounds if he isn’t going to get back to the line to gain. I wondered that for a while myself but then realized on a running play, someone on the OL is likely downfield blocking, thus, it would be a penalty for “illegal man downfield.” Do I have that right?

When the NFL turns preseason games into regular-season games I see an unintended consequence occurring. Previously the preseason was the opportunity for young or undrafted players to show they deserve a roster spot, but now that the games count their chance to shine is lessoned. Teams may decide to stay with an aging, diminishing-skills player rather than risking a roster spot on an intriguing but now unproven player. In this new world would a player like Sam Shields possibly not get discovered?

Not necessarily. Joint practices have taken the place of preseason games and those opportunities are still there for young players. It’s not the same as a preseason game, but it’s close.

Ian from Kirkwhelpington, UK

Mike, I have read in various places that the Packers will almost certainly not tender Emanuel Wilson but seek to sign him to a cheaper one-year contract instead. Given his play over the last two years, is he not worth a two- or three-year deal, or will Wilson spend his career on one-year deals?

Well, first off, an RFA tender is a one-year deal anyway, and a multi-year deal doesn’t necessarily mean anything if there’s no guaranteed money beyond the signing bonus or first year. But bigger picture, it isn’t necessarily in the best interests of a player like Wilson to sign for multiple years anyway. Any backup waiting for an opportunity to be a featured guy – whether that comes via injury or another avenue – needs to be able to cash in as soon as he proves himself, and playing on one-year deals is the only way to keep those options open.

What’s the one position group that has to take a clear step forward for the Packers to make a legitimate playoff run next season and why?

I don’t think it’s one. If it were just one, the Packers would’ve been better than the No. 7 seed and wouldn’t have gotten bounced in the first round. It’s the O-line’s consistency, the interior D-line’s impact, the edge rushers aside from Micah Parsons, and the cornerbacks making more plays. That sounds like a lot, but it’s not too much for one offseason.

I’m not trying to be a negative nelly, but I just don’t see how the O-line is going to shape up. We have two quality starters heading to free agency (Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan), and our cap space is currently in the negative. That second point opens up the possibility we have to move on from Elgton Jenkins as well. Aaron Banks is getting paid a ton and way underperformed. I know Russ Ball and Gutekunst are considered wizards, but they can’t create something out of nothing. Am I missing something?

The Packers have several moves they can make to create cap space. But to play out one possible, speculative scenario – there’s a first-round pick in Jordan Morgan waiting in the wings to play left tackle should they decide to move on from Walker, Banks seemed to play fine as long as he was healthy, Rhyan could be a relatively inexpensive re-signing to play center, Anthony Belton appeared to find a home late in the year at right guard, and Zach Tom needs to get healthy at right tackle. There are other ways this could go, too. As I said the other day, I’m confident they can put together a solid starting five. The questions arise related to the depth after that.

How much is it going to cost for another team to grab Malik Willis?

Salary cap sites estimate Willis will land a contract in the $10M per year range, which this year, depending on playing time, was worth either a fifth- or sixth-round compensatory pick.

Just wondering if the NFL has ever had a Super Bowl featuring two teams that are farther apart than the Patriots and the Seahawks?

Not quite. According to sportmapworld.com, the air distance between the Patriots and Seahawks (I think the site goes by stadium location) is 2,487 miles. Back in Super Bowl XIX, the distance between the Dolphins and 49ers was 2,723 miles.