Inbox: He's a really interesting dude

[Cheesehead]

Joe from Bloomington, IN


How close will a manager be allowed to get when he wants to go nose-to-nose with the umpire?


That's a bygone era, my friend. They just call for video review now.


Johan from Pembroke, ON


Spoff, here's the incredibly painful answer to Paul from Madison's question on the biggest offensive drop in franchise history: Andrew Quarless' dropped pass on third-and-4 in Seattle. If he catches that, it's a likely first down and maybe that game ends differently. Painful memory.


I'd have to look at it again to be sure (which I won't), but if I recall it wasn't a given he'd get the first down even with the catch. Regardless, it was right before Burnett's final INT anyway, so the offense did have another first down, and in better field position, less than a minute later. When I saw that question, as Wes noted, my mind went to Jordy in Buffalo. As much as I don't enjoy pointing out the only real lowlight of his decorated career here, if he makes that catch, it's a 94-yard touchdown and the Seattle game is most likely at Lambeau Field instead.


Julian from Gastonia, NC


Concerning Packer drops that were costly, this one is never mentioned as far as I know. Wasn't it Craig Newsome who dropped a sure interception at the Packers' 1-yard line just before Steve Young stumbled a winning pass to beat the Packers in SF, ending the Packers' run under Mike Holmgren? Of course it never should have gotten that far because Rice fumbled and the Packers recovered prior to instant replay.


I'll be honest, I don't remember the Newsome play. I do remember Shields dropping a pick at the goal line in the fourth quarter of the '15 divisional game in Arizona, before Palmer threw the deflected TD pass to take the lead.


Mike from Ames, IA


I realize this isn't what yesterday's question about drops meant, but the image of a "drop" in my head forever will be Yancey Thigpen in the corner of the end zone in '95. Gotta be the biggest drop against the Pack until Dez Bryant, right?


Vinny from Arlington, VA


With the virtual offseason and players getting playbooks and information via iPads, I wonder how is this information secured? With 90 players, not all of whom will make the roster due to restrictions, how does the organization prevent the information from ending up in the hands of other organizations? This is highly sensitive team-specific information that I worry about getting out to other teams, whether inadvertently or intentionally (e.g. disgruntled or cut player).


I don't know all the specifics, but trust me, there are all kinds of login, authentication and distribution protocols, rules for turning the devices in when released, and the abilities to restrict access and wipe information remotely. I'm no IT expert, but I would bet it's more secure than the old printed binders they used to hand out.


Richard from Madison, WI


I look at (yesterday's) picture of Brett Favre with his arm around Aaron Rodgers' shoulder and I think the same thing I do every time I see Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman on TV: "My god, his hands are HUGE!" Is there a stat like, I dunno, handspan for QBs the way there is for time in the 40 for RBs or vertical leap for WRs and DBs?


Yes, absolutely. It's measured at the combine every year, from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinky finger with the hand outstretched. Favre's hands measured 10 3/8 inches, I believe, and the average male hand size is around 8½ inches.


Tom from New Berlin, WI


I realize I may be putting you on the spot. Who do you feel of all the Packer players set to become unrestricted free agents after this year may not be re-signed by the Packers?


I'm not going to make any predictions, because what certain players might demand for their contracts, or what the team may offer, can alter negotiations and therefore their odds of coming back as well as the odds of others. So I'll say it this way. Based on how the roster is currently constructed, the spots with pending free agents where the Packers are best positioned to withstand a departure would be interior offensive line and running back, provided one of the two backs re-signs.


Michael from Berrien Springs, MI


"LaFleur had former Packers defensive back Charles Woodson address the team via video." That's really interesting. Any chance we can learn what Mr. Woodson had to say?


As soon as we have access to players again, I plan to find out.