Inbox: The game needs more people like him

[Cheesehead]

Dan from Rothschild, WI


Steven from Silver Spring, MD, brought up a point I have argued for years. I really think the interception stat is very misleading. All that is given is the number of interceptions. I'd like for someone to do the work and go back and check out every one of Favre's (or any other QB’s) interceptions and count how many were tipped or dropped. I would love to see how many were actually the fault of the QB.


I don’t know about Favre but I’m fairly certain three of Rodgers’ four interceptions over the past 26 games have come off dropped passes. You can throw the prettiest pass ever seen but someone needs to catch it. That’s the beauty of football.


Gary from Sheboygan, WI


A question for both of you. If you could interview a Packer who has passed away, who would it be and what one question would you ask him?


Cecil Isbell. Do you wish you’d played longer? Did you ever regret your decision to retire after 1942?


John from Twin Peaks, CA


Maybe you can address this for me this week. During the Chargers game, there was a penalty called while receiving a kickoff, “double-team” block on the receiving team. I'd never heard that call before, ever. What's the background behind that, and what is the rule that was broken?


That rule was a part of the kickoff changes in March 2018. The two players back with the kickoff returner (once referred to as “the posse”) are not allowed to “wedge block” or double-team one player trying to cover the kick.


Richard from Greenwich, NY


Players are constantly shuffled in and out during a game (except in hurry-up mode). How is this information communicated? Are coaches yelling from the sidelines or do the headset-equipped leaders on the field communicate what the next play will be, so that players know they aren't in it?


Teams have all these plays and packages ready. Once the call comes in to the quarterback, skill positions react accordingly. The position coaches also keep an eye out for their specific players. In some cases, there are basic substitution rules like a receiver heading to the sideline after running a deep route.


Chris from Flower Mound, TX


Congrats to Tramon Williams for being nominated for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. How ironic that award is named after the Steelers’ family owner. How does the NFL manage chippy games? What warnings and oversight will be in place for the Dec. 2 game?


First, congratulations to Tramon on being honored for the second consecutive year as the team’s Rooney Award nominee. The game needs more people like him. They don’t come any classier than ol’ No. 38. Based on my experience, there don’t tend to be many shenanigans in those type of rematches. In most cases, everyone is on their best behavior.


Joe from Cedar Grove, WI


Wow...What a mess of a situation in the Steelers-Browns game. I can't even remember the last time a Packer was even remotely involved in that kind of dirty scenario. The only one that comes to mind is Charles Martin body-slamming Jim McMahon in '86. Regardless, the league's really got its hands full with this one.


The NFL didn’t mess around with how it handled the fallout from Thursday night, suspending Myles Garrett indefinitely and sitting Maurkice Pouncey (three games) and Larry Ogunjobi (one). The Martin/McMahon incident obviously was inexcusable but this was embarrassing on so many levels given what we know now about head and neck injuries. It was a bad look for everyone involved, which is why I felt it was right to fine both organizations.


Scott from Hayward, WI


That fiasco could have ended Mason Rudolph’s career. An NFL football helmet (4-6 pounds) being swung by a 275-pound man is a potentially lethal weapon. Both are fortunate that the outcome wasn’t worse.


It was ugly. I’m interested to see how the NFLPA handles the aftermath of the ruling. It tends to push back on fines/suspensions, so I imagine this won’t be any different (despite the fact one of its players had a helmet swung at his head). All three players have three business days to appeal. Former NFL players Derrick Brooks and James Thrash are the joint-appointed appeals officials.


Garrett from Spring, TX


One player tries to rip the helmet off a guy and fails. His would-be victim tries the same and succeeds. Only the latter is ejected. Are we really in such a pretty-boy QB era that they can commit egregious personal fouls and have those ignored by replay? If Rudolph isn't suspended, I'm not buying a jersey this Christmas.


It appeared Rudolph was displeased with Garrett bringing him to the ground, but his grabbing of Garrett’s helmet is what escalated matters. The NFL left the door open for additional discipline. I’m sure Rudolph will be fined for his role, at the very least.


Josh from Nicholasville, KY


Is it too much to ask for some kind of consistency from the officials in New York? How was the hit by Randall enough to get him ejected? It didn’t look as bad as the hit that took Jamaal Williams out against the Eagles.


A hit on a defenseless receiver downfield in space will always draw more ire from officials than a football scrum.