Every comeback needs that first step

Hello Insiders! It’s Bear Week (or shall I say Bear Weak?) and I am loving hearing the opposition sports media squeal like a stuck pig. Mike McCarthy was dismissed with four games remaining in the season. Matt Nagy looks to be Dead Man Walking. What is the better move – remove the coach before the end of the season, or fire after the season is complete?

It depends on the circumstances. When it’s obvious a coach is no longer in the team’s future, then I feel it’s best to rip the band-aid off and move forward. I’m not saying that’s where the Bears are at with Nagy. I’m just saying it’s not an exact science. I’ve always felt like Mark Murphy did the right thing with how he handled McCarthy’s departure. As awful as that week was, it also would’ve been a shame to see such an illustrious era of Packers football end with a 31-0 shutout home loss to the Lions.

Emmanuel from Emerald Isle, NC

Big fan of you guys and try to read the questions and answers as much as possible. My question is do you think with all that has happened in Green Bay Aaron Rodgers will still walk in the offseason?

OK, let’s this nip this in the keister before I’m sure the national media tries to run with it in the months ahead. I’ll believe No. 12 not playing for the Packers when I see No. 12 not playing for the Packers. I’m not a cap specialist. I’m not a general manager. I’m a sentimental man and what I see is a 38-year-young quarterback playing at an elite level and having a blast with this football team. If every disagreement resulted in divorce, nobody would be married. In my experience, the best path forward is often the one directly in front of you.

Drake from Huntsville, AL

Football is the most popular sport in the U.S., and second place isn’t really even close. I just wonder if the NFL needs to evaluate itself with respect to injuries. Green Bay has three Pro Bowlers that haven’t played most, if not all, of the season, and our injury report isn’t unique. Derrick Henry, J.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey, Christian McCaffery, Sam Darnold, Khalil Mack, Brine Blawga (Aiwa), Danielle Hunter, Jameis Winston, Blake Martinez, etc. Many of the biggest stars are out due to injury.

As many of you know, I feel some type of way about the 17-game regular season, but generally speaking, the NFL and NFLPA are continuously evaluating injuries and player safety – and the game is much safer today than it was 25 years ago because of it. Unfortunately, no different than UCL injuries in baseball, soft-tissue injuries and ligament tears are going to happen in football. To me, the challenge the NFL must continue to tackle is brain injuries and trauma. The focus needs to be on the Sundays after the cleats are put away as much as the upcoming game.

Although I am not a Tom Brady fan, I think it’s an interesting battle between Brady, who went to play for the most loaded team he could find, and Bill Belichick, who in two years has totally rebuilt the Patriots and turned them into a contender. I’m guessing those two men keep a close eye on what the other is doing because they each feel they were the reason for the Patriots’ success. Inside I’m hoping we get a rematch in the playoffs, because I believe AR is the GOAT!

It would be a fitting way for the Packers to finally get back to the promised football land.

Mitch from Bettendorf, IA

Everyone seems overly concerned about when players will be back, when they come back, is it too soon, etc. I am no doctor, but I am sure they are getting tested if they can withstand taking a hit or making a hit. Didn’t Charles Woodson even say something along the lines of taking it upon himself to do a bed test? He rolled out of bed and fell onto his shoulder to test the collarbone following the SB season. Not doctor approved, but effective.

Thankfully, I have yet to find out.

Which upcoming Cardinals opponent is most likely to hand them a loss? It must be one of the Rams (home), Colts (home), and Cowboys (away). That would be my list in order of most likely to least likely.

The Colts might not be the highest on everyone’s list here but I don’t think I want any part of them right now. That team has a run-the-table feel to it (no Jonathan Taylor pun intended). The Cards have some tough games coming up – and that’s their problem. The Packers just need to worry about winning the games in front of them.