Inbox: London calling … finally

So excited for an international game. Already starting to look at plane tickets! Looking at the past seasons, I’m trying to anticipate which week they would slot this. What are your thoughts on a potential date?

Well, assuming the Packers will get their bye week right after the London game, the trip overseas won’t be in the first or last month of the season. But outside of narrowing it down to probably October or November, I really don’t know.

Daniel from Horsholm, Denmark

As a European Packers fan for decades I will say: dream come true. When and how will I be able to purchase my ticket? I really don’t wanna miss out.

All those details are still to come, but I suspect this Packers game in London will be the hottest ticket ever for an NFL game across the pond. It won’t come easy.

Welcome back Spoff! I hope you had a great week off. Since you last left us with a traumatizing pic of Walter Payton running roughshod over the Packers and Willie Gault blocking, you might be able to restore sanity to II (or at least my sanity!) with Brian Noble stuffing Refrigerator Perry at the goal line!

Sorry about that, but I’m more sorry about the factual/statistical error I made – which creeped into the headline – in that last column before I left. Very disappointed in myself. But I guess it goes to show how badly I needed a vacation, and how I should never forget the preface, “according to my research (which could be wrong) …”

Jayson from Fayetteville, NC

Wes, your answer to Scott from Sheboygan, WI, is spot on for me also. Its impact on us pales in comparison. Both of Aaron Rodgers’ collarbones, David Bakhtiari’s knee, Finley’s neck, Jordy’s knee, C-Wood’s collarbones. Were able to overcome them and so many more. Bakh’s knee might be my second with its potential impact the past two postseasons, but with Nick, we were chasing and chasing his impact, play, and production. We still are.

Wes nailed it on the Collins injury, no doubt. There’s also no discounting Bakhtiari’s absence the past two postseasons when Rodgers was sacked 10 times in the two elimination games.

Linwood from Travelers Rest, SC

Wes, you said one of the most important variables at the combine was the interview. I agree as a properly constructed interview can elicit a wealth of information about a person. Do you know or think the GB brass leave any sort of hint on the table for the player to suspect they could get a call from Packers HQ during draft weekend? Thanks for all you do for the Packer Nation!

There are some exceptions, but most of the players the Packers draft end up telling the media they didn’t really know how interested Green Bay was. The team generally avoids tipping its hand at all. But this is also the annual reminder as I’m writing this on the ride to Indy that the two most important things happening at the combine as far as the prospects are concerned get the least amount of media coverage – the medical checks and the interviews. Please remember that amidst the upcoming wonders about workout warriors.

Brandon from Kronenwetter, WI

Speaking of ties, I was at the Packers-Vikings game a few years ago that ended in a tie. Walking out of the stadium after the game was probably the strangest experience I have ever experienced as a sports fan. There was no trash talking or friendly banter between fans, no cheering or chants, almost no talking at all. There was almost no energy at all; nobody was too happy or too sad, and everybody just quietly walked out and went home. Definitely bizarre. No more ties in the NFL, please!

It’s strange from a media perspective, too, with the players and coaches not really sure how to feel after the game and reporters not sure what to ask. I don’t think a tie is the worst outcome in the world, but I understand from a ticket-buying perspective with the prices paid these days how immensely unsatisfying it is.

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

My two cents worth on OT. One possession decides the game. Winner of the coin toss chooses offense or defense. The team on offense starts at their (25-40)? No punts or FGs allowed. Simple, a TD ends the game, or if the defense gets the stop they are awarded one point and they win. Comes down to who do you trust more, your offense or defense, and it limits the number of snaps and time to finish the game. What do you think Weston?

I’m back now, and while I’ve grown tired of the OT debate, it is in the news again so I’ll indulge. I don’t like any solution that doesn’t involve an actual score of some kind to decide things, and I’m not interested in the popular kicker shootout many have suggested. I do think the spot-and-choose idea is worth exploring, with everything else staying as is. Winner of the coin toss gets to pick the yard line, the loser chooses offense or defense. Want the ball bad enough? Make the other team want to play defense by picking the 12 or the 10 or the 8. Hedge too far, like the 18, and they’ll take the ball instead. Then the rest of the current rules apply, so a relatively quick ending is still viable. Add actual strategy to the choice so each team has to own the role it plays in how OT begins, and hence has to live with the result.