That put everyone on notice

Scott from Palos Park, IL

Mike: Wes claims he does not require a birthday present because his cup runneth over. Just wondering who cleans that up?

All the junk on his desk absorbs any excess. It has a life of its own.

Insiders, it would appear the Rams were helpful during MNF, as we sit at the top of the NFC right now. What does that mean? I think it’s even more important to just focus on the game ahead of us, week by week, to beat the next team up – without worrying about any game down the road. Sadly, that’s probably not a favorite in the Inbox, or is it?

The bottom line is if the Packers win out, they get the top spot and the benefits therein. Green Bay has the conference record tiebreaker on both Tampa Bay and Arizona (plus the head-to-head over the Cardinals). No more help is needed, and that’s a great position to be in. But this team will stay focused week to week. It’s how LaFleur operates and he’ll make sure of it. They’ll be facing three teams fighting for their playoff lives the next three weeks (Ravens, Browns, Vikings) and then a team that gave the Packers all kinds of grief in the finale two years ago with a lot on the line (Lions). The road is full of landmines.

Would you consider it more important to go after the No. 1 seed in the playoffs or to rest Aaron Rodgers one game so can recover from his toe injury and being healthy for playoffs?

If Rodgers feels he can play, he needs to play, and he reiterated on McAfee’s show he’s going to do just that. The goal, which I believe he’d agree with, is to get the top seed and the bye so the toe can get another full week of rest in a month. Circumstances with records/seeds or his injury could change week to week, but right now, I suspect that’s the approach.

Cindy from Stevens Point, WI

How come we have not made more changes to special teams?

LaFleur signaled Monday some personnel changes are coming. Let’s see what unfolds.

Remirito from Ventura, CA

Can you help me understand how putting in starters would make the ST unit better since I would assume they haven’t played any in a while? Is it as simple as physical talent and common-sense intelligence? Also I asked before and I’ll ask again, would you inquire about Tyler Ervin? It’s obvious Rodgers shouldn’t be on the field at this point.

I don’t think any option is off the table as far as return man at this point. Regarding veterans on the units, I think LaFleur is talking about guys who had similar duties in recent years, not someone who hasn’t done it for a half dozen. There’s no substitute for experience at this level, and filling gaps with new guys clearly isn’t working.

Sawyer from Simpsonville, SC

I wonder how many of the guys currently playing for injured players would have been playing on special teams, how many second-team guys are practicing with the first teams instead of special teams, and how many guys who are hurt would be out there on special teams.

Valid queries, but it doesn’t matter. Injuries are a part of life in the NFL. Every team deals with them and has to find a way to get the job done. The Rams just beat the Cardinals without Jalen Ramsey, but the trickle-down effect at corner didn’t suddenly lead to special-teams breakdowns.

Not counting Super Bowls, what is John Harbaugh’s most impressive victory?

His first year as Baltimore head coach in ’08, he took his sixth-seeded Ravens into top-seeded Tennessee and knocked off the Titans in the playoffs. That put everyone on notice from the start he was going to build something pretty special there.