He’s going to make every quarterback in that room…

That wasn’t very nice of Spoff to leave II with a pic of Walter Payton running roughshod over the Packers – and with Willie Gault blocking to boot. He’s gonna give us children of the ’80s nightmares if he ain’t careful!

Some Spoffords just want to watch the Inbox burn.

Chuck from Charlottesville , VA

C’mon, Mike! Who’s the fourth?

It’s a toss-up between Alan Page and Fran Tarkenton.

I was very interested to look up the fourth NFC North foe to win MVP besides Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Adrian Peterson. It turns out there were two more: Fran Tarkenton in 1975 and Alan Page in 1971.

Yeah, so there actually were five…Tricky Spofford. My friend and fellow NFL writer Lindsey Young just wrote a fantastic profile on the 50th anniversary of Page becoming the first of only two defensive players to ever win the AP MVP award. Football is just a small part of Page’s story. He has led an incredible life.

Wes, I hope you enjoyed your time off and got to spend quality time with your family. Mike is on vacation and the period for using the franchise tag opens this week. Plus, a certain player has said he will make a decision sooner than later about his future. I’m thinking you may be a bit busy this week.

Ha. If we are, we are. To be fair, Spoff had his share of breaking news to deal with last week. We’re now within one month until the start of the new league year and deadlines spur action. In the meantime, we’re all anxiously waiting for the first domino to set the offseason in motion.

I understand the worry in losing Aaron Rodgers, but hasn’t the front office shown they have a better handle on draft prospects than most of us do? I’m conflicted about which direction the Packers take with AR12, but I also have confidence than if they felt there was value in trading up for the next QB1, we should at least give the man the chance to give us a body of work upon which to make an informed decision. Patience please. Let it play out on its own. Thanks for all you guys do, II!

Someday, there will be a different QB1 in Green Bay and I would hope Packers fans will give that individual a chance. At the same time, the Packers have been pretty transparent about their plans. Brian Gutekunst and Co. want to keep this championship window open with Rodgers for as long as possible. If Rodgers stays, I’m confident Green Bay will find a way to make all ends meet.

Wow, did anyone predict Tom Clements coming back as the Packers QB coach? After being out of the league for a year, what will he bring that’s new and different? Thanks.

Clements is a brilliant guy. The man is a lawyer, by trade. He’s also on a short list of coaches who have seen Rodgers at every interval of his career. More importantly, he’s going to make every quarterback in that room better. Having worked with both Mike McCarthy and Kliff Kingsbury, Clements brings with him a lot of different experiences and viewpoints. He’s the right guy at the right time.

Do you think Rodgers will be staying with Green Bay or moving on?

I found no inner-office memo in my mailbox with Rodgers’ decision when I got back in the building today, so I can’t confidently say. But I’ll respect whatever he wants to do. Rodgers has earned the right to call it when he feels it’s time to walk away. To my eyes, however, Rodgers was as good as he’s ever been this past year. In the past, he always liked using a golf analogy to gauge where he was in his NFL career (e.g. “entering the back nine, etc.”). Next year would be No. 18. So, yeah, I’d like to see him play out the round.

I am not espousing a scenario, but just wondering about the key decisions coming up. Due to cap realities and a solid, realistic front office, can the Packers have Rodgers/Davante Adams (both or neither seem the betting favorites) AND a strong roster? Try as I might, I have never gotten out of a financial hole by spending more.

Sure, but we’re not talking credit card debt here. They absolutely can field a strong roster in 2022 if Rodgers and Adams stay, especially with all the young talent already on the roster.

I have heard a rumor that Mike Smith is no longer with the Packers. Is it true, as there have been no reports that I have seen? Please let us know the details. Thanks!

Yeah, it’s true. I was disappointed to hear that but obviously wish Mike nothing but the best in the next chapter of his career. Smith was a riot to cover and he did yeoman’s work with the Smith Bros. and Rashan Gary. That’s not what I’ll remember the most about him, though. It was after the Packers lost the NFC title game in January 2020. We got back from Santa Clara in the wee hours of the morning and there was a fair amount of snow on everyone’s cars. Most everyone dug themselves and headed for home. I don’t blame them. But not Mike Smith. Mike went around the lot with his Snow Joe, pushing snow off like a dozen people’s cars. It’s an image that’ll forever be seared on my brain. I’m going to miss him. The train will keep moving, though, and Jason Rebrovich comes to Green Bay with great credentials.