Dustin from Kansas City, MO

Mike, I need your help. We’re planning our family vacation, and I’m trying to convince everyone to head to Wisconsin so we can catch Family Night at Lambeau this year. The problem is my little family consists of two Chiefs fans and one person who’s completely indifferent to football. I need a good sales pitch because I figure if I can just get them to Lambeau, I’ve got a chance of winning them back to the green and gold. Got any brilliant ideas?

In the spirit of Clark W. Griswold stopping for the world’s largest ball of twine on a cross-country family trek, you could pitch the opportunity to see the world’s largest fully chromed structure, as well as the chance to see four actual Lombardi trophies up close on a visit to the Hall of Fame, for which my daughter might sell you the admission tickets if she’s working the desk that day. How’s that?

There’s so many variables needed to ensure a great season and a long playoff run. Team health, chemistry, turnovers vs. takeaways, and the list goes on and on. In my humble opinion, success begins with a great pass rush and all the things a defense can do because of that pass rush. So, with all that said, in your humble opinion what’s the key variable to a successful season? Thank you for considering my question.

I’d put health and turnover margin at the top of the list, but turnover margin is also greatly influenced by pass rush/pass pro, of course. Both also involve varying levels of luck.

Mike from Franksville, WI

Ever think about how funny it’d be to travel back and talk to Packers fans in 1992, considering how dismal the team had been and where our SB31 contributors were in that point in their careers? “Don’t worry, in four years that coach we just hired leads Green Bay to a Super Bowl victory. Desmond Howard and Andre Rison both score touchdowns in the game, and Reggie White notches three sacks for our defense. Oh, and the third-string Falcons quarterback we just traded for? He’s going to win MVP three times.”

But it works the other way, too. If someone had told me in February of 2011 that I would cover the next 15 seasons without another trip to a Super Bowl, and I’d cover four NFC title game losses along the way, I wouldn’t have believed a team could get that close that many times without getting it done. Ah, sports.

It’s July. Training camp opens this month! Will Parsons return as the same player he was before the injury? When will he return? Who steps up on the DL? Will Love take the next step? Will this year’s Packers finish games? Will this year’s Packers stop the self-inflicted wounds? Will this be MLF’s best year or his last year? How many games will WR Christian Watson play? Will MarShawn Lloyd overcome the injuries and play football? Will this year’s Packers respond to adversity? Soooooo many questions.

And every team has just as many if not more. That’s this league.

Hello Mike. If you were a regular fan and had tickets to a game, what would be your ideal experience? Location of tickets? Time of day? What day? Weather? Opponent? Just wanna know what your perfect day at Lambeau would look like. I think I like this question for next year’s Outsider Inbox also so maybe I’ll bring it up again next June.

Mid-October, crisp fall day, noon or 3:25 p.m. kickoff, sideline seats about 40 rows up between the 30s, against the Bears or Vikings.

Insiders, we find ourselves again in a lull. Not much news; just lots of clickbait and silliness. It’s also that time of the year (or one of them) where I long for “Packers Unscripted,” but since there’s nothing to report, no show. I shall survive … somehow …

We appreciate your patience, because we aren’t in the business of doing shows when there’s nothing new to discuss.

Hey Mike, did you see Aaron Ashby is now 12-1? How do you like his chances of becoming the Brewers’ first 20-game winner since Teddy Higuera?

I think it would be pretty cool. I realize baseball “scoring” remains a bit old-school for the modern game, but breaking a barrier as a relief pitcher would still be neat.

Greetings M&W, everyday reader here. Our granddaughter McKinley was selected as the Jr. Power Pack 2026 Jr. Reporter and we have accomplished the first of two trips to GB for interviews. Hannah P. and Adam from your team were beyond amazing in coaching and capturing her 6-year-old essence. Shemar Bartholomew, Donovan Jennings and Karl Brooks couldn’t have been more gracious. Total studs. My question: Would you guys be available for an interview when we return to training camp? Might blow up the internet…GPG!

Ha, I doubt that blow up part, but if McKinley would like to chat with us, talk to Hannah and Adam about arranging it. Sounds like fun. That said, we wouldn’t want to interfere with her opportunities to interview any players, and she should definitely take advantage of that experience first.

Plans for the 4th of July, Spoff?

A family gathering for my wife’s birthday, and then next week is the Yearbook deadline. Enjoy Outsider Inbox, everyone. Happy Friday.