II, Jager Burton got a lot of hype during training camp but has not performed very well so far. Just being a rookie or not as good as expected? Does he still have upside going forward as he adjusts to the NFL?

I think so, but the jump from the college ranks to the pros is never a small one. The Packers aren’t giving up on Burton because of one rough start. He just wasn’t quite ready, and he wasn’t the only one.

Gary from Bear Valley, WI

With three new OL players signed this week, are the coaches allowed to spend extra time with these players outside of practice?

There’s a lot of additional meeting time, yes.

Nothing like waking up to a 1,000-pound delivery of linemen to fix what ails ya. It will take time to get everybody up to speed. How long before we can reasonably hope the new line works together as a cohesive unit?

It starts with simply doing what it takes to win. Play winning football first and the cohesion will come later.

Do you think the continued cross-training of offensive linemen has hurt this team? I know in the past we have had some guys do great, but with so many young guys not settling into a position I believe it has hurt this year’s offense. I don’t see us trying to make safeties cornerback or inside linebackers an outside linebacker so why all the desire to do this on the offensive line? If we are draft and develop shouldn’t we develop guys at one spot first before moving them around?

Lots of folks have asked this. In theory, sure. But you’re only going to have eight active on gameday unless you plan on shortchanging other positions, so you’d better have guys who can play multiple spots. I don’t think the philosophy per se is the problem. Individuals are different and some take to cross-training better than others, or are more capable of doing so successfully. The mixed results over time bear that out.

When all is said and done I would rather have issues on the O-line (or anywhere else for that matter) in September than December…

There is that, but there’s never a guarantee the adversity is done.

Brian from Menomonee Falls, WI

The NFL/NFLPA has been working to reduce injury for reasons such as player safety, long-term health, and improving the quality of the game by keeping the best players on the field. Work has been done through rule changes, fewer padded practices, no two-a-days, shorter preseasons, etc… Does it seem like we are no closer to this goal? Maybe it’s just me, but compared to even 10 years ago we have been seeing more injuries and slower starts to the season. What are your thoughts?

The league’s safety rules have been mostly geared toward curbing concussions and head/neck injuries, and they’ve produced positive results. The elimination of two-a-days and limits on padded practices are geared toward reducing injuries in practice and keeping players in peak form for gameday. But none of that can impact the inherent violence and physical demands of the sport. Bodies are still going to collide at high speeds and awkward angles.

With all the injuries happening across the league, especially season ending injuries, I was wondering about the future of the league. It is only a matter of years before there will be 18 games per season, perhaps in a few decades 20 games per season which got me to thinking, do you think the NFL will at that point allow teams to increase their regular-season rosters to perhaps 58-60 players? Also, at that point, shouldn’t they give teams another bye week as well?

Whatever transpires, it’ll all be collectively bargained, with give and take in some fashion on both sides. I’m sure bye weeks, roster size, offseason commitments, and a host of other issues will be in the mix, along with revenue share and cap structure of course. There’s no way to predict how it’s all going to shake out.

Jose from Albuquerque, NM

I understand both the criticisms and defense of Love’s leadership style. Frankly, he’s not an inspiring player to watch, but things may be different behind the scenes. The more relevant questions are regarding his talent. He doesn’t look any better to me than his first season starting. Agree or not?

Do you think Micah Parsons is staying out to ensure the offense can be competitive and to allow himself peace of mind he’s healthy enough to sustain the season?

I think Parsons is listening to the medical experts and following their plan for him.

Every team is faced with adversity. The Packers hit theirs right away this season. Other teams will face theirs in the coming months. We have 14 more games to play. We need to fix things now, but we still have most of the season to play through before the “end” is even a real consideration.

Get to 2-2 and go from there.

The best moment of watching football this past Sunday was when one of the commentators said, “September football lies to you.” Here’s hoping that’s true. Still watching, still a fan. GPG

Teams don’t stay the same throughout the course of a season. I say that every year because it’s true, without fail. This team will be different in November and December than the one we saw in September.

Maybe this is my green-and-gold glasses at work, but there’s a possibly epic story unfolding here. Three salty veteran lineman with tons of experience and success under their sizeable belts, in the twilight (or beyond) of their careers, knowing they are here specifically to try to salvage an offensive front in disarray for a team that’s otherwise a Super Bowl contender. That’s gotta be motivating for what are surely prideful men. Imagine the legacy should they pull it off. Too much to hope for?

Daniel from Fond du Lac, WI

Can you remind everyone that, unlike other professional sports leagues, the NFL has achieved competitive balance. That means there are no truly bad teams and no truly great teams. They all have similar levels of talent, it’s not that GB plays down or up to their opponents’ talent level, our perception of “good” and “bad” teams is flawed, the differences are vanishingly small. Any Given Sunday is an adage for a reason and it’s why the NFL is the most watched sport in America, right?