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I keep hearing people say that the league was emphasizing the roughing-the-passer call, but I honestly don't remember that many such calls in preseason. Helmet contact, yes, but not this. I think the league needs to get its stories straight

The "body weight" rule is a change to RTP for this year, and there was talk of more emphasis on the RTP calls in general, but there weren't many calls in the preseason. The focus was on the helmet rule, you're right, because that was almost an every-play thing, but that has clearly taken a back seat.

Hi Mike. Our secondary needs a boost this week. What's the latest on King?

No update yet. We'll see if he's on the practice field tomorrow.

Can the contain the Bills pass rush? Cousins was pressured 32 times last week.

I hadn't seen that stat, but regardless, I think that's the matchup that could decide this game. The Vikings couldn't handle Hughes off the edge. It's another test for Bakhtiari, but he's up to it every week. We'll see if the Packers have to make changes up front due to injuries and how that might affect the game plan.

Can't find it now, but I swear I read that a defensive player injured himself on Sunday trying to avoid landing on the QB and drawing a flag. 99% sure I read it. If so, that's just nuts.... Injure yourself to AVOID contact in a contact sport.

Yes, it was the DE from Miami, William Hayes. He tore his ACL and is out for the season, and Miami head coach Adam Gase said he twisted the knee trying not to land with all his body weight on the QB. Wonderful.

Any word on what will happen with personnel with Wilkerson apparently headed to IR

Nothing yet. For now, it's on Lowry and Adams to take on larger roles. If any additional players are brought in, it will take a while before they're ready to make any sort of impact.

What is the status of our offensive line for Sunday? Hard to believe I'm concerned about the Bills...

If you don't protect the football in the NFL, you will lose. It's just that simple. McCarthy had no updates on Bulaga or McCray on Monday. The first injury report of the week will be tomorrow after practice.

I watched JJ Watts sacks this past weekend and no roughing calls on them. One of the hits looked a lot like the hit Clay made on Cousins. Clays hit was slightly higher but he clearly made more effort to keep his weight off the QB. Does the rule state a specific area of the body you can hit to avoid or reduce the chance of getting a penalty

I think it's obvious there's no consistency in how the rules are being applied. Comparing this sack to that sack is a waste of time because no one is calling it the same. That's what the league has to figure out and get all the officials on the same page.

Where does the Redskins train whistle rank on your list of most annoying stadium hype sounds?

I don't know, but the FedExField press box did not disappoint. Water was leaking through the ceiling and there were buckets placed in various places to catch the drips. I'm not kidding.

how does a player going on IR affect the salary cap? can it affect a teams ability to bring in another player?

It certainly can. That's why you always want to have room. A vested veteran's full-year salary is guaranteed, and capped, as soon as he's on the roster for Week 1.

Since your chat is sponsored by Ticketmaster, do you get free tickets to anything?

I wish. I wouldn't mind some Brewers postseason tickets, if they can keep it up and get in there.

Oren Burks played 8 snaps, I'm guessing mostly to get him acclimated back to the game (similar to Aaron Jones). If not, was there any setback w/ him and his shoulder?

Not that I'm aware of. I wasn't surprised at his small workload. He hadn't played since the second preseason game, which was over a month ago. That's a long layoff for a rookie coming into his first regular-season action.

Sounds like the NFL competition committee agrees with everyone but the NFL Reffing department that these Roughing calls are a joke and I hear they are now going to enforce like last year, is that what your hearing

I've only heard that some things are going to be discussed. I don't know where it goes from here.

I assume no word on Aaron's injuries yet?

Rodgers denied after the game there was anything wrong with his hamstring, despite what many were speculating.

What's your opinion of everyone calling this the Aaron Rodgers rule?

I think it's a bit misguided, but the word everyone is forgetting about in the rule, which is not being applied properly, and which stemmed from the Barr hit, is "unnecessary." If that were properly brought into judgment, I don't think we'd have so much controversy.

When there's no consistency in the calls, who pays the price? I don't think it's the refs. I don't think it's the owners, or the league itself. So that leaves the fans and the teams on the receiving end of shoddy calls. When something is this broken, how can the NFL justify letting it keep happening until the season is over? It's just mind boggling that they're okay putting out a rule that is clearly broken.

They made a rule that sounds great on paper but clearly didn't communicate effectively how it should be enforced. For years, the league has tried to make things as black-and-white for the officials as possible. Some officials are taking the same black-and-white approach to these RTP rules, and that's just ludicrous.

I really liked Jones' production out of the backfield and thought he should have gotten more carries. Washington was not ready for him; they prepared for Williams and Monty. What are your thoughts on him for this week?

I think Jones' role will increase as we go along, but with all the options the Packers have, I don't see them beating one guy into the ground from here on out.

I am really concerned abut Aaron Rodgers. I mean he is already hurt and got sacked several times on Sunday. Is it the line or is he holding the football too long?

There's definitely some of both. Rodgers is an otherworldly talent, but let's not discount the value of practicing every day, too. That has an impact on his sharpness. Even if he's not practicing regularly, he still gives the Packers by far their best chance to win, but other areas/facets of the team have to pick up the slack. The defense allowing four touchdowns in the first half made it really hard for the offense to overcome the slow start.

Is it hard to make your per diem last in a big city like Washington DC?

Not when the Badgers are playing in prime time. I kept it simple and settled nicely into my hotel room couch for a classic Big Ten slobberknocker.

I heard Jordy had a monster game. I didn't see it did you?

He had a monster first quarter, but Oakland still lost to Miami. With the game on the line, Carr threw an INT in the end zone trying to hit Martavis Bryant.

Is it time for Clay to cut his hair and start wearing longer sleeves? I can't help but think players with notable intimidating physical features are more likely to be on the wrong end of these subjective Roughing the Passer calls.

That's a theory I hadn't considered. I don't think I will.

to Ethan's point if the rule stays the way it is with the subjective opinion enforcement, the league will lose viewership because of frustrated fans

I don't doubt that. The fans have every right to be frustrated with how these first few weeks have gone. When fans feel results are not just, for whatever reason, they're going to tune out.

I'm posting this comment for my brother,Matt, who is at work. He wonders why we don't run more and go to the short passing game to help 12 out.