The real answer lies in the why. There are reasons to interact with peers and prospects that ought to impact internal exchanges with Gute and his team. I don’t really buy either your asserted equivalency or that it’s more efficient spread out than in on concentrated week. What is the reason why this particular week is otherwise so valuable that any such benefit is negated? I can’t see one at this point in the off season, but I’m open to hearing of it. Absent that, I see no positive in absence. This sounds to me more like an attempt to construct a justification than a natural and credible one.

If the coach coaches and the scouting department scouts and there's good communication between the GM and the coaching staff? Nope.

Thank you for explaining the "Why" part of mlf's absence.
I was baffled when I heard that he wasn't attending, but like most things, I only have small bits of information then I over react!
I'll still only be supportive if items 1, 2 & 3 from Rex's list of projects are addressed in earnest.
Hopefully the staff started the day after the lions' game and will continue working to correct those failures right up to the start of OTA's.
Then we can begin the chase towards a 2024 super bowl!
(I'm starting to enjoy the hope and promise of the offseason as much as the regular season.)
GPG!

One note to whoever makes choice of photos for articles - until we have a new DC, please don't show me mlf's face any more.
More often than not I read this sight during my lunch break. His face irritates my stomach so badly that I've honestly lost nearly 30 lbs since mid October!
I'm not sure if there's a direct link or not, but I know it's hard to choke down lunch after seeing so much smugness.
You'd think he's won a SB or two.
Somebody needs to remind him of his playoff record and his record vs. the lions.
GPG!

The topic of MLF and staff not attending the combine could certainly lend itself to speculation as there may be many reasons for not attending -- and we'll never know the truth.

It's a grind; as mentioned, the tangible results can be gotten later via tape and crunching the numbers. And it's probably more important for GMs and medical staff to do their thing. I get that.

However, to quote Sherlock 'Data! Data! I cannot make bricks without clay'. I would think that MLF and his staff could do their 'scheme projects' in a hotel room and only swoop down for the player interviews if using their time wisely is that important. The (20 minute short) interview pieces seem more difficult to replicate to form your own impressions (of players taking responsibility for on/off field mistakes, internal motivation & motor, etc.) and would make the trip worth it. The combine allows this to occur more efficiently than taking the individual trips to player school pro-days.

This article sums up the coach pros/cons of attending as well as any out there (and also has a few good reader comments): https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/02/26/more-coaches-question-t...

What is the purpose of staying put and working on schemes until they truly know whether Rodgers stays, or is gone?

Furthermore, will the drafting of specific offensive players not impact schemes?

Meaning...do the Packers already have a pretty good idea of who (or type of player) they might be drafting offensively at skilled positions? Great examples this year are the TE position. Will the Packers be going for the hybrid TE in Michael Mayer, or wanting to pick-up either Dalton Kincaid, or Luke Musgrave who are big bodies and more WR than true TE's?

The working on schemes to me sounds like there may be Scheme A, and Scheme B depending on Rodgers, or Love, and who they may draft.

Example is Luke Musgrave at 6'6" and weighs 255 lbs, but early reports he runs a similar 40 time as the #1 WR, Quentin Johnston who weighs 215 lbs. The Combine will flesh out the 40 times but if Musgrave is close to that 4.4 speed he is shooting up the board. A guy like Musgrave for example could creatively be used in so many non-traditional ways. Think about in the red zone for example. I believe some of the aforementioned might be coming into play regarding working on schemes. Thoughts anyone? Agree or disagree?

I was aghast when I read this until my pea brain got to thinking:
1. They too can watch and tape the action, over an over again
2. They can schedule interviews later with players they think may fall to them
3. Many top players have play days and wont participate so you gain nothing.
4. Their are lots of game film available to the NFL.
5. Time can be spent watching and planning your draft needs.

I think this will be more a trend going forward as more and more top talent want play dates that costs the teams money for travel etc.

What's the point of attending when Rodgers makes these decisions now! I don't think anyone will show for OTAs either. Just suit up for the first game and call it good. That stuff doesn't matter, unless you want to win a Super Bowl.

Non-issue. It's a huge steaming pile of whoop-de-doo.

We already have enough wild conspiracy theories around here.

Is he going somewhere else to shop for upgrades to the coaching staff? NO

So the main staff member’s comeback, no upgrades, and we’re supposed to be fired up ticket buying fans for the new season…with milk toast MLF leadership…and this is NOT the dictionary definition of insanity?

I read an article of this and these were the reasons: 1.) NFL teams owners are cheap and don't want to pay for all the coaching staff. 2.) Coaching staffs are using these opportunities to market themselves to other teams for later promotions down the road. 3.) A great amount of the drills are recorded and can be reviewed later at will.

No. It doesn't matter. He has a hard enough time evaluating the talent on his own team. Let's not confuse him even more.

It might be that Packers already make the decision with which MLF do not agree and he decide to bypass possible questions he is not willing to answer. Just in case...

I do not believe he is following footsteps of his friends w/o proper reason.

MLF = Yes Gute. Yes Gute. Yes Gute.
Doing as you're told is one thing.
But we went through this with TT and MM.
The go to your room is obvious.
Gute walks on water now.

Sure, you can watch a MLB or NBA game on TV, but don't you see a lot more when attending in person? Sure, you can watch tape of NFL wannabes, but don't you gain a lot more when being there in person? You mean to tell me that a 6 1/2 hr drive, 400 mile drive or a 1 1/4 hr flight from GB to Indy is so time prohibitive that the FO can't send some coaches to the combines? This disinterest is disturbing. This team was a mess last season from where they've been. With another critical draft in 2 months and high stakes QB decisions coming soon, it's time to go to the NFL prospect dealership in Indy and "test drive" your possible candidates instead of just looking at pictures.

No. We're going to draft a couple of those guys, but the second half of our draft will be guys who aren't even at the combine.

So, let's say...4 or 5 guys at there that we might end up with. We've already seen their college film, and what's on the film is more important than what you do in shorts. Some guys will move up or down, but for the most part, the Packers have an idea of who they'd like. It's been discussed among the parties. And a video of a guy running a 40 is pretty much the same as watching it in person from the stands.

Furthermore, we can invite guys to Green Bay to visit, if LaFleur would really like to see them up close.

Let the scouts do their job, and let LaFleur do his.

This is one of those questions that are fueled by fantasy/draft geeks and not the folks who actually pull the levers of the draft. Again, a prime example of how 'Kiperized'* the fan bases have become.

Gutekunst and staff make the calls on the draftable players. They will be in attendance. Other than possibly getting a chance to meet a player in person, Matt LF and staff have better things to do. With the sophistication of digital media, MLF can see what a player can do when the player was involved in the season and at the combine via digital media. Gutekunst can talk to the prospect. What was reported recently is most of the prospects are well schooled on what to say and reveal little of their true selves. So rather than waste off-season time, MLF simply will work on things coming up after the draft.

*Named after the first TV draft guru Mel Kiper. Kiperized means placing undo influence on the importance of draft prospects, 50 percent of them wash out of the league before five years. The NFL professionals who make their livings from evaluation of talent are the ones to watch.

A lot of people, many, many people are saying Murphy nixed the Combine travel request. Unnamed sources confirmed LaFleur has a history of insisting on traveling alone via personal vehicle (generous mileage reimbursement), and that no one will willingly room with Steno. Ball is on record saying per diem savings alone are "nothing to sneeze at."

The only reason it bothers me is not catching the interviews. You can bring players in but teams usually don't bring in many top players, they don't want to tip their hand. It's a good place to meet with them, ask them scheme related questions and see what kind of development lies in front for them.

That's what the scouts and GM are for. 100s of prospects and a team might get to pick 5-11 of them. The only reason to go there is to speak with a prospect in person, but how many of them will a team have an actual opportunity to draft? The later the round, the higher the chance.

MLF probably is working on "his" playbook, now that there is a good chance that AR is leaving.

Theres no reason they cant do both

Even if some coaches are not physically present in Indy, they can still participate in important interviews remotely.

If we can hire our HC after one 2 hour interview we can draft our players after watching a tape and then having a cup of coffee with them. It's the no frills version of building a team. Why spend time or money on it? It's not like it matters if the Packers win the SB or not.

Whoever is selected in the draft is going to be over hyped, considered a great choice and a future HOFer. Then they will be overpaid on their second contract for making a few plays in the final season of their rookie contract when the Packers FO implements the "Nick Perry" gambit (Nick Perry the player not the CHTV blogger) to retain them beyond their alleged peak seasons. But "We're not idiots."

The beat goes on until Murphy retires. The only question is who will his hand picked successor be, Gute or Ball? The battle of the yes men continues.
Thanks, Since '61

I think that is kind of lame for him not to go. He should be trying to help Gutey choose which players he ideally wants to coach.

This smacks of a PR ploy - by management - to evade accountability for what was a disastrous season. By limiting or minimizing their public appearances - I think that they are hoping that the fans will eventually turn their attention away from them to the draft, free agency, outdoor activities etc. I'm still waiting for a postmortem for the season from Murphy, the Executive Committee and/the Board. However all seem to be laying low or hiding - with Rodgers literally going into seclusion. Meanwhile, the low man in the management hierarchy, "Gutekunst", has been served-up as the token spokesman. Probably with orders to talk a little but say even less. The Packers football community certainly deserves better than this sorry lot.

Who here thinks we’re still going to see our corners still playing 10yds off the Wr’s on third and short’s in game 1 next season? I do.

I agree with Phantom. Assistant coaches network at the combine, which teams would like to discourage. Not as clear on why a Head Coach shouldn't be present.

I think in-person interviews are worth their weight in gold.

It's probably good to find out if that QB prospect knows what a nickel defense is, or which routes are man-beaters.

It is good to assess whether a prospect has a good work ethic, and can take coaching, and how they deal with criticism.

Packers must trust their scouts and assistant coaches or else MLF would probably be there...doubt that theres a real need for a head coach to attend, many don't....the players they target can be brought in for interviews or have the interviews taped for MLF...no need for the head cheerleader to attend and screw things up..