The Packers are about to embark on a season filled with issues and questions. It starts with the exhibition opener against Pittsburgh Saturday night at Heinz Field.

If they get positive answers to all or most of the questions, the season could end in a lot of success. Negative answers will send Brett Favre packing with a sour taste in his mouth.

Here are 10 questions about the Packers that cry for an answer:

1. What's to become of Brett Favre? You have to wonder if this is it for Favre, either through retirement or an injury that puts an end to that amazing string of consecutive games. He's been beating the odds for a long time and every gambler knows that sooner or later the house wins. If he plays out the year, can he generate enough offense to put points on the scoreboard?

2. Is Mike McCarthy going to bend his sticks and give Aaron Rodgers some playing time? There will be games when the Packers are either way, way behind or way, way in front. Those are obvious times to sit Favre and see whether Rodgers has the right stuff. In the past, Favre has never wanted to sit. McCarthy needs to tell Favre to settle down and find out whether Rodgers can play.

3. If the quarterback turns to hand off or pitch out, will there be anyone on the other end? Ahman Green is gone. Vernand Morency, who is still unproven, is also hurt. He's got a patellar injury and those are famously troublesome. In the Packers offense, rookie Brandon Jackson could be a good runner. But he blocks like a toreador. Nobody wants the quarterback killed by a running back who can't block. This one is a big, big question mark.

4. Bubba, Bubba, Wherefore Art Thou Bubba? Tight end is a problem area, unless Bubba Franks somehow recovers. This guy was a good tight end. He's been a bum now for about two years. But some people think he can come back. I'm one of them and sources say he seems to have a new rejuvenated attitude this year. We'll see.

5. Is Bob Harlan going to be president for life? This is more important than it seems. Given the Packers' structure, the guy who makes the most important decisions is the president. After the John Jones fiasco, the Packers seem intent on a studied approach to hiring the next president. If this seasons turns out to be a giant bust, Harlan will be under pressure to dump Ted Thompson.

6. Is Koren Robinson ready to straighten out his life? Make no mistake, this guy has lots and lots of talent. He's also got a wonderful talent for messing up his life. He'll rejoin the team in October and could be a very important addition to the receiving corps. If he's a bust, the wide receiving corps could be very thin on experience.

7. Is this defense a contender or a pretender? There is lots of optimism about this defense: a deep and talented defensive line that is probably the strength of the team; fast and tough linebackers; two veteran cornerbacks with talent and experience. If they solve the Marquand Manuel problem, this could be one of the best defenses in the league.

8. Are the babies going to grow into men? The offensive line is an interesting place, with veterans in Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton at tackle. And then the babies, Wells, Spitz and Colledge inside. If those three improve and play like tough guys, this line will be a strong suit. If not, look out Brett, here they come.

9. Can you "Keek A Touchdown?" Dave Rayner left a lot to be desired last year as a kicker. He missed four field goals inside the 40 last year. The Packers drafted Mason Crosby, a kicker from Colorado. Let's hope they've struck gold.

10. Will someone replace Jessie Garcia as the host of the Mike McCarthy show? Simply put, she stinks. Any host who reads questions just shows that she's not listening and isn't comfortable talking football. Putting her next to Larry McCarren only highlights the discomfort she brings to this show.