The Packers didn’t exactly close ranks on the third day of training camp but Head Coach Matt LaFleur didn’t think a 75 minute half speed or less workout was worth having Ray Nitschke Field stands filled with fans. After two public practices, Friday’s session, which actually went about 82 minutes, was conducted on Nitschke with the bleacher gates closed and the black curtains raised on the north end zone. LaFleur also wanted to throttle down a bit from the first two days before ramping back up on Saturday. Sunday will be an off day but LaFleur said shoulder pads will go on Monday and the team will work in full gear for the first time next Tuesday.
There were just a couple of team periods and they were half speed or less. About the only hard running came when Special Teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia got in some kickoff return and cover work. He looked at a lot of returners, including lead running back Aaron Jones. Amari Rodgers, Romeo Doubs and Rico Gafford took turns. Even newly signed Ishmael Hyman, the James Madison receiver was in line wearing a white # 5. Blasphemy! Every time I see that jersey, I think back to the stink caused by Forest Gregg when he issued former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo the Golden Boy’s number. Even though it’s never officially been retired, there’s always been a sense of not issuing number 5 out of respect for Paul Hornung. Don Majkowski was given that number his rookie year but the Magic Man quickly changed to 7. The last player to wear 5 in a regular season game was kicker Curtis Burrow back in 1986. Then again, Hornung last played with the Pack nearly 60 years ago, so there really shouldn’t be any hard feelings.
Sammy Watkins (11) finally joins the line at training camp.
The highlight of practice was the debut of free agent receiver Sammy Watkins. He was activated from the Non-Football Injury list after just two days, coming to camp with a tight hamstring. A lot is expected from the 9th year veteran but the team has a very friendly contract that would not have a big salary cap impact in Watkins washes out. That’s certainly not his goal. Watkins met reporters after practice and explained how he tweaked the hammie and how eager he is to start contributing.
Watkins, like he was with the media during the spring, was very candid about getting his career back on track. He said he’s playing for a job just like the young returning vets and draft picks who have already made a couple of plays this week. Two stops ago in his NFL career, Watkins played with Kansas City and with Patrick Mahomes. Randall Cobb jumped into the media chat session and asked Sammy about catching balls from one former MVP to the 4 timer and two time defending most valuable player in Aaron Rodgers. Watkins said Mahomes is really unbelievable but A-Rod is on a whole different level.
Watkins wasn’t the only player to return. Linebacker Randy Ramsey and offensive tackle Rasheed Walker, the 7th round pick and free agent defensive lineman Akial Byers were back.
Before practice Matt LaFleur covered a couple of topics but spent the majority of time discussing the head ware in camp. The Guardian Caps required by the league are padded skins pulled over helmets. Yosh Nijman joked the players are “mushroom heads”. They do have an important purpose given the continuing evidence building about CTE issues in former NFL players. LaFleur gets it but he isn’t a huge fan.
When the pandemic hit, the Packers had to pull their training camp housing from St. Norbert College in the summer of 2020. Last year was more of the same. This summer, the relationship between the school in De Pere which has housed Packers camp since the late 1950’s, appeared headed for a permanent breakup. LaFleur has allowed his veteran players who have a house or apartment to live at home during camp while rookies are being put up in a hotel. He said there’s a trust factor with the older players although if they make a mistake, “they’re going to the hotel.” The team and school haven’t ruled out a return in the future.
One more item, the Mega-Millions jackpot has climbed over 1.2 billion dollars Friday night and LaFleur was asked at the start of his press conference if he’d be interested in joining a pool of reporters that ponied up 10 bucks each to buy numbers? LaFleur said, “Sure, I’m in, can I do that?” Would he still go to work Saturday if he won? “Hell yeah!”
Odds are, we’ll all be at Ray Nitschke Field Saturday for a return to public practices at 10:30. The team announced next week public workouts on August 1, 2 and 4, will also begin at 10:30 AM.
