A couple of curveballs on day two of the Green Bay Packers mandatory mini-camp. A steady, light rain sent Head Coach Matt LaFleur and the boys into the Don Hutson Center for the duration of the practice and afterwards, the team announced they’re cancelling Wednesday’s on field work for a private event, likely a team building exercise. That might be a day to stay away from paint ball courses, target ranges, bowling alleys or Chuckie Cheese.
All that will be left of the off-season program will be a couple of Organized Team Activities next week involving young players exclusively.
On the practice field today, there was a noticeably audible difference during competitive periods. The Offensive and Defensive players did plenty of chirping and cheering when their sides won plays. Rasul Douglas won big with a pick six of Aaron Rodgers in one of the early periods. Amari Rodgers and Samori Toure had eye opening days. Rodgers got one of the biggest roars by laying out for a diving, rolling touchdown catch from Kurt Benkert during red zone work. Toure made a couple of nice grabs from Jordan Love during a late, two minute drive.
Defenders got their due. Second year corner Shemar Jean Charles was Johnny on the Spot with an end zone interception off a tipped ball. Linebacker Khrys Barnes got the last roar for breaking up a two point try in the end zone that would have given the offense the win on a two minute march.
A couple of new faces were in the rehab group, Mason Crosby, Randy Ramsey, Dean Lowry and Hauati Pututau were held out of all drills.
After practice, Jaire Alexander and Sammy Watkins were the featured veterans holding court. It was the first time we visited with Alexander since he blew out his shoulder against the Steelers early last season and returned for a handful of snaps in the playoff loss to the 49ers, not to mention after signing his four year, 84 million dollar contract extension this spring making him the highest paid corner in the league.
Jaire Alexander didn’t sprint to stores after signing deal.
When asked if he splurged after getting that 30 million dollar signing bonus, Alexander deadpanned, “Nahh, I haven’t bought anything yet, I am looking for some land, though.” He later admitted he was wearing a pair of 5 dollar pants from Goodwill the day he signed the big contract.
Matt LaFleur says Alexander is a welcome sight, “Jaire’s got an unbelievable energy that he brings each and every day, he has a lot of fun out there on the field.” LaFleur said they missed that while Alexander was mending from what he said was the most painful injury he’s endured playing ball.
The confidence has not been lost, calling himself, “the best corner in the league”, but Jaire wants to convince Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas to believe that they are too which will make for a formidable secondary this fall.
Sammy Watkins the center of attention Wednesday.
As for Watkins, the Packers gave him a modest contract for this season as a 9 year vet that has produced diminishing numbers at stops in Los Angeles (with LaFleur in 2017), Kansas City and Baltimore. LaFleur believes Watkins hasn’t lost anything and he’ll be a big part of the offense.
Aaron Rodgers said on Tuesday he didn’t recruit Watkins but applauded the signing:
Watkins, the 4th overall pick in the 2014 draft had his career get off to a solid start with the Buffalo Bills in his first two years. As he put up miles moving to three other teams, the injuries kept piling up limiting his playing time and resulted in declining numbers. LaFleur admitted this might be a “prove it” year for a still young, 28 year old (he’ll turn 29 next Tuesday) and even Watkins wasn’t about to argue when he met reporters in front of his locker:
Sammy and the whole team is just getting started, the vets and rookies won’t practice again together until the opening day of training camp in late July.
