Gone Campin' Some more observations from first minicamp practice:
-- Bubba Franks rotated in with the first-team offense during later 11-on-11 portions of practice today. Donald Lee, however, got the first rep in each series.
-- With Justin Harrell (arm) sitting out, Corey Williams got the lion's share of action alongside Ryan Pickett with the first-team defense. Colin Cole also rotated in. The absence of Aaron Kampman (knee) gave Michael Montgomery extended action at left end.
-- Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (broken foot) sat out all team drills, but he looked confident throwing the football -- and moving in the pocket -- during other portions of practice. The most memorable throw was a spiraling strike to Carlyle Holiday that traveled 55 yards in the air. Rodgers rolled to his left on the play and did not appear to have any hesitation or difficulty setting his feet.
-- Not as impressive: third-string quarterback Ingle Martin, who could not have looked more uncomfortable running the starting offense while Rodgers and Brett Favre sat out the 11-on-11 periods. At various points, Martin hit Donald Driver in the back with a pass; was intercepted by Nick Collins on a pass off James Jones' fingertips; hummed another pick directly into the chest of Brady Poppinga, who returned it into the end zone; airmailed P.J. Pope on a simple route out of the backfield; and rolled directly into a blitzing Nick Barnett.
-- Favre threw an interception of his own during a 7-on-7 passing drill, underthrowing Donald Driver badly enough that Charles Woodson camped under the ball for a second or so before grabbing it.
-- Fullback Corey White could be the undrafted rookie to watch. After two catches, the UAB alumnus showed an impressive burst for a guy who stands 6-foot-1 and 239 pounds. And with only Brandon Miree seemingly certain to be in the rotation, White might carve out a niche in the coming months.
-- Perhaps in an attack on his "fake tough" image, tight end Clark Harris has shaved his head and face. The seventh-round draft pick also did some long snapping during a brief special teams period.
-- Allen Barbre is an offensive lineman, but that didn't stop Favre from razzing the rookie after drawing him offsides during an offensive drill. Barbre saw the majority of his action at left guard, the same spot the college tackle played for much of the rookie minicamp.
-- The No. 30 jersey looks strange when it's inhabited by Arliss Beach.
-- Robert Ferguson (foot) switched jerseys, from No. 89 to No. 87, but was in a familiar place: watching much of practice by himself from an end zone.
-- Jason Spitz grimaced as he tried to run after tweaking his back early in practice. It seems unlikely the coaching staff will let him do anything else this weekend if he feels any discomfort Saturday morning.
-- P.J. Pope fumbled in a crowd during one of the 11-on-11 periods.
-- Patrick Dendy got his first interception of camp on a bad-idea floater from recent pickup Paul Thompson.
-- Five players caught balls during a punt drill: Woodson, Will Blackmon, Shaun Bodiford, Greg Jennings and Jones.
-- The accidental hit of the day came courest of safeties Marquand Manuel and Nick Collins, who sandwiched tight end Zac Alcorn on a seam route.
-- Quarterback Jerry Babb drew cheers from his teammates by juking end Jason Hunter out of his shoes after scrambling toward the right sideline.
-- Running back Brandon Jackson wasn't the only rookie draft pick missing from practice. Linebacker Desmond Bishop was absent because California is on the quarter system. McCarthy said Bishop should practice Saturday.
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First-round pick Harrell at practice but skips 11-on-11 drills:
The Packers continued to be careful with defensive tackle Justin Harrell at the team's first minicamp practice Friday. The first-round draft pick was at practice but did not participate in any 11-on-11 contact drills. The same goes for quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, who Coach Mike McCarthy said are both in the final stages of their injury rehabilitation. McCarthy said guard Jason Spitz left practice after tweaking his back and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila left after taking a shot to his thigh. McCarthy also said wide receiver Robert Ferguson should be ready for the team's organized team activities, while defensive end Aaron Kampman probably will not participate until training camp. Ferguson has a mid-foot injury, while Kampman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee this offseason.
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TE Franks works with second team
Quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers sat out the first 11-on-11 team period Friday.
Other notes:
-- Guard Jason Spitz was replaced by Junius Coston.
-- TE Bubba Franks worked with the second-team offense, while TE Donald Lee worked with the firstteam.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Players not participating listed The following players are not practicing at Friday afternoon's minicamp session:
S Marviel Underwood
RB Arliss Beach
RB Brandon Jackson
RB DeShawn Wynn
LB Marcus Randall
LB Abdul Hodge
LB Desmond Bishop
G Tony Palmer
T Kevin Barry
G Jason Spitz
DE Aaron Kampman
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Favre, Rodgers participate in walk-through
Quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers participated in the walk-through portion of practice Friday at the Don Hutson Center. Neither player showed any noticeable limp, though players were moving at half speed at best. A number of players were not participating, including linebacker Abdul Hodge and defensive end Aaron Kampman. Guard Jason Spitz left practice early and trainers appeared to be working on one of his legs. General Manager Ted Thompson, who Favre criticized last weekend, was on the field.
-- Bubba Franks rotated in with the first-team offense during later 11-on-11 portions of practice today. Donald Lee, however, got the first rep in each series.
-- With Justin Harrell (arm) sitting out, Corey Williams got the lion's share of action alongside Ryan Pickett with the first-team defense. Colin Cole also rotated in. The absence of Aaron Kampman (knee) gave Michael Montgomery extended action at left end.
-- Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (broken foot) sat out all team drills, but he looked confident throwing the football -- and moving in the pocket -- during other portions of practice. The most memorable throw was a spiraling strike to Carlyle Holiday that traveled 55 yards in the air. Rodgers rolled to his left on the play and did not appear to have any hesitation or difficulty setting his feet.
-- Not as impressive: third-string quarterback Ingle Martin, who could not have looked more uncomfortable running the starting offense while Rodgers and Brett Favre sat out the 11-on-11 periods. At various points, Martin hit Donald Driver in the back with a pass; was intercepted by Nick Collins on a pass off James Jones' fingertips; hummed another pick directly into the chest of Brady Poppinga, who returned it into the end zone; airmailed P.J. Pope on a simple route out of the backfield; and rolled directly into a blitzing Nick Barnett.
-- Favre threw an interception of his own during a 7-on-7 passing drill, underthrowing Donald Driver badly enough that Charles Woodson camped under the ball for a second or so before grabbing it.
-- Fullback Corey White could be the undrafted rookie to watch. After two catches, the UAB alumnus showed an impressive burst for a guy who stands 6-foot-1 and 239 pounds. And with only Brandon Miree seemingly certain to be in the rotation, White might carve out a niche in the coming months.
-- Perhaps in an attack on his "fake tough" image, tight end Clark Harris has shaved his head and face. The seventh-round draft pick also did some long snapping during a brief special teams period.
-- Allen Barbre is an offensive lineman, but that didn't stop Favre from razzing the rookie after drawing him offsides during an offensive drill. Barbre saw the majority of his action at left guard, the same spot the college tackle played for much of the rookie minicamp.
-- The No. 30 jersey looks strange when it's inhabited by Arliss Beach.
-- Robert Ferguson (foot) switched jerseys, from No. 89 to No. 87, but was in a familiar place: watching much of practice by himself from an end zone.
-- Jason Spitz grimaced as he tried to run after tweaking his back early in practice. It seems unlikely the coaching staff will let him do anything else this weekend if he feels any discomfort Saturday morning.
-- P.J. Pope fumbled in a crowd during one of the 11-on-11 periods.
-- Patrick Dendy got his first interception of camp on a bad-idea floater from recent pickup Paul Thompson.
-- Five players caught balls during a punt drill: Woodson, Will Blackmon, Shaun Bodiford, Greg Jennings and Jones.
-- The accidental hit of the day came courest of safeties Marquand Manuel and Nick Collins, who sandwiched tight end Zac Alcorn on a seam route.
-- Quarterback Jerry Babb drew cheers from his teammates by juking end Jason Hunter out of his shoes after scrambling toward the right sideline.
-- Running back Brandon Jackson wasn't the only rookie draft pick missing from practice. Linebacker Desmond Bishop was absent because California is on the quarter system. McCarthy said Bishop should practice Saturday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First-round pick Harrell at practice but skips 11-on-11 drills:
The Packers continued to be careful with defensive tackle Justin Harrell at the team's first minicamp practice Friday. The first-round draft pick was at practice but did not participate in any 11-on-11 contact drills. The same goes for quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, who Coach Mike McCarthy said are both in the final stages of their injury rehabilitation. McCarthy said guard Jason Spitz left practice after tweaking his back and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila left after taking a shot to his thigh. McCarthy also said wide receiver Robert Ferguson should be ready for the team's organized team activities, while defensive end Aaron Kampman probably will not participate until training camp. Ferguson has a mid-foot injury, while Kampman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee this offseason.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TE Franks works with second team
Quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers sat out the first 11-on-11 team period Friday.
Other notes:
-- Guard Jason Spitz was replaced by Junius Coston.
-- TE Bubba Franks worked with the second-team offense, while TE Donald Lee worked with the firstteam.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Players not participating listed The following players are not practicing at Friday afternoon's minicamp session:
S Marviel Underwood
RB Arliss Beach
RB Brandon Jackson
RB DeShawn Wynn
LB Marcus Randall
LB Abdul Hodge
LB Desmond Bishop
G Tony Palmer
T Kevin Barry
G Jason Spitz
DE Aaron Kampman
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Favre, Rodgers participate in walk-through
Quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers participated in the walk-through portion of practice Friday at the Don Hutson Center. Neither player showed any noticeable limp, though players were moving at half speed at best. A number of players were not participating, including linebacker Abdul Hodge and defensive end Aaron Kampman. Guard Jason Spitz left practice early and trainers appeared to be working on one of his legs. General Manager Ted Thompson, who Favre criticized last weekend, was on the field.
mg: .....You really are in college!
