Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told the anxious media and followers of the storied franchise today that he’s very excited about the batch of rookies who reported to rookie camp and was especially enthused by the high energy and enthusiasm displayed by the young guys.
McCarthy spent about 15 minutes addressing the media following the first session with rookies held this morning.
Pointing to UW-Madison rookie Vince Biegel, McCarthey said he was the first to arrive at camp and sat in the front row of the players’ meeting – meaning he liked what the rookie showed today. He also indicated that the hand injury that kept Biegel out of workouts was “minor.”
Here’s what Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweeted after McCarthy’s comments about Biegel:
"McCarthy on Vince Biegel injury: It’s minor. We didn’t have anything of a serious nature. (DeAngelo Yance). Not serious."
This was the first gathering of all drafted and undrafted rookies in Green Bay following the NFL Draft held last weekend and McCarthy couldn’t dampen his enthusiasm in meeting the new guys.
Silverstein once again on what McCarthy said at his press conference:
"Awesome to meet players at combine and then see them in a Packers uniform. Really cool process that we go through."
Also of interest was the fact that the cornerback and running back positions will see a lot of new faces this year.
McCarthy said that it is unusual for the team to have so many new faces at specific positions, but also indicated that the upside was something for which he looked forward to seeing. Green Bay Press Gazette reporter Pete Dougherty on how McCarthy saw the rookies:
"MM on what he watches at rookie minicamp: Watching them in meetings, watching them interact. … getting them acclimated to how we practice."
McCarthy also said that he saw nervousness among the rookies in today’s camp – “and they should be nervous,” he said.
The rookie orientation session helps kick off the offseason program for players as they near OTAs and minicamps prior to reporting for training camp in July.
It’s also a chance for Green Bay Packers fans and media to get their first look at the players who will eventually make up the 53-man roster.
It’s a long way to go before the final cuts at the end of training camp, but for the rookies, this is their time to try to make an impression.
If they don’t make this team’s roster, they will surely be using all of the tape they can gather to sell themselves to other teams.
It’s a pretty cool time of year – when everyone is 0-0 and have aspirations for a Super Bowl championship.
For the Green Bay Packers, the annual “Super Bowl or bust” mantra starts today and will continue for the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned …