Packers: The veteran presence at OTAs is real in Green Bay

There is a reason the Green Bay Packers have been one of the best teams in the National Football League over the last three seasons.

Yes, they win games. That is obvious. But the largest reason for why they have been so successful is their locker room. Their leadership. In pro sports, you have to have a solid foundation of veterans in order to produce great moments on the field.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has instituted a culture that is built around exactly that. There were plenty of leaders and veterans that showed up for voluntary OTAs in late May and early June.

Here is a list of the veteran players that participated in the optional portion of OTAs in some capacity: RB Aaron Jones, WR Randall Cobb, WR Sammy Watkins, TE Robert Tonyan, LT David Bakhtiari, DT Kenny Clark, DT Jarran Reed, MLB De’Vondre Campbell, CB Rasul Douglas, S Adrian Amos, S Darnell Savage, K Mason Crosby, P Pat O’Donnell.

Those are just some of the impact veterans that showed up in droves. Younger players like RB AJ Dillon, QB Jordan Love, WR Amari Rodgers, TE Josiah Deguara, CB Eric Stokes, MLB Krys Barnes, DT TJ Slaton, C Josh Myers, OL Jon Runyan, and OL Yosh Nijman all showed up too.

Again, this just speaks to the type of culture that LaFleur has in place on Lombardi Ave.

Also, before every single talkative media personality decides to take more unwarranted shots at QB Aaron Rodgers, the legend has not participated in voluntary OTAs for years.

It is part of his offseason routine. He rests his arm but continues to work out away from the team and then joins them at mandatory minicamp.

His offseason preparation has helped make this Packers team an elite franchise for years. So before the talking heads re-start the “he’s a bad teammate” train, they need to check their facts.

Other veterans like TE Marcedes Lewis, WR Allen Lazard, OLB Rashan Gary, and OLB Preston Smith have also worked out away from the team during the optional period. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, especially when what you are doing in the offseason has proven to further the overall team’s success.

The Green Bay Packers began their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, which runs through Thursday, followed by another week of OTAs. This will be the first time the whole team will be together with the new rookies.

Aaron Rodgers and Christian Watson 75-yard touchdowns incoming.