By Troy A. Sparks
GREEN BAY – Every day, the Green Bay Packer players are reminded in some shape or form of what should’ve been a deep playoff run last season.
That’s why they’re bringing their lunch pails to work in training camp this year.
It’s clear that the goal is to make the Super Bowl. At least, that’s how it looks on paper right now.
If everything goes according to plan, if the key players are healthy, it will happen.
And that work ethic was showcased in my visit to their practice field, August 3, in the evening.
In the second of two practices on this Tuesday, the Packers were in full pads.
That’s the kind of action I like to see, some live hitting.
You have 80 players fighting for 53 roster and eight practice spots, and they have to run every play like it was their last.
Practice started at 6:30 p.m. in nearly 90-degree sunny weather.
Just like clockwork, the one-on-one hitting was fun to see.
When the No. 1 offense lined up against the No. 1 defense, the offense ran the two-minute offense with two time outs and down by a touchdoown.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was in the shotgun, throwing short passes in the middle and to the sideline.
I thought he took great command of the offense, but that’s just practice.
Let’s wait until he’s in that situation against a jacked-up defense.
Rodgers isn’t a risk-taker like Brett Favre was, so his percentages of turning the ball over is low.
On a hot day, a 2 1/2 hour practice in full pads has its advantages for the players when it’s all over.
They had the next day off to get ready for an afternoon practice in 41 hours.
E-mail me at sparkstroy@hotmail.com.
