Packers Set Dates for Practices

Following the completion this last weekend of the 2015 NFL Draft and the subsequent undrafted free agent (UFA) signings, the Green Bay Packers have announced the schedule for the upcoming off-season orientations, OTA workouts, and practices.

Photo Copyright 2015 PackerFansUnited.com

• May 8-9 - Rookie orientation for draftees and UFAs and rookie invitee tryouts
• May 27-29 - Organized Team Activities (May 28 practice open to public)
• June 2-4 - Organized Team Activities (June 2 practice open to public)
• June 9-12 - Organized Team Activities (June 10 practice open to public)
• June 16-18 - Mandatory mini-camp (all practices open to the public)
• July 29 - All players report
• July 30 - First day of training camp
• Aug. 13 - First pre-season game: Packers at New England Patriots
• Sept. 13 - First 2015 regular season game: Packers at Chicago Bears

Stay tuned to PackerFansUnited.com for ongoing updates and commentary regarding the Packers. For real-time coverage, be sure to check out our Amazing 2nd Page.

Soooo...Packers training camp is underway! And Pack signs Jordy Nelson for 4 more years!

Well, Packer fans, it's that time of year again. And my oh my, aren't we so glad?

I have arisen from post-draft slumber and blog-writing summer vacation and finally have emerged from my man cave to shake off the writer's rust and at least get something down on the cyber-paper while I have a moment. (See: that was one of the worst sentences I have ever written! Good thing there's training camp to get me back into regular season writing shape.)

Let's start with the big news out of camp today: the Green Bay Packers reportedly signed WR Jordy Nelson to a four-year contract extension valued in the neighborhood of $39 million plus incentives. That's a mighty fine neighborhood, Mr. Nelson. Congratulations. Well-deserved.

Now, how 'bout the camp schedule?

We'll be back with more on the Pack's activities as things move along.

For now, I'm glad the players and coaches are back. And I'm glad to be back here at PackerFansUnited.com, too. Thanks for reading. Appreciate it.

What can we count on, Packers fans?

One of the things you can count on in the NFL offseason is that there really isn't much to count on. Oh, sure, there are draftee signings, undrafted free agent signings, veteran free agents moving from team to team, and so on. Even some rookie camps and OTAs. But aside from that...?

After all, who could have counted on the Packers braintrust deciding to flip-flop the offensive line? (Even though the consensus, it seems, among many Packer fans is that this is certainly worth trying in order to keep Mr. Rodgers a bit more upright than in past seasons.) Or that the Packers would be heading into this season without the veteran leadership provided by Donald Driver, Charles Woodson and Greg Jennings? What about the possibility of having an actual rushing attack for the first time in what seems like a generation...anyone here see that one coming? And yet, two big draft picks -- Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin -- may fill that void in a way not seen in Green Bay in ages. What about the defense? Did anyone here count on DE Mike Neal being tried out at outside linebacker? Who'da thunk it?!

But we can count on one more OTA from June 11-14, which is interestingly preceded by mandatory minicamp June 4-6. Packers players will report for the start of training camp July 25, with the first practice on Friday, July 26. Then, we can almost taste the football in the air. (Wait...that doesn't sound so appetizing, does it? Well, you know what I meant...I hope...)

Football will be with us in less than 100 days from now. So stay tuned. As long-time readers of PackerFansUnited.com know, as we get closer to the start of stuff that matters we begin to ramp up our coverage. Until then, for those who need their daily fantasy sports, you'll just have to find other ways to keep entertained.

Please keep checking back with us. Follow us on Twitter (@packfansunited). We appreciate you stopping by and spending a few moments of your valuable time with us. We hope to make it worth your while more often than not.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers shareholders meet, players arrive for camp

Some of the more than 300,000+ shareholders of the Green Bay Packers gathered together in the lovefest at Lambeau today otherwise known as the Annual Shareholders Meeting. No, not all of them. Just some of them. Still, Packers President Mark Murphy opined that it might well have been the largest corporate meeting ever held in the U.S.

Shareholders heard about Board and staff personnel changes, the financial report (noted in an earlier post here), and some generalities from GM Ted Thompson about the team of last year and what to look forward to this year...without going into much detail, of course...don't want to tip your hand, after all. But that's OK. Thompson's earned the right to play it as he sees it. One of the things he did say, however, was that the Packers would not be the youngest team in the league for the first time in what seems like forever. There are enough veterans, now even including the second-year players, who have made and will continue to make contributions; any impact by rookies will be gravy, so to speak.

Of course, players arrive tomorrow for check-in and check-ups as training camp resumes. Yay. Oh yay, indeed. Don't need to say anything other than that at the moment.

A unique remembrance of Lombardi
St. Norbert College in De Pere, just south of Green Bay, has hosted the Packers' training camp since the time of Lombardi. It has released a unique remembrance of St. Vince himself, focusing on the man as well as the coach, as told by one of the priests at the college who knew him well. Check it out here.

Packers in the green 'n' gold 'n' green

Yes, Packers fans, our favorite team raked in record revenues and profits during their last fiscal year, according to the financial report the team released yesterday.

The Packers reported more than $300 million in total revenue for the first time in the year following their Super Bowl win. The record profit of $43 million was the result of revenue increasing $19 million while expenses fell $12 million compared to the previous year. Considering that the entire operating profit from the prior year was just $12 million, well, it was a very good year indeed.

If you want more of the money details, and especially if you are a shareholder you certainly will (although there is no financial gain or return win or lose on the financial front for shareholders), check out the Packers own story here, or a more comprehensive look via the online Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

As the Packers prepare for the start of training camp in a few short weeks, it's great to know the team is in such great shape going forward. Great management, great coaching, a great stadium, and great players make for the greatest franchise in the NFL...aw heck, all of sports!

C'mon, say it with me: it's great to be a Packers fan!

(Were there too many "greats" in that last paragraph or so? Naaaaaaaahhhhh.)

Packer Fans: Are You Ready for Some Football?!

Silly question, isn't it? Of course fans of the Green Bay Packers are ready for football. We were ready for more football as soon as the Pack won Super Bowl XLV and brought the Lobmardi Trophy back to Green Bay. When you are a Super Bowl champ (or even a fan thereof) you can't wait to get back in the mode of winning another. And, oh, by the way, in case you haven't heard, the Packers are favored by many prognosticators to play in this season's Super Bowl versus the Patriots. There's even some analysis out there -- you can find it if you look hard enough, trust me -- that the Packers are a team, if not the team, best positioned to dominate over the next several years. Looking at the management, the coaching staff and the roster you'd be hard pressed to find a a better organization anywhere in football. Yes, I'm a homer and readily admit it. But there are plenty of folks out there besides yours truly saying the same thing. So there.

But first, we need the lockout to end. And, as I suggested here in my last post, I thought a deal would definitely get done by the end of this month. I'm sticking with that. The deal may come, as rumored, as soon as this weekend. Let's hope so. The Packers sure seem to think so: they're reportedly getting Ray Nitschke Field -- the Pack's training facility -- prepared for action. And St. Norbert College in De Pere, home going back to the 1950s for the Packers' training camp, is also making preparations as if camp will be starting on time.

So, let's be optimistic. There's too much money to be lost if this drags on. And when push comes to shove, that's usually what will get a deal done...the loss of real dollars in the bank account not dollars merely on paper.

Packers rookie orientation camp underway

Today through Sunday, the Packers will be hosting the drafted and undrafted rookies they signed this last week. There will also be a handful of first-year players on hand. There will even be a player or two who is not signed but who has been invited to try out for the team. There will be one practice session each day, along with meetings with coaches, medical personnel and staff members.

As noted here in prior posts, one of those players in for a tryout is UW-Whitewater RB Justin Beaver. And, as also said here before, he's a kid you just have to root for. You can hear a radio interview he did this a.m. with Milwaukee station 620WTMJ while he was driving to Green Bay. He's very realistic that he is a long-shot, but all he wants is that one shot. And he's got it this weekend. You can listen to him give his thoughts about the weekend and beyond here.

Camp Calendar
MAY 2-4: Rookie orientation camp, Don Hutson Center
MAY 19-JUNE 12: Organized team activity sessions. (One OTA session each week, weather permitting, will be open to the public and held at Ray Nitschke Field. The dates are May 21, 29, June 4, 11).
JUNE 17-19: Mandatory mini-camp (Ray Nitschke Field).
JULY 28: First summer training camp practice (Clarke Hinkle Field).

Observations on "Family Night" scrimmage

The Packers held their annual "Family Night" scrimmage in Lambeau Field tonight. And, as always, 60,000 fans show up -- actually pay -- to watch the action. Only in Green Bay. And that's said with pride. Of course, for those who couldn't make it to Lambeau, the scrimmage was carried live on statewide TV. Only in Wisconsin. And, again, that's said with pride.

A few observations, in no particular order:

• Brett Favre directed two opening TD drives against the #2 defense, looking extremely sharp on his throws. Both Donald Driver and Gregg Jennings made some excellent catches. Later, in a two minute drill, Brett was intercepted by Nick Collins on a bad throw to the endzone.


• Shaun Bodiford had a nice kickoff run back, finally being forced out of bounds by the kicker, Dave Rayner. David Clowney, rookie wide receiver, returned a kickoff for a TD. It should be noted in both cases, though, that there was no tackling allowed on special teams during the scrimmage. Still, both Bodiford and Clowney showed exceptional speed.


• The #1 defensive line seemed to put constant pressure on backup QB Aaron Rodgers who looked, well, like Aaron Rodgers under pressure. When given time, however, Rodgers completed some nice throws...not including an ill-advised toss up interception in the endzone.


• Third-year RB Noah Herron now is the "oldest" back on the team in terms of tenure with the Packers. Scary, isn't it?


• Rookie QB Paul Thompson, a free agent signing out of Oklahoma, showed a live arm and exhibited good movement in and out of the pocket. He was picked off on a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage. If you want to know more about Thompson -- who knew the Pack even had him? -- go here. Interesting prospect. Practice squad candidate? Or bumps Ingle Martin out of the #3 spot?


• Tramon Williams, second year CB, delivered a huge hit on WR Chris Francies to break up a completion.


• In the field goal kicking competition at the end of the scrimmage, incumbent Dave Rayner missed a couple, as did rookie Mason Crosby. The kickers kicked from both ends of the stadium, various yardages and placements, and also switched holders. Call it a draw.

So, it seems as if everyone got out unscathed with no injuries. That's the best outcome of all.

Now, the team gets ready for their first preseason game next weekend at Pittsburgh. Oh yeah!

Bits & Pieces

Nothing of major importance to report today. Just bits and pieces...this and that...miscellaneous stuff...you get the idea.

Brooks & Butler in PHoF
Packer greats Robert Brooks and LeRoy Butler took their place alongside other Packer luminaries when they were formally inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame on Saturday evening. Both earned their spots with years of dedication to the team, on and off the field, and exceptional play. (Despite rumors to the contrary, Butler did not earn his place in the Hall for inventing "The Lambeau Leap.") You can read a nice article about Butler here.

Training Camp at "City Stadium"
For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Packers will practice at "City Stadium," the team's former home from 1925 through 1956, when they take to the field on Tuesday, July 31. The last time the team practiced there was Aug. 5, 1961, when the team held an intra-squad scrimmage. City Stadium is now the home football field for Green Bay East High School. But once upon a time, it saw the likes of such legendary Packer players as Don Hutson, Curly Lambeau, Arnie Herber, Tony Canadeo and Clarke Hinkle, among others. One hopes the young Packer players of today will appreciate and sense the history that surrounds them on that old field. It is anticipated that there will be a large crowd on hand for this historic one-of-a-kind practice session. You can read more here.

New Charity Cap Campaign
For the last few years, the Packers have teamed up with American Family Insurance in the creation of a special cap design from which a portion of the proceeds goes toward a designated charity. Over the last two years, the cap campaigns have raised nearly $1.5 million for charities fighting breast cancer and heart disease. This year, the goal is to raise money to support service men and women, veterans and their families. Cost of the cap -- a very nice black washed cotton design -- is $15, with $5 from each sale going towards the charity effort. You can learn more about the cap campaign here. Or if you just want to cut to the chase and order your cap now, go here.

That's all for now. Over and out...

We're Ba-a-a-a-a-ck!

For all those Packer fans anxiously awaiting our return from a brief time away, let the rejoicing begin! For everyone else who (a) either didn't know or (b) didn't care...can't say I blame you. It is summer, after all. But now...

There are only a few days before the annual Packers' shareholders meeting, and less than a week to go to the start of Packers' summer training camp. Woo-hoo! For those counting, there remain a mere 49 days to the season opener against the Eagles. Oh baby!

So, the postings here at PackerFansUnited.com will once again become more frequent with all the action at camp. But in the meantime, you can check out the Packers' own dedicated camp site (you can also find this site as part of the permanent "Links" area in the righthand column).

Hope you have enjoyed your summer. Now, Packer fans, it's time to start thinking football...our favorite time of the year!

As always, thanks for reading.