With rookie camp underway, Packer Nation is all abuzz to find out how these new players look and what kind of impact they are going to have for the team this season. Greg Bedard at the JS Packers Blog does an admirable job with some thoughts watching them on the field for the first time, but he admits you can’t tell much from what went on yesterday; they were after all just running around in shorts getting used to their first NFL-style practice.
Those of us less fortunate who could not be in Green Bay to see the practice can however get a first impression of these new guys from the video clips posted on the Packers.com site. Overall I think they come across as well-spoken young men ready to play some football. I’m especially impressed with Jeremy Thompson, the defensive end from Wake Forest selected in the fourth round. Before camp, Thompson says he brushed up on his Packers history and did a little research on Green Bay to familiarize himself with his new home. I’m definitely pulling for him to make the team and to make an impact this year.
Some other reactions: Jordy Nelson comes across as humble and just happy to be playing football, Brian Brohm says all the right things in regards to Aaron Rodgers and the starting job (though I still think he’s a prima donna who’s going to have a tough time adjusting), and Patrick Lee seems confident bordering on cocky — the way you want a young corner back to be.
And then there is Brett Swain, the wide receiver from San Diego State who was Ted Thompson’s final selection in the draft. Just like Bedard, I don’t want to pile on anyone their first day, but check out Swain’s interview and see if you don’t agree he might be a couple pints short of a gallon. Swain strikes me as being somewhere between a surfer dude and a valley girl: Everything is “hey” and “whoa” and “organ-I-zation,” and he took a photo of his locker just to prove he had an NFL career. I’m betting when the veterans show up for mini-camp, Swain is the first one to get duct tapped to a goal post and bombarded with water balloons.
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Ok you have already lost creditability with me! Have you met Swain one-on-one or is your assessment based on the kids first NFL interview which by the way the he look nervous as hell if anything??? Your ignorance about Swain makes your Blog site questionable at best! My assessment of Swain watching him practice twice, he has better speed, hands, quicker feet and runs routes superior over Jody at this point. Hmmmmmm Who gives a shit if he’s a surf dude! As long as the guy catches touchdowns and is a good role model in the community.
May 4th, 2008 at 5:57 pmI was not aware that this site had any credibility to lose, so I’ll take this as a complement.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:37 am