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HOT TOPIC
His degree secured, if not in hand, rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk's train of thought now is all football, all the time.
The Packers' top draft pick rejoined the team June 12 after being away for more than a month because of school commitments at Ohio State. Hawk completed his course work to earn an undergraduate degree in criminology in four years.
The graduation ceremony was June 11, but Hawk purposely skipped it so he could get back to Green Bay a couple days earlier. He took a crash course in studying everything he had missed before taking to the field again in organized team activities.
"I don't have to worry about writing papers; it's all football," Hawk said. "I know it's all-day football, but I know there are a lot of people who would love to be in this situation. So, I'm going to try to make the most of it."
Hawk's introduction to pro football after being taken fifth overall in the draft was fleeting. He participated in the team's three-day post-draft minicamp, then was barred by league rule from a second minicamp later in May and the first seven of 14 OTAs until school was out at Ohio State.
Despite being away for an extended time, Hawk didn't miss much from a schematic standpoint. The second minicamp was a review of the first for players. Linebackers coach Winston Moss sent Hawk a DVD with footage of those practices and kept in regular contact with the prized newcomer.
"I had to break down all the plays and see the defense we put in and really go through and get it down on paper," Hawk said.
As for the batch of OTA practices he missed, Hawk said he had to get caught up on only three packages that were installed, primarily in the red zone and near the goal line.
"Other than that, he's in good shape," defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. "He had very, very good recall" of the earlier material.
The Packers need Hawk to be sharp because they're counting on him to be the starter from the outset on the weak side and complement middle linebacker Nick Barnett.
Hawk was determined to get situated in Green Bay from the get-go. His fiance, Laura Quinn, sister of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, quickly found a house while Hawk was at team headquarters a day after he was taken in the draft.
Hawk said Laura has enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay this summer to complete a degree in communications.
PLAYER NOTES
--Veteran nose tackle Ryan Pickett finally reported for organized team activities June 15 and expressed remorse in the process.
Pickett, the Packers' first significant free-agent acquisition in the off-season, missed the initial eight of a scheduled 14 practices. The OTAs wrap up June 21.
"I feel like I let my team down by not being here," Pickett said. "It hurt me that I couldn't be here. I mean it. I take it on myself. I want to be a leader and stuff like that. A leader doesn't miss this many days, so I'm kind of hard on myself. But, at the same time, I had stuff I had to deal with."
Pickett didn't elaborate on what kept him away, only to say he's "been going through a little personal matter."
Although the OTAs are voluntary, the absences of Pickett and starting cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson, another high-profile addition in free agency, have been highly scrutinized.
Coach Mike McCarthy doesn't anticipate seeing Harris until the start of training camp July 28. Harris has been boycotting all non-mandatory workouts with the team because he wants a new contract.
McCarthy said June 13 that it's "up in the air" whether Woodson will make an appearance before the end of the OTAs. Woodson had been traveling abroad but is back in the country.
"I think it's more important to show your teammates that you're a guy they can rely on. Especially being new like I am," Pickett said. "A lot of these guys don't know me. You want to let them know that you're going to be there throughout the year, thick and thin."
The Packers signed Pickett, a 2001 first-round draft pick of St. Louis, to a four-year, $14 million contract with $5 million in bonus money in March.
Pickett, coming off his best season as a pro, will be the anchor in the middle of the Packers' defensive line, having replaced the aging and injury-prone Grady Jackson. Pickett, though, acknowledged he is playing heavy at 325 and needs to shed 10 pounds.
--The future of the popular Brett Favre Celebrity Softball Game probably will hinge on what Favre decides about his own playing future after next season.
Favre has played host to the event, which raises money for his foundation that supports disabled and disadvantaged children in his native Mississippi and Wisconsin, the last seven years in early June in Appleton, Wis. Favre and offensive teammates take on members of the Packers defense.
Favre's wife, Deanna, said at this year's game, held June 11, that she has no inkling about whether he will retire following the upcoming season. If Brett does call it quits after 16 years in the league, Deanna indicated that the softball game will be put on at least temporary hiatus.
"When he does finally retire, we probably will take a year off from everything, just to take some family time and some downtime. But, that's not to say that it will be forever," Deanna said.
The softball game annually attracts a sellout crowd of about 8,000 to a minor-league baseball stadium. Despite his icon status in Wisconsin, Favre thinks the event would lose its luster if he's done playing football.
"I think, over time, we all know that you kind of fade from the limelight. It's happened to every guy that's played," Favre said. "I think the people here in Wisconsin have backed their players and have backed this team unlike any other team. So, in some ways, I would say 'yes' that the interest in the game could be sustained.
"But, I think it would still be hard to generate as much money that we have through the long haul," he added.
--The organization endured a mild scare when newly elected president John Jones underwent open-heart surgery in Green Bay on June 11.
Jones, 54, is expected to make a full recovery and will possibly be back on the job within a month.
The publicly owned team's board of directors formally approved last year's appointment of Jones to succeed Bob Harlan as president May 31. Harlan, who has been president since 1989, will continue as chief executive officer until he retires next May after turning 70.
Jones, a former sportswriter, has been with the Packers since 1999 as chief operating officer. He's the 10th president in team history.
--The Packers will commemorate the induction of the late Reggie White into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.
They will show a video tribute during the annual shareholders' meeting July 19 at Lambeau Field.
Former general manager Ron Wolf will be on hand for the season opener Sept. 10 to help unveil White's name on the Lambeau Field facade inside the stadium.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
By the looks of it, the Packers could have two rookies filling the guard spots when the Packers open the season Sept. 10.
Daryn Colledge, a second-round pick out of Boise State, has been firmly entrenched at left guard the last six weeks. Jason Spitz, a third-round choice out of Louisville, moved into the No. 1 spot at right guard this past week.
"Spitz has done very well since he's been here," head coach Mike McCarthy said.
McCarthy and offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, however, haven't settled on a starter at right guard. They're giving equal opportunity to second-year Junius Coston and Spitz to win the position.
Coston had been manning the spot since the post-draft minicamp and continued to do so during the first seven of 14 practices in the team's organized team activities this month. Spitz apparently will have first dibs for the entire second half of the OTAs, which conclude June 21.
"That whole inside group is very young," said McCarthy, also referring to center Scott Wells, a third-year player. "We're looking at everybody. We've talked about getting the best five on the field, and we're continuing to give individuals the opportunity to fight for those positions."
Meanwhile, the Packers have been cautious throughout the off-season in not putting left tackle Chad Clifton in harm's way. Clifton underwent minor knee and ankle surgeries shortly after last season ended. The trusted protector of quarterback Brett Favre's blind side is expected to be ready for the start of training camp July 28.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--S Todd Franz (not tendered June 1).
--NT Grady Jackson (not tendered June 1).
--WR Andrae Thurman (not tendered as ERFA).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--DE/DT Kenny Peterson (tendered at $721,600) is a versatile backup who played in every game for the first time in his career. Part of team's youthful influx of linemen.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--OT Kevin Barry: UFA; $2.785M/2 yrs, $600,000 SB/$600,000 RB; 2006 cap: $1.55M.
--DT Colin Cole: ERFA; $500,000/1 yr.
--RB Najeh Davenport: UFA; $655,280/1 yr, $25,000 SB/$45,280 WO.
--LS Rob Davis: Potential UFA; 1 yr, $800,720/1 yr, $25,000 SB; 2006 cap: $460,000.
--WR Rod Gardner: UFA; $855,720/1 yr, $100,000 SB.
--RB Ahman Green: Potential UFA; $2M/1 yr, $500,000 SB.
--FB William Henderson: UFA; $2.09M/2 yrs, $250,000 SB/$105,720 WOB; 2006 cap: $1.165M.
--CB Jason Horton: Potential ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--DT Cullen Jenkins: ERFA; terms unknown.
--DE Aaron Kampman: Potential UFA; $25M/5 yrs, SB unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--DT Kenderick Allen: RFA rights terminated by Giants; terms unknown.
--WR Marc Boerigter: UFA Chiefs; $782,700/1 yr, $90,000 SB.
--PK Billy Cundiff: FA; $585,000/1 yr.
--S Marquand Manuel: UFA Seahawks; $10M/5 yrs, $2M SB; 2006 cap: $1.4M.
--NT Ryan Pickett: UFA Rams; $14M/4 yrs, $2M SB/$3M RB; 2006 cap: $4.975M.
--LB Ben Taylor: UFA Browns; $665,280/1 yr., $50,000 SB.
--LB Tracy White: Not tendered as RFA by Jaguars; $555,720/1 yr, $25,000 SB.
--CB Charles Woodson: UFA Raiders; $52M/7 yrs, no SB; $10.5M combined RB/salary 2006.
PLAYERS LOST
--WR/KR Antonio Chatman: Not tendered as RFA/Bengals; $1.5M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
--LB Na'il Diggs (released).
--RB Tony Fisher: UFA Rams; $625,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.
--C Mike Flanagan: UFA Texans; $8.85M/3 yrs, $3M SB.
--LB Paris Lenon: UFA Lions; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--PK Ryan Longwell: UFA Vikings; $10M/5 yrs, $3M SB.
__WR Terrence Murphy (released; failed physical/neck).
--QB Craig Nall: UFA Bills; $4.27M/3 yrs, $1.3M SB.
--G/C Grey Ruegamer: UFA Giants; $750,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.
--LB Robert Thomas (released).
--WR Javon Walker: Traded Broncos.
--DT Donnell Washington (released).
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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