Rookie minicamp serves as brief introduction

Mike Spofford

GREEN BAY They've been through the combine and the pro days, with all the workouts and interviews, plus the pre-draft visits and then the draft itself.

This weekend's rookie minicamp is the next step for the Packers' eight draft picks (plus 10 undrafted rookies and numerous tryout players), and it's safe to say they couldn't wait to get going.

"It's time to actually get to work," fourth-round defensive linemanBarryn Sorrellsaid Friday when the draft class met with the media. "This is what I wanted to do. This is the part I'm most excited about is getting to put on this gear and go out on the field."

That won't actually happen until Saturday, for an abbreviated practice at the Don Hutson Center. Meetings, strength workouts and walk-throughs have taken up the bulk of their time thus far.

It's still important, though, and a much-appreciated change of pace, particularly being in their NFL town as opposed to constantly wondering where they're headed.

"It's been a rollercoaster of emotions, man," fifth-round edge rusherCollin Oliversaid. "The highs and all over the place. Anxiety. Everything you can imagine.

"But it's been welcoming, just coming here, see the people here, meeting the coaches and some of the players who were here. It's just been real cool. It's been real cool and surreal."

Added seventh-round cornerbackMicah Robinson: "Right now I'm just learning the ins and outs, learning the culture of the program. Learning how to insert myself in, and whatever the coaches tell me to do, in all reality I'll just do it."

Five of the Packers' eight draft picks made pre-draft visits to Green Bay, so coming back has featured some familiarity. Over the last day or so, they've crossed paths with a veteran player here or there and begun connecting with their fellow rookies.

They've been assigned equipment, worked on an introductory checklist, seen some playbook basics and been given a schedule to follow. Even though Saturday's practice will be at a low-intensity, teaching tempo, it's all designed to "try to acclimate them as fast as humanly possible," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said.

That's because after this weekend, they'll return home for a week before coming back to Green Bay to join the rest of the squad in offseason workouts, with OTAs starting by the end of the month. They'll be given some homework, too, so they can build on these first couple days and not wind up starting over.

"That way, when they leave, they've got a sense of direction of what they need to do, what's going to be asked of them when they come back," LaFleur said, acknowledging that learning an NFL playbook from scratch is no easy task.

The exposure this weekend is minimal, but everyone has to start somewhere.

"Just learning the plays, man," third-round receiverSavion Williamssaid of his primary focus. "Seeing what I need to do so when I get back next week it just comes smooth."

Big picture, this is what all the pre-draft requirements were for, and they're thrilled it's finally time to turn the page.

"Man, that's all I've been waiting on," first-round receiverMatthew Goldensaid. "I'm glad the process of the combine and all those visits is over with. Now I'm just back to playing football and just coming out here and enjoying it, learning as much as I can, soaking it in and then going out there and playing fast."

That first practice as a pro can't get here soon enough.

"Time to actually put my cleats in the ground, put my hand in the dirt and do what got me here," Sorrell said. "I'm just excited to go out there. I'm out there practicing as a Green Bay Packer, it don't really get better than that to me.

"You learn about the tradition of this team. You learn about this organization and the people in this organization. I'm just so happy to be a part of this but also, I'm just happy to be playing football another day."