New careers underway for Packers' rookie class

[Cheesehead]

GREEN BAY – A year ago, Matt LaFleur and his Packers coaching staff didn't get to meet their rookie class face-to-face until training camp began.


Count LaFleur among those thankful for rookie minicamp being back on the schedule, as Friday's first day of practice on a beautiful mid-May day in Green Bay served as a breath of fresh air for all.


"It feels so good to be out there with these guys," LaFleur said after the first of two rookie minicamp practices. "I'll tell you the one thing that was extremely noticeable was just the energy level and the effort of these guys was outstanding."


They were certainly fired up to be practicing as NFL players for the first time.


Second-round draft pick Josh Myers and third-rounder Amari Rodgers both called it "a dream come true," and Rodgers' longtime connection to former Packers receiver Randall Cobb made it even more special to be in Green Bay.


First-round pick Eric Stokes noted he was just changing the colors of the "G" logo from playing in college at Georgia to now entering the NFL with Green Bay, and it already got him thinking about walking out of the Lambeau Field tunnel in front of a full house come this fall.


"It still gives me chills now just thinking about it," Stokes said. "I just can't wait."


There's a long way to go before that moment arrives, and the rookies won't get any 11-on-11 snaps until OTAs begin later this month. The minicamp practices, which have just 28 players on Clarke Hinkle Field, are focused mostly on position drills.


The primary goal of the weekend is simply for the rookies to learn the ropes and shake off some of the natural jitters that come with trying to make a good first impression.