:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49838863/usa-today-9283762.0.jpg)
After the Green Bay Packers held OTAs over the past three straight weeks and no significant absences of veterans from the program, the calendar turns over this week to the team's mandatory minicamp. Practices will be held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and Mike McCarthy's press conferences are scheduled for 10:15. His conferences so far this spring have been held after practice - however, last year in training camp, McCarthy began speaking before practice, which is apparently the case in minicamp.
UPDATE: The Packers confirmed this afternoon that the week's practices will all be held at 11:30 AM - good news for fans traveling into town in the morning!
In the meantime, get ready for minicamp by looking through today's cheese curds, which feature news and notes about the Packers' rookie class, which will be intact and with the full roster for the first time all year, the team's offensive line, and much more.
Packers 'absolutely' keeping rookies up to speed | Packersnews.com
For Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, and Kyle Murphy, the transition back into Green Bay should be a smooth one thanks to coaches having nightly meetings with those players who were forced to stay away at school. And remember, last year, Ty Montgomery went through a similar distance-learning period and had some decent early success.
Packers rookie Blake Martinez off to impressive start - ESPN
One rookie who was present since day one was Martinez, who worked hard to graduate early so he would avoid that fate. With Sam Barrington not working in team drills, Martinez has been thrown into the fire with the starters and has been impressive both mentally and physically.
Nick Perry feels 'urgency' of making an impact | JSOnline.com
Perry spoke about his offseason and how excited he is to be able to go through a full slate of spring practices for the first time.
Offensive line would love to stay healthy again | Packers.com
One year after missing just one start among the five players in 2014, the first-team line missed a combined 11 games last season and was together just eight times all season long.
Keenan Allen, Chargers agree on four-year extension - NFL.com
If Allen had not missed eight games last season and been banged up for much of 2014, this contract might have been quite a bit higher. As it is, it's still top-ten wide receiver money.
Mike Carey is out as the rules expert for CBS, according to report - SBNation.com
To be fair, Carey was not as bad as people made him seem - he was put in a tough spot much of the time and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on some things - but he still was right 90% of the time compared to about 98% for Mike Pereira of FOX.