By Greg Bates - Daily News Sports Editor

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GREEN BAY –– Not all the attention was on the possible return of Brett Favre Monday morning when the Green Bay Packers opened training camp.

The nine rookies whom the Packers drafted in April hit the field at Clarke Hinkle Field and showed Packers fans that the future is now and the past (see Favre) is indeed the past.

“They looked pretty good,” said second-year wide receiver James Jones after the team’s morning practice. “Always the first day you’ve got jitters probably as a rookie. I know when I came in I had a little jitters and not knowing what to expect.”

Jones said the rookies need to come in and get a feel for the game at the NFL level.

“I think coming in as a rookie, you’ve got to catch up on the speed of the game –– especially when we put pads on,” Jones said.

Second-round picks wide receiver Jordy Nelson and quarterback Brian Brohm have created a bond off the field as roommates at training camp, but they have also started an on-field bond.

“I think we’re going to build a lot of chemistry here … because rookies are always hanging out,” Nelson said.

Nelson and Brohm were the Packers’ top two selections in the draft –– Nos. 36 and 56, respectively –– and both signed their rookie contracts one day before training camp started.

The two feel it is essential to their maturation process to attend every day of training camp as they begin their first season in the NFL.

“I wanted to be here for camp. I didn’t want to miss anything,” Brohm said. “I need all the reps I can get, so I wanted to be here and get every single rep.”

Nelson and Brohm acknowledged that the first day of training camp was a day to learn as well as expand on what the rookies worked on during organized team activities (OTAs) and mini camp.

Repetition is key as the rookies get the Packers’ offense etched into their brains.

“A lot of the plays we installed before, so it was kind of a refresher,” said Nelson, who attended Kansas State University. “You’re going to learn something new every day, so you’ve got to go out there and take it from one practice to the next.”

“He’s adapting real well,” Jones said of fellow wide receiver Nelson. “He adapted real well at OTAs and things like that. He’ll be fine.”

Brohm, who comes into training camp competing for the backup quarterback spot behind Aaron Rodgers, is picking up the offense faster than most quarterbacks since he ran a similar style in his four years at the University of Louisville.

“My goal is to just get better every day, try to pick up this offense as fast as I can, know all the little intricacies and get them quick,” Brohm said. “That’s the main thing.”

Brohm said Rodgers has been helpful getting him and seventh-round pick Matt Flynn acclimated to the offense.

“Brohm and Flynn, [they’re] great quarterbacks,” said tight end Jermichael Finley, who was a fourth-round pick this year. “If Brett decides not to come back, Brohm will be backup and it will be great.”

After the retirement of Favre in early March, the Packers knew they needed extra quarterback help for Rodgers.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said having three quarterbacks on the roster is “by design.” All three quarterbacks are inexperienced and need to get as many repetitions as possible, McCarthy said.

“Come draft time, we decided we had to get this position ready,” Thompson said. “So we have three young quarterbacks that we have to prepare to play. How Brett factors into that group, we will just have to wait and see.”

While Brohm is trying to concentrate on his own game, he might have to start thinking about a battle at the backup quarterback slot. The 22-year-old hasn’t thought about what it might be like if the 38-year-old Favre unretires and is jockeying for the No. 2 spot.

“Ya know, I’m just here to compete,” said Brohm, laughing.

So will Favre if and when he shows up.

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Rory Coulman wrote on Aug 4, 2008 2:08 PM: " Great article! I am really interested in how the rookies are doing this preseason especially Brian Brohm and Jordy Nelson. GO PACK! " The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.

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