ESPN Network: ESPN | NBA.com | NHL.com | ABC | Radio | EXPN | Insider | Shop | Fantasy

Keyword
NFL
Scores
Schedules
Standings
Statistics
Transactions
Injuries
Players
Message Board
NFL en español
CLUBHOUSE


SHOP@ESPN.COM
NikeTown
TeamStore
SPORT SECTIONS
MLB
   Scores | GameCast
NFL
   Scores
Col. Football
   Scores
NBA
   Scores
Golf
   Scores
Tennis
   Scores
Motorsports
Soccer
Boxing
NHL
M Col. BB
W Col. BB
WNBA
Horse Racing
Recruiting
Sports Business
College Sports
Olympic Sports
Action Sports
ESPNdeportes
ProRodeo
More Sports
Sunday, July 29
Updated: July 31, 3:17 PM ET
 
Reynolds motoring into rookie season

By John Clayton
ESPN.com

DE PERE, Wis. -- Here are five quick observations from the Packers' training camp.

Camp Classic Moment
Former coach Forrest Gregg wasn't a fan of seeing so many fans outside training camp practices. The Packers are considered one of Wisconsin's best tourist attractions. So he often hinted to a veteran reporter that he'd like to move summer practices to a remote area. The writer put out the story. The phones of president Bob Harlan were overloaded. What disturbed Gregg the most was the noise of the traffic and how it might distract the players. Not going to happen. These Packers belong to the fans.
John Clayton

1. First-round choice Jamal Reynolds, a 266-pounder, shows a great motor. On one play in the morning drills, Reynolds tried to split a guard and tackle double-teaming him and rapidly shrank the left side of the pocket. His biggest challenge will be to keep his weight and strength through 16 grueling weeks.

2. Torrance Marshall, the team's third-round choice, is so mobile and such a presence that he will get playing time once he learns the defense. Coordinator Ed Donatell keeps big notations in his office about strengths of each of his players. Once he identifies Marshall's, Donatell will fit him into his many defensive packages.

3. Wide receiver Antonio Freeman looks in exceptionally good shape and should be able to get back into the 80-plus catch range. Quarterback Brett Favre said Freeman led the receivers at the conditioning drills Friday, outrunning younger receivers who were Olympic sprint prospects.

4. Favre is a treat to watch when he throwing and he's happy. There is no quarterback in football that throws footballs with his velocity. He waited until the afternoon practice to lob some 50-yard completions. If the tendinitis doesn't return, he should have a monster year.

5. The defensive tackle position has numbers but is a little scary. Santana Dotson and Steve Warren are expected to miss the pre-season recovering from torn quads from last year. Cletidus Hunt, who might have been the starter, opens the season on a four-game suspension. Veterans Russell Maryland and Jim Flanigan can't get hurt in training camp.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.






 More from ESPN...
Clayton and Pasquarelli: Postcards from training camp
John Clayton and Len ...

ESPN.com's NFL training camp tour
Get the scoop on your team's ...

Clayton: High expectations in Green Bay
Things are looking up in ...

Packers: Ready to attack
With almost their entire team ...


AUDIO/VIDEO
 ESPN.com's John Clayton believes the Packers are improving.
wav: 247 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

 ESPN Tools
Email story
 
Most sent
 
Print story
 



ESPN.com: Help | PR Media Kit | Sales Media Kit | Contact Us | Tools | Jobs at ESPN.com | Supplier Information | Copyright ©2007 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.