Packers coach Mike McCarthy doesn't believe that fewer offseason workouts will reduce the number of injuries teams endure. "To me, when you talk about player safety, when you have injuries in training camp, a lot of times it happens to an inexperienced player, a younger player that is not quite sure what to do," McCarthy said. "Because of that, bodies are going to be put in vulnerable positions, and I see vulnerable positions created by a lack of preparation. "I don't see where the fact that less is going to be better. I don't agree with that." McCarthy utilizes Green Bay's offseason program to install his entire system so the focus on training camp can be evaluating players who are competing for jobs. "I don’t know what goes on at the other 31 teams; all I know is those practices are important," McCarthy said. “That time in the classroom is very important because when you have the opportunity to have everything in when you leave at the end of June, when those players go to that rookie symposium (before training camp), those rookies, that football team has seen everything. "I've always thought that way as a coordinator and as a quarterback coach because at the end of the day, that man’s competing for a job on your football team. So I’d want to know what the deal is."

The Packers, the defending Super Bowl champions, have the No. 32 pick in next month's NFL Draft. The final pick in the first round has been traded three times in the last nine years, but the slot has regularly produced strong contributors. Dating back to 2001, guys like Drew Brees, Logan Mankins, Anthony Gonzalez and Ziggy Hood were all taken with the final pick of the opening round.

Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly has been arrested on another drug charge in Houston, according to an ESPN.com report. Houston police spokesman Victor Senties said Jolly was pulled over about 12:45 a.m. Friday. Senties said officers discovered a bottle containing 600 grams of codeine under the passenger's seat and another bottle with an unidentified substance in the driver's side door. Jolly was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Dr. Patrick McKenzie, the Packers’ team physician for nearly two decades, recently received the Jerry “Hawk” Rhea Award at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The award, presented by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society, is annually given to the physician of the year in the NFL. “The coolest thing about this is it came from the trainers,” McKenzie said in the release. “I got my training from Dr. (James) Andrews, but I always say the athletic training world raised me in sports medicine.”

The Packers will have a significant decision to make once the league's new year officially begins. Ryan Grant is due a $1 million roster bonus on the 15th day of the new league year, which has been delayed by the NFL's lockout. The running back also has a total of $750,000 of per game roster bonuses ($46,875 per game active) and a $3.5 million base salary for 2011, the final year of his contract. Grant was lost for the season when he broke his ankle in Week 1 against the Eagles.

Packers president Mark Murphy didn't expect the NFL and the NFLPA to allow the collective bargaining agreement to expire without a new deal in place. "You are definitely going to need a law degree to figure out what is going on over the next several weeks," Murphy said to reporters on Saturday. "Having been on both sides of this, this is really disappointing," said Murphy, who was a player in the league for 11 years and also served as an assistant executive director of the NFLPA. "To me, this takes us back to where we were in the 1980s. It's a shame. We’ve all benefited from the relationships we've had." Murphy said he thought the new offer made by owners on Friday would get a deal done. "We still have a lot of time," he said. "At the end of the day, I am hopeful that cooler heads will prevail without any interruption."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy has admitted that a lengthy work stoppage could end up helping the team. Green Bay's season lasted longer than most teams, cutting down on their offseason. "I think when it's all said and done it may even help us," McCarthy said this week of the delayed start to the new league year. "It takes the focus away. When you win, you want to be like everybody else, just get back into your routine." He was already thinking about delaying the team's offseason programs. "I wasn't going to bring these guys back until the second week in April," McCarthy said. "I'm not as concerned about our players. The hypotheticals (of a lockout), I'm not even worried about that. "I just want to make sure we're ready, staff-wise. We played six playoff games. I'm telling you, that's a lot of football. I'm worried about it. I'm looking at our training camp schedule already. I've already adjusted that. I'm in tune with it."

James Jones may not return to the Packers this offseason. ?I love the city, love the team, would love to come back,? Jones said earlier this week. Jones is looking for a bigger role and wants to become an every-down NFL starter. Jones? teammates seem resigned to his eventual departure. ?He has to make the best decision for him and his family,? said Greg Jennings.

The five-year deal that linebacker A.J. Hawk received from the Packers last week is worth $33.75 million, which comes out to $6.75 million annually. The deal includes an $8 million signing bonus. Hawk will make $1.15 million in base salary in 2011, with a $1.8 million roster bonus. He will count just $4.55 million against the salary cap. In 2012, Hawk's base salary will jump to $4.4 million with a $300,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus. In 2013, Hawk will earn $4.9 million in base salary with the same roster and workout bonuses as in 2012. In 2014, his base salary again will be $4.9 million with an $800,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus. And in 2015, his base salary will be $5.4 million, with an $800,000 roster bonus and a $250,000 workout bonus.

Green Bay wide receiver James Jones says that he received a restricted free-agent tender from the team last week, according to WBAY-TV. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported last week that Jones was not tendered. Jones, a four-year pro, had 50 receptions for 679 yards with five touchdowns last season.