A.J. Hawk

Hawk sees no point in player-organized workouts.

Since the lockout has put an end to the organized team activities and minicamps everyone has grown accustomed to this time of year, players from several teams have organized their own workouts.

Up to this point, the Green Bay Packers have not been among them and there isn’t any sign that’s about to change.

While that would seem to put the Packers at a competitive disadvantage with some teams, it probably doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.

Packers linebacker [intlink id="80" type="category"]A.J. Hawk[/intlink] has gotten word organized workouts taking place around the league have been disastrous.

“The most the defense can do when we get together is seven-on-seven,” said Hawk. “I can understand quarterbacks throwing to receivers and stuff like that. I think it’s more of a camaraderie thing.

“I’ve heard that different guys’ workouts from different teams have just been a disaster. They’re working out at bad high school fields and equipment and all that kind of stuff.”

Truth be told, we were somewhat worried the Packers were doing their own thing and not trying to put some sort of organized activity together, but Hawk has a point.

The benefits of organized activities and minicamps are players learning a system or new plays — things that require coaches to be present. Players and coaches can’t have contact during the lockout, so that makes these player-organized workouts nothing more than a glorified scrimmage at best and a bunch of screwing around at worse.

From what we’ve gathered, most members of the Packers are working out on their own. With the exception of defensive lineman [intlink id="1337" type="category"]Howard Green[/intlink], who’s pushing 360 on a good day, we don’t expect anyone to show up to training camp out of shape.

Rookies, who take some time to adapt to Green Bay’s system, will be the biggest casualties of the lack of an offseason program. It may take them additional time to contribute, but that won’t really hurt the Packers.

A battle-tested group of professionals like the Super Bowl champs should be ready to roll on day one, with or without a regimented offseason.

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