Packers Morning Buzz: Young players getting valuable reps

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers  from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers as they head into their second day of minicamp.

We’ll start with Michael Cohen’s look at Mike McCarthy’s decision to once again excuse veterans from minicamp, as he’s done for several years.

From Michael:

Adhering to recent tradition, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy excused a group of veterans from this week’s three-day minicamp beginning Tuesday at Ray Nitschke Field. It marks the third straight year he has done so.  

McCarthy told reporters Tuesday that 16 veterans, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers, are exempt from camp and start their summers early.

“Well, the format for this camp is similar to the last couple of years and we have a vet-select opportunity,” McCarthy said. “Sixteen veterans that have been excused from the camp and that’s really twofold: They deserve it, where they are particularly in their career, and as we all know, the second part is there’s only so many reps that you can accomplish throughout the offseason.

“So really focused on the veterans there through the (organized team activities) and now the focus will … be exclusively for our young players. So this is a huge opportunity and it’s really the same message I gave the players this morning and last Thursday is we’ve got to take a jump as a football team. You see it every year, young guys start to figure it out.”

Michael also has the latest on Ha Ha Clinton-Dix:

Ryan Wood writes on Kentrell Brice returning from ankle surgery:

Tom Silverstein looks at Jason Spriggs’ bid for a starting gig:

Brian Gutekunst brought back a familiar face to the front office:

Jim Matthews has tons of photos from Day 1 of minicamp:

I had a chat with readers via Facebook Live on Tuesday afternoon:

Elsewhere, Mike Daniels is excited by the changes on defense:

It’s a big offseason for Vince Biegel:

Plenty of questions remain along the offensive line:

A way, way, way too early 53-man roster prediction:

Davante Adams has big plans for 2018:

The Packers have some footage from Day 1 of minicamp:

Blake Martinez shares some news:

Always nice to see folks being accountable:

Fantasy Focused looks at the Packers' backfield: