The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers’ decision not to have any player-organized workouts during the lockout has drawn the ire of one former player who knows something about successfully defending a Super Bowl title.
Tedy Bruschi, the former Patriots linebacker who won rings at Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX, said on ESPN today that he doesn’t understand why the Packers’ leaders haven’t stepped up and called all their teammates together for a minicamp-style get-together.
“I’m surprised that a veteran like Donald Driver, a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, that they haven’t organized any team activities yet,” Bruschi said. “Next week is the ring ceremony. It’s perfect to say, ‘Let’s meet up a couple days early, let’s get a couple workouts in, and then let’s party at the ring ceremony.’”
Bruschi made his comments after ESPN aired comments from Driver explaining why the Packers haven’t assembled for team-wide workouts.
“Everybody’s working out individually,” Driver said. “Right now we’re just enjoying the atmosphere of winning the Super Bowl because we haven’t had the opportunity to celebrate the way we want to.”
Bruschi called into question why Driver is still talking about celebrating this year’s Super Bowl, rather than talking about trying to win next year’s.
“I’m very surprised at the leadership that they have on this team, that they’re not going to get together,” Bruschi said. “Being the Super Bowl champions, you’d think they’d want to repeat. We’re into June. It’s June now. You’ve had your little celebration the week after the Super Bowl. It’s time to move on. I think that they’re still worried about celebrating and basking in the glory of being a Super Bowl champion is a little bit worrisome if I were a Green Bay Packers fan.”
Some Packers players have gotten together for workouts, including eight offensive linemen who worked out together under the leadership of Scott Wells. But at a time when some teams have had 40 or more players together at a time, the Packers don’t think that’s necessary.