GREEN BAY — When it comes to talking to reporters, Morgan Burnett is a lot of things: Always willing to talk, always pleasant, always polite. He is a reliable fellow who earnestly tries to answer each question he is asked.

Here's what Burnett is not: Brash, outspoken, loud. He is not especially opinionated — he's more likely to opt for a safe cliché than anything — and there are plenty more colorful characters in the Green Bay Packers locker room. In fact, after one interview session this offseason, one impolite reporter, who shall remain nameless, could be heard snarkily saying, "Finally, something good," after one of Burnett's replies.

What does this all matter? It doesn't. For when it comes to the most important type of communication — that from the back end of the Packers' defense, where the fourth-year safety is in charge — Burnett has grown into the role beautifully.

"Communication is vital. We can't do it enough," safeties coach Darren Perry explained in advance of training camp, which kicks off with its first practice on Friday at Ray Nitschke Field. "He's kind of grown out of that, even in the meetings, and I think with confidence, the players look back there and see that he's making the calls, I think that important, particularly in an environment like this.

"Because, they trust him now … when you've got Clay (Matthews) looking back at you and you're giving him calls and so forth, and he's trusting you, that does something for your psyche. And that's the good thing. You build some chemistry, you build some trust and hopefully that'll carry over to the season."

For his part, Burnett admits it wasn't the most comfortable role for him coming out of Georgia Tech as a rookie third-round pick in 2010, when he was installed as a starter from Day 1. Had his season gone as planned, he'd have spent the entire season alongside veteran Nick Collins, who was earning his third Pro Bowl berth, and won a Super Bowl in his first NFL season. Instead, Burnett suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the fourth game of the season, and that was that.

Since then, he's been thrust into an unexpected leadership role not once but twice: When Collins suffered what turned out to be a career-ending neck injury in Week 2 of the 2011 season, and when potential Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson converted to safety — only to miss nine games with a broken collarbone.

Now, with the ink barely dry on a four-year, $24.75 million extension that paid him a guaranteed $8.25 million signing bonus and ties him to the Packers through the 2017 season, Burnett's importance to the defense is undeniable. Not only do his coaches believe he is a Pro Bowl safety in waiting — remember, former Packers standout safeties LeRoy Butler (1993), Darren Sharper (2000) and Collins (2008) earned their first Pro Bowl selections in their fourth seasons — but he's the only proven commodity at the position. Potential starters M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian each played 600 snaps on defense last season, but neither appears to have the inside track on the job alongside Burnett. The idea of having to play both of them simultaneously if Burnett went down with an injury has to be disconcerting.

Since returning from the ACL tear, Burnett has started every one of the Packers' 35 games (including playoffs) since. He registered 112 tackles, one sack and four interceptions and broke up 16 passes in 17 games in 2011, then had 148 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and 15 break-ups last season in 18 games. Burnett played every one of the Packers' 1,260 snaps of defense last year.

"I'm just trying to improve physically and mentally, understanding the defense more from Year 3 trying to get better in Year 4," Burnett said. "Going into this year being a leader in this secondary with my checks and my calls, I want to be loud and decisive because a safety, you're considered the quarterback of the defense. That's my job description and I want to do my job to the best of my abilities. It doesn't mean I have to get outside of my element. Just keep doing what I'm doing and try to find a way to take advantage of these practices to get better."

Jason Wilde  wrote: