GREEN BAY — On Saturday, Corey Linsley was digging out his Ice Bowl t-shirt to celebrate his new job. By Thursday, he was signing his first NFL contract in the building where the Ice Bowl was played.

That's what the last five days have been like for the Green Bay Packers rookie center, as the fifth-round pick signed a four-year deal, the club announced Thursday.

Linsley became the third player from the team's nine-player draft class to sign, joining fifth-round wide receiver Jared Abbrederis and seventh-round wide receiver Jeff Janis. The Green Bay Press-Gazette's Pete Dougherty reported that fourth-round pick Carl Bradford, an outside linebacker from Arizona State, agreed to terms as well Thursday, although his deal was not announced.

Linsley will be on the field Friday for the team's first rookie orientation camp practice, and he's set to compete with second-year man JC Tretter for the starting center job that came open when Evan Dietrich-Smith signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent.

"(The Packers) were definitely always my favorite, being my childhood team growing up," Linsley said after the Packers picked him Friday. "To see that caller ID show up 'Green Bay, WI,' it was really a dream come true. Unbelievable. Couldn't ask for a better experience."

Linsley was such a die-hard Packers fan growing up in Ohio that he owned a cheesehead and celebrated Halloween one year wearing No. 4 in green and gold.

"I was Brett Favre for Halloween when I was like 6 or something," Linsley said, somewhat proudly. "I had a little cheesehead, too. I've always liked them since then. I don't know why, but I've stuck with it and know it's like a childhood dream come true. It's amazing."

Jason Wilde  wrote: