Green Bay Packers mini-camp continued Wednesday with a familiar face back on the sideline.
Mississippi State head coach Sylvester Croom, who was the Packers running backs coach from 2001-03, attended the practice along with seven other members of his new coaching staff, including former Packers assistant Stan Drayton.
"I wanted them to see how we do things here (in Green Bay)," Croom said. "We run the same offense (at MSU) that (the Packers) run here. Same terminology and everything.
"We talked about how we practice and the tempo that we want -- particularly on offense, but even on defense. But I thought, hey, rather than me talking about it all the time, I want our coaches to come see the Packers way of doing things, because we intend to do it the exact same way."
If Croom's receivers coach was in attendance, he had to enjoy watching Javon Walker put on a show Wednesday.
With Doug Pederson quarterbacking the first-team offense, Walker outran Jason Horton and James Whitely to catch a 50-yard bomb down the middle. A few plays later, Walker shook loose for a 30-yard catch along the left sideline.
Meanwhile, newly-signed tight end Steve Bush got in on the action in his first practice, making a few catches including a 10-yarder from Brett Favre.
But the defense wasn't without its moments during the practice.
Michael Hawthorne intercepted Favre for the second time in as many days, while Al Harris also picked the three-time NFL MVP.
But the most spectacular defensive play of the day came from rookie cornerback Joey Thomas, who made a diving play to intercept a pass from Craig Nall intended for Scottie Vines.
Not attending practice Wednesday was running back Ahman Green, who missed the voluntary workouts for the second day in a row due to a previous commitment. Rookie defensive end Donnell Washington also missed practice as he tended to his newborn child.
The Packers will be back on the practice field Thursday, but will get an early start at 8:45 a.m. -- up from the originally scheduled start time of 11 a.m. In another schedule modification, Friday's practice has been cancelled.
If possible, the Packers will hold Thursday's practice outdoors at Clarke Hinkle Field, which is open to the public. However, Wednesday's practice had to be moved inside the Don Hutson Center (closed) due to thunderstorms and wet field conditions.
Today At A Glance...
Where: Don Hutson Center (indoors)
Weather: 63 degrees
Did Not Participate: Kevin Barry (hamstring), Sam Breeden (hamstring), Mike Flanagan (knee), Carl Ford (hamstring), Grady Jackson (knee), Devin Lewis (knee), Mitch White (arm).
Did Not Attend: Ahman Green, Mike McKenzie, Donnell Washington
