As the Green Bay Packers opened their second mini-camp of the spring Monday, defensive back Bhawoh Jue said he was running around the practice field like a chicken with its head cut off.
Although, Jue noted, at least he was running.
A third-round draft pick in 2001, Jue missed almost the entire 2002 season with various maladies, including a groin injury that landed him on injured reserve in October. He missed the previous 2003 mini-camp because of bone chips in his ankle.
So after Monday's workout, Jue was noticeably pleased to be back on the field and feeling healthy.
"When you're not out there practicing, you almost feels like you're an outcast or you're not part of the team," Jue said. "I'm back with my boys now, and it feels good."
Jue said he didn't experience any soreness during practice, while maintaining that it would give him a needed boost of confidence if he could finish mini-camp feeling as healthy as he does starting it.
There's a long way yet to go in Jue's overall recovery, but he seems to be off in the right direction.
Although he made an impression as a rookie when he started the final seven games of the 2001 regular season at safety, Jue took his reps at cornerback Monday.
"Corner is more of a natural position for him," GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman said. "He's going to play safety at some time, but right now we're just looking at him at corner.
"He looks like a different player out there. He looks a lot quicker than I remember him. I thought he did some nice things out there today."
'Unfortunate Situation'
Calling it an "unfortunate situation," Monday, defensive end Joe Johnson expressed his frustration that recent drug charges may reflect poorly on the Green Bay Packers or his community foundation Built 2 Last.
While maintaining his innocence, Johnson said, "I hate for both organizations, both the Packers and Built 2 Last, to be affiliated with something of this sort. I wanted to let that be known.
"I have attorneys working on this situation and it's being taken care of. I'm going to get this knocked out and get focused back on football, the main job at hand."
Johnson was charged with drug possession two weeks ago after a vehicle Johnson owned was found to contain marijuana.
Johnson was on tour with a Built 2 Last event called United We Jam. Established in 1999, Built 2 Last looks to help underprivileged youth by hosting community events -- including football camps and hospital and school visits -- and fundraisers.
Johnson said he didn't expect to be fined by the league, and Sherman said he would wait for the legal process to be carried out before coming to any determination on fines.
