GREEN BAY, Wis. (June 2, 2005) -- Quarterback Brett Favre showed off his leaner, sturdier self after spending about two months with a personal trainer.
Favre sauntered onto Ray Nitschke Field during a visit to the Green Bay Packers minicamp in a T-shirt, shorts and new powder-blue cap. Favre had been excused from the voluntary minicamp and showed up a day before he had been expected to drop in and observe.
Favre has been training his body's core, including the stomach and lower back, to increase his mobility and endurance going into his 15th NFL season.
"He looked good," halfback Ahman Green said.
"He definitely looks leaner than I've seen him in the past," agreed backup quarterback Craig Nall. "Obviously, he's getting some work done and maybe getting serious about it, as well."
But offensive coordinator Tom Rossley lifted Favre's shirt to discover the flab was not completely gone.
"I don't know, he may still have a little bit further to go before we call him lean and mean," a smiling Rossley said.
Favre plans to host his annual charity softball game in Appleton before returning to his home in Mississippi.
Favre surprised Green and the other running backs by joining their huddle as practice broke up. Favre and Green then shared a big hug.
Head coach Mike Sherman spent a few minutes on the field conversing with Favre before they walked off together.
The biggest beneficiaries of Favre's cameo appearance at minicamp are the three young quarterbacks that will fall in behind him: Nall, J.T. O'Sullivan and Aaron Rodgers, the team's first-round draft pick this year.
"He's just a wealth of experience. Having a guy like that around and being able to draw off of that is always going to help," Nall said.
Disgruntled Pro Bowl wide receiver Javon Walker and defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt remained no-shows for the minicamp. Defensive lineman Corey Williams was sidelined after sustaining a hip injury in practice Wednesday.
