The 2015 version of the Green Bay Packers has been previewed and some early awards are ready to be dispensed.

Most Outstanding Rookie Award:  Hands down this has been third-round selection WR Ty Montgomery.  All he has done is catch virtually everything thrown his way (only one drop to date), juke out defensive backs trying to cover him and show an amazing burst of speed with the ball in his hands.  And oh yes, he appears to be a lock to win the kickoff return job where his early work has wowed coaches and team mates alike.  Sam Shields has favorably compared his physical characteristics to Percy Harvin. 

Most Surprising Rookie Award:  This one comes out of left field, but rookie free agent TE Mitchell Henry has looked like the real deal.  The Packers ponied up a $5,000 signing bonus to secure the services of the former Western Kentucky star.  The 6-3 ½, 252-pound Henry has been adept at blocking, worked well out of the fullback position (a must) and shown pretty good hands in the process.  Henry also has a knack for getting open and has been the subject of positive rhetoric from one Aaron Rodgers.  With Andrew Quarless facing a possible league suspension stemming from his firearms misadventures in Miami, it would be nice to have a dependable backup to Richard Rodgers.  Towering DB LaDarius Gunter, a rookie free agent from Miami, has been showcasing his skills and making a name for himself and is also a candidate for this award.  I had picked Gunter to make the team weeks ago, so to me he is not as much a surprise.  RB Alonzo Harris would rank a solid three.

Second Year Player Making the Big Jump Award:  This is Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s favorite Award – or least most mentioned.  They are last year’s rookies who jump out and show that they ‘get it’ and are ready to become a dependable part in the Packers victory machine for years to come.  This is actually a tough call as there are many deserving candidates.  The afore-mentioned Richard Rodgers has looked impressive.  Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has picked up where he left off last year, which is to say he has been solid.  Devante Adams has looked good if not great, but is not the recipient of this award.  That honor goes to the man-in-the-middle of the Packers offensive line Corey Linsley.  The Packers strong-as-an-ox center has been in a training camp battle-royal with big NT B.J. Raji – winning his fair share of them.  His calls have been sharp and the game appears to have slowed for him. Pro Football Focus rated Linsley the fifth best center in all of football last year, so this is not really a surprise.   A long and successful career awaits this former Ohio State Buckeye.

Most Surprising Veteran Award:  With a healthy stable at the wide receiver position the battle appeared to be between Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis for the 5^th or perhaps 6^th position.  But with Abbrederis out with a concussion it has been third year man Myles White who has excelled.  Showing great speed, sure hands, a knack for getting open and a propensity to do something with the ball when he gets it, White is definitely in the mix to make the team and contribute on special teams.  First runner up would be BJ Raji who has lost some weight (a svelte 327) and looks strong and quick.  Raji should re-claim the starting nose tackle position and projects as a force once again on the inside.  Second runner up might be ILB Nate Palmer who has earned reps inside when Clay Matthews switches to the outside.  Palmer is currently wearing a cast on his injured hand but continues to make plays alongside fellow ILB Sam Barrington.

Most Disappointing Veteran Award:  You hoped that it wouldn’t carry over into year two, but it has.  Another hands-down award winner is defensive lineman Khyri Thornton.  The second year former Southern Miss product spent all of last season on IR.  There was hope that the light would finally go on for a player who looked unmotivated, undisciplined and mistake-prone last year.  It hasn’t happened.  From jumping off sides (much to the chagrin of his coaches) to losing most of the one-on-one battles, Thornton might be the worst player on the field at any position.  Unless a miracle happens, and happens quickly, Thornton will not make the team and go down as one of Ted Thompson’s worst draft picks ever.

Time is Running Out Award:   There is a saying in the pro football:  ‘You can’t make the club by sitting in the tub’ - referring to injured players who cannot practice.  There are a few candidates here.  Mike Neal has yet to practice by entering camp on the PUP designation, but the Packers know what they have in Neal.  Rookie RB John Crockett was poised to compete for the third running back job but has yet to take the field. With Rajion Neal looking strong it will be difficult for Crockett to impress unless he practices soon.  Our award winner, and he doesn’t want this award, is Jared Abbrederis who is sitting out a second week after suffering a concussion on the first day of training camp.  Abbrederis appears to have already ‘lost’ the battle for primary punt return duties to dependable Micah Hyde and now may have little chance to impress for the final wide receiver job.

They Are Who We Thought They Were Award:  There are five recipients of this award – David Bakhtiari, TJ Lang, Corey Linsley, Josh Sitton and Bryan Bulaga.  As good as advertised or maybe better.  True Sitton has sat out some (McCarthy:  ‘Being smart with him”) but the group is as talented and solid as it gets.  Enough said.