Rodgers handles the drama: McCarthy said Rodgers was "sharp" in both practices, but those who listened to his 23-minute chat at his locker would have to say Rodgers was on top of his game there, too.

"I don't think much has changed. I was declared the starter back in the off-season, and as far as I know, I'm still the guy today," Rodgers said. "(The players) are going to be behind whoever's under center. Obviously they want to see a guy who's consistent on the field on Sundays, and obviously that's going to take a few weeks to prove that to some of the older guys, but I look forward to that challenge.

"I don't need people to feel sorry for me. Playing quarterback is a tough job, and there's a lot of scrutiny that goes along with that. You get too much blame a lot of times, you get too much credit a lot of times. And you just have to stay balanced and stay even-keeled."

Asked if he thought it'd be awkward if Favre sent in his reinstatement letter and reported to camp later this week, Rodgers replied, "We got along fine. Maybe the first couple days (would be awkward). (But) I think it would be OK between us."

Thompson gave Rodgers yet another public show of support, saying, "I understand why there are people out there that think, 'Holy smokes, you're crazy.' (But) we believe this is the right direction for the Packers to go both now and in the future. ... We've made this decision, the direction we're going has been set. It will be up to history to determine whether we made the right decision."

Garcia goes with the flow, too: While Rodgers was doing his best to deflect all the Favre talk in Green Bay, Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia was doing the same at the Bucs' camp in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Garcia even went so far as to joke that if Favre does end up with the Bucs, he'd be happy to sell the new guy his old house.

Garcia, who missed the first two days of practice because he was attending a reunion for his father's junior college football team, didn't even seem fazed by coach Jon Gruden's reaction to a Favre-related question earlier in the day.

Asked if he could say definitively that the Bucs have moved on from Favre and will go with Garcia as their quarterback this year, Gruden replied, "That wouldn't be fair to Brett Favre."

Well aware of Gruden's penchant for collecting quarterbacks, Garcia said later, "Jon Gruden loves quarterbacks. But he wants to date, he doesn't want to marry."

Circus canceled: With Favre delaying his comeback bid and not reporting to camp, right tackle Mark Tauscher was a little disappointed that the three-ring circus expected didn't develop.

"I was expecting elephants and different things to kind of be out there. There (were no) trapeze artists. No clowns," Tauscher said.

When someone pointed out that a man on stilts in full uniform, including very long yellow pants, was milling about, Tauscher replied, "I didn't see the stilts. I'm sure it was a good show for you guys."

Jackson shines: While unsigned starting running back Ryan Grant is at home in New York and both he and his agent are "livid" at the Packers' initial contract offer, backup Brandon Jackson spent Monday's first day of training camp trying to take advantage of Grant's absence.

"I thought Brandon had a heck of a day," McCarthy said after the nighttime practice. "I thought he was special. You're seeing what a good off-season program has done for him."

Jackson was focused on doing a better job of handling the No. 1 spot than he did last year, when he assumed the role as a rookie after de facto starter Vernand Morency went down with a knee injury on the first day of camp.

"It's like a carbon-copy from last year, but now I understand the offense, the scheme, and what I have to do as far as reads and audibles and stuff like that," Jackson said. "I'm happy I was put in that (position) last year. Because this year, things are similar, and a lot is being expected of me right now, and I'm handling it better than last year.

Jolly quiet on arrest: Defensive tackle Johnny Jolly wouldn't comment on his arrest earlier this month for felony drug possession. Jolly's next court date in Houston is Aug. 27.

"I can't get into the legal stuff right now," said Jolly, who practiced fully for the first time since a November shoulder injury ended his 2007 season. "I'm just focused on football right now. I'm here, playing football. I can't worry about that. I'm worried about my job while I'm here. That's all I can take care of right now."