Packers: Camp tour | 
Prisco
ASHBURN, Va. -- Observations from Packers training camp:
1. Running back Ryan Grant, who was a pleasant surprise last season, isn't in camp because he wants a new contract. The Packers have made Grant, an exclusive-rights free agent, a one-year minimum tender offer of $370,000 to keep his rights. Grant has little option other than to sign the tender or agree to a new deal -- or sit out. The Packers offered him a new deal, but his agent called it an insult. Grant is a good player, but one year does not make a star. If I were in his shoes, I'd worry about backup Brandon Jackson. "It's important for Ryan to be here," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "These practices are important. I think everybody realizes that. My understanding is both sides are working diligently to make this work. I appreciate the way Ryan went about the offseason and kept on top of everything we did here. I'm just looking forward to getting Ryan back here."
2. The Packers had issues at the guard spots last year. They need to improve in that area. Jason Spitz is expected to be the right guard, but the left guard spot will be a battle between second-year player Allen Barbre and Daryn Colledge, who has started the past two years. The team loves Barbre's athletic ability. Whoever starts, the guards have to do a better job with inside pressure than they did a year ago.
3. If you're searching for a player who appears ready to take his game to the next level, it's linebacker A.J. Hawk. He is entering his third season and he's been a good player but he could be even better in 2008. He did cut down on his passing-game mistakes last season.
4. The Packers traded defensive tackle Corey Williams to the Cleveland Browns. That left a hole in the middle of their defense. Johnny Jolly is scheduled to take over as the starter next to Ryan Pickett. The problem is Jolly was arrested earlier this month and a charged with possession of codeine. He will miss some practice time for court appearances. Pickett is missing time now with a hamstring issue, while Justin Harrell, last year's first-round pick, is out for at least a couple of weeks after complications from back surgery. If Harrell has more flare-ups with the back, he could be out for a long time.
5. The Packers have one of the best training-camp traditions by allowing kids to give rides to players from the practice field to the locker room. Some of the players actually ride with the kids, while others take the bike and have the kids run along. It's been a long-time thing and here's hoping it doesn't go away.
