For the first time in three years, big No. 97 will be plugging holes in the Green Bay Packers defensive front.
Johnny Jolly has a fresh st art with the Packers after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated the troubled defensive lineman in February. Jolly was suspended from the league in July 2010 after multiple drug-related arrests and a stint in prison.
Jolly was back on the field for the Packers’ minicamp in early June and he’s trying to work his way back to his prime in 2009. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said on the first day of minicamp that Jolly still has the toughness, drive and passion for the game.
“Our locker room is ready to embrace him,” McCarthy said. “We just want to get him back into regularity, the rhythm and the everyday procedures and get back on the horse and start riding again. He’s a football player competing for a job at the end of the day.”
Jolly enters his fifth year with the Packers and was a starter for 2½ seasons from 2007-09. For his career, Jolly has 113 tackles (77 solo), two sacks and one interception. He was a main clog in the Packers’ line that was rated No. 1 in the NFL in rushing defense in ’09.
Jolly is hoping to return to prominence and regain his starting spot. The 30-year-old will have to battle each practice to show he belongs on the Packers’ roster.
“I’ve got a lot of rust to knock off me, but I’m going to compete — just out here having fun with these guys right now learning new gameplans,” Jolly said. “I never thought it would be three years.”
Fellow defensive lineman Ryan Pickett said Jolly hasn’t missed a beat in his return.
“If anybody’s gifted enough to do it, it’s Johnny Jolly,” Pickett said. “His footwork, it’s like he picked up where he left off.”
Despite his absence from football, Jolly has been able to stay in shape. The 6-3, 325-pounder is ready to go.
“He looks good, that’s what we expected,” Pickett said. “Johnny’s an athlete. It’s not shocking that he came back looking as good as he did.”
Jolly’s teammates are happy to have him back with the team because he brings a lot of energy.
“(I) miss his presence in the locker room the last few years and excited he got reinstated,” Rodgers said. “He’s getting his life together and it’s fun having him back.”
The sky may be the limit for Jolly if he can stay out of trouble and just concentrate on football. Rodgers said Jolly will be fine if he surrounds himself with the right people and stays close to his teammates.
“This is more of a question about life and second chances,” McCarthy said. “We feel that he’s gone through the necessary rehabilitation and training to get to this spot and I’m excited to give him this opportunity.”
Jolly isn’t about to waste what might be his last shot at playing the game he loves.
“Not too many guys get a second chance and then coming back to the same team you were with, that says a lot about the organization, so my hat goes off to them,” Jolly said. “I thank them every day.”
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