If cooler evening weather and back-to-school sales didn't give you a hint, here is a sure sign that summer is heading into the home stretch: the Packers begin practice on Saturday in Green Bay.

Last week, during his final days of vacation before camp, wide receiver Greg Jennings visited Milwaukee for some promotional appearances. He was moving pretty quickly, just like he does when running a route over the middle, but OnMilwaukee.com spent a few minutes talking about the start of camp, last season and his off-season workouts with another elite NFL receiver.

OnMilwaukee.com: Former Packers defensive lineman Santana Dotson once said that -- even today -- the smell of fresh-cut grass this time of year always makes him think about training camp and that he shudders with a sense of dread before remembering that he's retired. Are there any indicators that make you realize that vacation is over?

Greg Jennings: It is probably hearing the whistle. And we have a horn that starts practice, and once that starts, it is like, "Here we go..." You know what I am talking about. That switch just turns on. You even wonder if you are going to make it through this day, practice-wise. And you get through it and it is like "It wasn't that bad."

You actually have a great time and you are back into the swing of things. So, it is going to be fun I know, but am I looking forward to it? Yeah, when it comes, but not right now.

OMC: About a month ago, you signed your contract extension (reportedly for three years and $27 million). From the outside, the process seemed somewhat painless, but you're a pretty easy-going guy. Was that the case?

GJ: You know what? Honestly, there always has been an ease, but at the same time that I wished it would just get done and get over it so I wouldn't have to go with the, "What's up with the contract?" questions.

And I think that is the number one thing that gets to an athlete, having to discuss it with the media because they are going to rehash everything every time you see them. It is like, just leave it alone and I might be able to go on with my business without thinking about it. But, it definitely was something that I was excited that it got done and got taken care of. But my biggest thing was that I didn't want it to become a distraction for the team. Obviously, we wanted to get it done discreetly and make sure all sides were happy and satisfied and we were able to do that. But I am glad it is done and over with.

OMC: Do you find it uncomfortable that everybody knows how much money you make?

GJ: I do. I am a very private guy as far as whatever I do. I have always been that way. It is an uncomfortable feeling, because people forget taxes, they forget the extra years that you have to work. They don't think about anything. It is almost like you are exempt from taxes and all they see is three years, $30 million or three years, $27 million. So they automatically think, "He has $27 million. No taxes or anything, he just has $27 million. And I am like, "It doesn't work like that."

OMC: What did you do to celebrate when the deal was official?

GJ: Actually, I was here by myself. I got home. We actually did go out to eat -- my wife and I, my mom and dad and my siblings. That is pretty much how we celebrated. We went out to eat and everyone had something to say about it. We were back, business as usual, the next day -- everybody taking money (laughs). But no, it was great. My family is great when it comes to me and what I do and with the amount of money I make, they have never been really taxing as far as asking for things like that. They are always appreciative. I am truly blessed, I really am.

OMC: You guys finished 6-10 last year, but there was a lot of turmoil with the quarterback situation in camp and a number of the games were pretty close. Does that add to the feeling of optimism heading into this year?

GJ: I am one of those guys that hates excuses. So I am not going to say "Yes, we were distracted by (the Favre situation)." I am sure people are going to say that for us. And we can easily say, "Yeah, that was a distraction," and just hang our hat on that for finishing at 6-10. But, we still have to go out and play football on Sundays and regardless of what the outcome was or what the situation may have been, we still had to perform and we didn't do that this past year.

But with that being said, this year we have a clean slate. We know what to expect in the quarterback. We already have confidence in our quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

We are really excited about what the defense is doing. Coach (Dom) Capers (the new defensive coordinator) has those guys flying from all sides of the field. They are a very aggressive and attacking defense now, versus in the past when we were like, "What are they doing?" It is definitely going to be an exciting year for us.

OMC: Getting back to Aaron Rodgers, this is your second year with him. Does it take time to develop chemistry with a quarterback. Is it something you can do in camp, or does it take a number of games? What is that process like?

GJ: It does take the time. But it says a lot about his work ethic and his will to want to develop that chemistry. As a quarterback, it is more so on the quarterback to kind of get a feel for his receivers. We just read him; he has to read myself, Donald (Driver), James (Jones), Jordy (Nelson), Ruvell (Martin)... He has five, fix, seven different guys he has to kind of store in his mind what they do on specific routes. So, it is more taxing on the quarterback. And I think he has done a great job. He has great accuracy, so that kind of takes away some of the chemistry and learning because of his ability to throw the ball and pinpoint. He is a flat-out good quarterback. I don't know what else to say. He really has all the tools that it takes to get it done and I am excited what he is going to bring to the table this year.

OMC: You worked out during the off-season with (Cardinals wide receiver) Larry Fitzgerald. What was that like?

GJ: Let me comment on that. This guy is... the reason why he is so good is his work ethic. His work ethic is second to none. I never really talk about guys like this. This guy has earned everything he has gotten and accomplished. This morning he texted me, "I am a grinder, I am working harder than you, I ran 20 110s (110-yard dashes) with no break." That is how competitive he is. Every single day, he has been texting me about what he is doing, to see if I am doing something. I thought I worked hard. I went up there and I was like, "You really opened my eyes. You really opened my eyes." I thought I worked hard, but he really pushes himself to the limit, to the max. It is like, you don't find guys that are on top that are still climbing to get higher and higher. I mean, I can't say enough about this guy. And I never really put guys on that pedestal, but he is deserving of everything he gets.

And now I put that into play with my life and what I am trying to do and accomplish as a player. And it has really lit a fuel. I texted (Fitzgerald) as we were heading here (to Milwaukee) and told him that you added some lighter fuel to my fire.