MIKE TOMLIN: Had a really good and exciting day today, very similar to the work we've done to this point in the off-season, but it's another step, another step closer to a football-like environment.
The days are a little bit longer not only in terms of us being in the building, but the length of practice. Just we're at that stage where we get an opportunity to continue to work on our football conditioning and display it, present some more challenging schematics in all three phases, and just really a little bit more formal work.
From a competitive standpoint, it's a fun environment, and we had a really good day. I look forward to us getting back out and doing similar things tomorrow.
Q. Any comment on T.J. Watt's absence?
MIKE TOMLIN: No. Certainly we'd like him to be here, but certainly not surprised by where we are. We've expressed a desire to get the business done. He has as well. So we'll continue to work. We've been here before.
Q. Is there concern about his future with the team?
MIKE TOMLIN: No.
Q. Did he give you advance notice that he wouldn't appear?
MIKE TOMLIN: Whatever communication transpires between he and I will remain there.
Q. What does Aaron Rodgers bring to the team in your eyes?
MIKE TOMLIN: I mean, read his resume. We're excited about him being here. He's excited about being here. We'll make no bold predictions. We're just going to roll our sleeves up and go to work and let our efforts do the talking.
Q. You said that you wanted him to just observe and learn the offense. What went into that decision?
MIKE TOMLIN: I'll be really straightforward with you. June reps are a heck of a lot more important for a guy like Will Howard at this stage of his career than a guy that's been doing it 20 years. Whatever snaps he gets, you take away from a guy like Will Howard, and we're trying to get this collective ready for training camp.
Q. You just had, I think, a late meeting (indiscernible). How uncomfortable was it really? Did you know you'd get to this spot?
MIKE TOMLIN: It wasn't for me.
Q. Do you envision a quarterback competition this summer?
MIKE TOMLIN: I don't.
Q. How beneficial can it be to have your starting quarterback (indiscernible)?
MIKE TOMLIN: Again, as I said, physical repetitions in June for a guy with 20 years' experience is not that significant. It's very significant for a guy with no snaps.
Q. Does it change when you have no snaps here with these guys and this staff and this environment?
MIKE TOMLIN: I trust that whatever issues or learning curve things that he needs to get through will be handled during the down period of the summer for sure.
Q. Aaron said he appreciated the way you communicated with him while he was going through some stuff. What allowed you that patience of letting him go through that stuff?
MIKE TOMLIN: We've both been in our roles a long time, so there's personal comfort and security in that. Maybe we could relate on that level.
Q. In the past when you had Russell Wilson here, you said his leadership and veteran experience was a big reason you brought him in the building. What does Aaron bring in that regard?
MIKE TOMLIN: Read his resume.
Q. Derrick Harmon is the starter now. Is that how you view it?
MIKE TOMLIN: We'll sort out all the divisional labor and roles and depth chart things when we get to real football. Right now it's just football light.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports