
Yes, Packers rookie running back Johnathan Franklin attended one of the colleges with exams that stretch into the middle of June, ostensibly making him ineligible for offseason workouts (other than rookie minicamp) until June 14.
But there’s an exception, and Franklin qualified. As Franklin pointed out on Friday, he graduated in June 2012.
“I think it was just a miscommunication,” Franklin said, via Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “I brought all my clothes. I better be here for good.”
That’s good news for Franklin. As he competes with second-round running back Eddie Lacy for playing time, Franklin needs to be available for offseason workouts. Rams G.M. Les Snead explaining during Thursday’s PFT Live that the absence of second-round running back Isaiah Pead from offseason workouts due to the exams rule last year opened the door for seventh-rounder Daryl Richardson to win the backup job behind Steven Jackson.
With Franklin on board and available for all offseason workouts, he has a fair shot at landing higher on the pecking order than Lacy.