Green Bay Packers: Recapping the Latest Buzz Heading into Training Camp

If Green Bay Packers' names are in the news between the end of minicamp and the beginning of training camp, it's generally not positive. 

We may be in the midst of the NFL's dead season, but there's no shortage of buzz about the Packers.

From legal troubles to injury issues, the reports coming out of Green Bay aren't exactly what you'd hope to hear as the team prepares to open training camp at the end of the month. Let's break down five players who have recently been in the news.

Letroy Guion Facing Civil Suit

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Guion and his agent, Seth Katz, are still waiting to hear from the league about whether he will face punishment for his February arrest for possession of marijuana and a firearm. Guion reached a plea deal and the charges were dropped in March, but he could still face discipline from the league.

That decision and possible subsequent suspension could affect his position on the depth chart. Now, however, Guion is facing additional legal troubles. 

First reported by the Independent Florida Alligator, via ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy, Guion has been hit with a civil lawsuit in Florida. Per the report, the lawsuit includes "counts of assault, battery and assault by cyberstalking filed by the alleged boyfriend of a woman who Guion had a previous relationship with."

Katz told Demovsky the suit is of "suspect nature." Even if that is the case, piling on additional legal troubles when the Packers aren't even sure if Guion will be suspended for a game (or four) is not ideal for the defensive tackle at this point in the offseason. 

Though B.J. Raji is putting in the work to win the starting nose tackle job, Guion could play a heavy role up front against the run. His legal troubles, however, put those plans on hold for now.

Packers Plan to 'Stand By' Andrew Quarless

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On July 4, Tim Elfrink of the Miami New Times reported that Andrew Quarless was arrested in South Beach after firing a gun during an argument with a group of women.

Per the report, Quarless "took out a semiautomatic handgun—ID'ed by police as a .45-caliber weapon—and fired two shots, one straight up into the sky," and then attempted to hide both the gun and himself in a potted plant a few blocks away. 

As reported by ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy, the Packers plan to "stand by" Quarless despite the incident. 

"According to two sources, the Packers have no plans to release the sixth-year veteran, who was charged with a misdemeanor for discharging a firearm in public," Demovsky reported Monday. 

Tight end is a thin position group for the Packers, with only second-year Richard Rodgers, rookie Kennard Backman and former practice squad player Justin Perillo available if Quarless were to be cut.

However, if the Packers do keep Quarless, he could land on the Exempt/Commissioner's Permission List under the NFL Player Personnel Policy Manual if he is "formally charged with a crime of violence, meaning that you are accused of having used physical force or a weapon to injure or threaten another person."

Datone Jones Suspended for Season Opener

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Jones will have to sit out the season opener against the Chicago Bears. 

As Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported, Jones was suspended for one game for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Ryan Wood and Doug Schneider of the Press-Gazette followed up with a report Tuesday saying Jones was ticketed for marijuana possession in January a few hours after the Packers returned from Seattle following their loss to the Seahawks in the NFC championship game. 

Per Wood and Schneider's report, Jones "became emotionally upset" during the citation and "told officers he was the first-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers" according to Green Bay Police Lt. Chad Ramos. 

Indeed he was, yet Jones hasn't produced at the level expected for a former first-round pick. He had 21 combined tackles and only 1.5 sacks in 2014, with two passes defensed and an interception.

In the base 3-4 defense, Jones and Mike Daniels were the ends to most likely be on either side of B.J. Raji at nose. However, given Jones' suspension, Josh Boyd may now get an opportunity to earn the starting left defensive end job in the season opener and beyond.

Josh Sitton Dealing with Lingering Toe Injury

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We've made it through the news of offseason legal troubles, but now we move forward to injury woes.

Per Bill Vilona of PNJ.com, via the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Josh Sitton has been dealing with an injured big toe since the 2014 season.

The ligament tear in his left foot happened in October against the New Orleans Saints. Sitton played injured through the rest of the season, helping lead the team to the NFC championship game and being named to the Pro Bowl.

Sitton will begin offseason training prior to training camp in Florida, focusing on healing the injury without surgery if possible. 

"At the beginning of the offseason, it was sore and I started working with my trainers (in Green Bay) and they were doing some things and it started feeling really good," Sitton said in the BlabTV studio after a taping of The Daily Brew, per Vilona.

"Since coming back it has started to get sore again, so we're going to do some things we were doing."

Sitton was ranked the No. 4 guard in the league in 2014 and No. 2 at his left guard position by Pro Football Focus. He was a crucial part of an offensive line that enabled quarterback Aaron Rodgers' success. His health will be essential to start the season.

Nick Perry Hopes to Be "Full Go" for Start of Training Camp

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Sitton wasn't the only Packer battling through injuries during the 2014 season. 

Perry dealt with a shoulder injury through most of the season and eventually had surgery after the season, but said he "would love to be ready to go" for the start of training camp, per Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

"It's pretty frustrating knowing the opportunities, knowing how great I can be and just looking behind me and seeing some of those lagging issues over the past I wish weren't there," Perry said during an interview with Dunne. "But it's football. I don't have any control over it. Freakish stuff happens. You just have to keep playing."

Playing in a career-high 15 games in 2014, Perry had 22 combined tackles, three sacks and a pass defensed. The Packers elected not to pick up his fifth-year option, so his rookie deal will expire in March when he will hit free agency. That makes this season a prove-it year. 

Missing all of organized team activities and minicamp isn't the best way to start this important season, so Perry will have to hope the shoulder is healed by the start of training camp so he can earn his snaps on the outside.