For his part, Lyerla sounded like he intends to make the most of that second chance. He was outwardly contrite when speaking with reporters, admitting it had crossed his mind he might never get a chance in the NFL due to the baggage — largely his own — he was lugging around. He said he couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity than this one given everything that has happened to him.

“I feel like I have a new home,” Lyerla said. “I was kind of lost for a little while, but being here and being accepted here is truly great.”

From the cheers he got on the practice field to the praise he got in the locker room, others feel the same way. The Ryan Braun episode has shown that Wisconsin can be a very forgiving place, and since most of Lyerla’s wounds have been self-inflicted, his fate in Green Bay will be determined by his future behavior, not his past actions.

“I’ve spent the last six, seven months doing hard thinking and making changes and doing the right things,” he said. “I think me being here today shows that I am moving in the right direction.”

That’s not just lip-service, either. On Wednesday, Lyerla asked quarterback Scott Tolzien to stick around after practice and throw to him, something any coach likes to see.