GREEN BAY — Brian Brohm was regarded as the most polished, ready-to-play quarterback the NFL draft, yet even he was taken aback when he was introduced to the Green Bay Packers playbook Friday.

"It's pretty thick," Brohm said.

Welcome to the NFL, Brian. Digesting the playbook is the first step for any quarterback making the transition from college to the NFL.

For Brohm, a three-year starter at Louisville, the second step was the three-day rookie camp that began Friday.

It was the Packers' first live look at the quarterbacks — Brohm (second round) and Matt Flynn (seventh) — they drafted last weekend to fill the roster vacuum created by the Brett Favre's retirement and Aaron Rodgers' elevation to designated starter.

Brohm, the third quarterback selected in the draft, is the obvious choice to slide in behind Rodgers should the Packers elect not to pursue a veteran backup.

Flynn, still raw after starting only one season at LSU, could stick as the developmental third quarterback. But while Brohm easily passed the eyeball test Friday — he's taller, smoother and has a better arm than Flynn — even he isn't sure he's ready for a back-up role yet.

"I'm confident in my abilities," he said. "I'm confident I can go out there and play. But, obviously, I've got a lot of learning to do. I've got a lot of adjusting to do, to a new offense, to a new team, to new coaches. I've got a lot of work to do, then we'll see where I am after that."

The question is: How long can the Packers wait to find out?

If Rodgers, Brohm and Flynn are the quarterbacks for the team's opening game, it would represent a colossal gamble on the Packers' part since none of the three has ever started in the NFL.

After three seasons behind Favre, Rodgers is as ready as he'll ever be to become a starter, but he's been injury prone.

That makes the backup position doubly important because the Packers have the roster of a contender at most other positions.

Although inexperience at football's most vital position potentially could sabotage any Super Bowl ambitions the Packers harbor, coach Mike McCarthy said there was a good chance they will go into the season without adding a veteran quarterback. Moreover, he seems comfortable with that.

"I look at the time frame that I have to get any rookie to play," he said. "The quarterback position is clearly the one that's the most challenging because of what they're asked to do as far as their responsibility, and I think we have the time to get that done. I think these guys have the right mental makeup to accomplish that. From what we're told, they have an excellent work ethic. It's something that we'll be prepared to do if we need to."

There are valid reasons to think Brohm and Flynn could be all the Packers need.

McCarthy has had success working with young quarterbacks.

Brohm has an extremely high football IQ and Flynn played in many big games at LSU. Both will be there to help each other learn and push each other.

Asked if it would be a risk for the Packers to go into the season with two rookie quarterbacks, Brohm said, "Hopefully, not a lot. Hopefully, we can go out there and prove that we understand the offense, that we can move the team down the field. That's my goal coming into this camp, to prove that if I get on that field, we're not going to miss a beat. We're going to execute the offense and go right down the field."

Though McCarthy said it was clear both rookies had lots of experience, he wasn't ready to evaluate them after one practice. The coach probably won't be ready to make a final call after Sunday, either.

Still, the Packers would be wise to keep their options open.

They've already flirted with Quinn Gray, Gus Frerotte and Daunte Culpepper this off-season and come up empty. Perhaps they're waiting to see what happens in Tampa Bay, where Chris Simms is one of seven quarterbacks on the roster and has little future with the team.

But the Packers shouldn't get a veteran just to have a veteran. They need someone who is good enough to play and win should Rodgers struggle or get hurt.

It's possible Brohm is advanced enough to assume that role, that he'll be ready to play come September.

But will he be ready to win? That's the question the Packers have to ask themselves.

Contact Tom Oates at toates@madison.com or 608-252-6172.