Fresh off a quick two-day visit to the Packers’ training camp, what stuck out most in my mind was a strong sense that something pretty big could be brewing on the team’s contract front.

To be specific, while GM Ted Thompson has stayed true to form as far as refusing to talk openly about anything even remotely regarding the team’s contract situation, I can’t help feeling that either Aaron Rodgers, the team’s franchise player on offense, or Clay Matthews, one of two defensive centerpieces along with veteran S-CB Charles Woodson, is on the cusp of signing a new contract — perhaps quite soon.

I brought up the possibility of a major signing often while commiserating with numerous camp observers on the sidelines during the practices I observed, and the consensus seemed to be that I was probably onto something, although it hardly takes a gridiron genius to connect the appropriately colored green-and-gold dots.

For starters, few franchises are as well-heeled at the moment as the Packers. Roughly $11 million under the salary cap the last time I checked, it would appear they have the necessary resources to make something happen — even with Rodgers, who almost certainly would be entering Drew Brees’ high-rent neighborhood to the tune of at least $20 million over five years and a $40 million signing bonus.

A-Rod, who looked very sharp for the most part in the two practice sessions I witnessed along with fellow PFW editor Kevin Fishbain, currently has three years left on the six-year, $65 million contract he signed Nov. 1, 2008.

That the Packers re-upped with Brett Favre back in March 2001 with three years remaining on his contract, signing him to a 10-year, $101.5 million deal that made him the NFL’s richest player at the time, seems to me to be more than just a most intriguing coincidence.