“That’s a strong possibility, more than a strong possibility,” Herman said. “It could be as early as next week.”
Grant has been a mainstay in the Packers' backfield since the team traded for him back in 2007.
In the five resulting years— including the 2010 season in which an ankle injury robbed him of all but one half of one game—Grant has rushed for 4,016 yards and 25 touchdowns in 52 starts.
Grant's career peaked with back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons from 2008-09. Yet in a split role this past season with James Starks, Grant still managed to rush for 559 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and two scores.
Despite Grant's strong finish to the 2011 season, Green Bay hasn't seemed to show much interest in retaining the 29-year-old running back. Time is ticking for the Packers' interest to materialize, as Grant is likely looking for a team to call home before the NFL draft—which kicks off next Thursday—comes and goes and teams fill open running back slots with draft picks. Green Bay could be one team that does just that.
The Packers could ultimately be content in letting Grant walk, as it has been speculated that GM Ted Thompson would only look to Grant this offseason if little or no market developed. At this point, Grant would be foolish to wait around any longer.
Of course, we have to take what an agent says about his own client with a grain of salt. Herman could simply be trying to stir up any interest in Grant from what looks to be a dead market.
Comments (1)
April 17, 2012 at 05:00 pm
I think he's gone.
Many times last year I remember seeing blockers in front, Grant's legs churning -- and then: nothing.
Starks: may be a tease.
Green: ACL injury won't help him.
Saine: functional, but limited.
but they're going to be good enough for our "pass-first" offense.