A Flashback to 2005 and what Could've Been with Terrence Murphy

Many were left in wonder for the possible All-Pro career that may have resulted with the drafting of wide receiver Terrence Murphy.

On Draft Day, 2005, there was one other headline aside from the obvious one that revolved around quarterback Aaron Rodgers' unforeseen plunge in the first round.

At 58th overall, the Packers aimed to target a game-changing wide receiver to help bolster their already-third-ranked offense in 2004. In newly-appointed general manager Ted Thompson's mind, there was no better receiver on the board in the second round than Texas A&M's Terrence Murphy. Even 12 years later, Murphy is renowned as one of the best receivers to have played for the school and at one point, was the first receiver to surpass 2,000 receiving yards in its history. He also still holds the school record for the highest vertical jump, checking in at an impressive 42 inches. Oh, and he played quarterback in high school. There was seemingly nothing Murphy couldn't do.

With Donald Driver, Javon Walker and Robert Ferguson spearheading the group at wide receiver and Ahman Green leading the charge at tailback, the Packers were poised to have possibly their most electric offense in the Mike Sherman era — or so they thought.

Green was lost for the season by week seven, tearing his thigh tendon severely enough to require surgery in a 23-20 loss to the Vikings in Minnesota. The Packers fell to 1-5 and the campaign was flipping a complete 180-degree turnaround compared to what was initially expected leading into the season. A year following winning the NFC North and making the playoffs at 10-6, the Packers finished 4-12 — their worst record since 1991 when Brett Favre was still a Falcon.

In the process, they lost an onslaught of running backs, leading to the emergence of Samkon Gado for a one-hit wonder season, as well as Walker, Ferguson and for good; Murphy.

Murphy was used exclusively as both a wide receiver and kick returner during his junior season at Texas A&M, and although he never ran one back for a touchdown, he sported a 24.5 return average in his college career. In the NFL, it was also a primary spot the Packers wanted to utilize Murphy. It was also his downfall.

Being at the wrong place at the wrong time is the most unfortunate of scenarios in any given sport or even in any common happening throughout life. For Murphy, it cost him his career. In front of a national Monday Night Football audience, when Najeh Davenport lost control of the ball on a kick return, Murphy was alert enough to be the first player that attempted to recover it. In the process, took a helmet-to-helmet shot from Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis. Murphy lay motionless on the field, surrounded by players on both sides of the field, awaiting medical attention. Brewing from the brutal collision was a bruised spinal column and spinal stenosis.

It was the immediate, premature end of what could've — would've — been a promising career in Green Bay. 

Murphy was released by the Packers the following April despite his persistence on his sufficient health and ability to get back on the field. He failed his physical, deciding against Murphy's tenacity. "After several tests and consultations, we have concluded that Terrence will not be cleared to play for the Green Bay Packers," Thompson said in a statement released by the Associated Press on April 21, 2006. 

Eight days later, the Packers tried again.

They selected Western Michigan wide receiver Greg Jennings, recipient of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Year Award. His 5,093 all-purpose yards is a school record that still stands, and he was just the 11th player to accumulate over 1,000 yards in at least three seasons of a college career.  For the second year in a row, the Packers were aiming to capture their playmaker in the second round. 

Make plays is precisely what he did upon arrival, starting in 11 games for the Packers and averaging 14.0 yards per reception. In his second season, the reliance on Jennings grew with Walker no longer in the line-up. He caught what would go on to tie his career best 12 touchdowns in 2007 as well as successfully hauling in 63.1 percent of his total targets. He also set what would go on to be a personal best 17.4 yards per reception that season.

Between 2006 and 2010, Jennings had 5,222 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns, beginning to pick up where Driver had left off as his career began to reach the tail-end — a symbolic passing of the torch. 

Meanwhile, Murphy found love, married and rekindled his passion with the next direction he wanted his life to venture. However, on February 6, 2011, while quarterback Aaron Rodgers and co. celebrated the first Super Bowl win in Green Bay since January of 1997, Murphy spectated. It was where he, Rodgers and safety Nick Collins — the trio that made up Thompson's first three draft picks as general manager for the Packers — dreamed of being as a group.

Former writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Tyler Dunne wrote this of Murphy's Super Bowl experience:

"This was the game Murphy had discussed with (Aaron) Rodgers and Collins. They were (Ted) Thompson's first three draft picks as Green Bay's general manager in 2005. They arrived on the same flight. They piled into Murphy's rented F150 for the ride from the hotel to the practice field. The trio dreamed of this day. Heck, Rodgers was the one telling Murphy after practice, 'I want to play!' And here was Murphy...on his recliner...a Super Bowl spectator. He knew he'd be overcome with an emotion — Elation? Bitterness? Depression? Motivation? — he just wasn't sure which one. 'Am I going to sit around wishing I was still there, saying, 'Man, I should still be in the league?' ' said Murphy, thinking back."

It could've been Murphy being on the receiving end of two Super touchdowns. It could've been Murphy hauling in a crucial 31-yard catch on 3rd and 10 with six minutes left in the Super Bowl. It could've been Murphy becoming the holder of the sixth-most receiving touchdowns in team history. Had disaster strayed from Murphy on a cool October night, the Packers may not have felt the need to draft a receiver in the second round for the second year in a row. There would be no Jennings in a green and gold uniform.

Jennings would finish his career with the Vikings and Dolphins, whereas Murphy would pursue a career in real estate. Two completely separate directions, and while Jennings is officially retired from the NFL, the Packers have had their fair share of receiving talent since 2005, so it isn't like they've been completely left in a catastrophic fallout at the position. 

At the end of the day, each time any player puts on the pads and jersey, slips the three-pound helmet over their head and laces up their cleats, the riskful pay-out of stepping onto the field is nearly synonymous with playing "chicken" with a bull.

Murphy declined an interview for this piece.

__________________________

Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

NFL Categories: 
0 points
 

Comments (5)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Bearmeat's picture

February 20, 2017 at 07:29 pm

Since TT took over in 2005, there have been SIX career ending injuries that have occurred to GB players.

Murphy
Collins
Finley
Shields
Richardson
Bishop

And that's just off the top of my head. There may be more. What rotten luck!

0 points
0
0
croatpackfan's picture

February 21, 2017 at 04:45 am

Now, when you are judging Ted Thompson - how much better Packers will look if they had those players playing full career at Green Bay... TT is not guilty for all those injuries...

0 points
0
0
Handsback's picture

February 21, 2017 at 07:39 am

5 out of 6 of those players were at the All Pro level when their injuries occured. Hard to beat 31 teams and the injury bug that seems to reside in Green Bay.

0 points
0
0
Since'61's picture

February 21, 2017 at 08:08 am

Bearmeat - 7 career endings. Let's not forget Jonathan Franklin and what could have been there as well. His first and last opportunity against the Bengals was pretty impressive. Imagine him and Monty as our current backfield. Thanks, Since '61

0 points
0
0
Bearmeat's picture

February 21, 2017 at 03:58 pm

Right! Forgot about him! :(

0 points
0
0