Has Harris Spoken To Another NFC North Team?
Has Al Harris spoken with another team in the NFC North while still under contract with the Packers?
By PackerAaron
It sure would seem so from this quote he gave Tom Silverstein this morning:
Asked if he thought another NFC North team would go after him, Harris said: "Yeah, I do. I probably can't say who."
Obviously, he's answering a question about what he thinks. It is his "opinion" - but the slip of "I probably can't say who" sure makes me think that he's had some kind of communication with someone from another organization while still under contract with the Green Bay Packers.
If Harris does end up in the NFC North, look for the Packers to at least explore filing tampering chargers with the league. It all sounds so familiar...
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Comments (31)
November 08, 2010 at 10:23 am
So, at this point we don't really know if it's a matter of ability/numbers or if Harris just isn't fully recovered, right?
So, any claiming team has to throw caution to the wind and grab him sight unseen, right?
November 08, 2010 at 10:24 am
Yeah, we have to hope that there was a good reason for releasing him. Maybe he's lost a step or not fully recovered. We'll probably find out in two weeks in the Humpty Dump.
PackerAaron
November 08, 2010 at 10:52 am
Exactly, which is what makes me pretty sure he'll clear waivers. Teams will want to bring him in and let their doctors look at him first.
November 08, 2010 at 12:09 pm
If a team takes him off waivers they have to assume his contract, and I think that's it, right? I'm sure you're studied this more closely than I have, but I'm thinking Lions nab him off the waiver wire.
November 08, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Yeah, claiming teams takes on the salary. If he goes unclaimed, the Pack still owe him and he can get more money from another team.
November 08, 2010 at 10:37 am
I swear..if he gets picked up by those Packer-stealing viqueens..
November 08, 2010 at 11:51 am
no knock on Al, but if Greg or Double D starts getting in his face and knocking him around, Al will lose his head and play for crap.
He'd probably be amped up anyway to play against his former squad and be on the edge of losing his shit as it is.
Love you Al, but not afraid of you either.
November 08, 2010 at 12:10 pm
He's definitely had trouble with elite receivers the last few years.
November 08, 2010 at 02:34 pm
Well said bigfog
November 08, 2010 at 10:53 am
Well, of course he'd go to the Vikings. They're not afraid to spend the money, they're depleted in the secondary, and you can't pick a better person to fill them in all their defense. Harris will be in Vikings garb by Sunday.
November 08, 2010 at 10:54 am
I feel like he's got a good shot at going to the Vikings. Loves Favre, seemed to support him during the controversy a few years ago. I don't know if we should be too worried though.
November 08, 2010 at 10:57 am
I still think this is mostly speculation by the media (and Harris) right now.
I'm waiting to hear the official word.
November 08, 2010 at 03:44 pm
Well... I guess it's official now.
Can't argue too much with the business side of the decision, but I still wish they would have kept him if only for this year.
November 08, 2010 at 10:58 am
Really? Don't we all know that Minnesota will get him? Really?
November 08, 2010 at 11:09 am
If the Lions and Vikings both put in a claim, who'd get him?
November 08, 2010 at 11:14 am
Lions.
November 08, 2010 at 11:13 am
The Lions would get a crack at him first, and you'd think other teams (DET, CAR, SF, DEN, just to name a few) would want a former pro bowl CB...
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The Packers should have cut their 9th LB or 7th CB.... and kept Al..
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How much you wanna bet he's on a plane to Minny as we speak. Just another reason to hate BF, Chilly and the purple horned gang.
Man I HATE the Vikings!
November 08, 2010 at 11:39 am
i trust tt and mm when it comes to evaluating talent.
if they don't think this version of al harris is better than lee, woodson, williams, starks, lee, underwood, or bush then the f'n 'queens can have him.
even if he's got a little left, where would he fit.
williams and woodson are our corners. i don't see al being able to play nickel or dime because he'd have to be in the slot. al needs the sideline. he's not quick enough for the slot.
whatever - if the guy we're talking about didn't have the name "al harris" none of us would care about his release.
November 08, 2010 at 11:50 am
That's my default position as well, normally.
But for every Chris Bryan there is a Jon Ryan.
November 08, 2010 at 12:02 pm
That's just one of the reasons why Woodson plays the slot.
November 08, 2010 at 12:13 pm
That's just it - the fact that they didn't cut a LB that they just signed off the street suggests that what they saw from Al in practice was not an acceptable level of play.
We're all thinking about the Al Harris that we know and love, but that was one nasty knee injury, and he is likely not the same Al.
November 08, 2010 at 06:26 pm
My take on "Why" they released Al is this:
It's not that he isn't capable. It's not that they think he can't play this year.
It's simply that it's Tramon Williams time to start. Taking Williams off of starting duty would be criminal. Sam Shields is playing very well. Well enough that he's probably playing as well as a recovering-from-catastrophic-knee-injury Al Harris could.. And Shields is just going to grow and develop from the experience he's getting.. Where as if Al Harris was taking those nickle snaps, he's be using the experience to try to play catch up and get back to his old form. Throw in the fact the Packers also have Lee, Underwood, etc, etc who desperately need snaps to develop for the future.
Releasing Al Harris was in the best interests of the future of the GBP, and also considerate of Al Harris. Harris is still most likely a starting-caliber CB for many teams.. And definitely a great option as a nickle. Let Harris latch on somewhere that needs an experienced vet, somewhere he'll get the play time he deserves.
Unfortunately, that place is not with the Pack. Also, I believe it was Ron Wolf who said 'You are far better off letting a guy go a year too soon than a year too late".
November 08, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Last three weeks they gave him the playbook and told him to prepare like he was gonna play. So where they giving him a FAKE playbook, thinking he'd end up with the Queens!?
November 08, 2010 at 12:44 pm
The release is now official. We'll probably know where he's going by Wednesday.
November 08, 2010 at 01:20 pm
This is simply the absolutely necesarry flip side of a great thing going on in GB. Nobody likes to part ways with a guy like Al Harris, but here's the deal...
We have an organization that is keenly astute at evaluating talent combined with a front office that has rightly become known for "taking care of their own". Can there be many other outcomes to such a combination? If the organization finds good players...and pays them to stick around...eventually this is going to happen and it will happen to the Packers more than most teams because we "take care of our own. Sad as it is, this is a very, very good problem to have.
November 08, 2010 at 02:12 pm
If I were Martin Mayhew with the Lions, I would pick Harris up on waivers and pay the rest of his salary in a heartbeat (assuming he truly is healthy). The Lions need the cornerback help just as badly as the Queens, but they can use veteran leadership a heck of a lot more...especially in the secondary. Nate Vasher is what passes for veteran leadership in that secondary. And Detroit should have the money. I mean, it's not like they went "all in" and spent $133 million in payroll so far this year like Minnesota.
November 08, 2010 at 02:32 pm
Gee. Tampering with players under contract with the Packers. Sounds a little like the VIKINGS m.o.
November 08, 2010 at 05:35 pm
Sounds a little like....Hell it sounds exactly like the Vikings.
November 08, 2010 at 05:38 pm
There are other teams that can grab him before the Vikes get a chance.. They go by the worse records, getting a shot at him I believe.. I wish him luck wherever he ends up!
November 08, 2010 at 08:58 pm
Harris has been in a downward spiral since Plaxico Burress dominated him in the NFC Championship game. A class act and solid corner for many years, but I don't think he has a chance at making the team next year. I like the move, lets get Shields the experience and if Harris is claimed use the money saved to help PAY TRAMON!!!
TT...first order of business during the bye week is PAY TRAMON!!!
November 08, 2010 at 09:56 pm
AH is and was a class act, sad to see him go!
BUT- If you read the JSonline read, He seems bitter towards TT & MM about leading him on. What's it all about, ex-PACKERS wanting revenge so bad against the PACKERS?
Sharper-That guy who kicks for queens- something UN-Well-and text'n brent, Al, don't go down that path, you can, but it's call'd a business! Yeah it sucks-But-Look at the Cowgirls.
Im a business owner, and hate the decision's I have to make= but it's best for the team! GO PACK GO-Forward!
Miss ya AH