Snowy Comebacks, a Familiar Setting for Packers RB Ryan Grant

Recently re-signed RB Ryan Grant returns to the Packers Sunday night against the Detroit Lions. With comeback on his mind and snow in the forecast, the setting should be a familiar one for Grant.

Ryan Grant slowly ran off the field, the snow showers at Lambeau Field beginning to come down harder and harder. He was visibly upset, but it had nothing to do with the weather.

You'll forgive Grant if he didn't notice the precipitation; the start of his first career playoff game had just gotten off to the most horrific start imaginable.

The day was Jan. 12, 2008.

The Green Bay Packers, winners of 13 regular-season games and hosting a playoff game for the first time since Randy Moss gave the south end zone stands an interesting view, were in a bad way to start the NFC Divisional Round against Seattle Seahawks.

And Grant was mostly to blame.

On the very first play from scrimmage, Grant—who rushed for 947 yards over the final 10 games of the 2007 season—clumsily caught a pass in the flat, slipped to the ground and then fumbled when Leroy Hill smacked the helpless running back. Seattle recovered, returned the fumble to the one-yard line and scored one play later. 7-0 Seahawks.

Two plays into McCarthy's first ever playoff game, and the Packers were already in catchup mode. To his credit, McCarthy never blinked an eye.

On the first play of the next series, McCarthy confidently gave his young running back a carry. Eight yards. Obviously, nerves had taken hold during Grant's first fumble. Could you blame him? Before the Packers sent a sixth-round pick to the New York Giants for the still unknown back, Grant had been given exactly zero career NFL carries. The 23-year-old split time at Notre Dame and started just seven games for the Packers that season before starring in the biggest football game of his life.

The mistake was out of the way. The first run finished without issue. A lazy Hollywood writer would have sprung Grant for a touchdown on the next play. But this script wasn't done sending its protagonist to rock bottom.

Given a second-straight carry on 2nd-and-2, Grant found a crease between the tackles and easily picked up the first down. But disaster was waiting at the second level. The ensuing collision with Seahawks safety Brian Russell dislodged the ball from Grant's two-handed grip, and the Seahawks recovered his second fumble in 70 seconds at midfield.

Grant made his way to the sidelines, shaking his head with no clear answer for what had just happened.

Seven plays later, the Seahawks were again in the end zone. 14-0, Seattle.

"I thought, 'Oh boy, this ain't too good,' " Packers quarterback Brett Favre said. "This is the exact game I didn't want to be in."

***

Thanks mostly to a devastated backfield, the Packers brought back Grant this week. Such a reunion seemed unlikely given the events of the last four months.

Grant and the Packers never appeared to get close to an agreement this past offseason. Despite a strong finish to 2011, Grant was allowed to walk as an unrestricted free agent. If the two sides ever did near a new contract, it was never reported.

The reasons for the lack of a reunion were mostly straight forward. Grant would turn 30 years old during this season (ironically, Grant's birthday is on Sunday), and most running backs that age struggle to find work. At the youngest position in a young man's game, the Packers were understandably ready to move on.

James Starks and Alex Green, both players the Packers had invested draft picks in, were ready for the role. Or so it appeared.

Even when Starks went down in the preseason, Grant remained an afterthought of an addition. Instead of making the easy phone call to Grant, Packers GM Ted Thompson signed veteran running back Cedric Benson.

As was the case the entire summer, Grant waited. And waited. Precious few workouts came. Talks eventually looked like they were escalating with both the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots, but each opportunity fell through. He went all the way through the preseason and the start of the regular season without an NFL job.

Grant did eventually receive one opportunity—with the Washington Redskins in October—but that marriage divorced after just one game and one carry. Sadly, there are hundreds of stories that sound a lot like Grant's that end with the player fading away into a forced NFL retirement. Grant would never admit it, but not playing again was slowly becoming a real possibility.

But then some cards starting falling Grant's way. Benson suffered a dreaded Lisfranc injury in his foot on Oct. 7 and was placed on the IR with designation to return list. Nearly two months later, he was under the knife and completing season-ending surgery. A week later, Johnny White—claimed from the Buffalo Bills in mid-October—suffered a concussion against the Giants. Against the Vikings in Week 13, Starks was upended by cornerback Josh Robinson and limped off. He hasn't practiced since and McCarthy expects him to be out "multiple weeks."

Suddenly, the Packers were down to just Green and recently promoted practice squader DuJuan Harris at running back.

Desperate for help at the position, Thompson finally called Grant. By Wednesday, White was placed on IR and Grant was officially back with the Green Bay Packers. His first game back will come Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

“I feel good, football-wise. I've stayed mentally and physically involved and attached to the game," Grant said. "I'm looking forward to it. ... Right now it looks like a pretty good birthday gift.”

***

Prior to 2007, no player in the history of the Green Bay Packers had ever rushed for 200 yards in a postseason game. Even with names like Jim Taylor, Tony Canadeo, Paul Hornung and Ahman Green manning the backfields of numerous trips to the playoffs, the feat had never been done.

After two fumbles over his first three touches, Grant looked like the least likely candidate to be the first. In fact, few would have questioned the decision had McCarthy pulled Grant for first-year back Brandon Jackson.

But things slowly started turning around, for both the Packers and Grant. Favre hit Jennings for an unorthodox  14-yard touchdown on the Packers' next possession to pull Green Bay back within a touchdown. A possession later, Grant ripped off runs of 26 and 15 yards before plunging in fron one-yard out to tie the game.

Then came the snow. Heavy, wet, field-erasing snow. The Packers grounds crew did everything in their power to even keep the yard markers visible. On many snaps, they lost that battle. At some points in the second half, the snow made viewing the game on television difficult. Imagine the world's largest snowglobe, being shook harder and harder without end, and you get the visual for Lambeau Field that afternoon.

Yet as the snow kept falling, Grant continued piling up yards and the Packers slowly left the Seahawks in the rear-view mirror.

11 yards for Grant on the third scoring drive. 19 on the fourth. 29 on the fifth. 49 on the sixth. 32 on his final drive. With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Packers were giving carries to Jackson  comfortably up 42-17. Grant exited the game with 201 rushing yards and three touchdowns, statistically the greatest postseason game ever by a Packers running back.

Green Bay marched into the NFC Championship Game, it's first since 1997. Grant's comeback—from goat to playoff legend—was complete. His performance is now revered, not only because of the numerous gallops through a good Seattle defense and the unrelenting snow, but also because he reached the very bottom, pulled himself off the floor and only then delivered the most productive rushing game in Packers postseason history.

"I appreciate everyone sticking with it, staying with me," Grant said.

***

The forecast Sunday calls for anywhere between three to six inches of snow in Green Bay. Unofficially, the chance of snow fall is 100 percent. The heaviest accumulation will likely come before the Packers and Lions kick off at 7:20 p.m. CT, but that's beyond the point.

The setting Sunday night appears to be developing like another lazy Hollywood script. In Grant's first game back with the Packers in almost a year, Lambeau Field will likely look as close to Jan. 2008 as it has since that playoff game five years ago. 200 yards isn't on the table—Green will start and is expected to take a majority of the carries—but Grant will see action.

At least for Grant, the setting will be familiar.

"History tells you Ryan Grant plays well in the snow," McCarthy said.

Grant insists his return is more than your average comeback tale.

“I didn't come back here for a feel-good story,” Grant said. “I came back here to help this team and contribute.”

Zach Kruse is a 24-year-old sports writer who contributes to Cheesehead TV, Bleacher Report and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also covers prep sports for the Dunn Co. News. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].

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Comments (27)

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Rocky70's picture

December 08, 2012 at 02:04 pm

Would still like to know if GB was going to bring back Grant (at all), why wait until the 13th game of the season?? ---- Why sign White, Harris or even Benson before bringing back Grant?? ---- Makes no sense. Someone needs to ask GB's 'genius GM'. (and hopefully receive a real, honest answer) -- (none of that double-speak)

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cow42's picture

December 08, 2012 at 04:28 pm

because benson, harris, and white are all better than grant.

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Chad Toporski's picture

December 08, 2012 at 07:10 pm

Seriously? It doesn't take a genius to figure this one out.

1) Benson was signed because he was determined by the Packers to give them more productivity and explosiveness than Grant.

2) Ryan Grant was signed with the Redskins from September 25 to October 23.

3) Johnny White was claimed by the Packers on October 15, meaning Grant was unavailable.

4) DuJuan Harris was signed to the PS on October 24. Grant is not eligible for the PS. This, BTW, was in response to players being released from the PS for injury and other reasons, not for players being promoted to the active roster.

5) DuJuan Harris was actived on December 1, when Richardson and Quarless were placed on IR. This was the day before Starks was injured.

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Rocky70's picture

December 08, 2012 at 08:17 pm

Get real ---- You're just making excuses. Grant could have been signed any week in the year 2012 except the three & 1/2 weeks you mentioned. The RB position has been a bumbling mess all season. Hopefully, it's not the cause of "1 & out" in the playoffs again (no rushing attack). Most fans had questions about the RB position going into game 1, season 2012. Evidently, you're happy with whatever the hierarchy does. You know, this isn't rocket-science. You can actually disagree with the 'so-called' experts (It's what fans do - Has something to do with paying the bills).

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Chad Toporski's picture

December 09, 2012 at 08:22 am

"Why sign White, Harris or even Benson before bringing back Grant??"

I think I answered this question of yours pretty damn clearly. You asked why they brought in these three players instead of Grant. Let me reiterate because you couldn't comprehend:

1) Benson was either better or cost less than Grant to start the season.

2) When Johnny White was signed, Grant was unavailable.

3) When DuJuan Harris was signed, it was to fill a PS spot. They COULDN'T sign Grant for that purpose.

4) When they activated Harris from the PS, it was THE DAY BEFORE A GAME. And at that point they still had Starks, who they considered a better option than Grant anyway.

Besides... You make a GIGANTIC assumption that it was Green Bay's plan to bring back Grant from the very beginning. Guess what... It wasn't.

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cow42's picture

December 09, 2012 at 08:47 am

sweet - an argument about 4 crappy running backs.

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Rocky70's picture

December 09, 2012 at 12:08 pm

Sorry Chad T,

Repeating yourself (again) doesn't change the reality of the RB position. It doesn't matter what "your logic" may be in obtaining all the RBs, Grant still could have been signed at anytime during 2012 except when he was on the Redskin's 53. (about 3 1/2 weeks)

Clarity is needed but I'm afraid you're the one needing it.

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Chad Toporski's picture

December 09, 2012 at 06:45 pm

Why would they have signed him earlier, Rocky? Can you answer that? Or are you not going to provide any substance to your comments other than "you're wrong, I'm right, nana nana boo-boo"?

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Denver's picture

December 08, 2012 at 02:26 pm

Was Grant's last touch the fumble against the Giants? I don't remember clearly as I started drinking after the Hail Mary.

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Jamie's picture

December 08, 2012 at 02:34 pm

Aside from some diabolical conspiratorial plot to ruin the career of Ryan Grant, and/or run Aaron Rodgers out if town, most would think it safe to assume there was at least one valid reason...at least in the mind of a GM (and likely his HC) that are both documented to be well-respected and admired by the large majority of their peers and the rest of the NFL community.

That's enough for me...and most all other rational human beings.

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Rocky70's picture

December 08, 2012 at 02:43 pm

Go with the flow, Jamie. --- That's the safe route for people like you.

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Chad Toporski's picture

December 08, 2012 at 07:12 pm

Don't worry, Jamie. Rocky is just bitter because his career as a GM never panned out. He obviously must have been overqualified, since he knows so much more than Ted Thompson and the other NFL personnel people.

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Rocky70's picture

December 08, 2012 at 08:48 pm

It's my right as a fan to question. I don't claim 'all knowledge' and I respect those knowledgable opinions that differ from mine.

You should try the same.

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ohenry78's picture

December 09, 2012 at 06:26 am

You claim to respect other people's opinions, but when they offer them you tell them to "get real", or that they're just "going with the flow" like sheeple or something.

If you want an answer, how about this -- money. Benson signed for way cheaper than Grant would have, and had the injury not happened the production would have easily equaled what Grant would have done.

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Chad Toporski's picture

December 09, 2012 at 08:22 am

Rocky: You'll get respect when you give it. Pretty simple concept.

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Rocky70's picture

December 09, 2012 at 12:20 pm

@ CT

I don't post much (especially here). Therefore, I reject your supposition. Sorry, try again.

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Chad Toporski's picture

December 09, 2012 at 06:46 pm

Then stop posting altogether. I reject your existence.

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Spiderpack's picture

December 08, 2012 at 07:10 pm

Zach, your Ryan Grant article reads like an enchanting, pleasant short story written by an established, classical author. Everything about your writing is improving. Even though I knew about and was aware of most of the facts in this story, because of your skill it was exceptionally entertaining to read. Thank you much for all your work and good luck when your big opportunity comes.

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Zach Kruse's picture

December 08, 2012 at 10:56 pm

Spiderpack, you might have just made my entire season. I have a long ways to go to even be average at this stuff, but you don't even know how appreciated it really is when comments like yours above are left. Thanks again, and thanks for reading.

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aussiepacker's picture

December 08, 2012 at 07:31 pm

I will never forget that game. It was like something i had never seen before with the weather. Amazing. Good article Zach thanks.

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Zach Kruse's picture

December 08, 2012 at 10:58 pm

Thank you, Aussie. I am certain you are not alone in your remembrance on that day. The season ended early, but that game should always have a place in Packers postseason lore.

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Jamie's picture

December 08, 2012 at 11:09 pm

Was sidetracked by rocky's mess and forgot to compliment the writer.

You set the stage Zach...very nicely done. This coming from a guy that doesn't much care for amateur storytelling. Nothing amateurish about this piece.

Now we'll see if Grant's return to the snow at Lambeau is a) uneventful, b) catastrophic, or c) storybook.

I'd be happy with 'a'.

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woodson4president's picture

December 08, 2012 at 11:20 pm

One of my favorite games. I also liked a game with an al harris td finale against the seahawks as well.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

December 09, 2012 at 01:19 am

Ahhh, THAT game. I was just starting my second year in Wa state. I was still somewhat the new guy at work that just had Packers stuff all over his office (alright... Cubicle)... And had Pack gear on every day. Being that 90% of my new co-workers were Hawk fans... That ass-whipping was FUCKING SWEET. I brought in a few dozen doughnuts for the losers the next day, they ate them, they were humble, it worked out well. That game will always have a sentimental spot in my black heart baby! I effing pray we get the hawks at our place this year. Their fans heads are getting too big, and we owe them a lil sumpin'.

GBP 4 LIFE

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

December 09, 2012 at 01:21 am

Oh yeah, Zach, what Spider said. Kudos dude.

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Jason Barber's picture

December 09, 2012 at 09:43 am

This was very well done

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JordanB's picture

December 10, 2012 at 09:05 pm

This article reminds me of all the hype about Ryan Grant before the 2007 NFC Championship game against the Giants. The network even did a special on Ryan Grant growing up in New York and being on the Giants practice squad.

People remember the Seattle game, but for whatever reason they don't remember the Giant's game the following week when we really needed the ground game and Ryan Grant because it was so cold that day.

Grant rushed for 29 yards on 13 carries. One of his carries was for 16 yards. So that means his other 12 carries were for a total of 13 yards. He had a bonus one reception for negative three yards.

Grant got a second chance last year to redeem himself against the Giants in another cold weather game. And more Ryan Grant hype could be heard from Packers fans. 8 rushes for 33 yards and 3 receptions for 17 yards. One of his rushes was for 19 yards and one of his receptions was for 10 yards. So he had two good plays and the game losing fumble which was returned to the Packers' 4 yard line. Touchdown. Game over.

There's a reason why my fellow Packers fans get excited about Ryan Grant. Unfortunately I don't know what it is.

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