Name That Player

The next Al Harris is ready for a big contract. Who is it?

There still seems to be great concern about the Green Bay Packers condition at the cornerback position. At the same time the rumbling for a free-agent or trade at the position is still not fading. I personally think we will be okay, but Ted Thompson (if he's as smart as I think he is) needs to take a long hard look at one guy getting no love right now. Can you name that player?

I don't think that there is any debate about the Al Harris trade back in 2003. Harris, who had surprisingly been cut a few years earlier by the Buccaneers, started mostly at nickelback in 2002 and made a few starts in injury situations. The Packers, in a move not seen by this organization in years, traded their second and fourth round pick for Harris after he came off a 25 tackle (18 solo) one interception and 13 pass defensed season. In his first full year with the Packers, he recorded 45 tackles 3 interceptions and 14 passes defensed. Safe to say a superstar was born.

It was a gutsy move at the time. Al Harris, although solid, had been beat a few times, and parting with a high round draft pick for what looked like a star was still a risk. Al Harris signed a $4.3m base + $1.6 million roster bonus shortly thereafter. The rest is history.

There is a free-agent sitting out there right now that looks a lot like Harris did when the Packers gambled on him in 2003. He's been beat a couple of times, but most certainly has pro-bowl ball skills. He, much like Harris currently plays in a nickel role while periodically starting in injury situations. He's going to cost a team a first round pick, which is a little higher than Harris, but he is coming off a a 49 tackle, four interception season while credited with 15 passes defensed. That performance is even slightly nicer  looking than Al's in 2002.

I know it's always a gamble make a long term commitment to a guy who hasn't totally proven themselves as a starter yet. But, in 2003 the Packers had the nuts to take a gamble on a nickel back stuck behind a couple of superstars in Philadelphia. It worked out pretty good, and I bet that the Eagles wish they would have never parted ways with Al.

The next Al Harris is sitting out there right now, and if we judge stat lines (like so many of you seem to think are the Bible) there is absolutely no reason Ted should not be pulling the trigger on this guy today. It's a smart move, and to me anyway is really a no-brainer. It worked out great in 2003, and there is no reason the same can't be said in 2010.

Okay all you supposed football guru's... name that player.




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Comments (11)

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Ron's picture

June 16, 2010 at 08:42 am

I'll play your game you rogue.

Traymon "armbar" Williams?

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Alex Tallitsch's picture

June 16, 2010 at 08:48 am

Nice work. Al Harris gets a ton of penalties too. And, in the famous armbar game on Monday night, Tramon also had a TD saving interception.

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Ron's picture

June 16, 2010 at 08:55 am

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Tramon, just think the armbar thing is funny.
With being physical and getting penalties he is just following in the footsteps of both Harris and Woodson.
I think it was Woodson who said he wasn't worried about Tramon at all because he is good at forgetting the bad plays.

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Alex Tallitsch's picture

June 16, 2010 at 08:57 am

It will be interesting to see what this latest update is.

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PackersRS's picture

June 16, 2010 at 10:40 am

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Alex Tallitsch's picture

June 16, 2010 at 10:42 am

Nice use of the graphic enhancement feature. +1

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bozz_2006's picture

June 16, 2010 at 09:01 am

This deal needs to get done. Like, yesterday.

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Alex Tallitsch's picture

June 16, 2010 at 09:08 am

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jeremiah's picture

June 16, 2010 at 09:47 am

williams, no doubt.

i think a 4 year deal that pays him 10-12 million over that span is completely fair. give him 5-6 million up front and load the back end with incentives. that would lock him up for the same ammount of time as woodson, and would give us plenty of time to find another guy to step in and be ready to start when woodson finally calls it quits.

my guess id that if williams had "played ball" and shown up for OTAs he may already have a deal in place. collins showed, and pickett towed the line, and both got paid! figure it out tramon!

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FITZCORE1252's picture

June 16, 2010 at 06:24 pm

I like Tramon, you like Tramon. He's a smart kid. That's why I'm kinda surprised he didn't sign for 3+ mil. That's nothing to be ashamed of for a middle of the road CB. Sure he wants a LT deal, but man, that's a hell of a raise he passed up. If I'm TT, it's hard to be writing up LT deals without knowing the parameters of the new CBA. I hope they get something done, but I'm not surprised Ted hasn't yet.

GBP 4 LIFE

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Asshalo's picture

June 17, 2010 at 04:15 pm

I can see why he held out til the last minute. They put him in a similiar spot last year and he's been productive. Just wants to get paid-- especially since he has a wife now. He held out to the extent it was worth it and I can't fault him for it.

Bigby is in a very similiar position and I can't blame him for not signing. He didn't really loose anything.

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