Packers Daily Links: Harrell Says He's Ready If Necessary
Graham Harrell says he's ready to step in for Aaron Rodgers if injury dictates it. That and more in today's Daily Links...
In an interview with Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, quarterback Graham Harrell said he's ready to step in for starter Aaron Rodgers if circumstance dictates it. "Absolutely," Harrell is quoted as saying. "As a quarterback, you better be confident in yourself and believe in yourself. I believe in myself. We have a great support staff and a great group of people in Green Bay. They get quarterbacks ready to play and train quarterbacks." There's a lot of attention on Harrell as he enters training camp taking over the backup quarterback job from Matt Flynn. He's also an injury away from taking over from Rodgers and stepping into a very bright spotlight. Furthermore, Harrell is the only backup in the entire NFL who's never taken so much as a single snap. For all those reasons, he'll be a big storyline in the coming weeks.
The Packers and MillerCoors announced a renewal of their sponsorship marketing agreement on Tuesday. "The team and the brewery announced the 10-year extension Tuesday in the Lambeau Field Atrium, which was adorned with Miller Lite signs and whose main entrance is the Miller Lite Gate," writes Richard Ryman of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "It is the closest thing to naming rights a sponsor can get at Lambeau, where field naming rights are not on the table." Ryman reports MillerCoors is the Packers' largest sponsor and shareholders, owning two percent of the Packers' stock, the maximum allowed. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
More on the MillerCoors sponsorship appears at the Packers official website.
If you're trying to sell or buy tickets to a Packers game outside Lambeau Field, the process might become slightly easier. The village board in Ashwaubenon is considering eliminating an ordinance that restricted the selling of tickets outside the stadium. "The village passed an ordinance in 1997 that required ticket resellers to pay $800 to register with the village, submit to a background check, wear identification, and sell the tickets in a designated area," writes Hannah O'Brien of the Press-Gazette. Anyone who's attended a game could see that the scalping of tickets is commonplace and was not strictly enforced. This is a commonsense solution.
The grassroots social media campaign to get Jerry Kramer elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is examined in an article at the Press-Gazette. "At the encouragement of friends, Alicia (Kramer, Jerry's daughter) started a Facebook page in May 2011. She posted letters of support from former NFL players, pictures, videos and links to stories about her father." The social media efforts have since exploded with efforts also taking place on Twitter. As the report states, the Hall of Fame announce nominees during the third week of August.
Linebacker A.J. Hawk talked to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport about the recent viral video that shows Hawk shove a guy into a pond in a touch football game. Turns out, it was staged all along: "He came up to me before and said, ‘Hey, just knock me into the water,’ ” Hawk said. “So, I saw everyone with their cameras out, I knew it was going to get out. I didn’t know it’d be as big as it did. It was fun. I don’t regret it." It was all part of an auction Hawk said. I'm assuming a charity auction, which if so, would have been for a good cause.
A feature on former Packer Rich McGeorge appears in the Times-News of Burlington, North Carolina that discusses his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame and a recent liver transplant.
Position previews on the linebackers and the defensive line come courtesy of the Journal Sentinel's Packer Plus publication.
The running backs are part of a pre-training camp preview by Jason Wilde at ESPNMilwaukee.com.
Packer Report also previews the running backs with general and in-depth articles.
The defensive line is previewed at Fox Sports Wisconsin.
The tight ends are previewed at the Packers official website.
A couple pre-training camp columns are written by Wayne Larrivee and Tyler Dunne for Packer Plus, with another blog post by Larrivee at JSOnline.
Jordy Nelson and James Jones are named bargains on the Packers roster by NFL.com.
Packer Report continues its training camp and roster countdown series as well as a preview of the Packers-Colts game.
AllGreenBayPackers.com has pieces on predicting the 53-man roster and some offensive statistics.
Acme Packing Company has items on D.J. Smith and the Packers' "legacy positions."
Lombardi Ave. takes a look at the Packers from a fantasy football perspective.
The roster of the Packers is examined based upon its players' college football classification at Packerpedia.
A feature on former Packer Jim Flanigan, Jr. appears in Packer Plus.
Video: Fox 11 has more on the Packers-MillerCoors sponsorship...
Brian Carriveau is a writer for Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].
Comments (10)
July 18, 2012 at 10:09 am
GB's in a 'world of hurt' if Harrell ever has to play more than mop-up duty as a GB QB. Best case scenario would be for BJ Coleman to look 'head & shoulders' above Harrell during TC so at least GB has a chance with someone with QB tools (even if he is a rookie).
Unfortunately, 'down the tubes' will be GB's theme in 2012 if AR goes down for any extended period of time.
July 18, 2012 at 04:42 pm
Sorry, but I don't get your rant.
This is twice you've harped on the backup QB situation.
The Packers can in no way, shape, or form be confused with the Ravens of 2000 -- their defense is not at that level. The Packers have a questionable run game, at best. So, if Rodgers goes out -- we're well and truly fucked.
There's no backup in the league that's going to sub for Rodgers.
As for Coleman...
He's a transfer from TN, a 2nd-tier outfit in the SEC. At UTC, he put up so-so numbers against compass-point teams, and really tanked going against top-flight SEC competition. His last year, as essentially a 5th year senior, his stats worsened.
As for Harrell...
I really can't see that much of a difference between him and Flynn, at the same stage in Flynn's career. Harrell knows the offense better than anyone they could bring in, short of some old, should-be-retired vet.
There would likely be a drop-off in play, should Harrell come in. But if you don't give him a chance -- he's not even been in a game yet! -- you impugn the coaching staff's ability to teach, train, and evaluate talent.
...and I'm not going to sit here and let you bad-mouth the Green Bay Packers, apple pie, and the United States of America!
July 18, 2012 at 09:36 pm
G. Harrell has NEVER thrown a pass in the NFL. What part of that statement is so difficult for you to understand??? The gap between AR & GH is something like the "Grand Canyon". (the entire GB offense is based on the skills of AR)
Maybe a little more historical analysis on your part will make it easier for you to understand. Ask a friend in the area to enlighten you if it helps any.
July 19, 2012 at 08:42 pm
I seriously don't get all the concern over the backup quarterback position. Unless you're going to have Tom Brady, P. Manning, Drew Brees or B. Roethlisberger playing as your backup while still in their prime, the gap between Rodgers and pretty much everyone else in the league is "Something like the Grand Canyon." It doesn't matter who you stick back there, the position takes a HUGE step back if Rodgers goes down. Might as well go with the guy our coaches have been, you know, coaching.
July 18, 2012 at 10:24 am
And god I hope never has to.
July 18, 2012 at 02:42 pm
In TT/MM I trust.
That said, James Jones to CLE for Colt McCoy and a draft pick wouldn't hurt my feelings.
Rocky, why, again, are you so high on Coleman? I have nothing against him, but view him as strictly a rookie, and a 7th rounder, at that.
July 18, 2012 at 09:54 pm
Coleman has at least the physical ability.
G. Harrell is someone whose 15 minutes of fame was in college. NFL QB?? In your dreams. Good God, no one would even draft him in the 7th round for many different reasons.
July 18, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Fair enough. Can I assume that you feel our chances are poor with either backup? Or can the rookie come in and stem the tide if the unthinkable happens?
Without having seen any practices, and acknowleging that neither has ever thrown an NFL pass; I'd still take the QB that's been in the meeting rooms and practices for one year over the rookie.
July 19, 2012 at 09:35 am
It's entirely possible that TT/MM have put together the best roster in their Green Bay careers for season 2012. Are they going to risk scuttling a season with so much promise because they skimp at BU QB??
I'm not sure either BJ or GH are the answer although TC will show BJ to be more physically capable than GH ever will be. However, GB's lack of a more talented & experienced BU QB (at this point) may end up being the 'bug-a-boo' of season 2012. Look for Colt to show up before the end of TC if both GH & BJ bomb. (in TC)
Face it, TT has made mistakes in the past. I'd hate for this to be another.
July 19, 2012 at 11:16 am
Okay, now we're talking the same language. TT seems to be thinking that he can "short" BU QB this year, like he did at Dline last year; "wing and a prayer, let's do it!"
I really think Colt would be an awesome fit here. He is no ARodg, but would have a better chance than GH/BJC; CLE has/had an offense close to GB; CLE doesn't really want him; he really doesn't want CLE; he's young, so in 2-3 years, he may marketable again. CLE has been a pit for many years, and Holmgren is making enormous mistakes that will keep the franchise down for at least 4 years. Read: he'll get fired. Giving up a second round last week in the supplemental draft is just the latest gaff.
I retain trust in TT, but I agree that they're shorting BU QB.