Packers To Give Al Harris A Super Bowl Ring
Packers' President Mark Murphy told a crowd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that Al Harris will receive a Super Bowl ring.
By maxginsberg
As the Tailgate Tour rolls on, Packers' President Mark Murphy continues to surprise us with notable news.
On Wednesday, Murphy revealed that the team is "going to retire" Brett Favre's number. And at a stop in Eau Claire on Thursday, Murphy told the crowd at the Expo Center that former cornerback Al Harris "will receive a Super Bowl ring." Murphy also said the players are tentatively scheduled to receive their rings on June 16. That date assumes an end to the current lockout.
Harris, who was released by the team in November, was a two-time Pro Bowler as a member of the Packers from 2003 to 2010. Upon his release from the Packers, Harris drew interest from a number of teams before signing a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. However, a hamstring injury landed the 36-year old on injured-reserve once again.
The decision to give Harris a Super Bowl ring exemplifies a loyalty that is in stark contrast to the current lockout. Kudos to Mark Murphy and the Packers organization.
Comments (26)
May 12, 2011 at 08:28 pm
Slow clap...nicely done.
May 12, 2011 at 08:30 pm
This is why I am so proud to be a Packer fan. A class act by the organization for a classy player and a great person. I hope he can make it to the ceremony and I'd like to see an Al Harris night at Lambeau so the fans can say thank you to him for a fantastic career. 31 forever!!
May 12, 2011 at 08:32 pm
Very glad to hear this. Al is a class act and I'm deeply happy for him that he will be honored with a ring, not just for his years of service, but for spending the time trying to come back from such a devastating injury.
May 12, 2011 at 08:47 pm
Bravo Mr. Murphy. Now all that is left to do is to superimpose him into the team's Super Bowl photograph.
Wear it with pride.
May 12, 2011 at 08:55 pm
I'll be the jerk.
does anyone really think Al Harris is going to be happy to have that ring? If I were a competitor, it would be a reminder that I got injured and despite my most valiant efforts to stage a successful recovery, I contributed nothing to my team, was released, and then played at a level beneath my own personal expectations, and re-injured myself, failing to complete the season.
Will he be happy the Packers remembered him? Sure. But I have a feeling the rest of the emotions surrounding that ring may over-shadow it.
maxginsberg
May 12, 2011 at 08:59 pm
I'll take the ring if he decides he doesn't want it.
May 12, 2011 at 09:04 pm
I hear ya, Oppy. And you can call my a cynic, but I think this is more a PR move where management cares more about the fan base's sentiment towards Al than they actually care about Al himself.
Still a nice gesture, though.
PackerAaron
May 12, 2011 at 09:38 pm
If he was Gollum, I think this is probably how he would think about it, yes. ;)
May 13, 2011 at 02:43 am
Naw, Gollum would covet it, and wouldn't care about the circumstances under which it was received.
PackerAaron
May 13, 2011 at 08:30 am
Lol - true. I just don't think his reaction will be as overtly negative as you portray.
May 13, 2011 at 12:30 pm
who's gollum
May 14, 2011 at 09:24 am
redlight have you been under a rock for the last decade?? Gollum is a charter in LORD OF THE RINGS!!!! Guess I could understand if you don't watch movies but man!!! Best movies made of all time!!!!
May 12, 2011 at 09:45 pm
Well, to be fair, his contributions certainly went beyond simply playing. He undoubtedly helped the younger players learn technique and the complexities of the D. He did a remarkable job to NOT become a distraction. That alone is worth a ring. I think most importantly, though, it's recognition that he helped them get to this point. He's a Packer. I love this move and I hope Al sees it as a symbolic gesture that reflects his Packerdom.
May 13, 2011 at 02:41 am
I agree with all that and then some.
I am a big fan of Al Harris, I just have to wonder how Al Harris is going to feel about that ring being handed to him.
Again, I'm sure he'll appreciate the sentiment, however, he may resent that ring as a reminder that he was ultimately cheated out of his dream accomplishment by fate via injury.
May 13, 2011 at 09:36 am
Given how things turned out in Miami, Al has to realize now that there was a very good chance he would not have played in the Super Bowl even if the Packers had kept him. No doubt he'd rather get it playing. But he deserves it, he'll take it, and in a couple of years he'll be very proud to have it.
May 13, 2011 at 11:39 am
Oppy - I hear ya....agreed.
May 13, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Agreed Oppy, but the gesture is nice and should be made.
May 12, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Harris was with the team until November ..... He just didn't play any .....
I doubt this was a move to placate the fanbase ..... More to placate a few Packer players ..... Al Harris was a well-liked teammate ....
May 12, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Right move.
GBP 4 LIFE
May 12, 2011 at 10:56 pm
What a bunch of classless jerks. They'll give one to Harris and not to Favre? Bunch of pricks.
But then again, what could be a bigger slap in the face than actually give him one ring?
"Here, you know that thing you tried to win for 10 years? And abandoned the people who adored you, jumped ship to one of the biggest rivals, just to try to get? Well, we won it just 3 years after you quit on us, so... Oh, and BTW, it is A LOT easier to win one when you don't throw a backbreaking interception at the end of the game..."
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Regarding Harris getting his ring, though he didn't participate on the field in any way in this season, he was still with the team till midseason, and had been an integral part of the organization for so long.
May 13, 2011 at 01:50 am
Thumbs up
May 13, 2011 at 06:18 am
Love it
May 13, 2011 at 03:52 pm
And while we're at it, lets give DeShawn Jackson a Super Bowl ring too! ;-)
Kidding aside, Al was and will always be a Packer. Well done Pack.
May 13, 2011 at 04:05 pm
If you see it on eBay, that will give you an indication.
But I personnally am happy for Al. Great guy.
May 13, 2011 at 07:00 pm
Deserved. Love Al. One of my favorite Packers ever. Guts. Hard worker. Great attitude. Deserved.
May 13, 2011 at 09:14 pm
Are they giving him Justin Harrell's?