IronMan
Cheesehead
http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070428/PKR01/70428060/1989
By Mike Woods
In 2003, The Future underwent surgery on his right leg for an undisclosed injury, then broke his ankle, then re-injured the same ankle.
In 2004, The Future did not play the final two games because of a right ankle sprain.
In 2006, The Future suffered a torn biceps tendon that limited him to 2½ games for the season.
The Future is not a favorite of HMOs.
On the plus side, The Future has been compared favorably to Johnny Jolly. Says it right here on the bio. That’s right, Johnny Jolly. You remember him … the Packers’ sixth-round pick a year ago. He was inactive for 10 games and finished with four tackles last season. That Johnny Jolly.
Is your spine tingling yet?
Packers fans, let’s meet and greet your No. 1 draft choice for 2007 — Justin Harrell, University of Tennessee defensive tackle.
“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
That, at least, was the reception Packers General Manager Ted Thompson received when he met with fans who attended the team’s draft party inside the atrium at Lambeau Field, and no doubt in living rooms and bars across the state.
In our microwave world, Harrell presents a problem. He can’t run the ball out of the backfield, can’t split out wide and catch a pass from Brett Favre, can’t play center field in the secondary and may not be able to cover a cough, much less a receiver.
In other words, he can’t help the Packers address any of their immediate or obvious needs. So, one wonders, how does one improve on an 8-8 season when one fails to upgrade an area of need with the most valuable draft choice you own?
Ted?
“We don’t draft based on need,’’ said Thompson, quoting from Page 2 of the General Manager’s Handbook.
In general terms, you can’t argue with that philosophy. It makes sense. Reaching for a player based on need more often than not ends badly. See Mike Sherman and Ahmad Carroll. But it’s hard to imagine that if Harrell is the guy Thompson had pegged, why couldn’t he have worked a deal to backpedal a few spots, pick up an extra pick on two, and still snag Harrell?
Thompson said there were a few offers on the table, but none to his liking, and he made it clear he didn’t want to risk losing Harrell. But the bigger risk with this kid is whether or not he will continue to be bitten by the injury bug.
If Harrell’s history keeps repeating itself, this will come back to haunt Thompson, and it will be a missed opportunity for the organization. If he turns out to be a stud, we all can remember the importance of having a strong defensive line leading a defense that operates largely in cold weather.
If you can’t remember, turn your Way Back Machine to 1996 through 1998, when Reggie White, Santana Dotson, Gilbert Brown and either Sean Jones, Gabe Wilkins or Vonnie Holliday played up front. Those guys were players, and helped the Packers win 37 games and earn two Super Bowl berths in three seasons.
We all understand what’s behind much of the resentment of this pick. The love for the modern-day Golden Boy runs deep. Real deep. Almost every fan aligned to the Packers would prefer to see Favre go out on top. Harrell isn’t likely going to help make that happen, at least in the time Favre has left.
Well, there’s that and the expectation — however unreal it may be — that the Packers will be able to vastly improve on last year’s 8-8 mark (courtesy of a last-place schedule, please remember) with a solid draft that fills some of their obvious holes.
That could happen, of course.
But today, the view from the top doesn’t look so appealing. The Future isn’t looking as bright as hoped. Instant gratification no longer looks to be an option. Welcoming in the next Johnny Jolly is, well, laughable.
That’s the one thing about The Future, though. You have to give it time. For it offers you the opportunity to change your mind.
Mike Woods writes for The Post-Crescent of Appleton. E-mail him at [email protected]
By Mike Woods
In 2003, The Future underwent surgery on his right leg for an undisclosed injury, then broke his ankle, then re-injured the same ankle.
In 2004, The Future did not play the final two games because of a right ankle sprain.
In 2006, The Future suffered a torn biceps tendon that limited him to 2½ games for the season.
The Future is not a favorite of HMOs.
On the plus side, The Future has been compared favorably to Johnny Jolly. Says it right here on the bio. That’s right, Johnny Jolly. You remember him … the Packers’ sixth-round pick a year ago. He was inactive for 10 games and finished with four tackles last season. That Johnny Jolly.
Is your spine tingling yet?
Packers fans, let’s meet and greet your No. 1 draft choice for 2007 — Justin Harrell, University of Tennessee defensive tackle.
“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
That, at least, was the reception Packers General Manager Ted Thompson received when he met with fans who attended the team’s draft party inside the atrium at Lambeau Field, and no doubt in living rooms and bars across the state.
In our microwave world, Harrell presents a problem. He can’t run the ball out of the backfield, can’t split out wide and catch a pass from Brett Favre, can’t play center field in the secondary and may not be able to cover a cough, much less a receiver.
In other words, he can’t help the Packers address any of their immediate or obvious needs. So, one wonders, how does one improve on an 8-8 season when one fails to upgrade an area of need with the most valuable draft choice you own?
Ted?
“We don’t draft based on need,’’ said Thompson, quoting from Page 2 of the General Manager’s Handbook.
In general terms, you can’t argue with that philosophy. It makes sense. Reaching for a player based on need more often than not ends badly. See Mike Sherman and Ahmad Carroll. But it’s hard to imagine that if Harrell is the guy Thompson had pegged, why couldn’t he have worked a deal to backpedal a few spots, pick up an extra pick on two, and still snag Harrell?
Thompson said there were a few offers on the table, but none to his liking, and he made it clear he didn’t want to risk losing Harrell. But the bigger risk with this kid is whether or not he will continue to be bitten by the injury bug.
If Harrell’s history keeps repeating itself, this will come back to haunt Thompson, and it will be a missed opportunity for the organization. If he turns out to be a stud, we all can remember the importance of having a strong defensive line leading a defense that operates largely in cold weather.
If you can’t remember, turn your Way Back Machine to 1996 through 1998, when Reggie White, Santana Dotson, Gilbert Brown and either Sean Jones, Gabe Wilkins or Vonnie Holliday played up front. Those guys were players, and helped the Packers win 37 games and earn two Super Bowl berths in three seasons.
We all understand what’s behind much of the resentment of this pick. The love for the modern-day Golden Boy runs deep. Real deep. Almost every fan aligned to the Packers would prefer to see Favre go out on top. Harrell isn’t likely going to help make that happen, at least in the time Favre has left.
Well, there’s that and the expectation — however unreal it may be — that the Packers will be able to vastly improve on last year’s 8-8 mark (courtesy of a last-place schedule, please remember) with a solid draft that fills some of their obvious holes.
That could happen, of course.
But today, the view from the top doesn’t look so appealing. The Future isn’t looking as bright as hoped. Instant gratification no longer looks to be an option. Welcoming in the next Johnny Jolly is, well, laughable.
That’s the one thing about The Future, though. You have to give it time. For it offers you the opportunity to change your mind.
Mike Woods writes for The Post-Crescent of Appleton. E-mail him at [email protected]
