HARRELL- "Responding to his Critics"

[Bretsky]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779213

[Bretsky]

But the fact Harrell admittedly wasn't in condition before damaging his back is as an indictment to some degree of how he has approached his career with the Green Bay Packers.



A bit disappointing if true

[Tarlam!]

Too bad. We really needed this kid to step up. Seems like he's a bit complacent.

I see him on IR before the final cuts to the roster are made. It seems to have worked for Hodge, although I don't see Hodge making the roster.

What I find galling are these two quotes:

"It's one of life's lessons that you learn and grow from," Harrell said Saturday. "Next year I'll approach it a little different."

"People were doubting me, saying things. Look where I'm at right now."

He thinks he's doing well so far and is already thinking about next off season??? I just don't think he gets it.

I was extremely supportive of this pick, because I think TT does do his homework, especially on 1st round choices. But I am ready to admit the error of my ways with this guy.

[Lurker64]

I think Harrell needs to silence his critics on the field, not in the media. The best thing he can say now are "I've been a disappointment so far, both to myself and others, but I'm going to do everything I can to come back from the injury and I'm not going to repeat any of my mistakes."

So far he's been a lot of nothing, with a few flashes here and there. It's too early to say that he's a bust. I mean, Pickett didn't really impress greatly until his fourth year in the league, but he's been solid ever since. But to say Harrell is behind schedule is an understatement.

I still have hope for the kid, but I realize that DT is one of the hardest positions to make the transition from college to the pros in, and I don't think he's made a lot of progress so far.

Here's hoping he plays this season, and plays well enough to shut us all up.

[Gunakor]

This is indeed sad news. Hopefully though he now realizes that the NFL season is 12 months long, and works his ass of year round so that he can salvage a career in the league. In the meantime, it's a positive sign that Jolly is having such a good camp. Hopefully he can adequately fill that other DT spot and contribute when called upon.

[Tarlam!]

Here's hoping he plays this season, and plays well enough to shut us all up.

Maybe he's still pissed at the fans for booing when he was selected? Maybe he's sayin' "f**k Green Bay. I got my 1st rounder guaranteed money. Cut me, so I can go to another NFC North team and I can rub it into those Packers' fans".

[Gunakor]

Here's hoping he plays this season, and plays well enough to shut us all up.

Maybe he's still pissed at the fans for booing when he was selected? Maybe he's sayin' "f**k Green Bay. I got my 1st rounder guaranteed money. Cut me, so I can go to another NFC North team and I can rub it into those Packers' fans".

Which other NFC North team needs a DT? If there is anything this division has plenty of, it's DT's. Well, aside from the Packers anyway.

[Lurker64]

Maybe he's still pissed at the fans for booing when he was selected? Maybe he's sayin' "f**k Green Bay. I got my 1st rounder guaranteed money. Cut me, so I can go to another NFC North team and I can rub it into those Packers' fans".

Which other NFC North team needs a DT? If there is anything this division has plenty of, it's DT's. Well, aside from the Packers anyway.

I'm thinking maybe, just maybe, Tarlam! was making a joke about the whole Favre Debacle here...

[Gunakor]

Maybe he's still pissed at the fans for booing when he was selected? Maybe he's sayin' "f**k Green Bay. I got my 1st rounder guaranteed money. Cut me, so I can go to another NFC North team and I can rub it into those Packers' fans".

Which other NFC North team needs a DT? If there is anything this division has plenty of, it's DT's. Well, aside from the Packers anyway.

I'm thinking maybe, just maybe, Tarlam! was making a joke about the whole Favre Debacle here...

I know, I was being a little sarcastic. Favre could find a home in any other city in our division. Harrell would have trouble even making a case for it.

[Tarlam!]

Actually, I was being serious, but I didn't think far enough about the glut of DT in our division.

Thanks for giving me credit, though!

[Joemailman]

Here's hoping he plays this season, and plays well enough to shut us all up.

Maybe he's still pissed at the fans for booing when he was selected? Maybe he's sayin' "f**k Green Bay. I got my 1st rounder guaranteed money. Cut me, so I can go to another NFC North team and I can rub it into those Packers' fans".

I don't think that's it. I think he's just kind of a complacent kid who hasn't understood how hard you have to work to make it in the NFL. Hopefully someone can light a fire under him soon, or he will be a wasted draft pick. I'm not giving up yet though. i

[cpk1994]

Too bad. We really needed this kid to step up. Seems like he's a bit complacent.

I see him on IR before the final cuts to the roster are made. It seems to have worked for Hodge, although I don't see Hodge making the roster.

What I find galling are these two quotes:

"It's one of life's lessons that you learn and grow from," Harrell said Saturday. "Next year I'll approach it a little different."

"People were doubting me, saying things. Look where I'm at right now."

He thinks he's doing well so far and is already thinking about next off season??? I just don't think he gets it.

I was extremely supportive of this pick, because I think TT does do his homework, especially on 1st round choices. But I am ready to admit the error of my ways with this guy.

I don't think thats what he means with that first quote Tar. What he means is when he next off-season comes he will take a different apprach than he took this past off-season. As for the second quote I think he is trying to say that you don't become a first round pick if you didn't work hard for it. I think you are making too much of those quotes.

[NewsBruin]

I don't think that's it. I think he's just kind of a complacent kid who hasn't understood how hard you have to work to make it in the NFL. Hopefully someone can light a fire under him soon, or he will be a wasted draft pick. I'm not giving up yet though.

Yeah, maybe the guy could just "show up" in college and didn't have to do a whole lot other than spring and fall practice. He had a rep for playing passionately through pain and injury. Maybe he never prepped adequately (which is a career-killer in a league of guys who do).

We all hit walls at some point in our life where we need to up the effort to keep going. The lucky ones are the guys who have to do it sooner rather than later.

I met Harrell in the Atlanta airport before last season's training camp — just long enough to shake hands. I hope for the Packers' sake and his that he can safely rehab and still make a career of it.

Otherwise, we can recover about $6.5 million from upcoming salaries and roster bonuses if we cut him after this season and go for prorated signing bonuses.

EDIT: Geez. I just read the article. Kid, there are a lot of hungry DL players coming out every year. You've got the advantage that you're already on a roster, you've got a training/position staff for your development, and you have a playbook to study. Don't let any of that slip on by, or you'll be playing both ways on a 50-yard field.

[GBRulz]

What's with TT's first rounders not named AJ, being injury-prone? :P :P

[Bretsky]

EARTH TO HARRELL

There were reports he was in bad physical condition in his rookie season...outside areas of his injury

Now reports that he was in bad physical shape in his second year

WHAT lesson can be learned that he didn't learn after year one