Sam Shields

[mission]

Lets hope SS secures the kickoff return duties. Hopefully SS does not turn out to be another Chris Johnson (no not the Titans but a Sherman pick with blazing speed.)

I think most Packer fans will be happy if Shields can do enough to make Jarrett Bush disappear.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Sounds like Mike "Neon" Hawkins

[CaliforniaCheez]

No matter how good the Packers' roster is there is always an undrafted rookie that makes the roster.

More than anything the Packers are willing to give guys a fair chance. Deitrich-Smith did it last year beating out the 5th round pick.

Remember when Shields signed with the Packers he did it on his agent's advice for less money than was offered elsewhere. The reason was the Packers' reputation for giving players a fair shot at making the roster.

Is it Shields this season? We don't know yet.

But those extra 8 roster spots not active for game day are like practice squad players. 16 development players are a different part of the roster than the 45.

[rbaloha1]

Sounds like Mike "Neon" Hawkins

SS appears much more physical.

[mission]

Sounds like Mike "Neon" Hawkins

SS appears much more physical.

And he's that fast???

Seems to fit TT's MO of high upside/little production... guy toiled away at WR for a couple years and then starts learning how to be a DB. Is a crazy gunner, obviously has a nose for the ball, and has off-the-charts measurables. Just think with some NFL coaching what he could be...

Him and Porter have me in their UDFA corner this camp. Those are my guys!

[bobblehead]

This happens every year. He might be this year's flavor of the training camp. Then, if he plays well, he'll be stashed during the year, either not activated or maybe on the practice squad. Then next year is the year he gets to play.

Most of the time, these training camp flashes end up as just that. But I am always hopeful.

You know what else happens every year? An undrafted rookie makes an NFL 53 man roster. CB Bruce Johnson, also from Miami, was signed as a undrafted FA by the Giants last season and now he is their #3 CB.

But MY what happens every year happens more than your happens every year!

But believe me, I'd be thrilled if Shields turned out to be a player. The point of my first paragraph though was that even those guys take a year of seasoning. Most likely the guy won't play or play much this year if he makes the team.

I agree with both of you, these guys usually flop eventually, but sometimes guys with great measurables develope....guys like Tramon Williams, or Cullen Jenkins, or technicians like Al Harris, all undrafted.

Of course, for every one that does, we get several Mike hawkins, or...hell, we don't even remember most of them.

I look for (and hope) Shields can take Bush's gunner spot away, and back up Blackmon as the returner while he gets a lot of practice time to develope and hopefully become the next Tramon....or Chris Johnson.

[Fritz]

Sounds like Mike "Neon" Hawkins

SS appears much more physical.

And he's that fast???

Seems to fit TT's MO of high upside/little production... guy toiled away at WR for a couple years and then starts learning how to be a DB. Is a crazy gunner, obviously has a nose for the ball, and has off-the-charts measurables. Just think with some NFL coaching what he could be...

Him and Porter have me in their UDFA corner this camp. Those are my guys!

Couple things: first, someone mentioned that in trading Johnson for Thomas, the Packers were "desperate" for a linebacker. I recall this being the case, and it strikes me that that word describes Sherman's position when making moves as a GM especially toward the end. Joe Johnson was another example. I think Shermy knew time was running out and he didn't have the time or patience to wait for picks to develop.

Secondly, I see Shields being called "SS" and being described as having a nose for the ball as a gunner. Does this mean if he sticks his nickname could be "The Nazi," or has not enough time and history passed for that to be acceptable?

[sepporepi]

Al Harris was drafted by the eagles.

[Fritz]

seppo that seems like a non-sequitar. Like me saying "blue is my favorite color" or something. What do you mean with that post? Not sure.

[mission]

Bobble had a list of players including al Harris that he said were undrafted .. Seps was just correcting.

[Fritz]

Oh. Thanks.

[bobblehead]

Al Harris was drafted by the eagles.

Actually sort of correct, I was wrong, he was drafted by TB and eventually cut. For some reason I thought he had spent a little time on a practice squad somewhere, but he was drafted in the 6th round for sure (now that I looked it up).

I may have him confused with someone else, but I thought he was cut by Tampa and then on Oaklands practice squad, but according to wiki he was picked up by the Eagles right away.

[hoosier]

Al Harris is blue. But he is not my favorite defensive back.

[Fritz]

Our love for Sam "Hands of Steel" Shields may diminish after the JSO's account of his bumbling ways in practice.

On the other hand, Quinn Porter's stock seems to be rising. If I were Jason Starks I'd be looking for magic potions to heal that hamstring.

[Brandon494]

That sucks about Shields not being able to catch the ball on kick returns. You would think he would have decent hands having played WR in college. Hopefully its just jitters and he'll be able to turn it around because his speed could be dangerous for us.