Packers releasing Al Harris

[Kiwon]

Al Harris had a great run as a Packer.

If you recall the press at the time of his acquisition, Al Harris was characterized as a somewhat older, slow-footed, capable backup as an Eagle and not exactly prime starter material.

Wow, did he prove everyone wrong. Great work ethic, great effort, great example for everyone else on the team.

After he hangs 'em up I hope the Packers will bring him back in some sort of coaching capacity.

[RashanGary]

Thanks for the hard work and great play Al. I'd vote you Packer HOF if it were my choice.

[Brandon494]

Sad to see Harris go but it's the right move. If anyone is to blame it should be Shields with his unexpected play this season but I guess I can let him slide.

[Bossman641]

Really sad to hear...and strange. All the pieces/comments about Harris make it seem like he is all the way back. As well as Shields has played, you would think there would still be a place for Harris on the team. I'm beginning to think Harris is not as healthy as we have been led to believe.

Best of luck Al!!

[SkinBasket]

I'm beginning to think Harris is not as healthy as we have been led to believe.

Really, that's the only reason the could have released him. I always thought we would put him out to pasture at safety or nickle back before his days were done, but I suppose a quick end is more fitting.

[Pugger]

It is too bad but you had to wonder about his future in GB when Bigby was activated and Harris was not. I hope he latches onto another team - except the queens.

[mmmdk]

Thanks to Al Harris; Al is a future Packers HOF'er.

I would loathe to see him clad in all purple but I expect it - yuck!

[AtlPackFan]

From jso article:

"Harris essentially was in a three-week tryout, but was not deemed good enough to warrant playing time by the Packers. It wouldn't make sense for Green Bay to put him on injured reserve and have to pay his salary. His best bet is to try to hook on with another team. No one will pick him up on waivers because his $2 million-plus salary is too high. More than likely, he will have to hook on with another team at a near minimum salary."

If no one is going to touch him at his salary and he will have to sign with someone at near minimum, why not Green Bay. I can't believe there isn't someone on the roster that is doing little more than taking up space that couldn't be released to make room for Al.

[3irty1]

From jso article:

"Harris essentially was in a three-week tryout, but was not deemed good enough to warrant playing time by the Packers. It wouldn't make sense for Green Bay to put him on injured reserve and have to pay his salary. His best bet is to try to hook on with another team. No one will pick him up on waivers because his $2 million-plus salary is too high. More than likely, he will have to hook on with another team at a near minimum salary."

If no one is going to touch him at his salary and he will have to sign with someone at near minimum, why not Green Bay. I can't believe there isn't someone on the roster that is doing little more than taking up space that couldn't be released to make room for Al.

That would piss me off actually. To take advantage of his injury in that way is pretty greedy and underhanded. 2 M isn't that much, I'd be surprised if someone doesn't pick him up after kicking the tires.

[mraynrand]

From jso article:

"Harris essentially was in a three-week tryout, but was not deemed good enough to warrant playing time by the Packers. It wouldn't make sense for Green Bay to put him on injured reserve and have to pay his salary. His best bet is to try to hook on with another team. No one will pick him up on waivers because his $2 million-plus salary is too high. More than likely, he will have to hook on with another team at a near minimum salary."

If no one is going to touch him at his salary and he will have to sign with someone at near minimum, why not Green Bay. I can't believe there isn't someone on the roster that is doing little more than taking up space that couldn't be released to make room for Al.

That would piss me off actually. To take advantage of his injury in that way is pretty greedy and underhanded. 2 M isn't that much, I'd be surprised if someone doesn't pick him up after kicking the tires.

This seems like a penny-wise pound foolish kindof move, but it would leave Harris on the roster - if that's what the Packers really want.

Kicking Al to the curb (That is, not having him on the roster or on IR) could backfire for the Packers, since the players all know what the guy went through to get back to playing shape. Yeah, it's a business, and if he can't contribute, then you have to let him go, but sometimes a guy is more valuable for all those intangibles. Packers need to be really careful about this before tossing Al away like a used popsicle stick.

[packerbacker1234]

I'm beginning to think Harris is not as healthy as we have been led to believe.

Really, that's the only reason the could have released him. I always thought we would put him out to pasture at safety or nickle back before his days were done, but I suppose a quick end is more fitting.

Honestly, I am not sure his health is a reason. Lets be honest with our roster.

Williams isn't losing his starting job. Harris wouldn't of had an opportunity to even win that back, and you never put woodson on the sideline.

So, in our base package, harris is irrelevant. Now Nickle is where many of us felt he could matter, but then we nee dot be honest and look at the progression of Sam Shields. Harris is still most likely better than Shields, but Shields can't continue to grow as a player, and a future starter for us (in the same way williams grew under harris) if he gets knocked down the depth chart. FOr the future of this team, Shields has to stay nickle.

What about 4th cb?

I highly doubt Al Harris is going to think that role is remotely acceptable. Harris appears to want a shot to earn his role back. It's a reasonable request, but it's not something the packers want to consider, so it may be best to cut ties so he has a chance to become a starter again for another team. There are a lot of teams out there he can catch on with - and I do think the vikings make good sense. they always grab our former players who still have somet5hing left, something to prove,a nd al's age wont matter. They need to win now, and some of those younger cb's they have are making too many coverage mistakes.


Anyways, Al deserves to be in the packers hall of fame, and while I would of loved to see him get a chance to earn it back, I can't blame the orginizaiton for wanting to go ina different direction.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Really sad to hear...and strange. All the pieces/comments about Harris make it seem like he is all the way back. As well as Shields has played, you would think there would still be a place for Harris on the team. I'm beginning to think Harris is not as healthy as we have been led to believe.

Best of luck Al!!

The only one that's been touting how far along Harris is Harris. It appears the coaches know something we don't about him.

[Fosco33]

Well - who knows what conversations have been occuring in the background. We only know the following:
1. Harris is aging and had a possible career-ending injury
2. $2M salary
3. Packers have some young CBs with upside

We don't know:
1. Did Al really want to be a role player (nickle/dime)?
2. How healthy was the knee?

Good luck to Al. Absolute class act and Packer HOF. Coming back from the spleen injury and know the the knee - he's just a medical miracle.

[retailguy]

This team is beat up like no other team in the league. Pat Lee has been rumored to be headed for IR.

Yet in spite of all the adversity they are making a playoff push.

If Harris is truly ready to play, and we just don't have a spot for him, $2m to carry him through the playoffs is chicken feed.

I can see the situation where Harris winds up on another squad and we have another injury, then what?

I just don't understand.

[ThunderDan]

This move doesn't make sense to me. I'll wait until it becomes offical. Seems like with Pat Lee's situation you could wait a week or two with Harris active especially with a bye week.