""RELEASE FROM PACKERS SHOCKS HARRIS""

[Bretsky]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/106934148.html

the utlimate pro but some interesting quotes

[Bretsky]

"They were definitely leading me on, telling me something else," Harris said. "I just didn't think Ted and Mike would do that. I thought they would be a little more straight forward with me. They had me going home and studying and things like that and they already knew their plans.

"I guess you hear it so much that it’s a business. It’s just the way it goes."



McCarthy defended the way the Packers handled things and said they were upfront with Harris that releasing him was one of the options. He said he had "no qualms at all about the professionalism that we've dealt with throughout this whole process."

[Brandon494]

I'm sure TT and MM didn't think Shields would break out the way he has. Honestly I'd rather have Shields as the #3 as well.

[RashanGary]

"They were definitely leading me on, telling me something else," Harris said. "I just didn't think Ted and Mike would do that. I thought they would be a little more straight forward with me. They had me going home and studying and things like that and they already knew their plans.

"I guess you hear it so much that it’s a business. It’s just the way it goes."



McCarthy defended the way the Packers handled things and said they were upfront with Harris that releasing him was one of the options. He said he had "no qualms at all about the professionalism that we've dealt with throughout this whole process."

I can fully understand how Harris would feel that way but at the same time, he might not have wanted to see the other possibility. If the Packers really didn't want him, they could have cut him instead of paying him. They wanted to give him a chance. He's that good of a player. He was worth that chance, but ultimately, this really is a business.

[Patler]

I'm not criticizing Harris, because he seems to be handling this with class, saying mostly only good things about the Packers. But, it makes me laugh when athletes say that crap, "Gee, I guess it really is a business!" What did they think it was? A hobby? Rec sports where you play as long as you sign up for the season?

Thousands of employees just as dedicated to their employers have gone to work for 10, 20, 30 years until one day, with no warning, they are told their jobs are being moved to Mexico, China, India or wherever. "Thanks, we found someone cheaper, see you later."

Even with a guy as great as Harris seems to be, the attitude of entitlement sneaks through just a little. He has no reason to feel shocked. If anything, he should have sort of anticipated it,

[mraynrand]

I'm not criticizing Harris, because he seems to be handling this with class, saying mostly only good things about the Packers. But, it makes me laugh when athletes say that crap, "Gee, I guess it really is a business!" What did they think it was? A hobby? Rec sports where you play as long as you sign up for the season?

Thousands of employees just as dedicated to their employers have gone to work for 10, 20, 30 years until one day, with no warning, they are told their jobs are being moved to Mexico, China, India or wherever. "Thanks, we found someone cheaper, see you later."

Even with a guy as great as Harris seems to be, the attitude of entitlement sneaks through just a little. He has no reason to feel shocked. If anything, he should have sort of anticipated it,

Good point, but In Harris' case, it's tougher - you just found out that the scrappy new hire is kicking your ass and that you're outdated and expendable. I can tell you that's a lot harder to swallow than someone just moving your job to shave a few quatloos/unit.

[Patler]

Good point, but In Harris' case, it's tougher - you just found out that the scrappy new hire is kicking your ass and that you're outdated and expendable. I can tell you that's a lot harder to swallow than someone just moving your job to shave a few quatloos/unit.

Different maybe, but the effect is the same, and it happens all the time for many "regular people" too. Sometimes in an in-your-face transition, and other times under the guise of corporate reorganization, downsizing (now sometimes called "right sizing" as if that makes it any easier), etc.

Individuals like pro athletes who even at the lowest levels are paid well beyond their value to society (OK, just my opinion on that! ) should ALWAYS feel that their careers are at the edge of a cliff from which they could fall at anytime based on the whims of their employers. Basically, most of us work that way anyway, but for a lot less.

[ND72]

I've always liked Harris, but I've always viewed him as an overachiever. athletically, he isn't THAT great by NFL standards, and what he lacked in speed he made up for in desire. It's tough, but it's just one of those things now. You've got Tramon Williams looking great, and a pretty decent find in Sam Shields who has a huge upside to grow, where Harris is likely on the decline.

[Fritz]

There are two issues here. The first is the difference of opinion between the organization and Harris as to how up front the Packers were with Harris. I think that's what Bretsky was trying to point out, and that is a little unnerving to me. One of Thompson's weak points seems to be his inability to directly address players on negative issues. I've read that he appoints people to deal with those situations - Favre being the most obvious example. Andrew Brandt claims TT doesn't like to address issues himself. On the other hand, Harris's agent seems to downplay this angle - at least from what I've seen in the GBPG quotes.

The second issue is about Harris's surprise. And there, I see both sides. Yes, it's a business. But the coaches and front offices try to develop a locker room cameraderie, that they're all in it together, to win a championship, and all that. They have to do that, of course. But they're really not all in it together. There are competing interests all over.

So if Harris bought into the "we're all in this together" stuff, he was being a good soldier, which is one of the traits in him we admire. So I kinda get where he was coming from. On the other hand, when he outperformed his contract a few years ago he was not above bitching a little in the press about it, if I recall correctly.

[ThunderDan]

Why wouldn't the coaches and TT get Al ready to play nickle or dime back? What if Sam Shields had gotten injuried Sunday night? Al would be playing dime or nickle after the bye!

Not getting a player ready to play is stupid and shows lack of organizational commitment to excellence. Any players career can be over in 1 play and the next guy on the bench better be able to step in and not see that big of a drop off in play. Just ask Al about a freak play where your knee decides to explode!

[3irty1]

I suspect that in the near future this will rank among Ted's most regrettable decisions.

McCarthy explained in his presser yesterday that it was not a medical decision and that he has no doubts that Al will catch on and play at a high level. The decision was purely in the interest of the future of the team.

The decision was also not based on money. His 2M salary is hardly an excuse. His contract is very team friendly, in fact it drops to just above the vet minimum next year.

This decision was made purely on age, special teams ability, and the upside of the other corners/safeties on our roster. I don't like this move at all. Al has said that he intends to play into his 40's, has made nearly miraculous recoveries in the last two seasons and is no less valuable to the secondary than Donald Driver is to the WR corps.

Part of me wants to put some blame on Capers, who may be a great defensive mind but seems to do a poor job of making use of his personnel. Desmond Bishop and AJ Hawk were both banished to the bench inexplicably as they now look like the best pair of MLB we've had. I question other decisions including the uses of Kampman, Jarius Wynn, and others. I'm beginning to see why he was such a lousy head coach.

[3irty1]

On the other hand, when he outperformed his contract a few years ago he was not above bitching a little in the press about it, if I recall correctly.

Do you recall the deal he got though? It was almost the same but with pro-bowl incentives. Every player who wants them should get pro-bowl incentives. Al seemed a little bit paranoid around TT, I remember him saying that he thought he'd be the next to go after the Favre deal and mentioned that multiple times he's "checked in" with Thompson and pleaded that he be evaluated on his play alone because he intended to play until he was 40.

[MadScientist]

I think part of it is that the Packers, especially TT don't like to tip their hand in any way, so Al didn't think it was coming while he was practicing. The other part is that Al was told to prepare and practice like he would be the nickle-back. To him it meant they want him to play, to the Packers it meant that he was only worth keeping if he was the best option for #3 because he doesn't play ST.

If my guess is correct, I can't really find too much fault with the Packers handling of the situation, and I can't blame Al for being caught off-guard. No real winning options here.

It's unfortunately a bit of a downer, after coming into the bye week on a high not, but such is life in the NFL.

[Patler]

The other part is that Al was told to prepare and practice like he would be the nickle-back. To him it meant they want him to play, to the Packers it meant that he was only worth keeping if he was the best option for #3 because he doesn't play ST.

I think this is the key factor. Williams isn't about to be moved out of the starting lineup, and Shields has seemingly made tremendous strides since coming here. If the combination of age and injury recovery has made Harris not significantly better than what they project Shields to be by year end, then there really is no spot for Harris on the Packer roster. The #4 corner has to be a contributor on ST.

Sometimes succession planning on sports teams results in the replacement being ready before the vet decides to hang it up. It happens all the time, especially when the replacement gains playing experience due to the vet's injury. We are likely seeing the same situation at RT. By the time Tauscher is healthy enough to play, the starting job will be Bulaga's.

If Shields development follows the path that Williams' did, Woodson's time in GB could end prematurely, too. I hope TT continues to find replacements at key positions who are ready to step in a season or two before the vet is ready to leave. That is how transitions from one to the other occur without significant fall off in performance.

[ThunderDan]

The other part is that Al was told to prepare and practice like he would be the nickle-back. To him it meant they want him to play, to the Packers it meant that he was only worth keeping if he was the best option for #3 because he doesn't play ST.

I think this is the key factor. Williams isn't about to be moved out of the starting lineup, and Shields has seemingly made tremendous strides since coming here. If the combination of age and injury recovery has made Harris not significantly better than what they project Shields to be by year end, then there really is no spot for Harris on the Packer roster. The #4 corner has to be a contributor on ST.

Sometimes succession planning on sports teams results in the replacement being ready before the vet decides to hang it up. It happens all the time, especially when the replacement gains playing experience due to the vet's injury. We are likely seeing the same situation at RT. By the time Tauscher is healthy enough to play, the starting job will be Bulaga's.

If Shields development follows the path that Williams' did, Woodson's time in GB could end prematurely, too. I hope TT continues to find replacements at key positions who are ready to step in a season or two before the vet is ready to leave. That is how transitions from one to the other occur without significant fall off in performance.

This just in PATLER wants Woodson off of the Packers roster!!

No doubt, you want the next guy in place before the vet's career is over. I think Rodgers is a great example. He was able to learn the offense behind BF for years and when he stepped in he had a pretty smooth transition.