IF the Packers win it all should they give a ring to Al Harris ?

[gbpackfan]

Interesting article on how Saints handled it last year. http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf...ral_man_7.html
One thing I noted is that the team apparently can give out as many rings as it wants. The league pays for the first 150.

This article makes me thing Al Harris will get one. If McKenzie got one, Harris should too!

[Little Whiskey]

each medical staff member should get two rings for the amount of work they had to put in this year!

[Patler]

This article makes me thing Al Harris will get one. If McKenzie got one, Harris should too!

McKenzie actually started 2 games for the Saints last year. He had been released in the off season, but came back when the Saints had a bunch of DBs hurt. There was a big stink from the fans when they released him just before playoffs to sign another QB. By that time their regular DBs were healthy, and McKenzie didn't have a spot. He was there about a month.

[Joemailman]

it would be a wonderful gesture and one I'd certainly favor if I was the one making the call

will they ?

no way

B! Don't get distracted. You're not allowed to even consider that the Packers will win the Super Bowl. Focus! Focus!

[packerbacker1234]

Unlike Barnett, Finely, and all the other hurt players - they at least saw the field this year and worked hard coming in as starters. They also have helped the guys replacing them be successful, at least, that seems to be the common talk comin gout of the locker room.

Harris, however, has been distant with the team when he was here - and it was apparent we were letting him go because he was cleared to practice and STILL not working out with the rest of the team. I thought we did him a great disrespect in not letting him go out there in full pads iwth the team for at least a week just so he could of "gotten a chance" - but it was it is.

[mraynrand]

Maybe the D-Backs chip in and buy one for Al as a retirement gift.

Maybe they just get him a Casio:

[Noodle]

C'mon, this should be easy. My understanding is that Al was a pretty good locker room guy during his years here, he worked hard to get back in playing condition this year, and when he left, he showed nothing but love for the Pack (remember the ad he put out thanking the fans?). He never gave up on the Pack, the Pack cut him (not blaming the Pack, but his short time with the Fins after getting cut shouldn't affect this at all).

In the end, how can it hurt to get him a ring? And how much would that say about the value the Packers place on loyalty and hard work.

[Joemailman]

Unlike Barnett, Finely, and all the other hurt players - they at least saw the field this year and worked hard coming in as starters. They also have helped the guys replacing them be successful, at least, that seems to be the common talk comin gout of the locker room.

Harris, however, has been distant with the team when he was here - and it was apparent we were letting him go because he was cleared to practice and STILL not working out with the rest of the team. I thought we did him a great disrespect in not letting him go out there in full pads iwth the team for at least a week just so he could of "gotten a chance" - but it was it is.

Not true. Once he was removed from the PUP list, Al Harris did practice with the team. http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/105403508.html

While on the PUP list, he was not allowed to practice with the team, although he was working out at the team facilities. While on the PUP list, he was allowed to attend team meetings, which I also believe he did.

[Smeefers]

If they get Harris a ring, they should get Kampan a ring too. He's on a different team, just like Harris.

Then again, I know that the groundskeeper will most likely get a ring, so I suppose giving one to Al Harris wouldn't be that bad. I'm trying to be as even keeled as I can, I really really love Al Harris, he was one of my favorite packers, but I'm not sold. He went to a different team. No one thinks Blackman should get a ring, right? Or all those guys we cut from the 80 man roster in preseason. Heck, those guys even played in games this year.

[sharpe1027]

If they get Harris a ring, they should get Kampan a ring too. He's on a different team, just like Harris.

Then again, I know that the groundskeeper will most likely get a ring, so I suppose giving one to Al Harris wouldn't be that bad. I'm trying to be as even keeled as I can, I really really love Al Harris, he was one of my favorite packers, but I'm not sold. He went to a different team. No one thinks Blackman should get a ring, right? Or all those guys we cut from the 80 man roster in preseason. Heck, those guys even played in games this year.

I think this is part of the problem. I could understand if they gave it to him because of how long he was with them and because he effectively retired part way through the season (his stint at the Dolphins was pretty minimal), but there's plenty of reason to understand why they wouldn't. The superbowl ring is about contributions this season, once you start giving rings for past years, you open a whole can of worms.

[Guiness]

I think this is part of the problem. I could understand if they gave it to him because of how long he was with them and because he effectively retired part way through the season (his stint at the Dolphins was pretty minimal), but there's plenty of reason to understand why they wouldn't. The superbowl ring is about contributions this season, once you start giving rings for past years, you open a whole can of worms.

It's a tough call, and you make the point well. Is it like a 'lifetime achievement' award?

I don't think his playing for Miami should affect the decision. He was cut, and went looking for work elsewhere, you can't blame him for that. As an analogy, I once switched companies part way through a year, but still got invited to the Christmas party for a company I stopped working for in June...

[Smidgeon]

Well, except for Kampman and Harris, who else has left the team recently that had been a long time contributor? Who was the last Packer to retire from the team?

Why can't it be sort of a lifetime achievement for a couple heavily contributing individuals who just missed being with the team for this run? I think it would be classy. Unnecessary, but classy.

[pbmax]

How did Kampman enter this discussion? He wasn't under contract to the Packers in 2010 at any point.

Argue about Al, all you want, but let's stick to one year.

Ruettgers was on PUP but was activated for 4 games in 1996. He started one. So I am sure he got a ring.

[gbgary]

unfortunately no. I don't give him ring since the last team he played for was the Miami dolphins. I don't remember if Ken Ruetgers got a ring in 1996, I think he was on IR at the begining of the year, but retired before making the active roster.

i remember that he did.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-69524198.html

[Smeefers]

It's a tough call, and you make the point well. Is it like a 'lifetime achievement' award?

I don't think his playing for Miami should affect the decision. He was cut, and went looking for work elsewhere, you can't blame him for that. As an analogy, I once switched companies part way through a year, but still got invited to the Christmas party for a company I stopped working for in June...

You may of gotten invited to the Christmas party, but I'm sure you didn't get a bonus. If Al gets a ring, I'll be fine with it. If he doesn't, I'll be fine with it too. I feel bad for him, but there's to many times that I hear players say "it's a business." Yeah, they want it to be a business until looking at the game that way goes against them. Then it's all about the team and love of the game.

Why can't it be sort of a lifetime achievement for a couple heavily contributing individuals who just missed being with the team for this run? I think it would be classy. Unnecessary, but classy.

Because it's not a lifetime achievement award. It's a super bowl ring. I brought Kampman into it to put out this exact point. Harris, Blackmon, Kampman and whoever else *should* get a ring, well, they really don't deserve one. They're not on our team, they're on another team. And yes, even if it was just for a little bit, it counts. They're not on our IR. They're not on our practice squad. They're not a coach, they don't work in the front office. They're not part of our team anymore. They are part of someone else's team.