10 Reasons Ryan Grant Has Played His Last Game with Packers

[gbgary]

The credibility of this analysis is suspect when he uses Hornung, Taylor and Green as evidence of the Packers not treating aging running backs well.

Hornung was lost in the expansion draft. Hornung was physically a wreak by then, and in fact never played another game because of the condition of his back. Teams could protect only a small number of players. It was known the Packers couldn't protect Hornung, but it was doubted the Saints would take him because of the likelihood he might not ever play again. Tom Fears, a former Packer Assistant, was the Saints head coach and took Hornung to draw fans. It ended up being a wasted pick for the Saints. The Packers also lost two other very good players in that expansion. The Saints first took Bill Curry from the Packers, then traded him to the Colts for Gary Cuozo to be their starting QB. Curry went on to a multiple Pro Bowl career with the Colts. The Packers also lost Phil Vandersea, who Lombardi liked so much that he traded a draft pick to reacquire him a year later.

Taylor was lost when his contract expired. There were stories of a fractured relationship by then between Taylor and Lombardi, but Taylor was also able to return home by signing a lucrative contract with the Saints. Taylor is from Baton Rouge and played at LSU. Some say it was what Taylor wanted and Lombardi let happen for him. Taylor only played one more year, and not all that well.

Green? The Packers tried to keep him, but the Texans gave him an outrageous contract. $23 million 4 year contract with $7 million guaranteed for a beat up running back who played very little after that. As it was, if I recall correctly, the Packers offered a two year contract that with incentives could have made him as much per year, but with a smaller guarantee.

I don't think any of those three situations over the last 44 years indicates that the Packers jettison useful running backs just for the heck of it.

this...but i thought it was hornung's shoulders.

[Tony Oday]

I award this article no points and may god have mercy on its soul

[Lurker64]

The weird thing was when the article tried to make "we haven't heard anything about Grant's ankle" as evidence that it's a significant injury.

I also haven't heard about Nick Barnett's wrist, Josh Bell's foot, Morgan Burnett's knee, Brandon Chillar's shoulder, Justin Harrell's whatever, Spencer Havner's hamstring, Brad Jones's shoulder, Derrick Martin's knee, Mike Neal's shoulder, Marshall Newhouse's back, Brady Poppinga's knee, Anthony Smith's poorly defined injury, or Mark Tauscher's shoulder.

Should I conclude:
a) That all these injuries are extremely serious and will hurt the player in question well into the 2011 season
-OR-
b) That the Packers just don't talk about the rehab status of their IR guys during the season, as the media is not entitled to it.

[gbgary]

Why do people even bother with the Belcher Report?

the emails i get from them have several links to other outlets, besides them, with Packer info. makes it convenient.

[KYPack]

Taylor was lost when his contract expired. There were stories of a fractured relationship by then between Taylor and Lombardi, but Taylor was also able to return home by signing a lucrative contract with the Saints. Taylor is from Baton Rouge and played at LSU. Some say it was what Taylor wanted and Lombardi let happen for him. Taylor only played one more year, and not all that well.

(Snippage)

Taylor did not play out his option. He was traded to the Saints for a #1 in '68 and the afore-mentioned Phil Vandersea. It has been forgotten, because I see it stated constantly that Taylor played out his option. He did, but signed a new contract with N.O. so the deal could happen.

[Patler]

this...but i thought it was hornung's shoulders.

I read an article that said the problem was really in his upper spine, but manifested itself by not being able to take blows against his shoulders. It caused severe pain. It was reported at the time as a shoulder problem, but was really a problem with his spine.

If memory serves me correctly, earlier in his career he had reported neck problems that caused occasional numbness and stiffness that affected his play. I vaguely remember talk about him having trouble turning back for passes and getting his arms up. It was a big deal because the swing pass to Hornung was a staple weapon for the Packers. I wonder if this was all one related problem?

[SkinBasket]

After all the bitching this season about how we don't have a run game, you would think some of you cocksnorkles wouldn't be so quick to dismiss a guy who ran for 1250 yards and 11 TDs, and caught 25 passes last year.

[Lurker64]

After all the bitching this season about how we don't have a run game, you would think some of you cocksnorkles wouldn't be so quick to dismiss a guy who ran for 1250 yards and 11 TDs, and caught 25 passes last year.

Are there any cocksnorkles here other than the person who actually wrote the article? You don't have to name names.

[Patler]

Taylor did not play out his option. He was traded to the Saints for a #1 in '68 and the afore-mentioned Phil Vandersea. It has been forgotten, because I see it stated constantly that Taylor played out his option. He did, but signed a new contract with N.O. so the deal could happen.

I agree. There was no "playing out your option" in those days, but contracts did expire, and I believe Taylor's contract had expired, although that wasn't the reason they lost him, although I can see how what I wrote can be read as if I meant that. In those days, even when your contract expired, the former team still held your rights. It was negotiate and sign a new deal and play for them, or don't play at all, unless they traded you. Trades often happened at the time when a new contract was to be negotiated.

I knew the Packers got something for Taylor, but I didn't remember what. That's why I said Lombardi let it happen. He could have forced Taylor to stay if he wanted to. There have been conflicting stories about what the Taylor/Lombardi relationship really was. A recent comment attributed to Taylor made it sound as if he wanted to "go home" to end his career, and Lombardi didn't stand in the way of that happening.

For Vandersea to have been part of the Taylor trade, it would have to have been as a player to be named later or some other delayed compensation. Vandersea was taken in the expansion draft, played one year for the Saints along with Taylor, and came back to the Packers in 1968. I thought Lombardi gave up a pick to get him back.

Do you remember the details about Vandersea? He looked quite promising at one time, but didn't last long. I don't remember a major injury, do you?

[gbgary]

I read an article that said the problem was really in his upper spine, but manifested itself by not being able to take blows against his shoulders. It caused severe pain. It was reported at the time as a shoulder problem, but was really a problem with his spine.

If memory serves me correctly, earlier in his career he had reported neck problems that caused occasional numbness and stiffness that affected his play. I vaguely remember talk about him having trouble turning back for passes and getting his arms up. It was a big deal because the swing pass to Hornung was a staple weapon for the Packers. I wonder if this was all one related problem?

thanks! btw...my stepson presented me with a hornung autographed jersey a couple of days before the SB. i set up a Packers shrine in the living room for gameday. i believe it was very instumental in the Packers victory.

[KYPack]

Vandersea was the player to be named later in that deal. His career ended due to injury and lack of talent, basically. Taylor and Lombardi had been at each other's throats after all the "bonus baby" signings prior to the AFL/NFL merger. Taylor wanted to be paid at a much higher level and Vince wouldn't give in.

Both Hornung and Taylor wanted to go to the Saints, basically for the payday. Paul retired to a spinal injury of the cervical (neck) vertebrae. Paul was actually cleared to play by the Saints inept doctor. At camp, his left arm was still unusable. A doc in San Diego examined him and informed him that one blow on the field could paralyze him for life. Paul then retired. Taylor played poorly in his one season with the Saints. Both Paul and Jimmy were paid by the Saints and remained around the team, promoting broadcasting, coaching, etc. Taylor's deal was for 20 years! He stayed with the team for the whole time, finishing up in 1987.

The Packers drafted Fred Carr with the #1 pick they got from the Saints, BTW

[Patler]

The Packers drafted Fred Carr with the #1 pick they got from the Saints, BTW

An under appreciated player by many GB fans, I think.

[bobblehead]

Grant will be a Packer next year. I'd go ahead and place a large bet on it.

How much? We can exchange emails :P

I really think Grant is done unless he is extremely cheap next year and very healthy...just my opinion.

[Freak Out]

If Grant is healthy he's back as the number one guy....unless of course Starks just flat out beats him out in camp. I would have to think BJ is the odd man out next season. But....as Bobble pointed out $$ could come into play...how much is he set to make next season?

[vince]

Grant will make $5.5 million next year if he works out with the team and makes the roster. $3.5 million + $1.75 roster bonus. + $250,000 workout bonus

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3252/player?r=1

I don't think that's exhorbitant, particularly given his production and the fact that depth is valued.

He's been reported to be ready to go, so unless he has a setback or just no longer can do it, i think he'll be in the lineup next year. I did hear a report that said he looked smaller than in the past, which isn't necessarily a good thing, although it isn't much to fret about at this point either.