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Brad Zimanek column: Harris' return inspires defense
Reality set in for Green Bay cornerback Al Harris shortly following the Packers’ last-second 16-13 season-opening win over Philadelphia.
He sat in front of his locker at Lambeau Field and couldn’t remove his shoulder pads.
His damaged right elbow – the same one that he played with wrapped like a mummy for more than two quarters Sunday against the Eagles – wouldn’t allow it.
After a few moments, with help from a friend, Harris was eventually freed.
But it didn’t come until after some painful grimaces and a few squeals of agony.
It was just part of a day’s work for Harris, who epitomizes the heart and soul of a resurgent defense that came to life the final month last season and carried it into 2007.
“I was coming back,” Harris said. “That was not an option.”
Try telling that to teammates who saw Harris writhing in pain on the sideline after he hyperextended the elbow while blocking on a punt return with 7:23 left in the first quarter.
“I didn’t think he was coming back, not the way he ran off the field,” defensive end Cullen Jenkins said
After several offensive plays, Harris was wheeled to the locker room for X-rays.
Defensive tackle Corey Williams said: “He easily could have said 'Forget it.'"
The initial X-rays were negative. Harris said they won’t know the extent of the injury until he undergoes more tests today, but none of that mattered to him at the time.
“I just wanted it immobilized so I could get back out there,” Harris said.
When he returned with 10:09 left in the second quarter, the crowd let loose with an applause that let everyone know how much his familiar dreadlocks were missed.
“When we were in the huddle and we saw him coming back out there we were like, ‘Whoa … hey, let’s go, ’” Williams said. “It gave us a lift. To know that he cared that much about us to get back out there.”
When asked what was his range of motion, Harris said not much.
“It was almost like a 90-degree,” Harris said. “I just had to stay close enough to the receiver where I could put my hand on him.”
Harris didn’t record a tackle and was credited with one pass defensed, but it’s obvious how important he is to the defense that limited the Eagles to 13 points and 283 yards.
Jenkins said it even gave him a boost to fight through his own struggles. He has had flu-like symptoms and had not eaten since Friday.
“Al is a big leader on this team, so to see him go out, you get depressed a little bit,” Jenkins said. “You feel like you are missing one of your leaders out there.
“When he came back, it was a big confidence boost for us, the fans … everybody.”
Following a shower, Harris had some more struggles before heading home. He needed a reporter’s help to button the collar of his shirt.
“We have to look at it and see how much damage is done,” Harris said.
Harris said he didn’t know about his playing status for next week, but was confident Sunday would be his last performance on special teams for the year.
“I’m through with special teams,” said Harris, who last played on special teams with the Eagles in 2002. “… unless Coach tells me I have to get out there. Then, I’ll get out there.”
Jenkins said he hopes that doesn’t happen again.
“Everybody on the sideline was questioning what the heck Al was doing on the punt return team,” Williams said. “Luckily, he was able to come back. Hopefully, he’s all right. We have people with great character and Al is one of those.”
Harris downplayed his return, but not what it meant for the Packers to get the win.
“This is a new year,” Harris said. “I see us going out every Sunday and trying hard and leaving it all out on the field.”
On this day, there’s no doubt Harris did exactly that.
Brad Zimanek is the sports editor of The Post-Crescent of Appleton. E-mail him at bzimanek@postcrescent.com.
It did not look good. I have a bad feeling that Al was playing through the pain and an MRI is going to show some pretty severe damage. That would really suck.
Reality set in for Green Bay cornerback Al Harris shortly following the Packers’ last-second 16-13 season-opening win over Philadelphia.
He sat in front of his locker at Lambeau Field and couldn’t remove his shoulder pads.
His damaged right elbow – the same one that he played with wrapped like a mummy for more than two quarters Sunday against the Eagles – wouldn’t allow it.
After a few moments, with help from a friend, Harris was eventually freed.
But it didn’t come until after some painful grimaces and a few squeals of agony.
It was just part of a day’s work for Harris, who epitomizes the heart and soul of a resurgent defense that came to life the final month last season and carried it into 2007.
“I was coming back,” Harris said. “That was not an option.”
Try telling that to teammates who saw Harris writhing in pain on the sideline after he hyperextended the elbow while blocking on a punt return with 7:23 left in the first quarter.
“I didn’t think he was coming back, not the way he ran off the field,” defensive end Cullen Jenkins said
After several offensive plays, Harris was wheeled to the locker room for X-rays.
Defensive tackle Corey Williams said: “He easily could have said 'Forget it.'"
The initial X-rays were negative. Harris said they won’t know the extent of the injury until he undergoes more tests today, but none of that mattered to him at the time.
“I just wanted it immobilized so I could get back out there,” Harris said.
When he returned with 10:09 left in the second quarter, the crowd let loose with an applause that let everyone know how much his familiar dreadlocks were missed.
“When we were in the huddle and we saw him coming back out there we were like, ‘Whoa … hey, let’s go, ’” Williams said. “It gave us a lift. To know that he cared that much about us to get back out there.”
When asked what was his range of motion, Harris said not much.
“It was almost like a 90-degree,” Harris said. “I just had to stay close enough to the receiver where I could put my hand on him.”
Harris didn’t record a tackle and was credited with one pass defensed, but it’s obvious how important he is to the defense that limited the Eagles to 13 points and 283 yards.
Jenkins said it even gave him a boost to fight through his own struggles. He has had flu-like symptoms and had not eaten since Friday.
“Al is a big leader on this team, so to see him go out, you get depressed a little bit,” Jenkins said. “You feel like you are missing one of your leaders out there.
“When he came back, it was a big confidence boost for us, the fans … everybody.”
Following a shower, Harris had some more struggles before heading home. He needed a reporter’s help to button the collar of his shirt.
“We have to look at it and see how much damage is done,” Harris said.
Harris said he didn’t know about his playing status for next week, but was confident Sunday would be his last performance on special teams for the year.
“I’m through with special teams,” said Harris, who last played on special teams with the Eagles in 2002. “… unless Coach tells me I have to get out there. Then, I’ll get out there.”
Jenkins said he hopes that doesn’t happen again.
“Everybody on the sideline was questioning what the heck Al was doing on the punt return team,” Williams said. “Luckily, he was able to come back. Hopefully, he’s all right. We have people with great character and Al is one of those.”
Harris downplayed his return, but not what it meant for the Packers to get the win.
“This is a new year,” Harris said. “I see us going out every Sunday and trying hard and leaving it all out on the field.”
On this day, there’s no doubt Harris did exactly that.
Brad Zimanek is the sports editor of The Post-Crescent of Appleton. E-mail him at bzimanek@postcrescent.com.
It did not look good. I have a bad feeling that Al was playing through the pain and an MRI is going to show some pretty severe damage. That would really suck.
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