The Good News And The Better News For The Packers

It’s true that I’m not overly optimistic about anything, so, let’s start with the better news.

Green Bay Packers cornerback Al Harris, who suffered a lacerated spleen in the Packers week three loss to the Dallas Cowboys, is on his way back. First reported by the National Football Post on Monday, Harris was cleared for conditioning and light practice on Tuesday. Reports out of Green Bay suggest Harris could return as soon as the Tennessee game in week nine, meaning that, since the Packers play Indianapolis and then have a bye, he would miss only one more contest.

While Tramon Williams has played admirably in Harris’ absence, having Al back to start alongside stud of studs, Charles Woodson, only makes the Packers secondary better. In essence, the Packers would have three starting caliber cornerbacks in their nickel package, much like the Eagles did when Harris was stuck behind Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent. If you recall, it was the reason the Packers plucked Harris from the Eagles.

Dare I say that if the Packers could get Atari Bigby back – with the way Nick Collins has been playing this season – they might just have the best secondary in the NFL.

And now for the good news.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo may miss four weeks with a broken pinky. Former Queen Brad Johnson will start in his absence.

I don’t have any hatred towards Romo, because he’s a Wisconsin guy, but the Cowboys and their fans are another story entirely.

Dallas’ upcoming schedule goes like this: at St. Louis, Tampa Bay, at the Giants, bye. Without Romo, who was throwing the ball erratically after his injury occurred against Arizona, the Cowboys could well lose two of these three games. If that happens, they will be 5-4 going into their bye week, and in what appears to be a loaded NFC East, in serious jeopardy of making the playoffs.

There is a silver lining for Cowboys’ fans, however. Johnson will have an additional target to throw the ball to in the form of former Detroit Lions WR Roy Williams, whom the Cowboys acquired just before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. Owens, Williams, Witten – that’s as formidable of a trio as any in the NFL.

Let’s hope Brad Johnson is as bad as we remember him to be.

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