I was a little disappointed to read Rob Demovsky’s article earlier this week about Green Bay Packers third-string quarterback Graham Harrell.
According to Demovsky, Harrell has little chance of making the Packers final roster. The team kept only two quarterbacks on their opening-day roster last season and that appears to be the way they’re leaning again this season, which means Harrell is the odd man out.
Matt Flynn is the clear-cut No. 2 quarterback.
There is some hope for Harrell to continue his NFL career in Green Bay, though. His play has improved since the team opened training camp and the Packers seem to think they’ll be able to add him to their practice squad.
More than any other skill position player, Harrell has made the biggest improvement in camp. He began the summer playing tentatively, opting for the check-down pass or short throw whenever possible. But over the past couple of weeks, Harrell has exhibited a confidence that has transformed his play. He’s just as likely to throw down the field as he is to dump it off.
With his improved confidence, he has shown off arm strength that wasn’t evident when the Packers first signed him during the organized team activities.
The only problem with trying to get Harrell through to the practice squad is, once the Packers release him, any team can claim him. If Harrell has indeed improved as much as Demovsky suggests, other teams certainly have taken notice and he may be an attractive option for a team that isn’t happy with their quarterback depth — both the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants come to mind.
If Harrell does make it through to the practice squad any team can still put a claim in on him. In that scenario, the Packers would either have to add him to the active roster or let him go to the team that claims him, as they did with both quarterback Brian Brohm and tackle Jamon Meredith, last season. Both players were claimed by the Buffalo Bills.
It isn’t that Harrell is likely to make a huge impact with the Packers or any other team this year, but as a guy who set all kinds of passing records at Texas Tech and then went undrafted in 2009, you have to be pulling for him. Harrell isn’t going to unseat Aaron Rodgers as the Packers quarterback, but he’s shown he can play the game and his long-term potential could be a valuable commodity for the team.
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What does Rob D. know? Nothing. I say this guy makes the roster.
Can’t keep everyone. Would you rather have Harrell on the team, or a true return man, or an extra defensive back? I doubt Harrell would see the field in GB for the next 3 years.
we’re potentially going to keep 6 WR (if Chery pans out as PR/KR), 3 FB, and 4 or 5 TE. We’ve got to make hard choices elsewhere on the roster.
My hope would be that Harrell makes it to our practice squad for the entire year, spends some time in McCarthy’s QB school and really develops, then we trade Flynn and promote Harrell. That would be the best scenario. Will it happen? Probably not.
Any relation to Justin Harrell? Lol…
Backer, you have to stop em to getem to punt to you.. Abe your real good with numbers, go look up rodgers and flynns.
Yeah , Practice Squad, San Francisco would love it, ever heard of Crabtree.. Harrell has.
Ironically Cleveland had there chance, Brady Q, how’d that work out , now 5mil for mccoy who averages 70% ? yeah 5 YARDS AT A TIME with a Hurt hand and two interceptions.. total
Chitters got it ..rob whoever doesnt have a clue.
Packers better wake up
check out Harrell’s comments at JSonline.com he says the practice squad would be a great move for him given how McCarthy has developed quarterbacks. If he doesn’t make an active roster, he says it would be foolish to leave Green Bay.
I like him. I think he’s a winner. talking about him on the practice squad was not a disparaging remark. Some guys need time to develop on this level. I think Matt Flynn is a great example of that. The same can be said of Rodgers since he sat for 3 years behind whatshisname.
Thanks to Green Bay for giving Graham Harrell a chance.
He should be on some NFL team now.
Harrell to Crab again?
I am by no means a 49er’s fan, but it would be really cool to see Harrell to Crab on the out route again!!!
this his team member tracy fulcher graham harrell is the best quarterback period in football history i watch him play sense high school where he broke high school record so give him a chance to imporve his skills ill grandteed he will be good thanks green bay packers