RealGM

AL HARRIS THINKS HE’S DONE IN GREEN BAY
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 28, 2008, 1:48 p.m.

Packers cornerback Al Harris is in his sixth season in Green Bay, and he still has three more years on his contract.

But he’s about to turn 34, and Harris thinks he’s too old for what the Packers want on defense. Although he hasn’t heard anything from General Manager Ted Thompson, Harris tells Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal that he thinks he’s going to be done after this year.

“I think that’s going to happen. And not from my performance or anything, but we’re going young,” Harris said. “I haven’t talked to Ted about it. I’ve just got a gut feeling that that’s the direction our team is headed. That’s what happens in the league. I just have to make sure that I’m on top of my game. Every game I play is an audition. I have to make sure that I put good stuff on tape.”

Harris said he thinks the Packers will move forward with their younger cornerbacks, Tramon Williams, Will Blackmon and Pat Lee, and that the team is likely to trade him after the season.

But Harris said he’s not close to being ready to retire: “I love playing the game. So I’m going to get all I can get out of this thing.”

I think it'd be foolish to let him go. Sure his abilities have declined a bit, but he is still an above average corner in the league.

What a weird thing to come out.

The only way I let Harris go is if Woodson can talk his friend, Nnamdi Asomugha, into coming over here. Otherwise, Harris' production is still very good for what he is making and there is no reason to get rid of him, although I do like our young corners and there are a few in this upcoming draft that I like also. If any vet needs to be replaced, it's Chad Clifton.

Clifton has one more year on his deal, Tauscher is a free agent after this season. I have no problem getting rid of them both but I just hope Thompson does a better job replacing his two tackles than he did replacing his two guards.

I'd rather see Harris stay, but if he is moved, i do wonder what a still productive 34 year old corner could fetch?

If we can get a 3rd rounder or package Harris with a pick for a young vet OL or DL - then trade him - otherwise not.

MD - Clifton has one more year on his deal, Tauscher is a free agent after this season. I have no problem getting rid of them both but I just hope Thompson does a better job replacing his two tackles than he did replacing his two guards.

Since many feel we need a DE & DT urgently - not sure how we can also replace both starting Tackles.
Tausch would be OK for another 2 yrs IF he'd take a low guaranteed bonus but he probably won't. So yeah he's probably gone. Moll or Beno as his replacement? Actually if Sitton develops at RG & Spitz can play LG then maybe Colledge could handle RT. It seems Daryn is overmatched at LT. Maybe we can squeeze one more year out of Chad platooning him with one of the young guys like Barbre.

eagle13 wrote:If we can get a 3rd rounder or package Harris with a pick for a young vet OL or DL - then trade him - otherwise not.

Agreed.

I'd rather have Harris than a third round pick, depth at corner is vital because so many play with all the passing today. Have an injury hit a corner or two and suddenly you can be in real trouble. Plus, i remember on that long 70 yard TD by Moore in the Saints game. He juked Bigby out of his jock and was racing for the end zone, Al Harris came flying across the field to nearly catch Moore. Both me and my friend said at the same time, i can't believe how fast Harris looked there. He's never been a speed burner, but on that play he looked nothing like some of those aging corners that lost all their wheels and relied entirely on smarts.

Now if we could trade Harris for another player at a more pressing position, i'd be very open to that.

Harris has been playing ridiculous football lately. Did the Saints even complete a pass against him? Did Chicago or Minny the game before that? My memory might be off, but I think he's given up only 1 pass total in the last 3 games.

El Duderino wrote:I'd rather have Harris than a third round pick, depth at corner is vital because so many play with all the passing today. Have an injury hit a corner or two and suddenly you can be in real trouble. Plus, i remember on that long 70 yard TD by Moore in the Saints game. He juked Bigby out of his jock and was racing for the end zone, Al Harris came flying across the field to nearly catch Moore. Both me and my friend said at the same time, i can't believe how fast Harris looked there. He's never been a speed burner, but on that play he looked nothing like some of those aging corners that lost all their wheels and relied entirely on smarts.

Now if we could trade Harris for another player at a more pressing position, i'd be very open to that.

I had same reactiion. Like wow didn't think Harris could motor like that.

I'd keep him and injury might make us miss him, but depth at a position is a luxury if you have starting slots that are very weak. A 3rd ain't great especially with TT but it is an effective asset. A trade for a young vet would be better but a player for player trade is even more rare than a player for a pick.

Good let him go. He is one of the best cover cornerbacks in the entire league WHEN THE GAME DOESN'T MATTER! Everytime the Packers are in a big time game he gets absolutely lit up now that he's 34. Let's see what we can get for him and go with the younger guys who might end up being better than him in the long run, you never know. Plus it sounds like he doesn't want to be here anymore because he knows that the younger guys are passing him by.

another reason I hate TT. he's always looking to get younger and younger, and always looking to unload over 30 guys. the guy is always in a rebuilding mode. forget about loyalty to established players. I'd have to bet this is Driver's last season as well.

This is how a guy starts trying to work his way out of town. We have no reason to move him, we are in good shape for cap space. We have a lot of money invested in our agin g corners but they are still very capable and with our cap situation and Thompsons spending habits there is no need to rush Harris out of town, I like having the flexability of having Williams as an extra corner as well

Wade-A-Holic wrote:The only way I let Harris go is if Woodson can talk his friend, Nnamdi Asomugha, into coming over here. Otherwise, Harris' production is still very good for what he is making and there is no reason to get rid of him, although I do like our young corners and there are a few in this upcoming draft that I like also. If any vet needs to be replaced, it's Chad Clifton.

Agreed, and lord knows we got the cap room to get it done. And Asomugha definitely is not happy with whats going on in Oakland so I think that he'd like a more controlled and stable regime like the one we got.

The only way I trade Harris is for a 2nd round pick or better or a stud OL/DL , or I suppose a corner with loads of potential and a later draft pick. Guys like Harris don't grow on trees especially with his toughness and competitiveness. Yea, he's choked in some big games in the past, but he is a real gamer and one of those guys that doesn't care where he plays he just wants to play hard on Sunday and get the W. That's something very special in pro sports these days (sorry Mike Redd). I love Tramon Williams, but right now I love him playing alongside Harris with Woodson and Collins at the Safeties. In my opinion Bigby really needs to earn his starting job back.

Right now it would be in the teams best interest to make Woodson a full time safety since he does have great play making instincts and hands (something Collins doesn't have). Woodson could be a playmaker like Darren Sharper back there for us with a better attitude towards tackling than what Sharpers got. I like Rouse's playmaker ability but he has missed some crucial tackles and I think he needs more experience before we can rely on him.