PackerTraxx
14 years ago

Swift prospect's stock fell after March incident
By Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel


Find everything in our special section, including all the picks in the NFL draft. Sort the draft picks by round, team, position and school. Plus, get information on all of the Packers' selections, including bios, stats, and Bob McGinn's scout comments. Green Bay It's a fact. Cornerback Sam Shields is the fastest man on the Green Bay Packers.

This will take time, but it's also entirely possible that Shields could rival Derrick Martin as their most dynamic special-teams player.

For a $7,500 signing bonus and a minimum contract, the Packers got themselves a free agent from the University of Miami with the speed and the versatility to find a way onto the 53-man roster.

Seven teams wanted to sign Shields when the draft ended Saturday. Green Bay, one of the two clubs Shields visited, won out.

"I liked Green Bay, the Hall of Fame, everything," Shields said from Miami. "I talked to my head coach, Randy Shannon, and I also did my homework on the depth chart and how I could fit in as far as special teams. I thought it was the best fit for me."

You won't find many wide receivers-turned-cornerbacks talking about their chances to play special teams. Shields didn't mean returning kicks, although he'd like to try that. He meant covering kicks.

Shields, 5 feet, 10 inches and 186 pounds, did that his last three seasons at "The U," both punts and kickoffs.

"Gunner - that's one of my specialties right there," said Shields. "I love it. I (forced) a lot of fair catches."

Wiry and tough, Shields wasn't often manhandled at the line. Give him half a step and it was see you later.

At pro day March 26 in Coral Gables, scouts clocked his two 40-yard dashes in 4.30 and 4.33 seconds. Some teams then subtract 0.02 because of the grass surface.

So put Shields down for 4.28, a number that would blow away everybody on the roster.

"He can flat fly," an AFC personnel man said. "And he plays it with pads on. In the Texas vs. the Nation Game, when he turned to run, it was special."

Recruited as a wide receiver out of Sarasota, Fla., Shields started 15 of 36 games from 2006-'08. Each year, his playing time and production decreased. Shields finished with 75 receptions for 971 yards (12.9) and seven touchdowns, but scouts say he dropped way too many passes.

Rather than relegate Shields to a special-teams only role as a senior, Shannon moved him to cornerback last spring. He started 10 games there for a 9-4 team, breaking up two passes and intercepting none, and was named the team's most improved player.

"He might be that (special) teams guy you make a spot for," the AFC scout said. "He can run all day with wideouts, but his problem is finishing at the ball. It's all new to him. But he might be your fifth corner, and he might end up being your fifth wideout."

Before the events of March 18, Shields figured he might be drafted in the third or fourth round. Several scouts pegged him in the later rounds.

An unmarried father of two daughters, Shields was en route to pick up one of them at her grandmother's house in Sarasota. Shortly after arrival, Shields was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana (less than 20 grams). He spent that night in the Sarasota County Jail.

The story made headlines across Florida and was noted everywhere else.

Now move ahead to April 14, when the charges were dropped after Shields paid some court costs.

"Basically, everybody thinks I got pulled over because I was smoking pot and all that," Shields said. ". . . I was never arrested before. I never tested positive on a drug test. I smoked in high school, but I didn't like it. That was about it."

According to Shields, Sarasota police raided the residence shortly after he arrived because they suspected drugs were being sold there. Shields said he was not using marijuana and was falsely arrested.

Shields conceded that he deserved to be suspended by Shannon for the '07 opener because "I was immature at the time and wasn't going to class."

Shields also didn't complain about Shannon benching him for another game in '07 because of poor practice habits.

"He knows how fast I run," Shields said. "I didn't think so, but Coach Shannon said I wasn't running fast enough. He's tough. That's what I like."

Having interviewed Shields at length, the AFC executive expressed no misgivings about his character.

"Talking to him, going over his history, how he talked about other people and coaches. . . he never bad-mouthed anybody," the scout said. "You don't detect attitude in him. He's humble. Well-mannered. Unassuming. He'll do the best of his ability whatever they ask him to do."

Aside from apprenticing under Charles Woodson, Shields can't wait to resume his relationship with cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt.

"When we were looking at my film, he saw the raw talent and said he could coach me up," said Shields. "I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. It will make me better in life."



I really like this signing. I believe he has a great upside because of the short time he has played CB and he can help our ST's, which we need. Gotta love his speed. Pus I like he seemed to appreciate Packer history such as the HOF.

SORRY, HADN'T SEEN THE OTHER POST.


Why is Jerry Kramer not in the Hall of Fame?
Fan Shout
Mucky Tundra (2h) : beast, this is news to me! Tell me more about these, "draft picks." They seem mighty mysterious! 😉
beast (4h) : Yes, the Ravens have draft picks
dfosterf (5h) : Good luck to him.
Zero2Cool (6h) : Eric Stokes signs with Raiders
Martha Careful (7h) : Tyler Linderbaum C
Mucky Tundra (7h) : Cap space?
Zero2Cool (7h) : Do Ravens have anything we'd even entertain to have?
Mucky Tundra (9h) : I've seen trade ideas of Jaire going to the Ravens all offseason
beast (10h) : A probably false rumor is suggesting CB Jaire Alexander is being traded to the Ravens, again probably false
beast (10h) : Commanders might have a dominant offense the next 3 years at least
Zero2Cool (12h) : San Francisco 49ers announced they have released DL Leonard Floyd.
Mucky Tundra (13h) : Er getting traded twice like that
Mucky Tundra (13h) : Huh, LT Laremy Tunsil traded from Houston to Washington. Never heard of a top OT getting traded in his career like that
Martha Careful (23h) : Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. is returning on a three-year, $66 million deal
Zero2Cool (11-Mar) : Damn
Martha Careful (11-Mar) : Saints are re-signing DE Chase Young to a three-year, $51 million deal worth up to $57 million.
Martha Careful (11-Mar) : 49ers releasing FB Juszcyk any interest?
Zero2Cool (11-Mar) : digits of four
Zero2Cool (11-Mar) : four digits
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : Eh, don't think so. better to split
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : on new site, would Fan Shout and GameDay Chat show same messages?
Mucky Tundra (10-Mar) : The Hall of Fame stuff probably came from a scout as Zero said; at this point though it's hard to see them moving ZT from RT
Mucky Tundra (10-Mar) : Regarding ZT at C, Gute had said he felt C was ZTs best position after he was drafted.
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : LB Oren Burks to sign a 2-year, $5M deal with the Bengals.
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : Based on how it was worded at the time, probably scout.
beast (10-Mar) : I don't think the media person ever told the public the source, but Gute or LaFleur did say they thought Tom has earned his spot at OT
beast (10-Mar) : I think it was supposedly unnamed Packers source
buckeyepackfan (10-Mar) : Was that Gute or Lefleur or someone else?
buckeyepackfan (10-Mar) : Zach Tom could be a really good guard, an all pro tackle, but probably be a HOF Center. Who said that?
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : It's March 10th. I don't think anything is done.
Martha Careful (10-Mar) : if we think CB is done, we have a poor roster
Mucky Tundra (10-Mar) : CB and OG in FA, narrows down the top of the draft board a little
Martha Careful (10-Mar) : Meh....I hope we can get Ward 49ers or Murphy Vikings
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : Yes
Martha Careful (10-Mar) : did Nate Hobbs just sign with us CB Raiders?
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : Jets have agreed to terms with former Ravens CB Brandon Stephens
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : Aaron Banks’ PFF grade was 0.1 worse than Elgton Jenkins last year.
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : Muwahaha
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : Oh awesome! Nostrawrongus says 4th so SUPER BOWL ON TRACK!!
dhazer (10-Mar) : to be honest the freee agent market isnt that great this year so I can handle a 500 yr or sub 500 is fine, i see us as 4th in division
dhazer (10-Mar) : Hi Dave long time no see
Mucky Tundra (10-Mar) : Slaton to the Begals=Guaranteed Big Boy in the first 3 rounds
Mucky Tundra (10-Mar) : WE SIGNED SOMEONE!!!!!!1!
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : Former #Packers DT TJ Slaton headed to the #Bengals on a 2-year $15.1M deal.
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : 4-year $77M for Packers new guard Aaron Banks
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : OL Patrick Mekari to sign with the Jaguars.
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : oops
Zero2Cool (10-Mar) : Josh Sweat to Cardinals
Martha Careful (10-Mar) : Josh Sweat to the Arizona Cardinals.
Mucky Tundra (10-Mar) : Surprises the Seahawks signed Darnold for that money
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