djcubez
  • djcubez
  • Senior Member Topic Starter
15 years ago
I was reading Gilbert Brown's wikipedia earlier and read this:

Brown was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft (79th overall pick), but was waived during the final roster cutdowns on August 30, 1993 in his first training camp due to his weight. He was listed at 315 in college, but showed up to Vikings camp at a hefty 355. But the Packers, desperate then for defensive linemen, picked him up on August 31. Brown played in just two games that season while he worked off some of his weight in practice. In 1994, he played but his season was cut short with a torn Anterior cruciate ligament. Again in 1995, he played, but an elbow injury cut that season short. In 1996, he started all 16 games next to Santana Dotson, Sean Jones and Reggie White, a defensive unit that allowed a league record low 19 touchdowns. Brown had a career high 51 ta



Yes he was on a great line and yes, he didn't have as much pressure to perform as Harrel. But damn do I hope Harrel can overcome the injuries and play a pivotal role for the Packers soon.
DakotaT
15 years ago
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/52391712.html 

I've ripped on the guy like many others around here, but it sure would be cool to get some production from him. I don't think I'll put any money on it though.
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Stevetarded
15 years ago
Apparently the back injury Harrell had last year could have ended his career.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth/0-13-22/Black-and-Blue-all-over--Harrell-lucky.html 

"As he prepared to undergo a second back surgery last summer, Green Bay defensive lineman Justin Harrell was told he had a "slim" chance of playing again, according to this story from Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

In essence, Harrell revealed, the surgery saved his career. He said he probably should not have played at all in 2008, but the end result is that the former first-round draft pick is competing strongly for a role in the Packers' new 3-4 defense this summer."
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Stevetarded
15 years ago
This is the actual story on Harrell.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/52391712.html 

"The fact that Justin Harrell is even out here, the first week of training camp - healthy and limber and fighting for a job - is nothing short of a miracle.

Before this week, he hadn't really let on how serious his back injury was last year and he hadn't really said how hard he fought just to get back on to the field. He hasn't really let on what he's all gone through to attempt to realize his full potential as the Green Bay Packers' 2007 first-round draft pick.

But the truth is he's seen every specialist short of the Wizard of Oz to get that lower back fixed, and when one doctor leveled him with the news that he might not play again - well, he just got a second, third and fourth opinion until he heard something he could live with. And then he tried every rehabilitation method and exercise anyone gave him.

"Anything for a back injury, I pretty much tried it," Harrell said.

Harrell kept going until he found a specialist in North Carolina who would fix that herniated L4 disc in his lower back after the first surgery in March 2008 didn't do it.

But as he prepared for the second surgery on the eve of training camp one year ago, he was given sobering news.

"I was scared because the doctor told me if I did have a second surgery, the chances of me playing were . . . very slim," Harrell said. "He did tell me, 'Two surgeries and you wouldn't play at all' last year, and my chances of ever playing again were like, very slim. When you hear that from the doctor, it's just one of those things you don't want to think about. This is your whole career."

To date, that's kind of been the story of the defensive lineman's career - one injury setback after another. His senior season at Tennessee was cut short because of a torn left biceps tendon, which he insisted on playing with for one more game against rival Florida. But the biceps kept him out of all offseason workouts leading up to his rookie year. Then an injured ankle knocked him out for five games his rookie year.

And then after lifting weights in an offseason practice last year, he hurt the back and battled the injury all season. It was so bad that, even after he had the successful second surgery, he thinks, looking back now, that he should have been on injured reserve in 2008.

"The reason I had the second surgery was just so I could play again," Harrell said. "I mean, that's the only reason, because I thought it would prepare me to play last season. It didn't work out. It might have been smart if I would have just sat out the whole year; after the first surgery just sit it out, try to recover and just let it heal."

Instead, in '08, Harrell missed the first seven games on the physically unable to perform list. Then he played in six games and had 13 tackles before a hip injury sidelined him for the final three games of the season. The year was forgettable.

Then he spent the offseason planning to rehabilitate and strengthen the back. But the pain wouldn't subside and that alarmed him heading into summer workouts.

So Rob Davis, the former long snapper and current director of player development with the team, suggested Harrell try acupuncture.

And go figure - a half-hour session with Green Bay chiropractor Dennis Plansky relieved Harrell of his pain. He is fine.

"He's full-go," said Packers coach Mike McCarthy. "He's out there in the padded work. We're keeping an eye on all our players, especially the ones that are coming off of injures. But he's a full-go participant."

If the Packers use this training camp to push Harrell to see how he holds up, one of his teammates believes Harrell has the resolve to answer.

"In the end I think every individual player has to have it within themselves, and from what I know of Justin, he's a good young man," Aaron Kampman said. "And I think you'll see his best."

Meanwhile, Harrell is learning the new defense, lining up at right end in the three-lineman scheme where he used to play tackle in the 4-3. He's getting a few tryouts at nose tackle, too. It's a transition that Harrell makes with cautious optimism. The assignments have changed.

"It's all new, I've never played a 3-4 before," Harrell said. "It's one of those things you've got to pick up on as quick as you can. Us big guys moving out to the end - that's all new for us. The steps are different, the hand placement and all those things are completely different. It's one of those things where you don't have a choice, you have to go out and try to get it down so you can make this team and try to stay healthy."

With health issues defining his pro career so far, Harrell seems eager to rewrite his story so that his play defines him.

"I've felt fine, the back isn't an issue in training camp," Harrell said. "And every day that's the case, that's a good day for me. I try not to focus on it, I try to go out there and play football. I'm just going out there trying to get better, trying to keep these injuries in the back of my head, just think the back is OK, that it's going to hold up."


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bozz_2006
15 years ago
I feel a bit sheepish admitting that I am relieved that his back problems were so serious. It makes me sound like a prick, but at the same time it shows that he's not necessarily the cream puff that many people think/thought he is. Here's hoping he stays healthy and we can see what he's got this year, finally.
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DakotaT
15 years ago
Bozz, we'll just have Harrell crow eating contest and call it a day. I think what added to us being pricks is the fact that our D-line really needed him last year. If only Ted Thompson would have ponied up for the marginal Corey Williams instead of getting a wasted second round pick for noodle arm Brohm.
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Zero2Cool
15 years ago
Argh, Corey Williams did not want to be here anymore and to change that perception he would have commanded a large salary, one that would have HURT the Packers long term. What we got for Williams was good. The player we used it on, I am not thrilled with one bit. I'd rather have seen it go towards an OL or DL instead or something. Just not a QB. But at the time I understood the pick. Hindsight, 20/20.

I hope Harrell picks it up and tears up the league.
UserPostedImage
15 years ago

I feel a bit sheepish admitting that I am relieved that his back problems were so serious. It makes me sound like a prick, but at the same time it shows that he's not necessarily the cream puff that many people think/thought he is. Here's hoping he stays healthy and we can see what he's got this year, finally.

"bozz_2006" wrote:



Anyone who has had a herniated disc, or hell, KNOWN someone with one, has to shudder at the thought of the pain playing in the trenches in the NFL with one would cause. I hope he stays healthy too. His name is already showing up in the positive tweets (ugh) from training camp.
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bozz_2006
15 years ago

positive tweets (ugh)

"MassPackersFan" wrote:



lol
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Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : WR who said he'd break Xavier Worthy 40 time...and ran slower than you
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Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Texas’ WR Isaiah Bond is scheduled to visit the Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Falcons, Packers and Titans starting next week.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Spotting ball isn't changing, only measuring distance is, Which wasn't the issue.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : The spotting of the ball IS the issue. Not the chain gang.
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Will there be a tracker on the ball or something?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : uh oh
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : Too bad camera's can't spot the ball as well.
Mucky Tundra (1-Apr) : So will the chain gang be gone completely or will they still be around as a backup or whatever?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : The method for measuring first downs in the NFL will switch from chain gangs to camera-based technology in 2025, the league announced.
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beast (31-Mar) : It might of gotten more popular recently, but braiding hair (even men) in certain cultures goes back for centuries.
Martha Careful (30-Mar) : Is men braiding their hair a new style thing? Watching the NCAA men's tournament many players have done
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Ha. Well, it'd be nice for folks to reset their own password. Via validated email 😏
beast (29-Mar) : Monopoly was supposed to be an educational game, that show how evil capitalism was and how we should avoid it
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beast (29-Mar) : Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
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earthquake (27-Mar) : Which seemed strange to my 9 year old self, that you could be a fan for a team other than the one you play for
earthquake (27-Mar) : Nothing eventful happened, other than it being clear that he was a bengals fan
earthquake (27-Mar) : And we went and hung out with him one afternoon, I must have been 9 or so
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Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : Only career highspot was a 200 yard rushing game while playing for the Cardinals
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dfosterf (26-Mar) : Despicable
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Former NFL. I think Packers too
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : NFL RB Leshon Johnson has been charged in a massive dog fighting operation, with the FBI seizing over 190 Pit Bulls
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Some real irony of a QB as short as Wilson playing for the Giants
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Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Russell Wilson signs with the Giants.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (25-Mar) : I don't think there is a significant difference. I use a user name for many. Others email.
Martha Careful (25-Mar) : email
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beast (24-Mar) : And the only time they have won the Championship in an even year, was the first time they did, in 2006.
beast (24-Mar) : Since 2007, there have been 10 odd numbered years, Wisconsin Women have won the Championship in 7 of those 10 odd numbered years.
buckeyepackfan (24-Mar) : Congratulations Lady Badger Hockey Team. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!
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dhazer (23-Mar) : did netflix ever release the Packers documentary
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