Green Bay Packers move on without LB Aaron Kampman, CB Al Harris 

Former Broncos, Chargers CB Josh Bell signed as free agent

By Rob Demovsky rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com November 23, 2009

If by the end of the season the Green Bay Packers decided Aaron Kampman wasnt a good fit for their 3-4 defense, they probably would have tagged and traded him.

Thats likely out the window now.

The season-ending knee injury to Kampman and cornerback Al Harris present short-term problems and long-term issues for the Packers.

Tests on Monday confirmed what the Packers suspected after they were injured in the second half of Sundays 30-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers. They will need reconstructive surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligaments they sustained in their left knees.

Not seeing (Nos.) 74 and 31 in the huddle, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday, its going to be different.

Its not a lock McCarthy ever will see them, especially Kampman, in a Packers huddle again.

Harris is 34 but is under contract through 2011 and has vowed to return. Theres little reason to think the Packers wont give him that chance. Much like linebacker Nick Barnett, who last season tore an ACL in late November, Harris could be ready for at least limited duty by the start of next season.

Kampman, who will turn 30 on Monday, is in the final year of his contract and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March regardless of what happens with the collective bargaining agreement.

Though the converted defensive end had been effective as a pass rusher Kampman leads the team with 28 quarterback hits and collected a sack in the first half Sunday he is viewed as miscast as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense coordinator Dom Capers installed this season.

A healthy Kampman likely would have been in line for one more significant contract, perhaps equal to the four-year, $21 million deal he signed in 2006. The Packers wouldnt want to let Kampman walk without getting something in return, so using the franchise tag and trading him to a 4-3 team was a strong possibility.

But teams that might have been interested in Kampman probably wouldnt be willing to give up nearly as much if anything at all for a player whos not certain to be ready for next seasons opener.

The Packers could use the franchise tag and keep Kampman, but theyd have to pay him about $9 million next season, which seems unlikely.

Perhaps the Packers will try to re-sign Kampman before free agency or let him hit the market. Its not even certain Kampman wants to return to the Packers.

Far less likely would be the scenario that brought Mark Tauscher back to the Packers last month. Tauscher tore an ACL in December and didnt garner any interest until he was healthy. But Tauscher is older (32) and not the impact player Kampman has been.

However, if Kampman preferred to go elsewhere and didnt receive a satisfactory offer this spring, he could wait until shortly before training camp and try to garner interest when he can prove hes healthy.

When asked whether Kampman has played his last football for the Packers, McCarthy said: I would hope not.

But those are all questions for the future, McCarthy added. Right now, we want to make sure that they get the best care, just like we do for all our players, and just make sure that were part of their decisions and help them the best that we can. Theyve meant a lot to our organization. Like I said, theyve played a lot of football and have been great representatives of the Green Bay Packers, and we want to make sure theyre taken care of.

Neither player was available for comment Monday, but Harris told the Web site NationalFootballPost.com, which is co-owned by his agent Jack Bechta, that he will be back in six months. The Packers prefer to be cautious with injured players and likely wouldnt let Harris back on the practice field until training camp at the earliest.

Well, thats my plan, Harris told the Web site. Im going to play three to four more years. This injury wasnt in my plan. Playing a few more years is.

For now, the Packers have to figure out how to replace Harris and Kampman in a hurry. They face a short turnaround this week with Thursdays Thanksgiving game at Detroit.

McCarthy said cornerback Tramon Williams, who started four games last season while Harris was out with a lacerated spleen, will move into the base defense, but he wouldnt commit to a plan for the sub packages. Jarrett Bush, the dime defensive back, moved up to the nickel package, while rookie Brandon Underwood came off the bench to play in the dime after Harris left the 49ers game.

Thats an option again this week, but it may not be the only one.

Our coaches need to be creative, McCarthy said. These are challenges you dont always prepare for from week to week, but this is what your offseason program, and this is what your menu that you set (on) offense, defense and special teams that give you the flexibility to overcome these types of situations. This a challenge that were working on, and well be ready for Detroit.

McCarthy said safety Derrick Martin, who played some cornerback for Baltimore before coming to the Packers, probably isnt an option at cornerback. The Packers have one cornerback on their practice squad, rookie Trevor Ford, but his agent said Monday that Ford hasnt been given any indication he would be moved up.

Instead, the Packers made a different roster move on Monday, signing free-agent cornerback Josh Bell after he worked out for the team earlier in the day.

Bell's agent, Fred Lyles, said the 5-foot-11, 177-pound Bell was recovered from a knee injury he sustained in the preseason finale while playing for the Denver Broncos.

Bell, originally an undrafted free agent of the San Diego Chargers out of Baylor in 2008, played nine games (including five starts) last season for the Broncos, but he was released with an injury settlement this season.

He had been living in Dallas, rehabbing his knee and working out, when the Packers called, Lyles said. Hes ready to go now.

The Packers think theyre deep enough at outside linebacker. They discussed the possibility of promoting rookie Cyril Obiozor from the practice squad but decided late Monday not to do so because McCarthy believes the combination of Brad Jones and Brady Poppinga, both of whom filled in for Kampman in the second half on Sunday, would suffice. He also said he didnt think moving inside linebacker Brandon Chillar would be necessary.

I think were fine with the guys we have there, McCarthy said.

The Packers already had one open roster spot and will have two more when they place Harris and Kampman on injured reserve.