Green Bay Packers must give up on Justin Harrell
BY MIKE VANDERMAUSE MVANDERMAUSE@GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.COM AUGUST 20, 2010
Its time for the Green Bay Packers to pull the plug on the failed Justin Harrell experiment.
The 2007 first-round draft choice has spent the better part of four years fighting a losing battle against injuries. The Packers need to shut it down for good and move on.
This has nothing to do with Harrells character or work ethic. Hes an upstanding citizen who has tried his best to live up to the high expectations that accompanied his selection with the 16th overall pick.
But its not working, and the longer the Packers drag this out, the less time and energy they can spend grooming worthier and healthier defensive linemen.
Whether Harrell is injury prone, has a low tolerance for pain or is simply the victim of a string of bad luck doesnt matter anymore. It has become clear he cant make it in a league that demands, in the words of Packers coach Mike McCarthy, availability and accountability.
Harrell hasnt completed a full season since his junior year in college. He missed all but three games as a senior (torn biceps) at Tennessee, then played in just seven games as a Packers rookie (ankle). His injury troubles were just getting started.
Harrell missed the 2008 offseason program, training camp and the first seven games following back surgery. He was activated in midseason but lasted only six games before a hip injury related to the previous back problems flared up. Last year, Harrell stayed healthy for only one week of training camp before reinjuring his back and missing the entire season.
Having played in just 16 games in four years coming into training camp, Harrell and the Packers were hoping his fortunes would change.
On Monday, after Harrell made it through two weeks of practice without an injury, he spoke optimistically. Everything is holding up good, Harrell said. Just trying to take it one day at a time.
By the next morning, Harrells back tightened up, and he hasnt practiced since.
McCarthy, in an obvious attempt to protect his beleaguered player, downplayed the latest development.
Its training camp, McCarthy said. It happens.
Yes, but its Harrell, and injuries happen to him all the time.
McCarthy has expressed visible displeasure with other injury-prone players through the years, trotting out his familiar availability and accountability phrase, but he has never appeared impatient with Harrell. Its possible he feels sorry for Harrell, whose effort hasnt been questioned by his coaches.
The kid is working his butt off, said defensive line coach Mike Trgovac. Hes trying hard.
Its also possible McCarthy wants to give Harrell every possible chance to succeed because he sees great potential in the 6-foot-4, 315-pounder. As recently as the Packers preseason opener last week against Cleveland, Trgovac saw flashes of promise in Harrell.
Justin I thought showed some signs of life, Trgovac said. I thought he did some good things in the game. Its just a matter of keeping him out here. Justins a good football player. Hes a strong kid that can move. When hes in there, he does a good job for us.
The problem is, hes hardly ever in there because hes nursing one ailment or another.
Its possible Harrells back could loosen up in time for him to play in the preseason game against Seattle Saturday night, but even in the unlikely event that happens, how long can he last?
We know the answer based on his injury-checkered past.
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.