Harris Released, Havner Reacquired

A lot has happened since my last post. So without further adieu...

Veteran CB Al Harris Shown the Door

After weeks of what seemed like thumb twiddling by Packers brass, there was finally some news regarding the return of Al Harris to the field. As it turns out, his first game back will be... as a Miami Dolphin?! Yes, yes, it's true. Here's a rough timeline of events.

-Facing the 49ers in week 11 of the 2009 season, Harris suffered a serious knee explosion - Yeah, that's a medical term. He was placed in IR, ending his season.
-Harris had immediate surgery and began a lengthy rehab process, vowing to be ready by game 1 of the 2010 season.
-All summer, Packers.com featured a video diary series of Al's rehab process.
-Once the Preseason was set to begin, coach McCarthy used very careful language when discussing the status of the injured Harris. Once the final cuts were made, Al was placed on the PUP list, rendering him ineligible for the first 6 weeks of the season.
-After 6 weeks, Harris began to practice, taking reps with the 1st string defense
-After 3 weeks of practice, and on the last day of his eligibility window, the Packers place Harris on waivers, giving every other team in the NFL a chance to pick up his contract. McCarthy insists the decision was not made as a reflection of Harris' perceived abilities on the field, given his rehab.
-NO team was willing to pick up Harris off waivers, and he fell to free agency.
-Harris immediately signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins, giving him a football home much closer to his actual home in Florida.

That pretty much brings us up to speed. There has been some back and forth regarding whether or not the Packers were leading Harris on, but at the end of the day, Al Harris will be the first to admit that professional football is a business first. If there is any bitterness felt by Harris, I'm sure he'll relearn to love the green and gold, and hopefully retire as a Packer. Personally, I think Ted Thompson made the right decision here. Getting down to brass tacks, Al Harris is 35 and coming off of major knee surgery. Even if he came back as good as he left, it is evident that he had lost a step prior to his injury. With Tramon Williams coming into his own and playing at a pro-bowl level, Harris would have returned as a backup - And even then, walk-on CB Sam Shields has cemented his roster spot as a worthy backup and a big threat on special teams, an area where Harris certainly cannot contribute. Some might say it was a money issue, pointing out that the Packers would have to dish out $2.5 million to Harris for playing half a season as a backup who could not play special teams. Fanning these flames, you can't ignore the fact that EVERY team passed on a chance to pick Harris up off the waiver wire, preferring to wait it out and offer him a free agent contract worth less than the aforementioned pricetag.

T Mark Tauscher Placed on IR

Is this the end of Mark Tauscher's career in Green Bay? Only time will tell. Mark Tauscher had missed the last few games with a shoulder injury, giving way to first round draft pick Bryan Bulaga. The coaching staff gave Tauscher a few weeks to show enough progress to get back on the field. Alas, his health never materialized and his season has been ended prematurely. It's clear that Bulaga's solid performance in place of the injured Tauscher made this decision a no brainer. With Tauscher on IR, the Packers now have a free roster spot, with notable shortages at other positions requiring attention. Which brings us to Green Bay's most recent front office move...

Packers Sign TE Havner... Again.

After losing his job to TE Tom Crabtree, being signed by the Lions as a LB, and waived after an injury, Spencer Havner once again finds himself on the Packers roster as a TE - A Whirlwind 2010 season to be sure. Tom Crabtree won the spot because of his superior blocking, and frankly just being a more natural fit for the position. You may recall that Havner is actually a converted linebacker. But a funny thing happened after Havner failed to make the final roster cut prior to this season. The Packers lost TE Jermichael Finley for the year, and have seen rookie TE Andrew Quarless battle injuries as well. Suddenly, there's some breathing room for tight ends on the depth chart. Havner is a welcomed addition to QB Aaron Rodgers' artillery, having nabbed 4 TD receptions in 2009 as a secret weapon of sorts.

Starks Activated, Francois Released

RB James Starks, the last of the "PUP three," has been activated. This is a curious move for the Packers. It is clear that a shakeup at the running back position would be a good thing for the team, but Starks is 2 years removed from football activities. Last year, playing collegiately at Buffalo, he sat out the entire season after shoulder surgery. The Packers gambled in the draft, and selected Starks in the 6th round. In August he suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on PUP status. While he has now been practicing with the team for 3 weeks, it remains unclear that he will be able to cut it at the pro level. Obviously, the coaching staff in Green Bay sees something in Starks. To make room for the rookie rusher, the Packers have cut LB Robert Francois, who has now been released twice by Green Bay this season.