The Justin Harrell Setback

by Brandon on Aug 11, 2009 3:44 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers News Comment 5 comments

I'm kicking myself now because I was not more cynical last week when I wrote about the miracle acupuncture that cured the chronic back pain of DT Justin Harrell. He is not fine, and instead he's suffered a setback. From Greg Bedard:

Coach Mike McCarthy said defensive tackle Justin Harrell missed Tuesday's morning practice with back spasms that are related to his chronic back problems.

At best, he's a backup at both defensive end positions, so his continued absence isn't a problem. I'm not rooting against the guy, but until I see him lined up on the field, I'm expecting nothing from him.

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Really sad

We’ve lost a 1rst round pick from an injury in the weight room. I still want to know what happened. And no one seems to know.

The whole “injury prone” classification is a bit unscientific for me. What is the underlying mechanism that makes a player “injury prone”? The idea that players who get injured must be injury prone is pretty circular.

More important: how did he do it? Was he lifting a normal load but his body just couldn’t take it? Was he lifting too much weight? Was he screwing around? Was he using poor form? I can think of five ways this happens but only two of them are his fault.

And I ask again: Did we fire our last set of trainers because it was they damaged a first round draft pick?

Curious minds want to know

by 50 years and Counting on Aug 11, 2009 8:33 PM CDT reply actions

Harrell in the weight room

I’m sticking by what I said before. It’s more likely that Rock Gullickson was let go because the team was getting shoved around, and Mike McCarthy wanted more overall from the conditioning. But there’s no way I can prove I’m right, so you might be right.

by Brandon on Aug 11, 2009 11:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't want to say I told you so, but I told you so :)

battlekow: Bill is having an oppo-gasm

by Michael M on Aug 12, 2009 1:52 AM CDT reply actions

Unfortunate, but predictable

This was a bad draft pick right from the start. This was one of those picks that was a huge gamble, and if Harrell would have stayed healthy and turned into a stud, TT would have been considered a genius, when in reality it would have been an s-load of luck. Instead, Harrell continued to be plagued with injuries, and we have what really looks will be a wasted first round draft pick. As I recall, this was the draft where Cleveland was looking to move back up into the first round to get Brady Quinn, so Thompson could have traded down and picked up at least two extra picks in that draft, and probably a first round pick in the next year’s draft.

by vet2be on Aug 12, 2009 3:15 PM CDT reply actions

Harrell

From what I remember reading Harrell had some relatively ‘minor" back problems before. He actually hurt the back while lifting to get ready for OTA’s. And he didn’t do quite enough in the offseason to prepare. So he was trying to get into shape in short order.

In my opinion, as a Former S and C coach, he was trying to do too much too soon after not doing quite enough prior. Some degree of fault lies w/ Harrell maybe, but w/ a iffy back the way it was, he tried too hard to make up ground quickly. With a back injury you have to proceed somewhat cautiously. Harrell and the S and C coach both take some, and the minor back can easily become a major back problem w/ little else to push it over the edge…

by Strohman on Aug 12, 2009 4:34 PM CDT reply actions