There was a time when James Starks looked like the starting running back for the Packers. Even though Starks had injury issues dating back to his days at the University of Buffalo and had averaged just 4.2 YPC on only 162 career carries in 2 years after going in the 6th round in 2010, the Packers were committed to him as the starter for most of the offseason. However, after a rough Training Camp and preseason and then a turf toe injury that still has him sidelined and likely will into the season, the Packers signed Cedric Benson, a similar style veteran back, to essentially take his job.
Now, if the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is to be believed, Starks is in danger of losing his roster spot all together as the Packers could keep Brandon Saine, a much less injury prone back, over him at final cuts, if the team does decide to keep only 3 running backs. Saine was an undrafted free agent just last year and rushed for just 69 yards on 18 carries last year (3.8 YPC), but he doesn’t have Starks’ injury history so he’s a much more reliable #3 back and the Packers have been high on him all offseason. Either way, Cedric Benson looks entrenched as the starter, with 2011 3rd round pick Alex Green serving as the change of pace back.
Graham Harrell, meanwhile, is currently listed as the Packers’ #2 quarterback, but struggled mightily in his first extended playing time last week, completing 12 of 24 for just 100 yards and 2 touchdowns against Cleveland’s 2nd and 3rd string defenders. He will get another chance to prove himself this week, but he might need to do a lot to earn back the respect of the coaching staff. The 2009 undrafted free agent has yet to throw a regular season pass in the NFL.
If he doesn’t turn it around quickly, the Packers are fully expected to pursue either Colt McCoy or Tarvaris Jackson from the Browns and Seahawks respectively as veteran backups for Aaron Rodgers. If that happens, Harrell will need the Packers to keep 3 quarterbacks AND cut 7th round rookie BJ Coleman, currently the 3rd string quarterback, to make the roster. The same Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel mentioned him as a potential final cut and they may very well be right about that.
If you’re interested in doing a fantasy football league with me, here’s the link (no draft date set yet, currently standard, with the option to become PPR with group vote). http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/football/commissioner/Registration/Private.aspx?league=55086&password=FanSpot2
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