So Long Ahman Green » Brats & Beer

March 5, 2007
posted under: Ahman Green, Packers

This is the sort of news that makes even your laziest occasional blogger finally sit down at his computer and post something. Ahman Green will no longer be wearing Green & Gold next season, because he signed with the Houston Texans yesterday.

In a way I’m at once disappointed and relieved. There’s a part of me that really thought Green would retire as a Packer and that seemed only fitting since he’s the most productive back the team has had since Jim Taylor. Green Bay took a big risk in 2000 when Ron Wolf traded for him; it seemed like no other team wanted anything to do with the former Nebraska standout. But Green went on to post six 1,000 yard seasons, scored 53 rushing touchdowns, and broke Taylor’s record for most yards in a season. Sure, there was the fumbling problem that cropped up every year, but Green proved himself to be a durable and capable back during his years in Green Bay, and his presence on the team will be missed.

On the other hand, the end was growing near for Green and I suppose it’s best that his association with the team ended this way rather than with him getting cut and left to dangle in the wind. Clearly the Packers weren’t going to pay him what the Texans were willing to, so he got the deal he hoped to get, and we should probably be glad for him.

Of course, all this leaves the Packers down to Vernand Morency and Noah Herron in the backfield. Unless Ted Thompson has some plan up his sleeve to sign Travis Henry out from under Denver’s nose, we’ll probably be looking hard at a running back with that No. 16 pick in the draft in a couple months. Some of the top names being bandied about include Marshawn Lynch from Cal, Tony Hunt from Penn State, and Antonio Pittman from Ohio State.

Oh, and there’s that Adrian Peterson kid, too, but some unlucky bunch like the Browns or the Buccaneers will end up taking him within the first five picks probably. Which is fine with me; I’m just not convinced Peterson will make it far in the NFL. I’d rather see Green Bay go with a solid performaer rather than the headline-grabbing name every time.