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Seems all teams are going with the running back by commitee, Probably not a bad idea to prolong his career...

Yeah 2.6 thats why they make the big money. I could deal with making 20 mil in 2 years and being done with the NFL. But thats just me, im use to living off a lot less then that.

Timing is everything I guess. Here is a guy who has never played a full season or rushed for 1,000 yds in the regular season. He basically has no resume, but he is able to hold out for a big time contract and all that goes with it. Maybe he is the real thing, maybe not. I would be more concerned about him making it through a whole year than I would about the number of carries.

Great move by Mccarthy i think. He can't be sure if Grants the real thing if he's maxed out. Great move by a great team, theres no reason to over do it so early on for him.

Keeping fresher running backs on the field will give Rodgers a better chance at success also.

There you go Mike, protect that investment. Also it isn't like a two back system won't work out for both players. Two years ago Addai and Rhodes each had about 1000 yards for the Colts en route to a Super Bowl.

Oh, and is it really a shock that running backs have on average a shorter NFL career?
They take a beating in the trenches as guys grab and pull at those legs. And it is a position that so many things are important for success. You have to hold on to the ball. You have to pick up blocks. You have to find the hole and explode through it. Basically it like the QB and OL positions is a position that you either have it or you don't. And if you don't then you are out of the league pretty quick.

Good idea. It will help him in the long run and prolong his career.

well, now because of free agency, most teams will try to get the most out of their RBs while they can but I like MM's decision not to exhaust his back.

Can you say "one hit wonder"? This guy is going to find himself back on the practice squad without Favre's deep threat on the offense. Rodgers doesn't scare anyone. Plus the interior line is in shambles!

sorry to disagree with y'all, but i idon't like this decision and for one reason alone. grant strikes me as the kind of RB who has to find a rhythm, which may take 10-15 carries at a minimum and without many breaks. some RBs just get better as the game progresses. those are the guys who may run 15 times for 2-3 yards and then bust one for 60. when you use the committee approach, you get "fresh legs" but no continuity and the RB can't get in a groove. i could be wrong, so time will tell.

just my two cents.

I would kind of like to look at this study and what they all take in to account. Injuries can't be the only criteria for why the career of an NFL back is so short.

Rb's don't make much $ compared to the other offensive players. they get around $800,000 to around !.2 mill last I checked. But it's good to protect him from an early career ending injury.

....Maybe he is the real thing, maybe not. I would be more concerned about him making it through a whole year than I would about the number of carries.
50yearfan | 08/27/08, 07:57 AM

I agree. Grant seemed to have an injury history when he was with the Giants, which is why he was disposable. Being a Giants fan, 50year, you'd know better than I would on that issue.

Can you say "one hit wonder"? This guy is going to find himself back on the practice squad without Favre's deep threat on the offense. Rodgers doesn't scare anyone. Plus the interior line is in shambles!
Fitzroy | 08/27/08, 10:29 AM

The Packers interior line better NOT be in shambles or Grant is in for a LONG year (or maybe a short one if he really is injury prone). I couldn't believe the size of some of the holes the o'line gave Grant to run through last year. Basically, he was uncontested for 15-20 yards on some plays.

sorry to disagree with y'all, but i idon't like this decision and for one reason alone. grant strikes me as the kind of RB who has to find a rhythm, which may take 10-15 carries at a minimum and without many breaks. some RBs just get better as the game progresses. those are the guys who may run 15 times for 2-3 yards and then bust one for 60. when you use the committee approach, you get "fresh legs" but no continuity and the RB can't get in a groove. i could be wrong, so time will tell.

just my two cents.
Licenseman | 08/27/08, 10:42 AM

Hey Licenseman,
It's an interesting theory and I'm sure there are RB's who do indeed find a rhythm with more work. Or as with workhorses like Jim Brown and Earl Campbell, they simply punish DL's and LB's and wear them out over the course of a game. I'm not sure that Grant is that kind of a punisher, but he may very well be a rhythm runner who needs more work to be effective.

I would kind of like to look at this study and what they all take in to account. Injuries can't be the only criteria for why the career of an NFL back is so short.

SnowMeiser | 08/27/08, 01:44 PM

I'm not at all surprised by the numbers in that study given the amount of punishment that NFL backs take especially to their legs. For that matter, other studies by medical groups have determined that the life expectancy of former NFL players is considerably shorter than that of people in other professions.
I have no proof of this, but I believe that Walter Payton's immune system was weakened by the punishment his body absorbed, especially early in his NFL career, to the point that it was a contributing factor to his contracting terminal cancer and dying at such an early age.

Here are some websites that might be useful to explore for more info:

http://www.retiredplayers.org/

http://www.gamesover.org/gonow/index.cfm

flash in the pan. his ego will be his downfall. he thinks he is better than he really is. wonder how those guys blocking for him feel about his antics?

The guy can be a good back. He sees the flow of the blocking very well and does not commit too soon. I do not doubt his ability, but until you have played a whole year, who knows. some of his time missed with the Giants was from a freakish accident away from football. It almost ended his career before it began. I believe he fell through a glass topped coffee table and stuck his hand out to stop the fall.
If the QB in GB is to make it, he better have a running game.

.... If the QB in GB is to make it, he better have a running game.
50yearfan | 08/27/08, 08:53 PM

That is certainly true of any QB on any team. The passing game is always more effective when you can choose to pass rather than when you MUST pass. But it will be even more so in GB this year until Rodgers proves his mental ability, passing skill and maybe most important, his DURABILITY. I wish the Pack well. They may need it. Don Banks ranking of the 32 backup QB's in the NFL was very interesting, particularly since the Pack was dead last having only two rookies behind Rodgers on the depth chart. If Rodgers or Grant gets hurt early, it could be a long year for the Pack. I hope not.