Memo to Al Harris: Everyone is an expert when its not their life on the line
Green Bay Packers star DB- #31 Al Harris suffered a spleen laceration in Sunday night's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He collided with his teammate LB-AJ Hawk while attempting to make a tackle. Harris sat out briefly and tried to return but soon was forced to leave the game experiencing cramping and abdominal pain.
Tests revealed a laceration to his spleen. A similar injury and subsequent surgery sidelined then Tampa Bay Bucs' back-up QB Chris Simms for more than a year. Obviously spleen injuries can be a serious sometimes life-threatening situation; most commonly seen in high speed car crashes, when the seat belt violently cuts across the abdomen during the moment of impact.
His surgeon apparently feels that the most prudent course at this moment is to observe this injury and allow God and nature time to heal this wound without surgery. Rest, time and no contact nor significant physical exertion is currently the safest route. Unfortunately this is where the potential problems begin. How much time is enough time?
To say that the Packers want to win and win now is a understatement. And at 33 years young, Al Harris is in a race with father time or more accurately younger DB's that desperately want his starting job. All that a young, talented competitor requires is an opportunity and the 'Turk' (the team official who visits a player that is about to get cut/waived and informs him that " Hey man, Coach wants to see you in his office and bring your play book") will be dispatched to visit the suddenly ancient, decrepit Harris.
As commonly stated the NFL stands for 'not for long' when injuries happen to aging veterans. The clock is ticking. The Packers know it. Al Harris' agent knows it. And most of all so does Al.
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