Ok, back on topic. As you saw this unfold, I know exactly what you were thinking..."In two and a half years from now David Greene will be barely hanging on with the Seattle Seahawks as the third team QB, and D.J. Shockley will be one play away from starting for the Falcons." What, that wasn't what you were thinking? Still don't think that? Well, you better believe it.
The Deaner passed a quote my way today from ESPN.
David Greene is in his third year, but he's still a developmental project and is not close to being ready to get on the field right now in Mike Holmgren's complex offense.
Developmental project? This guy won more games in college football than any quarterback. Ever. I suppose his game just doesn't translate well to the pros, or maybe it's specific to Holmgren's offense.
D.J. Shockley, on the other hand, is generating a lot of buzz around Atlanta. With Vick out, that puts Harrington at number one. And unless the Falcons sign another veteran QB, I fully expect D.J. to be number two. Some are even calling for an open competition between Harrington and Shockley right now.
One thing is for sure. With Vick out, we are going to see a whole lot more of D.J. during the pre-season. It's too bad we probably can't say the same for David Greene.
I actually drove up to Cheney from Pullman and saw Greene at the Seahawks' practice during last year's preseason.
ReplyDeleteDavid couldn't have been nicer... he saw our UGA gear and came over and talked with us after practice. It's a shame he really gets no playing time in Seattle. I thought maybe if Holmgren gave Seneca Wallace more time at wide receiver, Greene would get in there. But the time he has gotten in preseason games has been late in the fourth quarter and he has usually just been asked to hand the ball off.
I like Shockley alright... he and Tavaris Jackson seem like they're pretty similar and the Vikings seem to think they've got something special in him.
But I really don't think I could loathe Harrington more than I already do. I had to sit back and watch Harrington abuse WSU in college, back when he had Onterrio Smith, Maurice Morris, Keenan Howry and George Wrighster alongside him. Shockley has a legitimate shot at seeing the field this year as things stand now, and it makes zero sense for the Falcons to go after Daunte Culpepper. You know Petrino is already foaming at the mouth at the thought of say, John David Booty taking snaps next year.
It's good to see Shockley getting a crack at some PT, though. I always respected him for sticking with the program despite the fact he was always stuck behind Greene. Would be nice to see Greene get an opportunity sometime also...
On one other NFL note, I just wanted to say how completely bogus it is the new NFL commissioner suspended Odell Thurman for the entire 2007 football season.
ReplyDeleteThurman was already forced to miss the 2006 season, but he should not have to miss this season as well. He completed his alcohol rehabilitation classes and jumped through all the commissioner's hoops in order to get back. The one complain that was filed a few months ago was subsequently dropped by the guys that filed in - no criminal charges were ever filed. Yet, Tank Johnson was in prison and he gets suspended a mere eight games.
It's a complete contradiction and the only reason Thurman is receiving the full year suspension is the fact his appeal came in the wake of the Michael Vick indictment. Roger Goodell has created an utter dictatorship and while I agree with some of his rulings, the ruling on Thurman is way off the mark.
So, needless to say Odell got somewhat of a raw deal. It's a shame we'll have another football season with no Thurman and no Pollack playing a snap of football.