NFL Preseason: Packers QB Graham Harrell self-destructs in 35-10 loss to Browns
Written by Adrian Gregory Glover // August 17, 2012 // NFL // No comments
GREEN BAY, Wis.—Packers QB Aaron Rodgers came out and quickly slayed the Browns defense as he went 6-of-11 passes for 59 yards and a pretty touchdown to WR Jordy Nelson.
Then it got bad for the Packers as the reality came down upon them that for the first time in a long time they don’t have a legitimate backup quarterback that can step in and win games for them.
Rodgers obviously backed-up Favre and their hidden ace that stepped in behind him Matt Flynn is getting his shot in Seattle.
That brings us to Graham Harrell who looked just awful. It’s not about the fact that he threw two interceptions it’s about how he threw them.
“For one reason or another, just couldn’t finish drives,” Harrell said after the game. “It’s unfortunate. We’ve got to be more consistent and finish drives when we have the opportunities to. I think that’s kind of how it went.”
You think so?
Harrell was called for intentional grounding in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, a safety that put the Browns up 32-7 and really was an exclamation point on how bad his performance was.
In a town that has been the recipient of so much excellent play at that position, the Green Bay faithful looked on in awe and dismay at what they saw when Harrell was on-the-field.
Lost is the one word explanation for the way it went down and I’m sure that is why head coach Mike McCarthy kept it real after the game.
“It’s something that needs to stop,” McCarthy said. “There’s no excuse for that.”
In a sign of leadership and probably empathy, Rodgers had his understudy’s back. “We’ve got a lot of confidence in Graham,” Rodgers said. “We’re not worried about him.”
He might not but Packers fans don’t share that feeling by and large.
The Browns have something to smile about after their rookie QB Brandon Weeden went 12-of-20 while taking Cleveland to a halftime lead on Thursday.
The Browns also had a Montario Hardesty sighting as the running back that was last seen by many on a national scale in a guest appearance on actor Terry Crews’ reality show, popped in a goal line touchdown.
Backup QBs Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace split time in the second half.
