The Packers had the ball first and had third and nine when Brett Favre hit Greg Jennings for 33 yards top the San Francisco five-yard line. The completion was overturned and after an incomplete pass, the Packers had to punt. You started to get a bad feeling.
Once the 49ers got the ball Frank Gore gained six to the 49er 26. Then he ripped through the line, shook off a couple of lousy tackles and headed for the end zone.
Oh, God, you thought, here we go again. The bad feeling got worse. All of a sudden, coming from the other side of the field, Al Harris shot into view. He caught Gore and pushed him out of bounds on the two.
Then the 49ers had an illegal substitution penalty, a one-yard rush and two incomplete passes and had to settle for a field goal.
It was only 3-0 and the Packers had dodged a touchdown bullet. One armchair expert I know and respect said Harris made the play of the game.
And it just solidified my opinion that the Packers ought to step up right now and rewrite Harris’ contract and lock him in for the rest of his career.
Harris is close to being one of the most underappreciated cornerbacks in the league. With the exception of DeAngelo Hall and Champ Bailey, Harris might be the best in the league. This year he has shut down outstanding receivers this year like Tory Holt of St. Louis, Anquan Boldin of Arizona and Deion Branch of Seattle.
One rap that fans have against Harris is that he doesn’t get a lot of interceptions. That’s true, but quarterbacks don’t throw that often in his direction because of his cover ability.
We can all remember plays where Harris got beat, or where he dropped a sure interception. That’s true of any cornerback who ever played the game.
Harris is clearly looking for a new contract. His present one expires in 2009 and he was upset with the giant contract that Charles Woodson signed (7 years, over $39 million). He made some early noise about it, but then he shut his mouth and went out and played. And he’s played at a Pro Bowl level.
The Packers have a chance to do several things by getting him signed to a new contract now.
First, they lock up a talented player and guarantee themselves two solid cornerbacks for the next several years. That is important.
Secondly they will send a message to other players on their team that if you play outstanding football this team will reward you, and you don’t have to worry about all that free agency stuff.
And third, they will be telling other players in the league that the Packers aren’t afraid to spend money on good football players.
This whole thing, of course, would go against the Packer Way Of Doing Things. You know, the way that has brought us to our present exalted place in the National Football League. The way that got stubborn and angry with an agent and let Javon Walker disappear to Denver.
My suggestion is, let’s change our way of doing things. Let’s be known as a place where players really want to play because they get treated right. In any business, when you want to hire the best talent, you have to pay top dollar.
Plus, the Packers are loaded. They’ve got more money than Warren Buffett, Jimmy Buffett and God.
It might take some creative packaging to guarantee some money at one end or the other so it doesn’t bust through the salary cap. But there’s a lot of room under the cap right now.
And by spending some, on their own volition, to keep an outstanding player, is a win-win situation for everybody concerned.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
