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| Packers add Gray to picture |
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by TOM SILVERSTEIN
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, JSonline.com
Mar. 12, 2008
The Green Bay Packers made their first move in finding a backup for Aaron Rodgers, but it didn't involve a veteran who could tutor the young quarterback.
In fact, Quinn Gray, an unrestricted free agent out of Jacksonville, has played in 11 games, only four more than Rodgers. If Gray were signed, it would be as someone who would be capable of much more than holding a clipboard.
The 28-year-old Gray, who visited the Packers on Tuesday, according to a source with access to the National Football League's personnel wire, has been in the league six years. But he saw only mop-up duty in one game from 2003-'05 and didn't really get a chance to show himself until last season, when he started four games in place of the injured David Garrard.
The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Gray was 2-2 as a starter, but he led the Jaguars to a 2-1 record during a rugged three-game road streak and posted a respectable passer rating of 85.6 for the season. He completed 80 of 144 passes (55.6%) for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns with five interceptions.
Gray has a big-time arm to go with a fullback's body, but his accuracy leaves a lot to be desired. In eight appearances last season, he had two games in which he completed less than 45% of his passes and four in which he completed around 60%, along with a 1-for-1 performance against Carolina.
Gray has some running ability. He was sacked 10 times, or once every 14.4 passing attempts. By comparison, Garrard, who is considered a mobile quarterback, was sacked once every 15.5 times. Gray rushed the ball 19 times for 57 yards.
After visiting the Packers Tuesday, Gray was expected to visit the Oakland Raiders, who are also in the market for a backup. Their need might be greater than Green Bay's because No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell is far from a proven commodity and Gray would have a shot at being a starter this year.
Gray's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not return several phone messages. The Packers have gotten some smaller deals done with Rosenhaus in the past, but he might be trying to hit a financial home run with Gray. If that's the case, it would take the Packers out of the running.
The Packers have shown a passing interest in aging veterans Trent Green and Mark Brunell, but Green Bay showed it's not rushing into things by choosing to bow out of talks with Green, who wanted to settle his future right away. He wound up signing with his former team, the St. Louis Rams.
The rest of the quarterback market is pretty brown around the edges. Free agents include Daunte Culpepper, Joey Harrington, Tim Rattay, Jamie Martin and Byron Leftwich. Third-string quarterback Craig Nall remains a possibility, as well.
The Packers' best bet might be a trade. Among the quarterbacks who might be available are Buffalo's J.P. Losman and Houston's Sage Rosenfels. The Packers could also wait until after the draft, when some quarterbacks will be released to make room for rookies.
In the meantime, Cincinnati free-agent receiver Tab Perry made an official visit Tuesday. Perry, who was a restricted free agent until the Bengals decided to release him, has played in just four games the last two seasons because of injury.
In '05, Perry ranked ninth among kick returners with 30 or more attempts with a 24.4-yard average. If signed, he would probably compete with Koren Robinson for the kick return job and one of the top five receiver spots.
Cincinnati has some interest in re-signing Perry, and Miami and Baltimore are also in the running.
As for free-agent linebacker Brandon Chillar, the Packers might lose out to the Arizona Cardinals, who cleared cap room with a contract extension for receiver Larry Fitzgerald and are thought to be interested in Chillar. |
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