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Harris Hopes To Return In 2008

Although a splenetic injury has to be taken very seriously, Al Harris is determined to play this season and there is new hope of Al returning in several weeks. However, the training and medical staff of the Packers are approaching this injury with extreme diligence and caution. Jack Bechta

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18 Comments

 From: Jack Bechta, Agent for Al Harris

Although a splenetic injury has to be taken very seriously, Al Harris is determined to play this season and there is new hope of Al returning in several weeks. 

However, the training and medical staff of the Packers are approaching this injury with extreme diligence and caution.  They are going the extra mile, as they usually do, to make sure that they have all the relevant information needed to help Al make the appropriate decisions and more importantly, to make sure he does not jeopardize his long term health.

 As of today, this is what I know:

1.     Al has suffered a laceration of the spleen on the collision he had with AJ Hawk.

2.     The CT scan did show some damage and bleeding.

3.     Al is currently in the process of getting a 3rd and 4th opinion by two prominent surgeons.

4.     As of today, the time line is that Al will be re-evaluated and scanned again in a few weeks.

If there are no additional concerns from the new opinions, which I hope to receive in the next 48 hours, then Al can start "non-impact" workouts such as elliptical or pool work in one weeks time. Only until the future CT scans show that there has been significant healing, may Al be released to start light football activities and practice.  Therefore, the good news is that Al may return this year and that this is not a life and death situation. No definitive return date has been set, but knowing Al like I do, he will heal fast and do everything in his power to get back on the field.  As more information comes in from the additional opinions I will keep you updated here at The National Football Post (nfpost.com).

On a side note, Al has only missed one other football game in his whole HS, College and Pro career.  He suffered a high ankle sprain in college and missed just 1 game. In addition, he is so determined to play that he has already asked one Doctor on Monday to "remove his Spleen so he can play against Tampa this weekend".  The Doc obviously made it clear that was not a good idea and the recovery time would be several weeks.  The Cowboys game marked the 175th straight NFL appearance for Al Harris, an amazing run for such a physical player.  This is a player who has told me he wants a Darrell Green-type career and continues to do all the little things 24/7 to make this goal a reality.  Therefore, I would not count Al out for this season.

Once again, I will report any additional findings once Al completes his additional opinion search.

nationalfootballpost.com

Comments

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British
Sep 24, 2008
03:48 PM

Get well soon Al. Packer nation is pulling for you.

The Packers will need you, both this season and next.

I must admit I was beginning to think Al was on the decline, but this has really made me realise what a vital cog he is in the Packer machine. He will be missed.

dan
Sep 24, 2008
03:53 PM

Well, that's good news for the football team, since Al is a hugely important part of our defense, but Al's health has got to come first for him.

Jack, if you read this comment, I'm asking you to keep Al off the field for as long as possible. Al may think he wants to play now, and the organization and fans certainly want him back as soon as can be, but, if he tries to do things too quickly and comes back too soon, he could die of pneumonia when he's 50. Nobody wants that. I'll still be reading sports news then, and I'll feel awful if that happens.

Tom McLaughlin
Sep 24, 2008
04:16 PM

3rd and 4th opinion? So opinions 1 and 2 said to shut it down.

Jack, as much as we want to see him play, he should not until 100% healed. Its not worth risking it.

Patrick Craig
Sep 24, 2008
04:23 PM

Remove my spleen so I can play ? That is soooooooooo typical of Al Harris. The guy is in his own class altogether when it comes to being a competitor that's for sure. I hope it rubs off on the young guys he's mentoring in GB.

Get well soon Al. The Packers are going to need you if they have any dreams of post season play.

Matt Bowen
Sep 24, 2008
04:25 PM
Matt Bowen

Guys, I have to tell you that Jack would never push a player to get back on the field. He was my agent for 7 years and there were plenty of times when he provided me with advice that kept me off the field to ensure my own health. He always puts his players first in any circumstance and this one with Al will be no different. Thanks for the comments.
-Matt Bowen

dan
Sep 24, 2008
04:42 PM

Yeah, Matt, that's good to hear, and the article he wrote above is definitely in that tone.

I got the impression that that's the kind of guy he is, and I think the other commenters did too.

He's saying they'll take their time, and we're just saying "yeah. Make sure you do."

DL
Sep 24, 2008
05:16 PM

If anyone would rush players back, I would expect it from coaches before agents. I don't think it's suspicious for an agent to speak about his client in glowing terms: this is the site where the news is breaking, you do have to be media-aware. If Harris's injury was severe, as Chris Simms's was, there would not have been days to get additional opinions, and Harris would NOT feel like playing a week later. I hope he can make it back this year, though!

Packer Mark
Sep 24, 2008
05:18 PM

Al, B-HAPPY B-HEALTHY B-COOOOOO

Sean Griffith
Sep 24, 2008
05:29 PM

Our prayers are with Al. As well as our continued respect.

Bob Williams
Sep 24, 2008
05:47 PM

I am a RN for a major trauma center. No person who has a ruptured spleen should even think about playing football again for at least 8 months. Al Harris is getting bad information from someone.

Lou
Sep 24, 2008
06:03 PM

This is not good news. Being a Packer fan and witnessing first hand his achievements throughout his tenure, he will be difficult to replace. Hopefully he'll be able to come back this season but if there is risk of him coming back too early and sustaining a career ending injury, it's obviously not worth it.

I guess it's time for Tramon to step up. He has significantly improved since last year but he will need safety support which will leave a vulnerability in the secondary. One thing is for sure, DO NOT put Bush in that position (not yet at least)!

fan
Sep 24, 2008
06:08 PM

well Al Harris is no ordinary man, if he puts the determination and will power into getting healthy that he has put into football then he can do it. There is no QUIT in Al Harris and the fans know he will do whatever it takes to get healthy and get back on the field this year or next.

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