Al Harris: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Al Harris is retiring as a Packer as noted here. I have many fond memories of Alshinard "Al" Harris during his stint as a Packer. Unfortunately, I also have some, not so fond memories. Let me start by saying... I Loooove me some Al Harris! Stand up guy and shut down corner. A real class act throughout his career in Green Bay and the NFL. But alas, the bad memories sometimes out weigh the good ones and that’s life on the corner, as they say.

THE GOOD  Hands down my favorite and most lasting memory of Al was in the Packer Wild Card game January 4, 2004. The Packers were at home hosting the Seattle Seahawks. Another blistery cold January day in Wisconsin. Ryan Longwell missed a 47 yard field goal that would have won the game but instead it went to overtime. During the 2^nd coin flip, the Seahawks won the toss and Matt Hasselbeck famously said. "We’ll take the ball and we’re going to score!" Words he had to eat as on the ‘Hawk’s second possesion, Al Harris stepped in front of an ill advised sideline pass and jaunted 52 yards for a touchdown and the Packer win, 33-27.

THE BAD

If beating the Seahawks in OT was my best Al Harris memory, then clearly losing to the Giants in the Championship game, 1-20-08, in OT was the worst. Again, Lambeau field hosted the game that determined who would play the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. We Packer fans all remember this game. Donald Driver’s 80 yard Touchdown. The Giants kicker missing two chip shot filed goals before landing the decisive blow in OT. AND....... Al Harris getting absolutely torched by Plexico Burress. Harris had no answer for the much taller Burriss. The Giant’s wideout had 11 receptions for 151 yards and it seemed no matter where Eli Manning threw the ball, a Giant’s receiver came down with it Remember the rediculous catch Toomer made on the sidelines? The Packer’s could have still won this game if for not a stupid, typical Brett Favre interception in our own territory, that set up the winning kick. Giants won 23-20.

THE UGLY

This game still works on my nerves. Wild Card game... at Lambeau... Minnesota Vikings... January 10, 2005. The Packer’s were heavily favored in this game but some how managed to totally stink in all phases of the ball. The most memorable play of that game was when Randy Moss burnt Al Harris for a 34 yard TD down the sideline that put the game out of reach. Being the class act that Moss is, he mooned the Packer end zone fans and "rubbed his butt" all over the goal post. I can forgive Al Harris for getting beat by a talented player like Randy Moss, but what I couldn’t forgive or forget was the celebration afterwards. Why didn’t one of the Packers slap the snot out of that arrogant jerk? Ray Nitchke would not have allowed such an action to go unpunished. Do you recall when Terrell Owens did a little celebration on the Cowboys star? Emmitt Smith and George Teague (former Packer) took matters into their hands and showed that jerk the error of his ways. You just can’t let that happen in YOUR Stadium! I wish Al Harris would have stepped up at that moment, like Smith and Teague did.

As I said, I loooove me some Al Harris and I consider him one of the Packer all time greats. Thanks for the momeories Al, God bless and have a happy retirement.