Granting your own wish

By Nik Sobic  |   Monday, July 28, 2008  |  Comments( 8 )

Green Bay Packers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
To say the least, Green Bay Packers running backs have been getting the job done over the last decade, with the likes of Edgar Bennett, Dorsey Levens and Ahman Green doing what it took to keep the offense going. In essence, they were West Coast “system” backs who showed up to work every day and did what was asked of them.

Last season, a new big-time back emerged for the Packers. In 10 short games as a starter, Ryan Grant rewrote the job description of a Packers back.

To Packer fans, Grant -- who's now a holdout at training camp -- is the savior of an unproductive backfield. To this writer, Grant was the savior of my fantasy football team.

Because of Grant's generosity toward my fantasy team, I figured the least I could do was write an optimistic piece about how he could avoid the dreaded sophomore slump by staying healthy and splitting some carries with backups. In the course of my research, though, I learned that Grant has more to offer Packer fans and fantasy football managers than productivity on the field. In fact, his story may just offer a lesson on how to be productive as a person.

Grant attended Notre Dame after a standout high school career in which he was named New Jersey player of the year after his senior season. Grant’s first year at Notre Dame provided a sharp contrast to his high school successes as his limited touches and team’s losing record culminated in the firing of its head coach and a disappointing freshman season.

After an offseason in which new head coach Ty Willingham took notice of Grant’s unmatched work ethic, Grant was named the starter going into his sophomore year. Early in the year Grant held his starting spot, but teammate and current Seattle Seahawk Julius Jones took advantage of his opportunities, which ultimately left Grant on the bench for the second half of the season. What would be a tragic blow to most anyone’s confidence and optimism only fueled the fire of Grant’s already noteworthy work ethic. After taking a backseat to Jones during his junior year, Grant was named team captain for his senior season and the stage was set for him to have his breakout campaign. However, after a hamstring injury gave way to the emergence of young teammate Darius Walker in the backfield, the captain of the Fighting Irish was once again forced to spend most of the season on the sidelines.

Despite a disappointing college career and less-than-exceptional NFL combine, Grant’s intangibles got him a tryout with the New York Giants. Things were looking up for Grant, whose work ethic turned some heads and earned him a spot on the Giants' practice squad in 2005.

Then, as Grant was preparing to make a run at Big Blue's active roster in '06, tragedy struck when he lost his balance at a social function and fell through a display of champagne glasses. The incident left Grant with a severed artery, tendon and nerve in his left arm. After nearly bleeding to death, doctors told Grant that it was likely he would never use his left hand again. Defying all reasonable medical projections for recovery, Grant rehabbed hard and returned to full health in 2007.

After being traded to Green Bay and slotted at the end of the depth chart, a series of injuries to the Packers' backfield paved the way for a 104-yard performance for Grant and a Week 8 overtime win against the Denver Broncos. From that game forward, Grant went on to a fairly uneventful record-setting season. His only major hiccup was in the divisional playoffs against the Seahawks, when he fumbled twice in the first 4 minutes. He recovered in signature Grant style, however, by rushing for 201 yards and three touchdowns.

It seems that in football, as in life, diligence in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles is what separates the ordinary from the extraordinary. As if Granting me bragging rights in last year's fantasy pool wasn’t enough reason to sing the praises of Ryan Grant, I think inspiring others by example is also a pretty good excuse.

Training Camp: An entirely new kind of fantasy game!
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (8)

About Nik Sobic

Nik Sobic is a Graduate of Harvard University and former NFL/CFL football player. When he isn't writing about sports he's writing comedy. Nik's unique background and passion for writing make him a valuable addition to our staff. Nik was born and raised a Packer fan-he hails from Milwaukee, WI.
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report