The Green Bay Packers, led by GM Ted Thompson, haven't had any outward reaction thus far to the revelation that tight end Andrew Quarless had been arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for discharging a firearm in public. While Thompson and the rest of the Packers brass have declined to comment on the matter or Quarless' status or standing with the team, it seems their recent actions may give an indication of their thought process.
It seems Thompson and Co. are taking a close look at free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham, according to a report from Rand Getlin of NFL.com. As Getlin notes, Gresham represents an "intriguing option" for the Packers, especially in light of Quarless' recent legal trouble.
Gresham, a former first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, has mostly fallen short of the high expectations of his lofty draft status, but still possesses ample ability and athleticism and after five years in the league, likely a veteran savvy as well.
In five seasons in Cincinnati Greshman, 27, has amassed 280 receptions for 2,722 yards and 24 touchdowns. He's also only missed six of a possible 80 regular season games, meaning that despite his recent back surgery - revealed while he was on a free agent trip to visit the Oakland Raiders - Gresham has proven quite durable during his NFL career.
While reports have indicated that the Packers have no plans to jettison Quarless and quarterback Aaron Rodgers singled out the recently embattled tight end as a player who has had a "great offseason" and who he expects to "take the jump" in 2015, Gresham would potentially be an important addition to an already-elite Packers receiving corps.
There's also the fact that, despite Rodgers' proclamation, Quarless managed just 29 receptions for 323 yards and three touchdowns in 16 regular season games and added four catches for 31 yards and one touchdown in two postseason contests last year, meaning he's far from a sure bet to breakout next year.
Legal issues or not, it might be a smart move for Thompson to bring further competition to a tight end group that may be the only mediocre playmaking position on the Packers offense in the form of Gresham, a guy who, to this point of his NFL career, has been forced to catch passes from the wholly mediocre Andy Dalton and an on-his-last-legs-in-Cincy Carson Palmer.
