Badgers' QB Gets Packers Tryout

The quarterback with the most wins at the University of Wisconsin (somebody correct me if my memory is wrong about that), John Stocco, is getting a 72-hour tryout this weekend at the Packers rookie orientation camp. Stocco was 29-7 as a starter at Wisconsin, completing 57.4% of his passes for 7,227 yards, 47 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Always underrated, even by some Badger fans, all Stocco did was win. He was named Most Valuable Player in his final collegiate game, the Capital One Bowl, where the Badgers beat Arkansas 17-14. The Badgers ended the season 12-1 (losing only to Michigan in week 5) and achieved a #7 national ranking. Stocco's leadership was a key to the season, particularly with basically an entirely new receiving corps and untested running game. He also showed his toughness, coming back for the bowl game after suffering a severe shoulder injury (throwing arm) which caused him to miss the last two regular season games, ending an impressive consecutive game streak.

Stocco was not drafted, obviously, but according to reports felt he'd get a free-agent call afterward. That didn't happen either. Still, he was quite happy to get a call from the Pack inviting him in for the weekend. As he is quoted as saying in an article in today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "all I want is a shot." He's got that. Whether or not anything more will materialize remains to be seen. He will join free-agent signee Jerry Babb at camp. While not NFL starter material, if former Badger QBs Jim Sorgi and Brooks Bollinger can pick up back-up gigs in the league, there is no reason Stocco can't land somewhere.

The Packers also invited a couple other interesting players into camp, including a tight end who hasn't played football in eight years...yeah, you read that right. Read the article to learn more.