No Trick, No Treat

Happy Halloween, Packer Fans! May all your sugar-filled dreams come true.

There is a dark side to today, however. It sure has deja vu written all over it, too...almost seems like 2005 again. You know what I mean. Injuries. And more injuries. First it was the receiving corps. Now it's the running backs.

Coming on the heels of the Packers' second-ever game where two running backs each surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark, RB Vernand Morency is going to be out at least several weeks and FB Brandon Miree is doubtful for this week's game at Buffalo. Morency -- who showed exceptional bursts hitting the holes -- suffered a lower back injury related to one of his lumbar disks. When the TV cameras showed him being carted off the field near the end of the game, a reasonable question to ask at the time was: How did that happen? Still don't know. The only thing Coach McCarthy said was that tests were still being evaluated but he doubted Morency's injury would be season-ending. Still, right at the point things start getting cranked up...BAM! (as Emeril might say).

Interestingly, one of the unsung heroes of Sunday's rushing game was the new FB, Miree. McCarthy is quoted as saying, "He played excellent," McCarthy said. "He's a big part of the success in our run scheme. I thought his decisions were very good; he played with good pad level, good finish. He was really rolling there." The average viewer might have noticed Miree making a few great blocks and catching a few passes. In fact, it was on one of those catches that Miree sustained a hyper-extended left elbow.

So who will fill these spots? Noah Herron will be Ahman Green's backup. And while not as fast as either Green or Morency, let's not forget that Herron also has a 100-yard game under his belt this year, too. And ol' reliable, William Henderson, will once again resume his starting FB duties. It's also possible that the Pack will look at adding another running back to the roster as insurance. If they do so, they'll have to look at picking up someone from outside the organization as there is presently no running back on the practice squad to bring up.

So, a great game to remember on Sunday. But it comes with a bitter aftertaste. Just like some bad trick-or-treat candy left over from 2005.