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Gurley turned down the Vikings to stay with the Packers.

Green Bay Packers receiver Tori Gurley has turned down an active roster spot on the Minnesota Vikings to stay in Green Bay at a higher salary, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press Gazette.

AllGreenBayPackers.com reported on Monday about the possibility of Gurley being promoted to the Packers’ active roster after a source confirmed that Gurley and the Packers were in negotiations for a salary bump.

AllGBP also reported that an unnamed team had put in a claim for Gurley, which certainly helped in the negotiations for Gurley’s raise.  Combined with the fact that the Packers had just lost Greg Jennings for 2-3 weeks, the possibility was there for Gurley to be activated from the practice squad.

While it’s still possible that Gurley could be added to the active roster in the coming days or weeks, Gurley remains on the practice squad at this time.

According to Demovsky, Gurley turned down the offer in part because the Vikings’ season has just three games left but also for the fact that he’s learning the position from the best group of receivers in the NFL. As Demovsky quoted Gurley, “The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”

In other news, the Packers signed fullback Jon Hoese, who was in training camp this season with Green Bay, to the 8-man practice squad. Hoese went undrafted out of the Universtiy of Minnesota. He’ll wear No. 35. To make room, the Packers released guard Jake Vermiglio.  Read more... (308 words + 1 image, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)

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The Green Bay Packers have placed tight end Andrew Quarless on IR with a knee injury and promoted quarterback Graham Harrell to take his place on the active roster.

Quarless was hurt in the second half of the Packers’ 38-35 win over the New York Giants on Sunday. It was a horrific looking injury as Quarless’s knee buckled while attempting to cover a kickoff. Coach Mike McCarthy said that Quarless will have surgery on the knee in the coming days or weeks.

Harrell has been primarily on the Packers’ practice squad during his two years in Green Bay. After spending the first 13 games there last season, Harrell was signed to the active roster for the final three games after Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion against the Detroit Lions.

Harrell earned another chance on the practice squad with a preseason that saw him complete 33 of 57 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns.  While learning under Rodgers, Matt Flynn and quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, Harrell has shown vast improvements since the Packers signed him in May of 2010.

The Packers likely promoted Harrell for a couple of reasons. They have four healthy tight ends still on the roster, so bringing on another wasn’t an immediate need. But they also likely wanted to protect Harrell from being claimed off the practice squad in the final weeks of this season, as Flynn is a good bet to leave in free agency after 2011. Flynn has shown the potential to be a starting quarterback candidate in the NFL since being drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 draft. If Flynn leaves, the Packers may call on Harrell to be Rodgers’ primary backup next season.  Read more... (434 words + 1 image, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

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