Round 5 Questions

Posted by Mark Daniels on

The Packers went back on the offensive with their first two choices of the NFL's final day of the draft, selecting Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless with the first of 2, fifth round selections, and 15 picks later, added offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse of TCU.  Quarless is an athletic, 6-4, 254 pound receiving tight end with very good speed, clocked by the Packers at 4.58 in the 40.   He caught 87 passes in his Nitnay Lion career, scoring 8 touchdowns.  He stated 29 of 47 games played after arriving on campus from Uniondale High School in New York.  So much for the good news.  Now for the bad news.  Quarless got caught up in the rampant off-field issues that infected Penn State over the past few years under head coach Joe Paterno. In 2007, Quarless was suspended for the first two games of the year following a citation for underage drinking.  In 2008, Quarless was ticketed for DUI after running a red light in a borrowed BMW.   Quarless entered a 15 day rehabilitaton program after the alchohol related incidents.  In September of 2008, a party was raided at house where Quarless rented a room with several other players.  Marijuana was found at the home and while Quarless was not charged with posession, he, along with 2 other players were suspended again by Paterno for the Oregon State game.  Quarless said today he had a face to face meeting with Paterno, pleading with him to keep him on the squad.  Paterno did, and Quarless said he realized his poor choices were adversely affecting his future.  He told reporters in Green Bay on a conference call that he stopped drinking nearly 2 years ago, he's matured and now ready to begin his professional life in football.  Last week, Packers general manager Ted Thompson answered several questions about character risks in the draft and he said the Packers take it very seriously.  This is one of the lengthiest character reports on a player ever drafted by Thompson.  Tight Ends coach Ben McAdoo said he met with Quarless at the combine and it was Andrew who initiated the conversation about his past.  McAdoo felt reassured that Quarless had put the incidents behind him and was ready to move forward.   He will join a position group that features an up and coming star in Jermichael Finley, veteran Donald Lee, called the rock of the group by McAdoo and Spencer Havner, himself coming off an incident this off-season where he crashed his motorcycle while reportedly under the influence and separating his shoulder.  With the second 5th round choice, the Packers selected Newhouse, a three year starter and all Mountain West first term player who started 38 consecutive games at left tackle for the Horned Frogs.  Newhouse is a very thick, 6-4, 320 pounder who said he can play any position along the offensive line.  The Dallas native who played at Lake Highlands High School has a cousin who made his mark with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970's, fullback Robert Newhouse, and his father John played collegiately at the University of Houston.  Offensive line coach James Campen said the competition in his group has been upgraded this weekend, adding number one pick Brian Bulaga to the mix.  As to where these additions will fit it, time will tell beginning with the rookie orientation camp next weekend.

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