Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive tackle Johnny Jolly recently completed a court-ordered drug treatment in Houston, his last step before he could join the Green Bay Packers in OTAs. Jolly is determined to repay the team that has stuck by him all of these years, and the Packers are hoping the four-year player can be a top asset during the 2013 NFL season.
“I don’t know anyone who sat out three years and was able to go back to the same team,” Jolly said, according to SBNation.com. “I met with the Packers a couple of weeks ago. They understand my situation and they are willing to be there for me, so I’m just doing everything I can to be in shape and do everything I need to do for my team. They have been there, and I’m going up there to do my best to show them what they want to see this year. So I’ll be doing everything in my power to get ready.”
Jolly recorded 113 combined tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, four fumble recoveries, one interception and 17 passes defended in 48 career games with the Packers from 2006-09. His best season occurred in his last year in the league. He posted 39 combined tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception and 10 defended passes as Green Bay went on to clinch their first postseason berth in two years. Unfortunately, he was non-existent in the epic loss to the Arizona Cardinals during the 2009 postseason as he only recorded two combined tackles.
The 30-year-old has plenty of work to do to get back in the good graces of the Packers. Not to mention, he will have to work harder than anyone to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. With that being said, Green Bay can use all the help they can get on the defensive line. Jolly proved to be a top-notch player and could be utilized in certain situations by defensive coordinator Dom Capers.
The question is if Jolly is physically capable of handling the NFL work load after missing the last three years. The good news is Green Bay is willing to give him a chance because they believe he can make a difference on defense. Now, it will be up to Jolly to prove that he is worth the risk.
