The Badger Herald: Sports: Pack up: No contract for Stocco

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Pack up: No contract for Stocco

BRYAN FAUST/Herald file photo

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Wisconsin men's basketball adds recruit (April 9, 2008)

By Ben Voelkel
Wednesday, May 9, 2007 12:00 a.m.

2 Vote 0 Votes

Despite impressing Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy with his ability to learn an offense, former UW quarterback John Stocco will not be participating in next week's minicamp after the team declined to offer him a contract.

"He was disappointed, but realistic about it too," Stocco's agent, John Drana, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Now he'll have to take the long road. He'll keep grinding and stay in the mix and try to get with the right team and the right situation at the right time."

Despite having three quarterbacks already ahead of him on the Packers depth charts — Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Ingle Martin — the possibility of Stocco earning a contract was real, as both Favre and backup Rodgers will not participate in next week's camp while rehabbing injuries. One other quarterback, Jerry Baab of Louisiana-Lafayette, also participated in the tryout camp. It was unknown whether he was offered a contract.

Stocco will now travel to New York to participate in a similar tryout camp with the Giants.

New York's quarterback situation includes starter Eli Manning, backup Tim Hasselbeck, Kentucky product Jared "Hefty Lefty" Lorenzen — colloquially referred to as the Pillsbury Throwboy — and journeyman Anthony Wright.

"I think it's going to help a lot having the Green Bay experience," Stocco said on his blog. "Just going through that whole weekend, there's a lot of different things going on. A lot of different meetings, the way practice went and all those things, it will help me at least feel a little more comfortable."

Last season, Stocco accumulated 2,185 yards passing and 17 touchdowns to go against six interceptions while leading the Badgers to a 10-1 record in games he started. Throughout his three years as a starter, Stocco compiled a 29-7 record.

The Journal Sentinel reported that Packers officials told Stocco if a need for quarterbacks ever arose, he would be someone they would consider bringing in.

2 Comments | Leave a comment

Anonymous | May 9, 2007 1:11 AM | Reply

Give up. Fall back on your education. Wait, what education?

Anonymous | May 9, 2007 5:27 PM | Reply

haha, i always get a kick out of football players. so enthusiastic about college football but only a fraction are actually gonna be makin big money. the rest blew away their education, while thinkin they were hot stuff on campus lol