Packers RB Alex Green Makes "Emotional" Return
By: Ryan Rodig
Updated: August 1, 2012
Alex Green has been waiting a long time for this moment.
"It was kind of emotional the first two minutes that I stepped on the field again," says Green. "With the long process it's been."
After spnding eight months on the shel with a torn ACL suffered last October, second year running back Alex Green admits the rehab process has been quite the rollercoaster.
"One of the toughest challenges that I faced in my life, and I have faced some pretty good challenges," Green adds.
"I would say this was probably the most challenging challenge."
That's saying a lot. After high school Green went to Butte Community College, but eventually found himself broke and without a place to live.
"I had about three months of school left and I couldn't just go home, so I stayed in my car for about three months, continued to stay in school and finished my degree," says Green. "Then I got blessed with a scholarship to Hawaii.
While at the University of Hawaii, Green got some answers for why he always struggled with academics. He was diagnosed with dyslexia.
"The whole time during high school and junior college I had no idea," admits Green. I was just struggling with school and trying to do the best I can."
Green Bay decided not to re-sign veteran running back Ryan Grant this offseason, letting Green and the rest of the RBs know it is their time to carry the load in the running game.
"My main concern was to just get back as healthy as possible and not as quick as possible," says Green in his approach tio returning to the field. "That's my main goal and it worked out for me."
Head Coach Mike McCarthy says he's always like Green's ability to be at full speed when he finds the hole and is happy to have him back.
"He's a powerful man, and he's got excellent leg drive and does a good job running behind his pads," McCarthy said this week. "I think he definitely can add to our running back group. It's great to have him back."
And for Green, after eight long months, it's great to be back. And as far as overcoming another major obstacle in his life, Green says "I'm going to do what I have been doing my whole life, and keep doing it."
