Former Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby has signed with the Los Angeles Rams. While he is on their practice squad for now, they do plan on adding him to their active roster soon. For Crosby, it is the end of a long waiting period that saw him try out for several teams over the past few months. Of course, Green Bay opted to get younger, drafting Anders Carlson in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and not offering Crosby a chance to keep his job.
Crosby is the Packers’ all-time leading scorer after himself being a sixth round pick by the team in the 2007 NFL Draft. He also in the franchise record holder for most games played and most consecutive games played.
Despite Crosby’s historical impact on the Packers, the time had come for the team to turn the page. This has been the case with many players throughout their long history, and many of them have found success with other teams. 106 players have spent time with both the Packers and Rams franchises, and Crosby joins an elite list of players that have left the Frozen Tundra for the warmer confines of the Rams organization (whether it be in St. Louis or Los Angeles).
Hall of Fame Wide Receiver James Lofton
Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton spent the first nine years of his 16-year NFL career with the Packers. During that time, he made seven Pro Bowls, three Second Team All-Pro’s, and one First Team All-Pro.
After leaving the Packers, Lofton played for the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills for the majority of the rest of his career. In his final NFL season, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams. He appeared in just one game and caught one pass for 16 yards. The Rams released him mid-season and ended the year (and his career) with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Cornerback Al Harris
Al Harris did not start his career with the Packers, but he certainly had his best seasons with them. After five seasons as a backup with the Eagles, Harris signed as a free agent with Green Bay and became an immediate starter. He played and started in all 80 regular season games through his first five seasons with the Packers before playing 12 and 10 games, respectively, in his final two years. Harris was also a two-time Pro Bowler, being selected in 2007 and 2008.
After his tenure in Green Bay ended, he spent one season with the Miami Dolphins before ending his career with the St. Louis Rams.
Harris is currently the defensive backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
Green Bay Packers All-Time Sacks Leader Clay Matthews
Clay Matthews is one of the best Packers defensive players in recent memory. He is currently the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks and will be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame next year.
After six Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl win with the Packers, Matthews was not retained by the team after the 2018 season. Instead, he signed with the Rams, spending his last year in the NFL with his hometown team. He had 8.0 sacks in 13 games that year.
Sam Shields Ended His Short Career with the Los Angeles Rams
One of the greatest question marks in the recent Packers’ era is just how good Sam Shields could have been had he never gotten hurt. Shields never played a full season, but made the Pro Bowl in 2014.
Unfortunately, a neck injury in 2016 limited him to one game that season and ended his career with the Packers. Still believing he could play, he signed with the Rams in 2018, finally playing all 16 games in a season. It was his final year in the NFL.
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