In a surprising move, the Green Bay Packers released third string QB Kurt Benkert late last week. Fans took to social media to express their displeasure with the move. The displeasure more so geared at losing the person, not the player.
Kurt Benkert has quickly acclimated himself to the Cheesehead culture since being signed after a tryout last May. Benkert was a tremendous presence on social media and interacted frequently Packers fans. Between posting about his family, and twitch streaming Madden games, fans everywhere loved the practice squad QB. For a fanbase baked in tradition and history, he broke the mold with his new age social media interactions. And it worked.
While making his presence felt on social media, he certainly did not do the same on the field. Benkert appeared in only one game, taking a kneel down. Not exactly a stat sheet stuffer.
Even on his way out the door, Benkert spoke highly of the organization and GM Brian Gutekunst. While streaming on his twitch channel he said, “The way he did it and went about it, mad respect for him, and the window he cut me in,” referencing being released in late June with time to catch on with another team.
Benkert was not picked up on waivers by Monday’s deadline and is now a free agent.
Normally the release of a third string quarterback is meaningless. Casual fans of a team routinely don’t even know the name of these types of players. But credit to Benkert for making a name for himself with the organization off the field and becoming a fast fan favorite. A class act on the way out the door, here’s to hoping he lands on with another team… just not the Vikings or Bears please.
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Zach has been a lifelong Packers fan since his earliest memories of Brett Favre\’s Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XXXII. A proud shareholder of the team, he bleeds Green and Gold despite being born and raised in New Jersey.
You can follow him on twitter at @RapMasterZach.
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