Packers' Grant Proves Persistence Pays

Packers running back Ryan Grant, who with Brett Favre and crew will face New York Sunday in the NFC Championship Game, has a long history with the Giants. In fact, he may just be the most motivated football player on the planet next week. His is a tale of how with hard work, persistence and a little God-given talent, even the most over-looked underdog can come out on top.

Grant played high school football less than 20 miles from Giants Stadium. So it was no surprise when the Giants signed him in 2005 as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, where he shared the backfield with Maurice Jones-Drew. He spent the entire season on the practice squad and was listed on the injured reserve for all of 2006. (He used the free time to volunteer as a coach at Queen of Peace H.S. in North Arlington, NJ).

He was impressive in pre-season this year but was fifth on the Giants depth chart behind Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, (former Oregon Duck) Reuben Droughns and Ahmad Bradshaw. The Packers, knowing he would be cut and in need of a back-up themselves, gave the Giants a sixth-round pick for him before another team could pick him up on waivers.

As a back-up with Green Bay, he went into the Denver game on Week Eight with just six carries for 27 yards, but when starter DeShawn Wynn went down in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, Packers coach Mike McCarthy called on Grant. He responded with 104 yards on 22 carries.

Grant has been Green Bay's go-to back ever since. In Week 11 he was named as the Fed Ex Ground player of the week. He picked up 119 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, making him the first running back all season to run for 100 yards against the Vikings' second-ranked rush defense. His workhorse 201-yard performance in the snow last week against Seattle helped lead his team to the NFC Championship Game.

Now, in one of those inspiring ironic sports moments, the once-unappreciated back stands between his former New York teammates and the Super Bowl.