Their ranks at running back currently depleted by a variety of injuries, the Green Bay Packers have re-signed third-year pro Herbert "Whisper" Goodman as a free agent, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced Tuesday.
Goodman, originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Graceland University, was primarily employed on special teams during the '00 and '01 seasons. The 5-11, 205-pound Miami native subsequently was waived on September 1, 2002, in the Packers' final roster reduction for the regular season. Appearing in 12 games overall, including 7 in '01, he averaged 30.0 yards for 5 kickoff returns and posted 3 tackles on kick coverage. He also averaged 16.5 yards for two kickoff returns in the Packers' Wild Card Playoff game at St.. Louis following the 2001 season.
In the spring of 2001, Goodman played with the Scottish Claymores of the NFL Europe League and led the NFLEL in rushing with 877 yards on 206 carries, scoring 6 touchdowns. Earlier, he literally ran his way on to the Green Bay roster late in the 2000 preseason, first posting a 56-yard scoring run against the Miami Dolphins in a "Monday Night Football" matchup and following that with an 88-yard rushing effort five days later against Cleveland in the team's preseason finale.
The lone rookie free agent to make the Green Bay roster in 2000, Goodman had been a two-year starter at Graceland as a collegian, setting school records for single-season (1,399) and career (2,385) rushing yards. He also led NCAA Division II in yards per carry as a senior (6.89) and in scoring with 15.0 points per game (25 TDs in 10 games).
Goodman, whose signing returns the Packers' roster to full strength, has been assigned jersey number 35. Tight end Cory Geason, who had been wearing 35, has been reassigned to number 48.
