Former Oregon Ducks Tight End Lyerla Signs Contract with Green Bay Packers

Jan. 3, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Oregon Ducks tight end Colt Lyerla (15) runs the ball in the second quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2013 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

If you like stories about second chances and happy endings one happened yesterday for a former Oregon Ducks football player. Former Tight End Colt Lyerla who left the Oregon Football program close to mid season last year with character issues, including being found with what looked like cocaine in his car by Eugene Police and being arrested for the incident. His NFL stock pretty much dropped off the face of the earth, but the Hillsboro native has redeemed himself as the Green Bay Packers signed Lyerla to a Free Agent contract on Monday.

After going undrafted at the beginning of the month in the NFL Draft, Lyerla was invited to the Packers Mini Camp and performed well enough among the fifty eight attendees to pick up a contract. Tight End is a position of need for Green Bay at the moment with Starter Jermichael Finley injured and also a free agent. I would expect to see him during the preseason playing in a good part of the games, if healthy, but this is just the beginning.

The former Oregon Ducks Tight End has a long way to go in dealing with his past, but with a new contract the road to recovery can officially start. For such a talented person with his athletic ability we can hope the past year is a bump in the road and he can embrace the opportunities ahead at the next level.

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