Backup quarterback Graham Harrell will face high expectations this season. Credit: Mark Hoffman

Green Bay - If there's any paranoia at his position, Graham Harrell doesn't sense it. The Green Bay Packers are the only team in the NFL whose backup quarterback has never taken a regular-season snap.

From Texas - 10 days before the first training camp practice - Harrell reaffirms that he's ready. If most valuable player Aaron Rodgers went down, Harrell says he could step in.

"Absolutely," he said. "As a quarterback, you better be confident in yourself and believe in yourself. I believe in myself. We have a great support staff and a great group of people in Green Bay. They get quarterbacks ready to play and train quarterbacks.

"I've learned from some of the best in the business."

That's true. And that's what the Packers are counting on.

Harrell's development is easily one of this summer's biggest storylines. Every other team in the NFL has some degree of experience behind their starters. Among the other 31 NFL teams, the average No. 2 quarterback has completed 400 of 691 career passes with 4,540 yards, 23 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.

Harrell? Zeros across the board. As the third quarterback for two seasons, he's been a project on the practice squad.

Green Bay did draft B.J. Coleman in the seventh round of the NFL draft, someone who could push for the backup job. But for now, Harrell is the clichéd one snap away from piloting a 15-2 team.

Green Bay, again, is counting on its quarterback development over experience.

Teams typically avoid this scenario. Harrell is the most inexperienced backup in the NFL. Next in line are Baltimore's Tyrod Taylor (five snaps, per Pro Football Focus) and San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick (20 snaps). Yes, Harrell is well aware. And, no, he's not too worried.

"I've been there a couple years and have had the opportunity to learn from some great coaches, and obviously, Aaron (Rodgers) is probably one of the best in the league, and I think that's as good as anything," Harrell said.

"The best way to learn is through experience and time, but with the staff we have in Green Bay and the quarterbacks we've had, I feel that when my number gets called I'll be ready."

When teams with a franchise quarterback lose their up-and-coming No. 2, the knee-jerk reaction is to sign a veteran, to ensure a sense of calm if disaster strikes. Safety valves don't break the bank, either. Jason Campbell, who has thrown 2,131 career attempts, inked a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Chicago.

In Carolina, Derek Anderson re-upped for just $825,000 this season. Same for Josh McCown in Chicago at $875,000.

Matt Flynn's departure was anticipated, expected and then concluded a long, long time ago. All along, the Packers were idle. Such free agency silence at the position is nothing new in Green Bay. Coach Mike McCarthy walked this tightrope before.

From 2008-'11 as Flynn was growing, McCarthy didn't turn to a veteran.

Instead, he forced himself and the staff to make Flynn better. With second-team reps during each camp and each preseason, Flynn improved.

This is a risky proposition. There's no substitute for game action. No doubt, Harrell will be under the microscope during training camp.

Rodgers' endurance has been a quiet revelation during his four years as the starter. Any early fears were mostly put to rest, and Rodgers has gotten better at avoiding big hits on the run.

Yet all too often, an elite team - in September, October - loses its franchise quarterback and results vary.

New England, behind Matt Cassel, went 11-5 in 2008. Indianapolis tried cushioning its loss of Peyton Manning with Kerry Collins and fell apart anyway last season. This is the most important position in sports. The Packers are counting on Harrell.

So far, he's on track. Harrell has taken all the necessary steps to evolve from juggernaut system quarterback at Texas Tech to NFL backup.

He completed a strenuous off-season workout regimen in Tyler, Texas, to improve his shoulder strength. Receivers say he's throwing the ball with much more acceleration. He's more willing to go vertical.

Starting July 26, Harrell must apply it all. This camp means as much to him as anyone. McCarthy ignored the league norm and didn't bring in a veteran, so Harrell gets more reps.

"Green Bay has a long history of doing that, and Coach McCarthy has a long history of doing that," Harrell said. "He gets guys he likes, that he believes in and teaches them his way of doing things to become good quarterbacks."

It worked with Rodgers. It worked with Flynn. This summer, Harrell gets his shot.

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