Tight end Andrew Quarless' noticeable absence during the first two days of training of the Green Bay Packers raised some questions among the NFL team's fans and followers earlier this month. As new information linked to his non-participation in the training sessions surface, however, it becomes increasingly clear that the NFL training camp opted to put family over career.
In a press conference on Wednesday, the Packers's tight end disclosed that he had just gone through the "saddest day" of his existence as his newborn daughter passed away. Prior to this announcement, the NFL team's coach, Mike McCarthy revealed that Quarless would be absent from the practices to deal with a very difficult family tragedy and that the Packers star could take as long as he wants before he joins the training sessions. Despite the situation, the tight end intends to move forward and push through with the practice - eyeing the accomplishment of all drills and the improvement of his plays.
"I thank this team for the type of support they have given me to help me get through this," Quarless said, referring to the support and understanding extending by the Packers in an effort to help him cope with the heartbreaking tragedy, according to ESPN. He went on to say, "Just very thankful for these guys. It's really a family in here. It's really a family."
While he is undoubtedly still reeling from the loss, Quarless shared that he remains focused as he goes back to the training camp. He said, "I'm looking forward my first day getting back out there today." The Packers tight end added, "It felt real good. It felt real good just to get out there, catch some passes, be able to run around a little bit, kind of get back to your old self and get back into things."
Quarless first acknowledged the family tragedy via social media as he shared with his loyal followers on Instagram the details surrounding his daughter's demise. Revealing that he and his wife named their late daughter Arielle Cecilia Quarless, he added that the little girl was born on July 29, 2015 at around four in the afternoon. The heartbreaking social media post ended with Quarless stating that he and his wife may have lost a daughter but they gained an angel instead.
At the moment, Quarless has a two-year contract with the Packers worth $3 million. According to McCarthy, the NFL team intends to treat Quarless' return as normal as possible, as reported by E Online. The Packers coach plans to integrate the tight end gradually, letting him set his own pace and prioritizing the player's wellbeing above everything else.
