GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Apparently the Packers didn't want to carry four quarterbacks on their roster for any longer as the team announced Wednesday morning that it released Nick Hill.
In addition, the Packers also released tight end Cameron Ford and signed defensive end Phillip Merling.
Hill, a 27-year-old left-handed quarterback, signed with the Packers on Jan. 20 after spending the past two seasons in the Arena Football League. But once Green Bay selected quarterback B.J. Coleman in the seventh round of the draft, it appeared to be an uphill battle for Hill to stay part of the team for much longer.
However, on Tuesday, coach Mike McCarthy talked positively about Hill and the rest of the backup quarterbacks behind Aaron Rodgers.
"I think there's definitely a lot of promise with all three of the young quarterbacks," McCarthy said. "I feel very good about the opportunity for growth in that room. So, yes, I'm confident that we'll be where we need to be at the quarterback position."
Merling joins the Packers after playing his first four NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins. In 2008, Merling was the Dolphins' second-round pick after a successful college career at Clemson. In 46 games in Miami, Merling recorded 66 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception that was returned for a touchdown.
With Packers defensive end Mike Neal suspended for the first four games of the regular season and Anthony Hargrove suspended for the first eight games, Merling adds to Green Bay's depth at the position.
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