Lombardi Ave » Greg Jennings

NFL.com: Green Bay Packers hold 2 of top 13 games

Raymond Rivard — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:24:34 +0000

Green Bay Packers versus the San Francisco 49ers will be one of the biggest games for the Packers in 2013. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

While the NFL 2013 regular season schedule won’t be announced until this evening, the top 13 games (why 13? I’m not sure – I guess because it’s 2013) were posted over at NFL.com yesterday – and included two of the Green Bay Packers matchups – two strangely against AFC North opponents.

At number 13 is the Packers matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Ohio and number 10 has the Packers versus the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field.

Ok, so these are great games and should mightily test the Packers – as well as the Bengals and Steelers – but where are the matchups with the Minnesota Vikings, the team they met in the first round of the Playoffs last year – games that will feature Greg Jennings playing against his former teammates?

What about home games against the Atlanta Falcons? Or having to go up against both Super Bowl teams from last season, the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens – on the road?!? Now, those are two games the Packers Nation will have circled on their calendars.

And NFL.com’s #1 rated matchup for next season? The Indianapolis Colts hosting the Denver Broncos … zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Big deal. That doesn’t have any of the magic and intensity of say the Packers vs. Favre.

Anyway, you judge for yourself. Take a swing over to the site and scroll through their slide show.

You tell me … leave a comment below, Like us on Facebook and leave a comment or follow us on Twitter.

Let’s get the discussion going …

Minnesota Vikings keep missing the mark with Green Bay Packers players

Raymond Rivard — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:26:29 +0000

Greg Jennings left Green Bay for Minnesota. But for what reasons? We’ll never know.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

By P.J. Root

of Lombardiave.com

Pillaging and plundering from shore to shore, taking without thought or purpose – the Minnesota Vikings – barbarians of a different code, take without remorse or accountability for what damage they reap. These attributes connect the Vikings of Norse legend to the business acumen of their Minnesota counterparts.

A flood of Green Bay Packers in recent memory have made their migration near the end of their careers to this aforementioned next door neighbor. Either by financial, personal or a combination of reasons, The Vikings have been a warm location to a cold enemy too frequently.

Why is that?

The story reaches into the psyche of the athlete and the lack of creativity from the Vikings front office.

The collapse of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome roof was a statement in itself.

Eden Prairie, Minn., has been the home of the wolf, of more aptly, Viking’s owner Zygi Wilf. In his practices associated in handling the franchise have created disdain far-reaching across the game.

The implosion of the Hubert H. Humphrey Dome in 2010 was not only an allegory to their final season burrowing a Packer legend, but an accumulation of questionable practices.

Sending private planes to Mississippi initiated a long list of problems. By providing a team with wants before needs, the management has retarded the progress needed to sustain future wins.

Percy Harvin is the prime example of this culture.

By bringing Favre to the Vikings in Harvin’s rookie season, the team shaped their playmaker into a problem child. In experiencing a QB with Hall of Fame ability, Harvin became entitled to a way of being treated.

Getting the ball early and often.

Zygi Wilf.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Yes, the migraines have been a problem, but combine a nagging health scare that could ultimately cut his career short and then reverting to a quarterback like Christian Ponder can warp an anxious mind.

According to Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports, two unnamed sources confirmed that the inner squabbles surrounding Harvin’s departure stemmed from his disapproval of Ponder.

The dissolving of the rank of coach and player had been tarnished, and unlike the minor revolution by Baltimore’s core players against their own coach, the Vikings did not have a stable foundation to rein in their players when it was most necessary.

Brad Childress (left) was on the bus to nowhere in Minnesota before being thrown under it.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Why should they think they could?

Randy Moss’s stint in 2010 and subsequent removal gave an immense look into the hierarchy of the Vikings brass. Brad Childress, sensing that Wilf’s culture was poisoning his team, cut Moss because of diva comments directed toward the catering staff.

Wilf, in response, threw his coach under the bus and ultimately fired Childress. The lingering stench of disarray has hung over the organization since.

Yes, the Vikings deserve credit for earning a playoff spot, but a team, which displayed such mediocrity in depth, especially in the QB department, deserves scrutiny.

With Ponder gone from injury in the game, the Vikings exposed themselves and their draft strategy in the form of Joe Webb and his inability to run the offense.

Peterson’s heroics can only do so much in a league dominated by the pass.

Greg Jennings is the next ex-Packer to arrive, and mortgage the Vikings future for the last ounce of greatness of an aging productive rival.

Rather than building from within like the Packers, the Vikings have incessantly sniped playmakers like safety Darren Sharper, to fill in their glaring blanks.

Examples of New York Yankee spending have been seen and crushed, with the Philadelphia Eagles continuing to mend their wings from the “Dream Team” saga that engulfed their franchise.

Vikings management continues the same routine, even as their own failures still linger in the minds of the Minnesota faithful.

Greg Jennings was a fan favorite in Green Bay.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Why do these players leave?

For Jennings the success acquired in Green Bay has solidified himself in Lambeau lore, yet the underlying circumstances have left many questions to the selection of location.

Was it from the comments of former Packer-turned-Viking kicker Ryan Longwell?

“Every town in America has an Applebee’s restaurant. In Green Bay, Applebee’s was about as fancy as you got.” Longwell began. “In Minnesota, I’m sure there will be plenty of options before Applebee’s comes into the rotation.”

OK, Green Bay is not the epicenter of the world, yet how many places are? Is not the offseason a time to unwind and travel? Milwaukee and Madison are only a hop away, and Chicago is just around the bend.

The origin in Jennings’ case was thought to be the relationship with Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers has been documented for being incredibly sensitive to criticism concerning his ability and personality. Just watch at his recent “60 Minutes” interview and that comes to light.

“He’s sensitive. So you got to be careful what you say around him.” Jennings began. “He takes everything to heart,”

Now the comment itself was an observation by Jennings without judgment, but to display it for millions could make for an uncomfortable work environment.

Compound those comments with those made by Jennings’ sister on her Twitter account and the tension could be downright awkward.

Greg Jennings does the Lambeau Leap.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

“ARod is the most overrated QB in the league! He is nowhere near Peyton or Brady! It sickens me, Peyton would avg. 5 TD with this squad!!!”

and…

“My God Aaron Rodgers holds the ball forever! GJ was wide open 5x for that touchdown! Goodness he acts like he doesn’t want to throw to him”

and then…..

“@GregJennings ball out so you can leave this team! They will miss u when your gone! It’s all good bye packers! Cheap team, can’t afford him”

Jennings immediately blanketed the fire by explaining that they were not his words or thoughts, but it truly makes one wonder how far they are from the truth.

For the entire off-season, Jennings had been adamant that he was all but finished with the team without a new contract, which make his siblings in-season tweets all the more relevant .

Why go to a team then that does not have a solid quarterback and only has the legs of Adrian Peterson to crank out victories?

Money?

If we had not been bombarded through enough Old Spice commercials, I might think the financial aspect was the cause.

Attention?

For a season where Jennings only played eight games, his impact was immediate. Yet, there lies the rub. Jennings, the last two years, has started 21 of 32 games, and the old adage is that 90 percent of getting the job done is showing up.

Could have been from doing push-ups with a personal watercraft on his back.

Personality conflicts?

Percy Harvin’s attitude and inability to play nice bought him a ticket out of Minnesota.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

This is where the most smoke rises, and from the comments from both himself and family very well could have created an uneasiness between the receiver and Super Bowl MVP.

Publically, Jennings has been a class act, and a great ambassador for the Packers, but to go to an unfriendly rival like the Vikings creates these questions.

Which ultimately allows the merry-go-round of Minnesota to continue to spin. Rather than having a multi-faceted game-breaker, the tracks had been set before the train and had left the Vikings with another artifact from Green Bay’s legacy

Would Harvin have stuck with the team that drafted him if they would have groomed him like a receiver similar to the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald? Rather than coddling with impulsive personal moves, could Harvin have learned that players like Favre do not come with a price tag but with patience and a few ugly ducklings?

Whatever the case, the Vikings have put themselves in another situation invested in the here and now. This bet is huge, but like any obsessive gambler, they need that one win to offset those losses.

We all know how that turns out.

Greg Jennings says goodbye through classy ad

Raymond Rivard — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:36:24 +0000

Greg Jennings will be remembered for all he has done for the Packers organization, but we can’t forget – he is now a Minnesota Viking.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today published a “Bittersweet Farewell” from former wide receiver Greg Jennings to fans of the Green Bay Packers, sending a message of thanks and best wishes to all who have followed him over the past seven years.

This has been a tumultuous week for Jennings and Packers fans. There was the talk that Jennings was about to re-sign with the Packers. Then came his announced visit to Minnesota, the dinner with high ranking officials of that organization and then his signing with the NFC North Division rival Vikings.

It all hurt and Packers fans let their feelings known through every available social media outlet.

In addition, earlier this week Jennings went on Minnesota sports talk radio to tell the world that not only did he make the decision to sign with the Vikings because they “stepped up to the plate,” but that he also had received phone calls and texts from none other than Brett Favre, who Jennings said set him straight about the process and where he should sign.

Packers fans were not happy – they felt doubly stung and doubly hurt.

Today’s message, in my humble opinion, relieves some of the sting that has come about.

However, we can’t forget that he is now a Minnesota Viking and though we love everything he’s done for the Packers organization, his due will come when the Vikes and Packers play in the future.

The ad published today is below.

Packers fans, if Brett Favre ticked you off before … just wait until you read this

Raymond Rivard — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:37:49 +0000

Brett Favre was on the phone with Greg Jennings to help him make the decision to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Green Bay Packers fans had gotten over the fact that Greg Jennings has signed with the Minnesota Vikings, but the former Packers wide receiver twisted the knife even more today by raising the name of “He Who Shall Not be Named.”

For many, the gloves are now off.

Yes, it was reported today on nfl.com, among other places today, that Vikings officials had Brett Favre on the phone with Jennings upon landing in Minnesota for his visit prior to his signing with the team.

“Literally, as I got off the plane and (offensive coordinator Bill) Musgrave walked up to me, I’m on the phone with Brett,” Jennings said on KFAN-AM, via Min.Scout.com.

And if that’s not enough to tick off those who disliked Favre for his move to Minnesota in 2009, Jennings said it wasn’t just one phone call from the former Packers quarterback that he received. ”I spoke with Brett two or three times throughout this process. He shot me straight. I knew if there was one person that would shoot straight and tell me exactly what I wanted to hear and things I possibly didn’t want to hear, it would be Brett. He did that for me.”

Yes, we’re sure Favre shot him straight alright.

Packers fans who already have a grudge against Favre will no doubt add this nugget of information to their arsenal.

We wonder if Favre had anything good to say about Green Bay. After all the love he and Aaron Rodgers appeared to share on the stage of the NFL awards program last month, it’s become pretty clear that it was all for show.

We also wonder how Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy are feeling after hearing this news … disappointed, at the least. Probably pretty ticked off.

Leave it to the Vikings to pull every possible trick out of their bag to get Jennings to sign with them.

I guess you can say they were successful … for now.

Greg Jennings … My Final Thoughts

Darryl Krejci — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 13:00:16 +0000

Greg Jennings will be catching passes for the Minnesota Vikings next fall.
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Adios Greg Jennings!

Way back in my college days, when a “true love” broke my heart, the easiest way to handle the torment that ripped my heart apart was to walk down to U Liquors (yes that was the name of the place and I believe it still exists), buy a case of Old Milwaukee (it was cheap and made great furniture, just ask my old buddy ,Kirk) and drink until the sun came up or the lights went down. Then I would stumble over to the Village Wok and get an order of egg foo young and go back to my room and sleep (OK, maybe pass out). But that was when I was young, foolish and thought it was cool to wear a Tony Mandarich jersey on the streets of Minneapolis.

So fast forward 20 years. Mandarich has been replaced with Aaron Rodgers, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, and Clay Matthews. Old Milwaukee has been replaced with coffee and equal, and the occasional trip to the Mall of America wearing anything and everything Green Bay Packers, yet the heartache still remains, but not in the way you would think.

Let me start by saying, I am not sorry to see Greg Jennings go. Seriously, good riddance. The Packers Nation does not need his ego, nor do they need his persistent injury-prone, self-indulging persona.

What you may say … well it is true. Greg Jennings was a product of the system he was in. Yes he had to have some solid skills, but when you have Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers throwing to you, you are going to look better than you really are. Favre and Rodgers elevated the play of those around them. They made the average, become above average.

Now Jennings is going to a team, that no matter how he wants to spin it, has a sub-standard quarterback whose main job is to hand off to Adrian Peterson. They are not rising, they are not improving, they are fortunate to even still be playing in Minnesota. Now Jennings is going to find out what it means to lose.

His career is all downhill from here. Honestly ask yourself, have any of the former Packers who moved westward to the Purple City done anything with their careers? Did any of them win a championship? Yeah, there were two division titles since 2005 in Minnesota, but one playoff victory (as many Vikqueen fans pointed out to me) and the only Super Bowl they win is when they are playing on their Xbox.

The best quote I have read regarding Jennings and his decision to wear the Purple came from Mike Freeman, National NFL Insider for CBSsports.com, who wrote, “….it’s all but certain that Jennings’ career will die a slow death. Jennings went from Aaron Rodgers to Christian Ponder. I like Ponder more than most (OK, I’m the only one who likes him) but even as a Ponder backer, he’s not in the same galaxy as Aaron Rodgers. So Jennings made the classic decision. He got his money but his career is all down hill from here.
“The Packers will continue to fight for Super Bowls and Jennings will disappear like he’s wearing a cloaking device.”

So this is where my heart breaks. It breaks because Greg Jennings cared nothing about those who supported him. He cared nothing about those of us who wished him well during the injuries. He forgot about the cheers and championships, the love of the Packers Nation. He gave it all up because he wanted it to be all about him. He quit on us, when we never quit on him.

He told us this well before the season started that he was leaving when he alluded to this being his last year. He slapped the Green and Gold in the face when he turned down more money than he is going to make, not once but twice when Ted Thompson tried to re-sign him. The final sign was when he put his house up for sale. Most people do not sell their house until they know they are leaving or at least expect to leave. He knew then as he knew the day he arrived in Minnesota, he was not coming back.

My heart is heavy not because Greg Jennings went to the Vi-queens. It is heavy because he played us and used us, like an old college flame. He led us to believe that we were what mattered the most, but in the end, it was all about him and what he wanted.

So, Greg Jennings, know this, you do not deserve to wear the honorable colors of the Green Bay Packers. You do not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as James Lofton, Sterling Sharpe, and Donald Driver. You deserve exactly what you are going to get for the rest of your career, playing second fiddle to Adrian Peterson, and nothing else!

In the end, you showed us the real you. That it is not about being part of a team that strives for excellence and championships. This is all about feeding your self-delusional dreams of being the man. I guess you never learned that in football, being the man means putting the team first.

Enjoy your money and the slow sinking feeling that is going to be your career as we enjoy those players who put the Packers Nation above all else!

Greg Jennings: You’re about to see his career disappear

Raymond Rivard — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 02:17:49 +0000

The NFL will never have the honor and privilege to watch Aaron Rodgers throw to Greg Jennings.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings signed with the Minnesota Vikings late Friday night, sending fans of the Purple People Eaters into celebration and the Packers’ faithful to anger, disappointment and shock.

What was Jennings thinking when he said the Vikings “stepped up to the plate?”

Translation = Money.

Yes, he signed for lots of money – lots and lots of money, but he forgot one thing as he was putting pen to paper – success on the field.

Christian Ponder will be throwing next season to former Packer Greg Jennings. How successful he will be is up for debate.
Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

He left that in Green Bay and he will never find it again, especially in Minnesota. Unless the Vikings go out and draft Joe Montana, Jennings will never again experience what he did in Green Bay with his battery mate, Aaron Rodgers. With Christian Ponder, Jennings will be lucky to total 500 yards – oh, he’ll have a few high points, will score some touchdowns for the Vikings, but what he also forgot while signing that piece of paper was that Ponder hands off to Adrian Peterson 350 times per season, which means the ball will be coming his way that many fewer times.

Consider this: The Vikings passing offense under Christian Ponder the past two seasons has averaged around 2,800 yards per season. In 2011, the Vikings ranked 28th. They improved to 20th in 2012. Will Jennings bring enough to the team to improve that ranking? Not unless Adrian Peterson can throw the ball or until that Joe Montana shows up on the Vikings’ sideline.

With Rodgers throwing to him, Jennings accounted for 1,300 yards by himself in the past two years and that’s while missing three games in 2011 and eight in 2012.

Mike Freeman, National NFL Insider for CBSsports.com, said it best today when he wrote about the move by Jennings:

”… it’s all but certain that Jennings’ career will die a slow death. Jennings went from Aaron Rodgers to Christian Ponder. I like Ponder more than most (OK, I’m the only one who likes him) but even as a Ponder backer, he’s not in the same galaxy as Aaron Rodgers. So Jennings made the classic decision. He got his money but his career is all down hill from here.

“The Packers will continue to fight for Super Bowls and Jennings will disappear like he’s wearing a cloaking device.”

Larry Fitzgerald’s career has taken a marked downturn since Kurt Warner retired. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Freeman goes on to compare Jennings’ future to that Cardinals’ wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has experienced – and he’s right. Fitzgerald was all-world when Kurt Warner was throwing to him. When Warner retired, he disappeared. The same will happen to Jennings, I’m afraid.

So, good luck with your future, Mr. Jennings. It’s been nice seeing you succeed in Green Bay. It will be disappointing watching your career unravel in Minnesota.

Here are Jennings’ career statistics in Green Bay …

Report Created on


 
2011 Minnesota Vikings passing offense



Category
Total Yards
Yards Per Game
NFL Rank


Passing Offense
2,957 Yards
184.8 YPG
28th



 
2012 Minnesota Vikings passing offense



Category
Total Yards
Yards Per Game
NFL Rank


Passing Offense
2,751 Yards
171.9 YPG
20th

Category	Total Yards	Yards Per Game	NFL Rank
Passing Offense	2,957 Yards	184.8 YPG	28th

Category	Total Yards	Yards Per Game	NFL Rank
Passing Offense	2,751 Yards	171.9 YPG	20th



Dispelling the Myths Regarding Greg Jennings
Jason Hirschhorn — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 06:53:55 +0000
Dec 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings (85) against the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Packers 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
For fans of the Green Bay Packers, yesterday’s news that Greg Jennings had signed a five-year deal with division rival Minnesota brought out a lot of emotions.
Many viewed it as the end of great players’ time with Green Bay, and accordingly felt sad and nostalgic. Others, unfortunately, responded in an ugly and classless way, wishing injury and misfortune on one the principals of the Packers’ last Super Bowl winning team. It’s regrettable and disappointing that so many fans would treat a classy person like Greg Jennings that way, but such is the case with a fanbase as large and passionate as the Packers’.
Partially due to that emotion, many myths have been propagated regarding Jennings and his move to Minnesota. We address them here, and explain why they are indeed untrue:
Myth: The Packers offered Jennings more money than the Vikings
Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The misunderstanding is rooted largely in the difference between average salary and total money. Assuming the rumored $10 million per year offer from Green Bay was real, that doesn’t automatically mean Jennings took less money to go to Minnesota.
The contract Jennings signed averages out to $9.5 million per season. While that figure is less than the Packers’ offer, we can assume with confidence that Green Bay wasn’t offering five years. My best guess is their offer was in the order of $30 million over three years. Not only is that less total money, but it would mean Jennings would hit the free agent market when he is a 33-year-old. Receivers at that age, especially ones who are under six feet, generally don’t garner much interest. By signing the five-year deal with the Vikings, Jennings gives himself the best chance at earning big money into his mid-30s.
Myth: The Vikings will definitely cut Jennings before his five years are up
Greg Jennings (85) celebrates a touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Lambeau Field. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
While the contract Jennings signed only guarantees $18 million, that doesn’t mean he can only depend on earning that amount. Even if we assume Jennings will decline in productivity over the course of the deal, the Vikings have no reason to release Jennings until at least three years have elapsed. At that point, Jennings could easily renegotiate his deal and still receive more money than he would have had he been an unrestricted free agent heading toward his thirty-third birthday. This deal gives Jennings leverage at age 33 that he wouldn’t have had with Green Bay. The worst case scenario for him is the Vikings cut him after three seasons and he still picks up checks for the remaining guaranteed money.
Myth: Jennings demonstrated disloyalty by going to Minnesota
You can apply this to any player on any team. The players don’t owe their teams, teammates, or fans anything, nor should they. In the NFL, the team can cut players or force them to accept pay cuts for any reason. Players are treated like chattel and then reprimanded when they try to optimize their value. To decry a player for leaving your favorite team, no matter what team he leaves for, is an absolute farce.
Donald Driver (left) and Greg Jennings (85) talk during training camp practice at Ray Nitschke Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Furthermore, anyone who thinks there are exceptions to this are living in a fantasy. Take Donald Driver. He spent his entire career with the Packers and said repeatedly that he’s happy to have only played for one team, but that’s easy to say once you’ve retired. So quickly do people forget that when his rookie contract expired, he nearly bolted. Had the Packers not come back with an offer for more money, Driver wouldn’t have lasted five years with the club.
Would Driver have been a bad person to have done so? Absolutely not, and neither is Jennings for leaving now. This is how the NFL works, and moreover, it’s always been this way. Some fans may pine for an era when players stuck with their original teams and those clubs fostered brotherhood, but that simply never happened. Even the Lombardi Packers were made up of many retread players. Hall of Famers like Fuzzy Thurston and Emlen Tunnell were signed from other teams. Accordingly, to contend that the NFL “became too much like a business” is a hilarious falsehood. It’s the same way it’s always been.
Myth: Ted Thompson needs to be fired
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) talks with general manager Ted Thompson during the Green Bay Packers organized team activities at Ray Nitschke Field. Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
I hope most of you aren’t in this camp. Ted Thompson isn’t perfect, but he doesn’t misevaluate very often. His track record when it comes to deciding whether to re-sign players or walk away is incontrovertibly good. Two years ago, Thompson predicted that Jennings might become too expensive or too much of a liability and drafted Randall Cobb as a replacement. At the time, many considered Cobb’s selection as a “luxury,” but he’s already proven those critics wrong.
Cobb has effectively become the Packers go-to receiver in only two years in the league, during which time Jennings has missed 11 regular season games. That’s not to say Jennings is no longer a good player – he is – but the Packers are better served developing their young players and finding new talent through the draft.
In the end, both the Packers and Jennings made the right decision. Jennings received the long-term security he understandably desired and Green Bay retains the cap room necessary to keep their most important players – Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews – in a Packer uniform for many years to come.
Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardi Ave. He has previously written for Hail to the Orange, College Hoops Net, Mocking the Draft, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JBHirschhorn.



Greg Jennings: Here is what your former fans are saying
Raymond Rivard — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 01:25:19 +0000
Greg Jennings had a message for his new fan base tonight. … no doubt, it didn’t sit well with his former fan base.
FORMER Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings, while not overly surprising, but disappointing, left the Green Bay Packers at the negotiating table today and joined forces with the rival Minnesota Viking.
Though certainly not the first to be wooed to the dark side, Jennings’ decision came down not to loyalty, but for dollars. While we wish the best for Jennings the man, we hope for non-success on the football field, especially against the Packers. What kind of reception he receives when he steps foot on the Lambeau Field turf next season, the reception his decision to join the Vikings was loud and clear across Packers Nation tonight.







German Castillo oh no!!!
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Sue Merritt Speidel See ya!
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Elise Sitzman Boo!!!!
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Shirley Riegel goes to show you what a great man Donald Driver is. He could’ve gone anywhere but kept his promise to never play for another team. You won’t find that again in the NFL. It’s all about the money.
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Tom Smith
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Mary Rivard Not nice of you, Greg …..
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Chandni Patel Traitor!
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Lynn Angell We need some good news.
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Nhi Nguyen Dang no, why purple?
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Tom Cuilla All about the money apparently. Have fun with Pounder throwing to you. You won’t #be great.
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Cale Buzz Bajdas That’s fine. Good luck finding someone to THROW THE BALL TO YOU
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Allen Cooke Not cool man. Not cool.
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Mike Petrick were gona find out how very average he really is…. no more all spice commercials
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Eric Hensley NOOOOO!!!!!
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Joseph Madrid im pissed
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Jeff Geraci Hey Jennings go slap yourself for being stupid to play for the Viqueens
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Cathy Carrigan Kincaid See ya! Go wear your traitor purple!! Your as dead to our team as Farve!!
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Xavier Gonzalez Look Jennings should be lucky he even got a five year contract… And he’s only worth maybe two years out of that contract. Thompson made the right move not signing him. Remember Packer Fans we want five more rings not just one. Remember the last packer/Viking player that played with Minnesota…..
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Lori Kitzhaber Waaaahhhh!!!
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Kimmie Ann Obviously we didn’t miss him last year when he sat most of the year with groin injuries … Won’t be missed this next season … We don’t need traitors on our team .. DEUCES!!
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Norma Hulburt traitor!!!!!!!!!!!! the vikings need to move to L.A. they probably could do better out there but they probably would still steal packer players.
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Chris Sergeant Lol later Greg!
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Kim Mueller Everyone be sure to de-friend or unlike him asap.
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Hugo Fialho the viqueens?? serious???
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Xavier Gonzalez And remember AJ took a pay cut…. Just a true Packer fan that’s willing to win rings not cash out
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Michael Bakkala Bret did it and got torched. Now the best football fans in the world are not in your corner anymore.
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Melanie Battson From the bestQB to none, he’ll be crying in purple while sister twits herself into a seizure
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Mike Rudau Greg had a great career thanks to Farve and Rodgers – his productivity with Ponder will make him below average
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Michelle Williams Disappointing
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Bob Younk Bummer !!
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Queeve Olejniczak Not for me.
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Jeremy Mayo He’s. Dead. To. Me.
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Jeanne Parker He won’t look as good as he does in Pack colors!
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Meredith Kolb I hope Matthews knocks him on his ass the first time he catches the ball in the first Packers-Viqueens game this season.
about an hour ago via mobile · "}">Like














Rob Gorr Adios MF’r
about an hour ago · Edited · "}">Like














Donnie BoeSr Good Luck Greg
about an hour ago via mobile · "}">Like














Sten Cantwell ahh
about an hour ago · "}">Like














Jeremy Amundsen Traitor! He’s only got 3 or 4 years left at best anyway. Always getting hurt. Not durable. Not big enough. So long overpaid and overhyped.
59 minutes ago · "}">Like














Kathy Burak :-((((
48 minutes ago via mobile · "}">Like














Carol McGrath Boo
46 minutes ago via mobile · "}">Like














Brian Pye See ya!
13 minutes ago · "}">Like














Kevin Neal ha ha ha ha… that’s some funny shit!
6 minutes ago · "}">Like














Carrie Kellner Hes gonna look great in PURPLe
5 minutes ago · "}">Like














Charlene M Lewandowski wtf…… seriously not cool….
5 minutes ago · "}">Like










Greg Jennings leaves Packers for Vikings
Raymond Rivard — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:56:20 +0000
Sources have confirmed that Greg Jennings has done what several other Green Bay Packers have done over the years: He left the team that drafted him and the team that he helped win a Super Bowl by signing with the Minnesota Vikings.
According to Tom Pelissaro of ESPN1500,  Jennings has agreed to a five-year contract this afternoon after spending the entire day with Vikings brass.
He joined the Vikings officials, including coach Leslie Frazier, general manager Rick Spielman and defensive end Jared Allen for dinner Thursday night and then spent the entire day with officials at the Vikings facility.
According to Pelissero, the deal was finalized about 6 p.m.
The exact numbers for Jennings’ deal have yet to be released, but most expect them to be anywhere from $7- $9 million. When he entered the free agency period, Jennings was said to be asking for $11-$14 million, but the soft market and signings by players such as Wes Welker for $6 million per year probably brought Jennings’ asking price down.
It was rumored that the Packers were making a hard push to re-sign the player they drafted in the second round out of Western Michigan in 2006. Jennings was a fan favorite in Green Bay, catching 425 receptions for 6,537 yards and 53 touchdowns the past seven years. Though he has been injured the past two years, he was still considered a top receiver in this year’s free agent market.
There was no comment yet from the Packers organization.



Pelissero: Greg Jennings reported to still be at Winter Park
Raymond Rivard — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 19:56:57 +0000
Will Greg Jennings sign with the Vikings?
Raymond T. Rivard photograph
Tom Pelissero, the Minnesota Vikings who is the Senior Editor at 1500ESPN.com, seems to be camped out on the steps at Winter Park, the Vikings’ headquarters, reported a few minutes ago that Greg Jennings is still at the facility and that no agreement has yet been announced.
While also following the plethora of other free agent signings by the Vikings over the past several days, Pelissero, who is a former beat writer for the Green Bay Press Gazette, has been following the Jennings visit more closely than anyone.
He reported recently that in addition to the Vikings’ wooing of Jennings, the Vikings had also latched onto 10 free agents, eight of whom had signed a contract.
All this has taken place following the Percy Harvin trade last Monday afternoon in which the Vikings grabbed a first round draft pick this coming April and a couple of other lower round picks in 2014.
In addition to the free agent news coming out of Minnesota, Pelissero also reported that the Vikings were 50:1 odds to win the Super Bowl.
We wonder if those odds will change if and when Jennings signs on the bottom line.
 
Greg Jennings remains at #Vikings headquarters. No deal done yet.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 15, 2013


 



When Greg Jennings signs with the Vikings – Is it time to panic?
Raymond Rivard — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 03:30:18 +0000
Oct 23, 2011; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings (85) looks to the video board during the game with the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Packers win 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Today was not a good day for fans of the Green Bay Packers with the Steven Jackson news. If I ever knew what it was like to have been left at the altar, I guess that’s kinda how I was feeling earlier today.
Like everyone else, I got caught up in the free agency frenzy, the rumors, the fake tweets, the experts telling us that the Packers had the inside track in the Jackson derby. Maybe at one point they did. But after seeing what the Falcons gave the All-Pro running back, I can understand completely why Ted Thompson walked away from the table.
A 30-year-old running back who has had just short of 2,400 NFL carries? Is he worth $4 million per season for four years? Thompson says no and I have to agree with him.
There are those who will argue that the Packers have to do something about their anemic running game. I agree. How do the Packers do that? They address the needs at the line.
I don’t care if Jim Brown is in the Packers backfield – with the line they have in place, he would struggle to gain yardage. Improve the line and the backs the Packers have in-house will be effective. Thompson feels confident in his players and knows that with some depth and a starter or two on the line, this team can function well. They don’t need a big-name declining running back to do it. While addressing the line in the draft, I have a feeling that Thompson will find a running back through the draft who will add to the team’s attack.
Jim Brown could be in the Packers backfield and struggle with the earning yardage.
And what about Greg Jennings?Thompson feels confident in his players and knows that with some depth and a starter or two on the line, this team can function well. They don’t need a big-name declining running back to do it. While addressing the line in the draft, I have a feeling that Thompson will find a running back through the draft who will add to the team’s attack.
Yes, he’s having dinner in Minnesota and checking out their facilities at Winter Park. That’s fine. Is he looking for leverage? Maybe. Will he re-sign with the Packers because they have the best quarterback in the league? Possibly.
But what if he doesn’t? Is it time to run screaming into the night exclaiming that Ted Thompson must go?
No.
We must understand that Jennings will make his decision based on his comfort level. If he’s liking what he sees in Minnesota, hey, more power to him. We can yell “traitor” all we want, but it won’t change his decision. It will be time to move on.
Yes, it would be great for Jennings to come back to the Packers, but we certainly can’t expect it. In fact, we should probably assume he’s gone, that he’s checked out and is ready for a change. It’s just too bad his decision will be to move on to the Vikings. We are sick of former Packers making their new home in Minnesota. But it is what it is.
It is not time to panic. It will be time to get to work. It will be time to start looking at 23-year-old rookies to develop.
Greg Jennings (85) celebrates a touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Lambeau Field. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
It will be another time of transition, but every team experiences transitions. In fact, the teams that are most active in free agency are experiencing those growing pangs more so than those who head in to the spring OTAs with their team intact. We’ve seen it happen before – consider all of those Washington Redskins teams that spent big bucks to bring in big names and then fell flat on their face. Chemistry in a locker room doesn’t necessarily emanate from million dollar superstars. In my opinion, it comes from young players earning their way through hard work and determination.
Ted Thompson likes those types of players, too, and will continue to pursue them
In the meantime, we hope Mr. Jennings enjoyed his dinner and will have a productive day tomorrow. If he decides to move on, so will we.
It certainly won’t be time to panic.



#PeopleAtDinnerWithGregJennings – C’mon Packers fans, what say you?
Raymond Rivard — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:48:54 +0000
This is a screenshot of the Twitter hashtag page that is providing some levity for Packers fans tonight.
We are all aware (and if you’re not, you probably don’t know there’s a new Pope) that Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings is kicking back and enjoying dinner with Minnesota Vikings brass tonight.
So, without saying it – oh OK, I’ll say it – hope he will be enjoying a side of crow with his dollar scallops.
So that said, Twitter has a great hashtag happening right now - #PeopleAtDinnerWithGregJennings - Check it out and let everyone know what you’re thinking.
Yes, this has been a disappointing day what with the loss in the Steven Jackson sweepstakes, but this, too, shall pass. After the initial shock of the moment, I’ve thought a bit more about all this. Even if the Packers lose out on the Greg Jennings sweepstakes, the Packers will be fine. They haven’t been involved heavily in free agency for the past decade and they continue to win. Their draft and develop theme is a slow, plodding method, but we all know it’s been effective.
So, lighten up, Packers fans. Ease up on the Ted Thompson hate and let’s move on …
In fact, let’s have some fun. Click on over to the Twitter hashtag and leave a comment – get creative – let it all out.
If you want to see a few of what’s already been posted, here you go:



James T. Kirk #PeopleAtDinnerWithGregJennings
— mike freeman (@realfreemancbs) March 15, 2013
 
 
T. J. Rubley and Terrell Buckley (waving those Viking pompoms) #PeopleatdinnerwithGregJennings
— William(@MiltownBucky) March 15, 2013
 



Brett Favre and Red McCombs #PeopleAtDinnerWithGregJennings
— Derek Olson (@DerekOlson23) March 15, 2013
 
 
Haha! Twitter gold! RT @alextallitsch: ow.ly/i/1GMia #PeopleAtDinnerWithGregJennings
— Annie (@avanepern23) March 15, 2013
 



RT @juliemsrd: Fran Tarkenton #PeopleAtDinnerWithGregJennings (they want him to see a real QB)
— Jersey Al – ALLGBP (@JerseyAlGBP) March 15, 2013
 
 
The chick on the jetski #PeopleAtDinnerWithGregJennings
— Annie (@avanepern23) March 15, 2013
 



The Minnesota Vikings….Packer Wannabes!
Darryl Krejci — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:58:11 +0000
Zigi Wilf, can’t you develop your own players?
Raymond T. Rivard photograph
Enough is enough!! This is an open letter to Mr. Zygi Wilf of the Minnesota Vikings.  Are you that pathetic of an owner that you can’t build your own team?  Does your scouting staff stink so badly that you have to look eastward to take our scrap players because even our worst is better than your best (minus Adrian Peterson)? Since 2005 you have coveted Darren Sharper, Ryan Longwell (2006), Robert Ferguson (2007), Brett Favre (2009) and you have been unsuccessful in trying to get William Henderson, Aaron Kampman and James Jones.
Brett Favre as a Packer
Can’t you find your own players?  What is even sadder is that out of all those players the only one who amounted to anything was Longwell and you cut him!  Favre came close but in the end did the best thing any Packers’ fan could wish for, he crushed your hopes and dreams of a Super Bowl with a final season-ending interception. Those of us in Green and Gold thought maybe you would have learned by now and tried to draft and develop your own players.  If you like our model so much, then copy it, follow it, and use it.  Heck you can even clone Ted Thompson, if you want to be like us that badly. What have our free agents done for you?  Since 2005 you have a record of 64-64 with two North Division Titles and have played in three playoff games and lost all three. After getting rid of those players you so happily took, we have gone on to a record of 78-50, three North Division Titles, 10 playoff appearances with a 6-4 record, and a Super Bowl victory. So it is clear that as you keep taking our players, thinking it will improve your team, you are actually helping us to be better and more successful.  So with that in mind I gladly will give you Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley today for another Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy tomorrow. Open your eyes, wise up and realize that you cannot be what we are.  You do not have the fans that we have, the history we have and more importantly you do not have Lambeau Field.  You play in an inflated garbage bag (yes I have been there and yes I know it is inflated because the best thing about that place is when you leave, you get sucked out the doors!). So my advice to you is, you will never be any better than a bunch of Packer wannabes.  Man up, and develop your own players.  Maybe then you won’t have to rely on our scrap heap to try to be what we are!  CHAMPIONS GO PACK GO



Greg Jennings paying a visit to Vikings today
Raymond Rivard — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:03:54 +0000
Greg Jennings will get buddy-buddy with the Vikings when he pays a visit to Minnesota today.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
After two days of inactivity and much uncertainty about his actual future, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings will be paying a visit to North Division rival Minnesota Vikings today, according to a post this morning on profootballtalk.com.
Jennings, who for the past couple of days has been relatively silent – as has his phone, according to reports – is one of the top free agent wide receivers still on the market. The talk was that the Vikings were initially interested in Jennings until they learned of his salary demands (around $12 million per year). However, now that the market has somewhat set itself with the second day signings of the likes of Reggie Bush (4 years, $16 million) and Wes Welker (2 years, $12), the market value for Jennings is probably right around $6-$8 million per year.
Whether the Vikings are willing to pay more than that is why Jennings is making the visit.
The Packers, it has been reported, have a genuine interest in bringing back the player who they drafted and with whom they won a Super Bowl in 2010. Jennings has also said that he is interested in playing with a team with a solid quarterback, solid character in the locker room and a place where he could raise his family in peace.
Well, two out of three is OK. Clearly, Jennings would not be playing with the best quarterback in the league if he went to Minnesota, though he would be the main receiver because the Vikings traded Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday.
Stay tuned.



Free agent second day market benefiting Green Bay Packers
Raymond Rivard — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:47:07 +0000
Mike Wallace came out within minutes of the start of free agency to sign a $65 million deal with Miami. Things have gone downhill from there – that’s good news for the Green Bay Packers. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it one-hundred times – Ted Thompson is one patient dude. He knows value and he has an uncanny ability of knowing what’s best for the unique franchise that is the Green Bay Packers.
Somehow, some way he has developed a kind of symbiosis and unfathomable understanding of what makes the franchise tick, what keeps the team competitive year-in and year-out. Of course, having Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback doesn’t hurt.
And Thompson knows how to work the system.
Consider this year’s free agent period – the Miami Dolphins jumped in right away, spent a whole gob of money on a select few players they felt would improve the entire franchise – players that would make them into instant winners. Yes, it’s the sexy thing to do, but the quick high many times leaves the buyer with sticker shock.
While this year’s free agent class won’t be objectively evaluated for months, we’ve got to step back, like Thompson, and view the big picture. If you noticed today’s signings (with the exception of Dashon Goldson), you will see contracts that are sure to benefit the Green Bay Packers in their negotiations with both Greg Jennings and Steven Jackson. It’s the scenario that Thompson has seen before. And it’s also a situation that tends to speed up the negotiations.
Take Wes Welker’s two year, $6 million per year deal and compare it to Mike Wallace’s – yes, there’s a big difference. Wes Welker’s not Mike Wallace, but his contract is more in line with the average and more in line with Jennings’ market value.
The Packers offered Jennings $10 million last year … given what’s transpiring across the league this free agency period, Jennings is now probably looking at $8 million per year – tops. The same goes with running back Steven Jackson, who is also looking to sign with Green Bay. Reggie Bush signed a four-year deal for $16 million and Rashard Mendenhall signed a 1-year, $2.5 million deal.
Jackson will probably now have to settle for around $3 million, maybe less.
That’s good news not only for the Packers franchise – if things work out – they could get two Pro Bowl players at a fraction of the cost that teams like the Dolphins are paying … again, it’s all about value.
Maybe Tom Brady was ticked because Welker signing was a “disgrace,” but that’s the way the system works. I guess Brady doesn’t seem to understand that.
Just ask Ted Thompson, Tom … he understands.



Green Bay Packers sign nobody; excitement at fevered pitch
Raymond Rivard — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:14:21 +0000
Will it be Aaron Rodgers handing off to Steven Jackson in Green Bay next season? Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
It’s day two of the NFL Free Agency period and Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson has stood by like he does every year doing nothing – but despite that, one senses the fevered pitch with which Packers Nation is responding.
I’m not kidding.
Ted Thompson
Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
That’s because though it seems that Thompson has done nothing, he’s really been busy – we’ll explain below.
All the while the Miami Dolphins go on an amazing spending spree; the Vikings trade away their best receiver, cut a couple of guys and then sign a couple of more; the Lions push hard to sign Reggie Bush; and the Bears get their tight end and offensive lineman.
The Packers? Well, they provide low ball offers to two restricted free agents, let three RFS’s walk, and watch as OLB Erik Walden signs for $16 million over four years with Indianapolis. They also stand by as former Packer Cullen Jenkins signs with the New York Giants and former New York Giant Chris Canty (who Green Bay had in for a visit) signs with the Ravens. Former Packer Charles Woodson also schedules a visit to rival San Francisco.
The Packers? Well, they bring in Peyton Hillis (yeah, the guy who had one good year in Cleveland and has been nothing since being on the Madden cover).
Evan Dietrich-Smith
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
But that’s not the important stuff. Thompson knew all along he wasn’t going to sign either Jenkins or Canty. He figures he can address the D-line issue in the draft with less expensive and more talent. And he surely wasn’t going to sign Walden. Letting him walk was the right thing. As for the RFA’s – Thompson did that right, too. Sam Shields was his top player in that category and he didn’t overpay; same with Evan Dietrich-Smith. They are players they want back, but they’ll get them back at their price.
But the really important stuff – the need to shore up the running game and keep the receiving corps strong – came at the end of the day when information about the Packers’ interest in St. Louis running back Steven Jackson hit the wires. Coupled with that was the story that the Packers were leaning hard on getting wide receiver Greg Jennings back. Though neither of those moves have transpired as yet, the longer the period extends, the better the Packers’ chances.
Don’t worry about Thompson – he understands the waiting game and he understands value. He also understands that the fans want what’s best for the team – so does he.
Greg Jennings
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The fact that the Packers have the most money available under the cap among teams in the NFC North speaks volumes as to why Thompson is so good at what he does. There are times when he swings and misses, but in the end, he usually gets his guys.
So, let’s keep the excitement at a fevered pitch because the next few days will be interesting. With the Packers at the top of the lists for both Jackson and Jennings, it looks like the Packers will indeed get their guys.



Dear Greg Jennings: Don’t be swayed by the dark side
Raymond Rivard — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:48:20 +0000




Greg Jennings is deciding between the Packers and Vikings, it appears.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports



It’s moving toward the 10 p.m. hour on a night we’ve been told that midnight would be the threshold for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings.
You see, it’s been publicly broadcast across these Internet digits that if Jennings isn’t signed by another team before midnight, that he would consider re-signing with the team that drafted him and helped him win a Super Bowl ring.
What we’re talking about here, Mr. Jennings, is right from wrong, good from evil, white from black, the light side from the dark side. We all know you’re struggling with the decision – we know you have a bank-breaking offer from the Minnesota Vikings. You’ve heard about a guy by the name of Brett Favre? He did it, he went over to the dark side – see how it turned out for him?
Do you want to be booed every time you return to Lambeau Field? Do you want to play on a team with a quarterback who struggles finding receivers in the correct time zone? Do you want to leave a team that has the best quarterback, the best set of receivers and is poised, with a few additions, to compete for another Super Bowl?
It’s not always about money, Mr. Jennings. You’ve already made millions, you will make millions more – more money than 99.999 percent of those who cheer you. It’s more than they will make in a hundred lifetimes. They know you are a Christian man, a man who speaks about being great every day. We strive to be like you … and we want to be able to continue to emulate you for years to come.
We can all do that if you do what Donald Driver did for so many years … he did it because he loved it, because he loved and appreciated those who cheered for him.
See how it all turned out for him?
We would love to see you continue to succeed in Green Bay … not in Minnesota … or any other NFL city to which you may be thinking about moving.
Stay with us, Mr. Jennings and provide us with what we all deserve – success and greatness.



Rob Demovsky: If by midnight Greg Jennings has not signed, he may be back with the Pack
Raymond Rivard — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:41:50 +0000
Could Greg Jennings be back in Green Bay?
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
If midnight is when the spell breaks and Cinderella must rush home because her dress turns into the torn rags she wore earlier in the night, the carriage turns back into a pumpkin and the glorious horses into mice, then Greg Jennings might just turn back into a Green Bay Packer – at least that’s what Green Bay Press Gazette reporter Rob Demovsky has been told.
He tweeted about 30 minutes ago that a source told him if Jennings hasn’t signed by midnight tonight that he would be back with the Packers. It was also reported here.
The talk throughout the past couple of days is that the Packers were continuing to negotiate with Jennings who said himself in an interview with USA Today that the team he wanted to go to would have a good quarterback, good chemistry and would be a city where he could raise his children in comfort and safety.
I wrote a couple of hours ago that it sure sounded like Green Bay. Two other teams that are on the radar, the Chiefs and the Colts, would also be good fits, but with the Chiefs just re-signing Dwayne Bowe and the Colts not necessarily in need of an expensive veteran, it would seem that Green Bay, if they can afford him, would welcome Jennings back with open arms. What they will pay him will be interesting.
Anyway, let’s see what happens tonight.



Charley Casserly, Gregg Rosenthal think Jennings will re-sign with Packers
Raymond Rivard — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:41:15 +0000
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87), wide receiver Greg Jennings (85) and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrate after a touchdown during the first quarter of the Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
An informal survey of all the experts over at nfl.com provides a snapshop of 17 of the biggest named free agents who will officially hit the market in about 30 minutes.
In addition to the likes of Mike Wallace, Cliff Avril, Wes Welker, Dashon Goldson, and Reggie Bush, the experts consider with whom Greg Jennings is likely to sign.
Greg Jennings and quarterback Aaron Rodgers celebrate after a touchdown during the first quarter of the Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
To my surprise, Charley Casserly and Gregg Rosenthal have come out saying that Jennings is likely to stay put and find a way to re-sign with the Green Bay Packers.
Surprising? Yes, to an extent.
But think about it. Jennings has come out and said the team he wants to go to must have a solid quarterback, high character in the locker room and the city must be a great place for his kids. It sure sounds like he’s describing the Packers and Green Bay.
Of the teams he’s been most linked to – the Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings – simply don’t have that full package. The Dolphins appear to be going hard after Mike Wallace and the Vikings – well, they simply don’t have the quarterback that would attract a receiver like Jennings. You’ve got think that Jennings is looking for a team with a QB who will at least be able to get the ball within the same zip code.
Maybe Casserly and Rosenthal know more than we know.
What do you think?
I guess we’ll know sooner than later.



Mike Wallace will get the bucks, but Greg Jennings is the best receiver
Raymond Rivard — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:17:52 +0000





 
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks’ analysis today of the top two receivers on the Free Agent market, Mike Wallace and Greg Jennings, is an interesting look at quality over quantity.
With receivers taking over as the marquee players on the market because of the fact that the NFL has become a pass-happy league, Brooks’s look at these two players illustrates that the best player doesn’t always come out on top as far as what teams value.
In his film study, Brooks breaks down each of these receivers and compares them on ball skills, route running, yardage after the catch, explosiveness and clutch performance.
Brooks favors Jennings on the ball skills and route running. He says this about Jennings’ ball skills:
Jennings is one of the best pass catchers in the NFL. He snatches the ball out of the air with his big mitts; his hand-eye concentration is remarkable. He tracks and adjusts well to the flight of the ball while shielding defenders with his body to keep them from knocking the ball away at the last moment.
On his route running, Brooks says this about Jennings:
Jennings is one of the slickest route runners in the game, using a vast array of stems and releases to obtain leverage on defenders at the tops of routes. Additionally, he understands how to vary his tempo and speed to set defenders up for double moves down the field. Even while enjoying the freedom to empty his bag of tricks to get open in Green Bay, Jennings rarely affected the timing of the passing game. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers – who routinely released the ball before Jennings would hit the top of his break — certainly trusted in Jennings’ ability to get to the designated spot. Every NFL quarterback covets a No. 1 receiver with exceptional route running skills, so it’s not surprising that Jennings tops the list of available free-agent receivers.
Brooks gives Wallace the advantage on yards after the catch and explosiveness, but again gives Jennings the nod on being clutch:
Evaluating Jennings’ play throughout his career, I was most impressed with his postseason performance. He consistently stepped up his game in the playoffs, thriving as the Packers‘ No. 1 receiver when the pressure was on. In 10 postseason games, Jennings has 50 receptions for 673 yards and six scores. Although injuries and the emergence of Jordy Nelson prevented Jennings from making a significant impact during the Packers‘ most recent playoff runs, the fact that he was so instrumental in helping the team win Super Bowl XLV makes him a special player, in my mind.
But does the fact that Jennings rates over Wallace translate into dollars? Not according to Brooks who says that Jennings’ age and injuries will play a large role on his final contract numbers and even with which team he eventually signs.
We’ll see how Brooks’s comparisons and bottom line evaluation will play out when teams go after the top free agents for real starting Tuesday at 3 p.m. CDT.