Packers: The case for and against signing Jordy Nelson
By Brady Busha
The case for and against the Green Bay Packers signing Jordy Nelson.
Nobody on the Green Bay Packers’ roster has worn #87 since Jordy Nelson was given a rather unceremonious farewell in the spring of 2018.
Jordy Nelson is an icon in Green Bay, and no doubt will have a place in the Packers Hall of Fame someday. A humble farm kid from Manhattan, Kansas who passed on playing basketball to play football, he had stolen the hearts of Packers fans since the day he was drafted.
His coy smile, relationship with Aaron Rodgers, and ability to create explosive plays regularly created a Green Bay legend, and a Super Bowl champion along the way. Nelson started nearly every game from 2011 to 2017 for the Packers (barring 2015, lost to an ACL tear during the preseason), and in that time accumulated 513 catches for 6,580 yards and 63 touchdowns.
Nelson’s route-running prowess, football IQ and athleticism suited his quarterback perfectly, as any time a play broke down or Aaron was on the run, Nelson would use all three of these traits to find space and give a target to throw to. Nelson’s spatial awareness, playing speed and sure hands create an underrated receiver, and in the wake of the Oakland Raiders signing Antonio Brown, he has been cut.
And so began the Twitter and Facebook comments on everything Green Bay. Suddenly, Adrian Amos and the Smith duo aren’t the topic of conversation.