Packers: Davante Adams contract negotiations off, ‘in a bad place’

The offseason just keeps getting better and better for the Green Bay Packers. Sarcasm font required.

After months of speculation about Aaron Rodgers’ future with the team, we can add star wide receiver Davante Adams to the mix.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Packers and Adams have “broken off long-term extension talks” with “no current plans to resume them”.

Adams is set to become a free agent next offseason. The Packers typically try to work out long-term extensions in advance of the player hitting free agency, so this is significant news.

The most worrying note to come from Rapoport is that after months of negotiations, “they are now in a bad place”.

Rapoport would add that the contract proposals “have not acknowledged Adams as the highest paid WR”.

Yeah, I can understand why that would frustrate Adams. I mean, all he did was lead the NFL with 18 receiving touchdowns, put up 1,374 yards, and catch a franchise-record 115 passes, all despite the fact he missed 2.5 games through injury. It’s certainly fair for Adams to want to be paid like the best wide receiver in football because, well, he is the best.

They are hardly reassuring comments from Rapoport.

What we don’t know is what exactly a “bad place” means for the Packers and Adams. And with contract negotiations off, is this a permanent thing or just for the time being? If it’s permanent, Adams will be scheduled to hit free agency next spring unless the Packers use the franchise tag. Or worse still, trade him before then.

One can only wonder whether Rodgers’ ongoing situation will play any role in Adams’ future, but that would just be speculation at this point.

What does seem clear is the Green Bay front office is doing a good job of alienating its star players, and that’s far from ideal.