Packers Daily Links: Rodgers Not Optimistic About Jennings Staying in Green Bay
In a local radio interview, Rodgers acknowledged it could be his last season with Jennings. That and more in today's Daily Links...
During his weekly in-season radio interview with the ESPN Radio affiliate in Milwaukee, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not seem particularly optimistic about wide receiver Greg Jennings signing a contract extension with Green Bay. “I think you have to be realistic about it and think that it might be (our last year together),” Rodgers is quoted as saying by host Jason Wilde. “I have loved my time with Greg, Greg and I are going to be buddies whether he’s here or not." Jennings is in the final season of his contract with the Packers, and while there's the possibility he may return beyond 2012, the wide receiver has spoken to several media outlets about the uncertainty.
More about Greg Jennings comes from NFL.com's Around the League blog, including an interview on NFL AM, AllGreenBayPackers.com and the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Aaron Rodgers touched on more topics during his radio interview including the replacement refs and saying the Packers should consider signing Chad Clifton.
The R&B group Boyz II Men will sing the national anthem at the Packers' season opener on Sunday, Fox 11 in Green Bay reports.
Packers legend Bart Starr appeared at Lambeau Field on Tuesday as part of campaign by Tide laundry detergent that will give away t-shirts to every Packers fan during the team's first game against the 49ers. Starr also talked about his connection to the Packers. "I follow them uniquely closely, and I always will," Starr said in an interview with Fox Sports Wisconsin. "It's just a part of my makeup and a part of my body and thought process, because of having been here for so many years and continuing to follow them and having so many friends around here."
More on Bart Starr and the Tide campaign comes from Lombardi Ave., the Press-Gazette, including comments that former Packers tackle Bob Skoronski deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
A season prediction from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn forecasts a regression towards the mean for the Packers in 2012. "Despite playing one of the three or four softest schedules in the league, the forecast here is for a 10-6 finish, or a five-game drop from 2011, and elimination short of the Super Bowl," writes McGinn. I definitely don't see the Packers going 15-1 again, but 10-6 seems lower than I expect.
More items from Bob McGinn include a ranking of every player on the Packers' roster, an analysis of the 49ers and a feature on guard Josh Sitton.
Packer Plus gets into player ranking too, but breaks it up by offense and defense.
The Packers remained in the No. 1 spot in only the second-ever voting of the Associated Press Pro32 rankings. "Best team in regular season last year and have chip on shoulder after playoff loss," said Chris Collinsworth of NBC Sports, one of the voters on the panel. The Pro32 rankings will be updated weekly during the season, much like the Top 25 polls in college football.
Features on linebacker Clay Matthews and long snapper Brett Goode are published by the Journal Sentinel.
Columns on facing Randy Moss and head coach Mike McCarthy are published by the Journal Sentinel as well.
Another look at the 49ers comes from the Press-Gazette.
A season preview for the Packers is undertaken by Chris Jenkins of the Associated Press.
Graphic illustrations of the Packers' various defensive packages are created by the Journal Sentinel.
Former Packers safety LeRoy Butler talks Xs and Os with Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel.
Several Packers players helped build a local playground on their day off on Tuesday.
Cornerback Brandian Ross survived the Packers' roster cuts.
Linebacker Nick Perry is spotlighted by Bleacher Report NFC North blogger Andrew Garda.
Head coach Mike McCarthy answers questions in his weekly in-season feature at the team's website.
Video: Aaron Rodgers appears in commercials for a new advertising campaign by Pizza Hut...
Brian Carriveau is the editor at Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].
Comments (27)
September 05, 2012 at 09:27 am
Bart Starr = my favorite Packer of all-time.
September 05, 2012 at 10:00 am
Pizza Hut blows.
September 05, 2012 at 01:04 pm
The only good thing about pizza hut was 1999 when I was stoned and could pay $5 for an all you can eat buffet.
September 05, 2012 at 08:16 pm
+1. '94-97 for me though.
September 05, 2012 at 01:39 pm
I love ARod, but he's got to keep his mouth shut on player stuff. That's not his job. Not that ARod is a megalomaniac like a certain Bert Ferve who used to play QB here - but TT has earned respect. More hits than misses.
Cliffy's done. And GJ will go the the highest bidder - which will probably not be Green Bay. TT can't pay everyone.
September 05, 2012 at 02:20 pm
Did you even listen to the show? It is pretty obvious that Rodgers knows that Jennings may be a cap casualty. He doesn't seem bitter or angry about it. It seems to me that he says he likes Jennings whether he stays or goes, but he also understands business and why he may go.
To me he seemed neutral on the subject, gave his opinion on the player but basically kept out of it. This is what he seems to do the vast majority of time. He was asked a question and gave his opinion, in no way did he rip the team or Jennings about the contract situation or his future. So why don't you direct all your Favre hatred at the former #4 instead of on the current QB.
September 05, 2012 at 02:33 pm
If the Packers offer is competitive, I feel like Jennings will stay.
Would, say, Miami blow him away with a huge offer? Probably. But he strikes me as a guy who understands how good the situation in Green Bay is and isn't going to chase the biggest check.
But I'm probably being naive.
September 05, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Actually the last I sound bite I heard from Jennings it sounds as if he wants to get paid. I think he realizes he is not getting Johnson or Fitgerald money but I think he wants to be paid up there.
He actually has stated he is not going to say something to the effect of I like this organization so I am just going to take what they give me. That to me sounds like some one that is going to go where he can get paid.
I like Jennings and hold no grudge against him or that attitude. In the NFL you gotta get yours while you can because teams will just eat you up and spit you out like meat.
Even if Jennings goes life goes on, I am a GBP fan and though I like certain players, no one is above the organization. It is why I harbor no ill will toward Favre and actually wanted him booted before he did.
September 05, 2012 at 02:10 pm
How does Bob McGinn still have a job?
The only credible and substantive thoughts he shares anymore are those of his scout contacts. I literally begin reading his articles with the hope they include thoughts from scouts...otherwise they are close to garbage.
September 06, 2012 at 04:00 pm
Bob is widely considered the best in the biz at his job. Is it wrong to be objective in your reporting rather than writing pointless positive drivel to make some fans happy? And if you look at his predictions he's usually spot on. There are many writers out there who won't say anything about the team they cover, go read them if it makes you happy. But I'll take Bob's opinion over anyone else when talking about the Packers.
September 05, 2012 at 03:04 pm
If Greg leaves he will never be heard from again. It happens to so many WRs that leave a good situation. Vincent Jackson will be a perfect example this year. He'll make a lot of money though!! Please Greg, work it out with Ted and have a potential HOF career in GB.
September 05, 2012 at 05:42 pm
Yeah, that's what happened to what's his face Javon Walker. He did a lot after Green Bay. What's he doing these days?
September 06, 2012 at 04:01 pm
Maybe true, but IMO get paid. You only have a short window of being able to make the money afforded to you. Take it.
September 05, 2012 at 03:34 pm
Cliffy will be back after 3rd game
September 05, 2012 at 09:09 pm
To me, the Jennings situation is cut and dry. Do the Packers want a legitimate shot at being a dynasty.
A good D is great, but this team goes as the offense goes (see 2011 for proof). Jennings is the straw that stirs the proverbial drink, and that's just a fact. 85 on the field makes defenses worry, if the ball isn't going to him, his presence makes life easier on the other WR's (much like Finley, but to a greater extent with 85 imo). If Greg isn't around, it makes life that much harder for the O and significantly easier on the opposing D.
I am a HUGE Matthews fan, as well as Raji, but we've shown time-and-again we can consistently win shootouts with the O when the D lays an egg. I don't think that happens without Greg, the O just isn't as explosive .
IMO, locking Greg up for 1 more contract is top priority among the looming FA... If the goal remains winning championships that is.
GBP 4 LIFE
September 05, 2012 at 11:03 pm
Just like last years play off game right?
Remember the super bowl winning season? Remember when McCarthy would defer the opening kick off to get the ball first in the 2nd half? I don't know about you but that was ok with me that year, I wasn't worried about our D. This past year and this year that scares the hell out of me.
Sure the Packers offense can out score every one, but what happens when they cant? Its pretty obvious the Patriots have been employing this strategy for a while, how has it fared for them? They have gotten back to the super bowl, but its been a while since they have won it. And last I checked those super bowls weren't lost in shoot outs.
September 06, 2012 at 12:10 am
Yeah, being ahead or close late in two SBs, where both games could have gone either way, is definitely a strategy we should not try and replicate...
September 06, 2012 at 02:05 am
2 games they still lost, and I don't remember them scoring a bunch of points in either of those games. Relying solely on your offense will bite you in the butt. Remember the near perfect year the pats had? Remember when they set the record for most points in a season? Where was that offense when the game that mattered most counted? Imagine if their defense had been just a little better.
September 06, 2012 at 09:39 am
But imagine if the pats didn't have their #1 offensive weapon Randy Moss that year, instead they gave his cash to a D lineman or a LB. Do you think they would have started 18-0 and set the scoring record? Me neither.
September 06, 2012 at 09:52 am
Or even got to the SB?
September 06, 2012 at 09:35 am
Last year's playoff game proves my point. The O had a bad day, we lost, hence, we go as our O goes.
I don't recall our D stepping up and covering for the O that day. I do recall Matthews and Raji being on the field.
The turn overs on the year compared to that game lead me to believe the giant game was more of an offensive anomaly. 15-2 with a great O and below average D.
This is a passing league, the rules cater to it. We have arguably the best aerial attack in the league, why break up the band?
September 06, 2012 at 05:37 pm
we could go round and round on what is better. It is just a philosophical thing. I prefer not to put all my eggs into 1 basket. Being a 1 trick pony will only get you so far. I would like a defense with the ability to win a 9-0 game like we did a few years back against the Jets. The D doesn't have to do it every game but I would like it to be able to.
Sure with out Randy Moss the Patriots might not have gotten to 18-0, but maybe they would have been more balanced. Maybe they would have had a better defense, and maybe they may not have had a chance at perfection, but maybe that defense was just good enough to hold the Giants and win the game. Or they could have gone like the Lions and 16-0.
We could talk hypothetical all day, the simple fact of the matter is even with the history setting offense the pats failed to beat a more balanced Giants team that was hot.
I think the closer you are to being balanced, the better your shot is to win the one game that counts. Sure no team is going to be exactly balanced, but constantly ignoring one aspect of your team or keeping it as a 2nd rate citizen only hurts you in the end.
September 06, 2012 at 05:39 pm
i mean 0-16 for the lions comment.
September 06, 2012 at 08:04 pm
I don't see how signing Greg "automatically" makes the D a 2nd rate citizen. Sure he's gonna eat up future cap space, but Ted is very good with working the cap. I wouldn't be shocked to see him finagle a way to keep em all.
I agree that balance is good, but personally, I'd like to be great at one thing and hang your hat on it rather than be a jack of all trades, master of none.
FYI, there's a lot of youth and talent on D no matter how you look at, they just have to perform. And 85 has nothing to do with that. The first six picks in the draft is hardly ignoring the D btw.
September 06, 2012 at 02:27 am
Imagine this.....This is gonna sound crazy i know but say yes we do keep greg, but just imagine a packer team with........a......running back! If we had the same pasding attack and a running back like (MJD) haha we could have a bunch of Zombos running around on D and still clean house!
September 06, 2012 at 09:56 am
You sound crazy. JK, i've thought about that too, but coach would rather have daily prostrate exams than consistently run 20-30 times a game. His O requires just enough of a run threat to make defenses pause for a half second... Surprisingly, they do!
September 06, 2012 at 10:00 am
Prostate... Auto spell... Ya know