Packers Reportedly Not Interested In Bringing Back James Jones
Green Bay seems content with their young stable of pass catchers heading into the 2016 season.
By PackerAaron
Pretty cut and dry, from Silverstein:
The Packers have told the agent for Packers WR James Jones that they are not interested in bringing him back because of the number of young receivers they have on the roster.
One minute, you're catching touchdowns from Aaron Rodgers, the next, you are surplus to requirements.
While moving on from Jones is understandable, given the young pass catchers on the roster, it's hard to see Jones pretty much kicked back to the curb after saving Thompson's proverbial bacon last season.
Jones came in off the street, caught two touchdowns in Week 1 on his way to putting up 50 receptions for 890 yards and 8 touchdowns. Not to mention he was clearly one of the few guys running pass patterns that the famously picky quarterback trusted at all.
It would seem Thompson is confident that the return of Jordy Nelson and the maturation of young guys like Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis will be able to offset the production that Jones brought to the offense.
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Comments (32)
RCPackerFan
March 21, 2016 at 04:21 pm
Its not surprising that they aren't going to bring him back.
The biggest question I would have is how much would having Jones limit the development of the younger players like Adams, Abbrederis, Janis, Montgomery? And at the same time how much would having him on the roster help the development of those players?
I think for the off season its more important to get the young players as many reps as they can with Rodgers. To build a solid rapport with him. With Jones they would get that many less reps with Rodgers.
zoellner25
March 21, 2016 at 04:33 pm
It makes sense. They don't have room.
Bearmeat
March 21, 2016 at 05:39 pm
You know, your post this morning made sense. I was hoping you could string 2 common sense thoughts together in a row. But I knew that was probably a reach considering your Bovinity.
Bearmeat
March 22, 2016 at 07:36 am
See. That. Right there. That I can get behind. But you said it with such sarcasm and acidity above that I was inclined to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
You're a smart guy Cow. Type like it on a more regular basis please.
dobber
March 22, 2016 at 07:48 am
^^^THIS^^^
Bearmeat
March 22, 2016 at 11:52 am
;)
ray nichkee
March 21, 2016 at 06:06 pm
To CowREBORN but still the same d-bag:
1. The only thing you have on James Jones is talking out of your hole.
2. Who the eff is we? I don't think you have anything else to talk shit about in the packers orginization. Don't say we again.
holmesmd
March 21, 2016 at 09:02 pm
I will bet you 5 grand that you are not faster than JJ. I call BS
LeagueObsrvr
March 21, 2016 at 05:30 pm
Jones had a good run, but quite frankly, he's too old now, it's time to move on. Janis, Abbrederis, and Montgomery are expected to play bigger roles in the offense going forward, and there simply aren't enough balls to go around.
Ibleedgreenmore
March 21, 2016 at 05:35 pm
Yeah he had some fantastic catches over the years, he was a great player but now its time to move on. The young guys showed they can handle it, baring an injury I believe the talent is there.
Evan
March 21, 2016 at 10:55 pm
The young guys showed they could handle it? Did I watch a different Packers season?
marpag1
March 22, 2016 at 06:05 am
What Evan actually said was that the young receivers have not proven themselves as legit players. He didn't say that they were proven to be hopeless stiffs who needed to be cut.
I fully agree that Adams and Abby have not proven that they belong on next year's roster. More than that, Janis certainly has not proven himself as a receiver either, although his play on special teams gives him a roster edge. Neither has Montgomery.
I do not agree that these players cannot possibly prove their worth in the future (any more than I believe that Colin Kaepernick is the next wave a great QBs). There is more than a little danger of jumping to conclusions, but you are a little bit inclined in that direction, Cow.
These guys can fight it out in training camp. If they are worthy they will make it. I suspect that some will.
RCPackerFan
March 22, 2016 at 12:29 pm
injuries was a major part to that.
dobber
March 22, 2016 at 12:58 pm
"Kaepernick has been forced into an offense that does not accentuate his strengths. Coaching failure."
Sometimes life doesn't go your way. In that first year or two, his strengths seemed to be working out pretty well. Many players get drafted onto teams that can't or don't use them in a way that maximizes their strengths, and they wash out of the league without getting the opportunity to truly show what they're capable of. Kaepernick has two decent years on film to buy himself another shot. It's no guarantee that the next landing spot will use him in a way that turns him into an all-pro -- or even just an average QB -- either.
Coaching failure? Maybe. Personnel failure? Maybe. Coachabiilty failure? Maybe....
dobber
March 22, 2016 at 07:52 am
These two are NFL caliber players, but I mirror your sentiment in that I don't think they've proven that they are the kinds of players you want to rely on week-in and week-out. I guarantee that Adams, barring some kind of obscure development, will be on the roster and get another chance. Very possibly, he gets outplayed by Montgomery. Abberderis and Janis will both likely be fighting for a job...Packers draft a WR and Abbrederis needs to get really nervous.
holmesmd
March 22, 2016 at 11:23 am
#12 seems to have a man crush on JA, so there is that. Lol. I think he runs better routes and understands the nuances of the playbook better than JJ? That's the only reason I can see for the favoritism that Rodgers seems to direct at pretty much anyone not named Jeff Janis.:(
Bearmeat
March 21, 2016 at 05:41 pm
Harsh dude. Way harsh. TT is stone cold. I know you have to be in this business. But still. Ouch! Gotta think James will not want to pick up the phone if it has a 920 area code on it ever again.
Why not just say: "While we are thankful for James' contributions to the Green Bay Packers over the years, we are not interested in signing a contract at this time. This may change as the 2016 season approaches."
PackerAaron
March 21, 2016 at 07:50 pm
To be fair, the Packers haven't "said" anything.
Bearmeat
March 21, 2016 at 09:35 pm
Fine. But he's a beloved vet. This report being out there at all should be addressed by someone (preferably TT/MM) in the organization.
dobber
March 22, 2016 at 07:54 am
There is no love or honor in the salary cap.
Besides, the Packers may have expressed this sentiment to the agent in this way, but it has been paraphrased by some twitter jock for our consumption.
EddieLee
March 21, 2016 at 06:30 pm
Well, he just couldn't get separation anymore. Only route that kinda worked was the back-shoulder pass. They need to move on.
TommyG
March 21, 2016 at 07:41 pm
Harsh? Yes. Cold-blooded? Yes. Good football decision? Also yes. We must not let emotional attachment to players supersede what is best for the organization. Will I miss the hoodie? You bet! But I won't be thinking about it when one of the young guys is streaking down the field for a TD.
RVAborn
March 21, 2016 at 11:43 pm
Agree with everything you said with exception to your last sentence . Our young guys "streaking" for a TD (exception Janis-but he never plays) is a bit of an embellishment considering they were collaberatively the slowest group of receivers in the league.
stockholder
March 21, 2016 at 08:00 pm
Thank you James Jones! You saved the packers season last year. Good Luck.
Rossonero
March 22, 2016 at 12:07 am
I'm grateful for JJ saving the Packers asses on numerous occasions last season, and at the same time, he disappeared from other games when he was needed. 10 years in the NFL after growing up homeless is a tremendous accomplishment.
I know he wants to play more, but at some point, he'll need to accept that the end is the end. I hope he parted on good terms and that the Packers gave him his proper respect.
marpag1
March 22, 2016 at 01:24 am
Hey, I love the guy, but the Packers have just as good a chance of bringing back TJ Rubley as James Jones.
NickPerry
March 22, 2016 at 06:30 am
Abby can't stay on the field.
Adams can't catch or get on the same page with AR
Montgomery is a player I absolutely believe in but after a injury filled Senior Season and Rookie Season I hope this isn't a trend.
Janis has done it for 3 quarters.
Still no Tight End.
Thanks James Jones, without you we'd have missed the playoffs entirely last year. Gotta keep that streak going.
AWESOME Ted!!!!
egbertsouse
March 22, 2016 at 07:55 am
I would rather have JJ than Dropvante Adams but I realize that TT has one of his unexplainable man-crushes on Adams and will probably overpay for him at contract time even though it is clear that he totally sucks. Adams has become the offense's Jarrett Bush.
lou
March 22, 2016 at 09:40 am
What a comparison, Adams and Jarrett Bush, that is thinking out of the box. Based on where he was drafted, Adam's will get plenty of chances in 2016, it was not only the drops but the fact that he averaged the least amount of yards per catch then any Packer WR since 1951 (he barely averaged more yard than Richard Rodgers). I think we are missing a couple keys as to how well the young WR's will perform, if Nelson is full speed and they do get a TE in the draft that can stretch the field, all of the WR's will look better. If Montgomery like Nelson is full speed he will be hard to keep on the sideline, and Janis has to be force fed into the offense, lets find out day one if he can be "the guy" opposite Nelson instead of guessing all season, he either does it right away or not.
baybruhabk
March 22, 2016 at 10:26 am
I found it funny that they will not bring back James Jones who is 31 and a good veteran to have. Larry Fitzgerald is in his 30's as well and is still able to make big plays. Age didn't play a factor when everyone wanted to sign Matt Forte who is 30 and will be turning 31 soon. The point I'm trying to make is that Jordy Nelson is 30 and also coming off a injury so how effective will he be with the heavy load on him. I think J.J. would have been a hell of a WR3, because all the attention would be on Randall and Nelson. GIVE THE YOUNG WR's time to develop behind veterans who can teach them a thing or two.
Thoughts?
Evan
March 22, 2016 at 10:38 am
Jones was never remotely the caliber player Fitz was or Nelson is. Age might take Fitz from an A+ receiver to a B. But it took Jones from a B receiver to a C-
Irish_Cheesehead
March 22, 2016 at 01:03 pm
Love Jones but this is a good decision. He has zero speed and just can't separate anymore. That said, the guy made just over $17 million in his career. I think he'll be OK.