First of all, I flat out love how James Jones is the Adam Shefter of all Packer related news. I don't think he's had a single scoop not Packer related. You know as soon as he decided to pursue a career in TV after his playing career ended, he made sure he was in every former teammate's ear asking them to tell him first before any major decision gets announced. He's like a buddy that all of a sudden changes his career to real estate and starts making side comments about how you need to upgrade every time he's at your place. I don't hate the hustle, not one bit.
Anyway, when the Raiders decided to cut Jordy Nelson last week, I, like a lot of Packer fans, started to day dream about a reunion with the Packers. Bring him back as a slot receiver who can mentor our younger wide receivers, he's got the undeniable chemistry with Aaron Rodgers, if anyone is going to squeeze the most out of the end of Nelson's career it's Rodgers, blah blah blah, Seinfeld reference, blah. At the end of the day though, I think most Packer fans figured it was a pipe dream.
Well, news came down (credit Jones, James) about an hour ago that Jordy is going to call it a career. Hard to fault him. He's put up the numbers, he's got the ring, he's got nothing more to prove in the league. Why let his body get chewed up even more for a contract that will be a fraction the size of what he was making at the end of his deal in Green Bay. The risk/reward isn't really there.
So we tip our cheesehead to one of the all time great Packer players/Packer people. Jordy was quintessential 'Packer.' He was always humble, consistently hard working, he had the family farming background, you honestly could not have dreamed up a more likable Packer player. And the fact that he was a flat out stud in his prime didn't hurt either. The speed, the back shoulder catches, the toe-tapping sideline grabs, he was on another level for about 3-4 seasons. Goodnight sweet prince*, next stop, Packer HOF:
*Jesus, Jon. Take it easy with that last paragraph. He's not dead.
PS: Not sure how I feel about the fact that pass interference (both calls and non-calls) will be reviewable next season. I get that SOMETHING had to be done in the wake of that horrific non-call in the NFC Championship game between the Saints and Rams, but I do worry about over-regulating EVERY little thing in a physical game. We already have to hold our breath every single time a quarterback is hit, waiting for a flag before we can celebrate. Now it's going to be the same with every incomplete pass in a big situation.
Let me paint a scenario for you, not that I've given this too much thought. Opening night, September 5th, Soldier Field. Packers are up 21-17 with 10 seconds left, the Bears have the ball on the Packer 10 yard line, 4th and goal. Trubisky drops back, rolls to his right, fires a pass to Tarik Cohen, IT'S INCOMPLETE! IT'S INCOMPLETE! Packers win! But WAIT, as it turns out, Kevin King slightly grazed Cohen's arm in the end zone. Technically, pass interference! Bears get the ball at the 1, promptly score the game winning touchdown.
Again, in an egregious situation, where the Super Bowl is on the line, I get it. You want to make something right that was obviously wrong and send the right team to the biggest game of the season. But the above scenario is what I worry about.
Double PS: ^ Go outside, Jon.
