The agent for free agent wide receiver James Jones told the
James Jones
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he doesn’t think Ted Thompson wants his client back with the Green Bay Packers once the free agent signing period begins on March 11.
It’s one of the things wrong with pro football today.
There’s not a player in the Green Bay locker room that played harder and the team always came first. Jones didn’t complain about opportunities and didn’t fall back on excuses when things weren’t going well. While he missed two games with a knee injury last season, he played the last two with two broken ribs.
Back in the day, a player like Jones would have likely spent his entire career with the Packers. But with Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb in front of him on the receiver depth chart and talent young receivers like Jarrett Boykin ready to burst onto the scene, there just isn’t room for a free agent receiver looking to be rewarded for his play, not to mention his great attitude and toughness.
Jones caught 59 passes for 817 yards and three touchdowns last season, a season where the Packers were missing their starting quarterback for half the season. He played in 64 straight games from 2009-’12 before missing two games with a sprained PCL.
Seven years in Green Bay and instead of being rewarded, he gets nothing but a cold shoulder.
Jones isn’t out the door yet and there’s always a chance that he could wind up back in Green Bay. Of course for that to happen, Jones would likely have to struggle to find a suitable taker in free agency and the Packers would most likely have to see young players either struggle or suffer injuries to see Jones return.
Players like James Jones are the ones you cheer for, the ones you hope are on your side. Barring an upset, it’s looking more like Jones will be making plays next season for somebody other than the Green Bay Packers.