Jordy Nelson already has one potential suitor. The veteran wideout is set to visit with the Raiders on Wednesday, reports Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (via Twitter). Nelson was released by the Packers early today.
Nelson has one natural connection to Oakland, as Gehlken tweets that former Packers receivers coach Edgar Bennett is currently in the same role with Oakland. Furthermore, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie was in Green Bay when Nelson was drafted. Of course, Nelson would also be an easy fit in the Raiders high-powered offense. With Jon Gruden at the helm, Derek Carr under center, and Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree requiring coverage, Nelson should have plenty of opportunities to put up numbers in Oakland.
Nelson’s release wasn’t a huge surprise, especially after the Packers inked tight end Jimmy Graham to a pricey three-year deal earlier today. The 32-year-old had been considered a cap casualty for some time, as the organization will save a hefty $10.2MM by moving on from the wideout. Considering his track record, Nelson should be able to secure a modest deal in free agency. Last offseason, the receiver had said he intended to play another two-to-four seasons.
The 2008 second-round pick had spent his entire career with the Packers, winning a Super Bowl and earning a second-team All-Pro nod along the way. Nelson missed the entire 2015 season with a torn ACL, but he had compiled at least 1,200 receiving yards in four of his five healthy seasons between 2011 and 2016. With Aaron Rodgers out of the lineup, Nelson’s numbers took a dip in 2017. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has already said he doesn’t expect the veteran wideout to rejoin the organization for less money
Just not anywhere in the NFC North.
I doubt any of those 3 teams would be interested anyway.
I’d love to see him on the Vikings, maybe with a deal similar to Michael Floyd’s ($1.5 million base, but incentives binging it up to $4.5 or $5 million).
Or to the Pats or Dallas. Hate those teams too.
If he signs for anything less than $6M/year I’m going to be disappointed the Packers didn’t keep him.
Unless there’s hurt feelings/bad blood or whatever, I don’t see why the Packers won’t consider signing him to a lower base with incentives. His chemistry with Rodgers is off the charts, and Carr wasn’t very good last season.
I just read somewhere GB supposedly asked him to cut his salary to like $1.5 mil..if that’s true, and the dollar figure is remotely close, I’m guessing Jordy isn’t the most pleased with GB brass right about now.
He probably shouldn’t have said that money doesn’t matter to him in that interview.
He’s not pleased for the Packers making a business decision? The Packers always had an issue keeping guys past their primes. I love Jordy but a 10M cap savings for a guy who’s honestly your third best wideout isn’t worth it. If they said we can keep you in GB for this dollar amount, he said no so they respected what he’s done and let him hit the market. It’s a business. Can’t pay the guy for what he did in the past.
Would you be pleased if your employer asked you to take a 75% or greater pay cut? I doubt it. So no, I really don’t think he’s pleased with the Packers making a business decision. I would personally rather just be let go (released, laid off, however you care to define it) than be asked to work for a quarter of my salary.
Happens ALL the time in the NFL. Never seen so many people question it when ALL other players around the league get cut for “Business” reason. Guess skill deterioration is accepted/ignored by fans when it’s a well liked player
You are both trying so hard to educate me on the “business” of football, you can’t see the forest for the trees.
I understand cutting players when their skills diminish. I’m not in any way arguing against cutting ties with a player in this scenario.
It also has nothing to do with whether or not I like Nelson (I do, moreso as a person than as a player, but it really has nothing to do with my comment).
My point, again, is that nobody wants to be asked to take a 75% or more pay cut, regardless of how much their skills have eroded. Simply cutting him would have been a better move imo. Telling him he’s only worth a fraction of what he was scheduled to earn just looks bad, “business” aside.
But please, continue trying to explain what I already understand.
Riiiight, so the Packers should lie to him about what they think his “perceived” value you is to them? Maybe they have too much respect for him to play games. You seem like you need educating, since you can’t see your nose in front of you
I’ll pass on any “education” being offered by people on a sports rumor website. Again, I get the business of it. At no point have I disagreed with releasing him or asking to rework the deal. It could have gone something like this:
‘Jordy, we need to clear some cap space and you’re one of the guys we’re asking to help us out. We have a number in mind that we’re comfortable with. What is a number YOU’RE OK with?’
Jordy gives his bottom dollar, and management says ‘that’s more than we were thinking, we’re going to have to let you go…’
No actual figure ever needed to be mentioned by GB, and they wouldn’t look like chumps for offering pennies on the dollar.
Again, it would have looked better to ME had they just released him without making any attempt to rework his deal.
It is still a bit of a head scratcher why he’s the only casualty thus far. Since you all are so eager to educate me, explain why there’s been no news on Matthews, Cobb, or Bulaga being asked to take a pay cut or be released.
The jets should get this guy.
Don’t do it Jordy! You’ll go from a great team, to a joke. Don’t put that negativity on a great career.