Jaire Alexander has missed an extended stretch for the Packers this season, but the sixth-year cornerback is now healthy. He will not be available for Green Bay’s Week 17 game, however, due to a team-imposed suspension.
The Packers suspended Alexander for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, GM Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday. This is believed to be for Alexander’s strange coin-toss moment in Carolina, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Not a captain, Alexander crashed the Packers’ coin toss and forgot to use the word “defer.” Had the referee not assisted the Packers, they could have been forced to kick off in both halves against the Panthers.
Week 16 marked Alexander’s first game back from a shoulder injury. The highly paid cornerback had not played since Week 8. While Alexander obviously resides as an important piece for the Packers — on a defense that has struggled under third-year DC Joe Barry — the team will attempt to set an example with this one-game ban.
“The decision to suspend a player is never easy and not one we take lightly. Unfortunately, Jaire’s actions prior to the game in Carolina led us to take this step,” Gutekunst said. “As an organization, we have an expectation that everyone puts the team first. While we are disappointed, we had a good conversation with Jaire this morning and fully expect him to learn from this as we move forward together.”
A Charlotte native, Alexander called the toss despite not being designated to be part of that process with the captains. This strange sequence came in a game the Packers barely won against a two-win opponent. Alexander, 26, has missed nine games this season. While it is not quite the lost year his 2021 became due to injury, it is pretty close. The Packers have Alexander on a four-year, $84MM extension that runs through 2026. That $21MM AAV remains the most among corners.
It might not be the weirdest team suspension ever, buts it’s in the discussion for it at the very least.
The whole thing is weird. Why in the world would he insert himself in the coin toss?
Probably because he’s from there, and felt it was owed to him.
dude doesn’t even know the rules of the game he plays. what a moron!
Which might be why he wasn’t designated a captain in the first place.
Next week he’ll announce that he’s physically unable to play, which will be a thin disguise for flat out refusing after being disrespected, naturally leading to an off-season trade demand, that immediately brings up endless rumors that Rodgers wants him on the Jets, and a trade finally getting done just before the draft that nets Gutenfraud a conditional 6th round pick, that he will brag has top 10 overall value.
He’s suspended next week.
No. He’s suspended this week (vs Minnesota). Next week (Chicago) is when he’ll claim injury.
The idiots lament….insisting top draft choices are valuable because they always net top players…
Understood. For the story’s sake, let’s say he still gets injured this week while suspended.
I can get the popcorn
Anything can happen..but it’s more likely he’d get hurt after serving the 1 GAME suspension (which is what I said, but clearly reading comprehension isn’t your strength), as I highly doubt they’d suspend him for the upcoming game, plus the week of practice FOLLOWING it..
Oh well general comprehension isn’t much of your strength buddy… lol the fact that you think he would wait to get “injured” until after the suspension given his recent antics shows this. Chances are, if he gets injured it will because of more foolish antics while suspended. I doubt he will get much playing time the rest of the season to get injured on the field.
You’d be surprised how many players, coaches and fans dont know them either. I have had to assist a few times as an official at the HS level. If you say kick instead of defer you will be kicking both half. We as officials know that a team doesn’t want to do that. I’ll say “are you sure you don’t mean defer so you can receive in the second half”? We obviously ask what they want to do if they win the toss during the coaches meeting prior to the game and always say if you want ball in the second half make sure your captains say defer.
This all goes back to Jaire wanting to shadow the best opposing receivers and Barry deciding that is not the role of the CB in his defense. If Barry is let go in the offseason, things will be worked out between the team and Jaire. If Barry is somehow retained, Jaire will ask for a trade.
You think as a non-captain going out for the coin flip has to do about Jaire wanting to shadow the best opposing receivers? And Jaire not knowing the coin flip rules?
I don’t know about that. I do get Jaire wants to play and prove himself on D.
This is my favorite story.
Kudos to the Packers for taking a stand. I think the NFL is starting to lose control in terms of player’s behavior and it’s affecting the on field product.
Jaire is a legend in his own mind. His coverage is soft and he cannot / will not tackle. The only thing he excels at is shooting off his mouth. He is nothing more than Terrell Buckley 2.0
Prior to this season his completion percentage on balls thrown his way over the last four years are 59%, 54%, 51%, and 53%. Yards per target over those years sit at 7, 6, 4.7, and 7.6. TD allowed 2, 2, 3, and 5.
When on the field he is great, there is no questioning that based on his numbers. His antics and injury concerns hold him back, and always have.