Why releasing Jordy Nelson still right move for Green Bay Packers

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

5 years ago

The comment about Donald Driver having a hurt ankle in the Super Bowl might be why we won was an interesting observation.

How have your feelings about letting Jordy Nelson go this off-season? They change? They get reinforced it was best, or was worse? You think the injuries mean we should have kept Jordy?

You might have seen that Jordy Nelson had six catches for 173 yards against the Miami Dolphins a couple weeks ago.

Or that last Sunday he caught a touchdown pass and two-point conversion in the Oakland Raiders’ first win of the season, over Cleveland.

That must mean that Green Bay Packers rookie general manager Brian Gutekunst blew it during the offseason when he cut one of the franchise’s more accomplished players of the past 20 years, right?

Think again.

Despite Nelson’s good start in 2018, it was time for the Packers to move on from an aging player (33 years old) who would have kept the promising Geronimo Allison on the sidelines. It’s the natural cycle of the NFL that GMs have to accept if their teams are to improve, and was equally true early in Nelson’s career, too. More on that later.

Gutekunst’s decision to move on from Nelson last March of course was unpopular among much of the Packers’ fan base. Nelson and Donald Driver were as beloved players as the franchise has produced in the last decade.

But it also meant parting with a decorated and productive receiver who even in decline was a favored target of Aaron Rodgers’. The two had developed an uncommon chemistry and over the years made an art form of the back-shoulder throw and improvised red-zone touchdown pass.

https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/dougherty/2018/10/04/dougherty-why-releasing-jordy-nelson-still-right-move-packers/1525364002/

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TheKanataThrilla
Veteran Member

5 years ago

Not sure I buy the argument that keeping Jordy meant that Geronimo needed to sit on the sideline. We could have also let Cobb go. Sure Cobb had a great statistical first game, but other than that? I really don't think we are re-signing Cobb so basically you had 2 guys on their last year of a deal. I think that Jordy can play the slot role and outside, whereas I think Cobb can only play slot. To me if we just had a WR for this one season I would have gone with Jordy. His stats before the Rodgers injury last year were great. The decision to release him due to his inability to put up similar stats with Hundley I didn't get. Hundley seemed to see Davante as his safety blanket. The same way Aaron often leaned on Jordy.

I think the fact he got a decent deal and picked up so quickly indicates that teams did think he had a little more in the tank and would be an asset to their team.

wpr
Preferred Member

5 years ago

It's always a difficult decision. As a fan I like to see the long time fan favorite ride off gracefully into the sunset with the music playing and the credits rolling. A few tears being shed as the lights in the auditorium slowly come up. It reality it doesn't work that way. One of the most difficult things for athletes to graps is they are not the player they once were. Even an old broke down veteran has abilities far above 99% of the people.

GB management probably could have handled the situation better. What player wants to be told he can stay but only if he will play for a fraction of his salary?

The cold reality is letting Jordy go was best for everyone.

Dulak
Veteran Member

5 years ago

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool

Still a BS decision - price of JN price for graham. Whose got my yards tds etc atm? ... Who had more chemistry with rodgers etc? ...

Im sure the numbers will stack up even more come game 16 ...

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

5 years ago

The decision I believe was difficult, but what was best for the Green Bay Packers. Releasing Jordy Nelson freed up the money we used to sign Jimmy Graham (who frees up the other WR just by his mere threat ala Jermichael Finley) and Mo Wilkerson, who is now on IR, but definitely the right move at the time.

I also still feel the Packers have more WR plans for Ty Montgomery and that also contributed to letting Jordy Nelson walk.

I believe most fans agree getting Graham and Wilkerson were worth losing Nelson or Cobb. I think most would have rather us keep Nelson and let Cobb go.

sschind
Senior Member

5 years ago

The only thing you may be able to take out a a good season by Jordy in Oakland is that he was not as washed up as some may have thought. What he he does in Oakland has absolutely bearing on what he may or may not have done in Green Bay. If we keep him maybe we are 4-0 and he is leading the league or maybe we are 0-4 and he has a torn ACL or maybe we are 2-1-1 and he has 17 receptions for 194 yards and a TD or maybe he is 19/289/2 (those are Cobb's and Allison's numbers)

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

5 years ago

Originally Posted by: sschind

Jordy has played in four games. When he was released, I suspected him to have a really good season on the heels of the motivation of being "let go".

4 receptions 23 yards - blah
2 receptions 30 yards - blah
6 receptions 173 yards 1 TD - fantastic!
5 receptions 48 yards 1 TD - solid game

Allison through four games
5 for 69 1 TD
6 for 64
2 for 76 1 TD
6 for 80

And with Allison instead of Jordy (I don't think it was that black/white but just for context here), we got Jimmy Graham and Mo Wilkerson with the saved cap space. And yes, there is an argument that Graham is helping Allison, which is kind of the point. Graham is making lesser WR gooder.

Update

buckeyepackfan
Veteran Member

5 years ago

Just like James Jones, I don't think we have seen the last of Jordy in Green Bay.

Might be 2 years but Jordy will be released by Oakland and will be needed in Green Bay

Even at 34 Jordy will be an asset to The Packers.

We'll all find out this week what The Packers have in the young guys.

I predict most will be happy.

I was addicted to The Hokey Pokey, but I turned myself around!

steveishere
Veteran Member

5 years ago

Still a BS decision - price of JN price for graham. Whose got my yards tds etc atm? ... Who had more chemistry with rodgers etc? ...

Im sure the numbers will stack up even more come game 16 ...

Originally Posted by: Dulak

Graham is a TE his stats won't compare to Jordy. We are getting similar stats out of Jordy's replacement (Geronimo) for like 9m less dollars. The comparison isn't Jordy - Graham it's Jordy / Kendricks (or whoever TE1 would be) to Geronimo / Graham. We weren't keeping 3 WRs and 10m+ each and just signed Davante so between Jordy and Cobb they went with the younger guy. Maybe that will turn out to be the wrong decision but can't really blame em.

TheKanataThrilla
Veteran Member

5 years ago

#10

The fact is Jordy was willing to re-negotiate for less. Can we stop bringing up the $10M, he was willing to go lower. He wasn't willing to take the insulting offer we gave him.

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