Jones: "I just wanted to go where I felt wanted"

This explains everything. Gutekunst, LaFleur, and his teammates had all said repeatedly and strongly that they loved Jones and wanted him back--but apparently that wasn't enough to "feel wanted."
What WAS enough? More money.
None of us felt like money was ever Jones main goal, before, so how did that happen?

He hired the king of insinuation to be his agent. Every Rosenhaus client chants that same mantra after his poisonous words drip in their ears. "Only money proves they want you (because their love and respect make ME no money)."
"They are disrespecting you (if I make less money on your contract)."
"Money...er...respect, ...is what matters, and respect is only shown through money--you can't possibly be happy if I, I mean YOU, make less money."
You'll be HAPPIER in Minnesota with all my money...er...your RESPECT...than you would have among a full team of loving friends and a well-known environment and offense and coaches and loving fanbase!"

Loooong ago (How old IS Rosenhaus?) I said I would not hire/keep anyone who took him on as their agent. He's a cut-your-losses -and-move-on agent. Toxic.

Cory writes an article with the narrative Rosenhaus Won and Gutekuenst Lost", but near the end he finally observes:

"Then again, if the Packers offered a one-year, $7.5 deal, Rosenhaus probably would’ve said it wasn’t enough."

In other words: "Never mind".

I have read last late week, after the Packers gave Rosenhaus their 2024 $6 M compensation package, the Agent closed the door to further negotiations...walked away from the table. Meanwhile Gutey urgently moved to secure Jacobs.

After Jacobs was announced, a few hours later, Jones signed with MN for a $7 M deal.

Did Rosenhaus call the Packers before agreeing with the Ugly Purple? Or did Rosenhaus keep the door closed?

Did he use the Vikings offer to try to ignite a bidding war? Or did he tell Jones "I got you another $ million from the Vikings...and it's really going to PO the Packers!"

I don't know what happened late last week after Rosenhaus walked away from the table. Neither does Cory.

But another $1 M to play for the Ugly Purple with QB issues on turf for one of the lowest marquee FA RB deals this season is "winning"?

Pick one: Jones for one year or JJ for 4?

How do we know the Packers didn't offer Aaron Jones $7M to play in Green Bay?

What we know for sure is that the Packers were asking Jones to take a pay cut. Everyone knew that was going to happen- the number for Jones' 2024 season is the kind of number that is a built in poison pill. It's a number so large that both the team and the player understand it isn't going to be paid- it's intentionally inflated to force both sides back to the bargaining table and work on a new deal, or the player and the team part ways.

What we do know is that the Packers and Jones' representation went back and forth for 2 weeks before the Packers gave them "their final offer." Jones' team attempted to negotiate on that final offer. It was, apparently, final.

That final offer could have been $6 Million. It could have been $8 Million. Whatever it was, Rosenhaus apparently didn't understand what "final offer" meant, and pushed back. At that point, the Packers released Jones, and he signed with MN.

It is what it is. Nobody likes seeing Aaron Jones released, and nobody likes seeing him in purple, but lamenting will not change a thing. On to the future.

Cory Gute was after Jonathan Taylor.
He was never happy with Jones.
He never wanted to pay him in the first place.
It’s more than just his agent.
It’s feeding FANS beliefs, that they are dependent on HIM.
Four words, not letters, some up Jones departure.
The Glory of Gute.
Jones did the right thing.
He wasn't going to let Gute turn
Lambeau into a prison.

Losing Jones hurts, no question.
Had Jones signed for £10+m it would have been more palatable but from what we are hearing of the circumstances of how this went down it also hurts.
It would have been a fantastic backfield to have had both Jacobs and Jones.
In that scenario, assuming no injuries, it would have made the most sense to have Jacobs as #1 and Jones as backup. It would have given Jones his chances and likely extended his career.
It has been reported that Jones wanted to be #1 so that could have been a bone of contention but that also might just be speculation.
Anyway, we are where we are.
The best of luck to Aaron going forward, except when playing again the Packers of course.
Go Pack Go

Thank you Cory, you calmed my mind down a little bit. I think you are right. I have always thought sport agents are an ulcer.

Drew Rosenhaus is a tool just like most agents are. The bottom line is the more money his client makes is more money in Drews pocket, and that is ALL he cares about. It's too bad Aaron Jones is the one who got mixed up in this, but it is what it is. Time to move on, which is all the Packers are doing. Sentimentality doesn't win ballgames. Thanks Aaron Jones, we will welcome you back when you retire as a Packer.

Packers brass would have gladly kept AJ on the team for the right price, which apparently was very close to what we offered and what Rosenhaus accepted. It's obvious that Gute was planning for the future when he explored the Colts RB, Taylor. And that is just good business because players get older, get hurt more, and are replaced by younger players to keep giving the team a chance to win games. Just like when we drafted Love.

This will be a great draft for Green Bay. We don't need to trade up because multiple really good OL, which is our biggest need, are going to fall to us @ #25. And there will still be great choices if we move back some for more picks. The 2nd round picks will fall right at the top of the best Safeties and LBs. The 3rd round picks are in the strongest part of the RB group and CBs are strong there too. Or we can switch those picks around and get really good players at any of those needs.

The first 3 rounds will define this draft for us, 5 players that upgrade us at 5 positions. I predict that with Jacobs, the RB that we draft, and Dillon resigned as maybe RB3, we will have an even better running game than the last 3 years. Especially with 2 new stud O-Linemen in the fold.

Whether it was Gute or the agent, somebody played hardball and Everybody lost... Nobody wins this.
Jones loses the place he wanted to retire, GB loses a great potential tandem, and the Queens lose too because they could have used Jones' money to build around a new QB. Seems like the only winner here is the agent whose percentage got bigger.

My take is ego and pride played a big role here on Jones' part. He didn't want to be second fiddle to a new and younger guy. I am sure $'s made a difference but not as big a part as seen much of the money he was asked to give up would be going to a new guy in the same room with him. Jones actually by a long run lowered his sights unknowingly by signing with the Vikings that will come to him at some point. His agent is really the one who stuck it to him.

IMO the Packers lost Aaron Jones for no reason. They could have and should have given Aaron Jones a one year prove it deal that either met or exceeded the Vikings offer. The Packers have lost their best offensive player, the player who made the offense go and a great team and locker room guy. When he was on the field Jones gave the Packers everything he had. Plus he helped and supported his team mates. And he was an excellent representative for the Packers on and off the field.

In return we have Josh Jacobs. The only advantage that Jacobs currently has over over Jones is that he is 3 years younger. Will he perform better than Jones? Maybe. Will he be a team leader like Jones? Maybe. Will he represent the Packers as well as Jones? Maybe. What we do know is that he is being paid more than Jones likely would have been paid had he remained and there is nothing that guarantees that he will play up to his new contract now that his money is signed, sealed, and delivered. Will he give the Packers everything he has the way Jones did on every play? We'll see.

I fully realize that 2024 would have been Jones last year in Green Bay regardless of how much he was paid for the 2024 season. But I also realize that there would be another RB the Packers could sign for 2025 or draft Jones' replacement in 2024 and have him ready for 2025. Not allowing Jones to probably finish his career in Green Bay just leaves a bad taste ni my mouth especially since he has now signed with the Vikings for $7 million.

Gute could have found a way to retain Jones especially after he called him the "heart and soul" of the team. It just shows that Gute will say anything to the fans while having no loyalty or respect for the players or the fans.

The Packers need to improve the interior of their OL, improve their LB position group and their Safety position. At least they have begun improving at Safety with the signing of McKinney which is a good move by Gute. But letting Jones leave in the manner it was handled diminishes Gute in my eyes. It was not necessary. But we've seen Gute chuck veteran players before and as Jones said 'nothing that happens in this league surprises me." That's pretty much where I'm at with the league these days and why I'm finding it harder and harder to enjoy watching the games any longer. Thanks, Since '61

Sorry to everyone who loves AJ, but this IS the Packer way. If Jones wanted to end his career in GB he needed to take the Packer deal, whatever it was. I think too many people were bedazzled by those last 5 games. What are the odds of that ever happening again? Very slim. We got a younger, bigger version with JJ and will undoubtedly pick up a RB in the drafts top 100. We also have a desperate AJ Dillon coming back with his career on the line. You can bet he will be in the best shape of his life. I think we have definitely improved.

Rosenhaus probably did win a decent commission for himself peddling Jones to the Ugly Purple for $7 M...but the Packers didn't "lose" to the Agent. That's silly.

The Packers lost the services of a great Packer and Leader a year before most fans expected. It happens a lot in Green Bay to stars nearing the end. The wages of time is physical decline and it happens to us all.

I truly wish Jones, one of my favorite Packers of all time, the very best. I am not at all convinced Rosenhaus "won" for his client.

Jones just stated "after the Packer released me, I immediately went to the Vikings." Appears Jones is where he next wanted to be...or his Agent convinced him to go there as he would be the "lead back" behind a journeyman QB. Jones better be ready. He's going to get the ball...a lot...on turf.

Why did Jones only attract $7 M and for only one year? I expect the Ugly Purple knows his pitch count.

For his career as a Packer, Jones has averaged 12 carries PER GAME. His most carries per game in a season was 15...in 2019!

I am not sure where Jones "immediately went to" is going to be a winning opportunity.

I am sure I am putting down the book of Jones and picking up the Adventures of Packer Josh Jacobs. Moving on.

How come every single article in here is about AJ or guys we lost along with Josh Jacobs? Many here wanted Xavier McKinney, we got him, and I don't think I have seen more than one writing in here about him since. It's becoming extremely repetitive lately. There's beating a dead horse and then there's clubbing it while rigor mortis is now running its course. Let's stop poking sticks into roadkill here and freshen it up. Xavier McKinney, all things draft, other free agents we should look at, pro days Packers should attend, who should the Packers send invites to, how is the NFC North shaping up, favorite pop tart flavors. Please?

after reading the story on why they moved on, I get it. they offered a cut and the agent Drew said nope and so it developed pretty quick. They contacted Jacobs who signed the deal and Jones and his agent, who is a very tough agent and loves the cash, moved on. 1 M more than GB offered. I will miss Jones, but he was hurt last year and they struggled running the ball when he was out. It's a business and we will see how it turns out. Jacobs is a very good back as is Jones.. I trust Guke and he seems ot be pretty good making these choices. we will see

The only thing Jones has to prove is can a smaller rb approaching 30 stay healthy. I love Jones he’s this generations Donald Diver… or was. Jones was a catalyst for the big end of year push but the best ability is availability and you pay for what a player can do not what they have done. I don’t see Jones bucking the trend of Minnesota being the metaphorical graveyard of former packer stars.

READER ALERT: Just another CJJ click bait article - with an absurd headline.

My guess is Jones didn't want to take a paycut but I bet he didn't want this outcome either. Somewhere along the line the plot was lost. I put the onus on the agent.

Here's how I would have looked at it if I were Jones: I'm not getting a long-term contract from anyone; that's almost certain. I played in less than half the games last year, and my last six were great. However, I have to prove I can play an entire season as the lead back because LaFleur isn't going to do the alternating backs thing again. They offered $6 million? I can get $7 million somewhere else? To hell with that extra mil; I'll gamble on taking less because of all the positives: Matt will take care of me, we have a great young team, I love Green Bay, and they love me here, and maybe I'll have a great year that allows me to sign another deal. Sorry, Drew, I'm staying.

The fact that Gute even offered him a deal when a potential Jacobs deal was available shows how much they wanted Jones back. Offering even $7 mill probably wasn't going to get it done.

I think Jones made a mistake and probably knows it now. It's not Gute's fault. Jones should have taken the deal.

Your missing the boat here. Jones did not want to take a pay cut. It's not a matter of could the Packers beat Minnesota's offer. He was going to be mad no matter what they offered. So they offered a deal he would certainly refuse and go elsewhere. Why keep an angry guy in the locker room. It was time. Let him go.

One million dollar difference in the NFL world is nothing. More to this than we'll hear. We lost a great pass catching, blitz blocking, star back to what amounts to an NFL penny.

Look we all loved 33 but he should have stayed with gb for whatever money as I believe when he was finally done he could have become the media face of the franchise and gotten paid from the team for it , etc. ( maybe ? ) kinda just stayed here like leap-36 Also now any chance at a Super Bowl for him is over with that dumpster fire franchise he’s with . As far as the money he missed a lot of games last year when we really needed him and was on a pitch count in other games P S I love the Josh Jacobs signing I believe he’s gonna be great for us

Cory, I agree with you, there has to be respect for the cap. However, I say it all the time —stop worrying about the cap. Teams work in and around it. Now if you’re completely stupid, like the Broncos, then yes, the cap is a problem.
As for Rosenhaus winning—I don’t agree. There is no way I believe Jones wants to be a Viking. His agent convinced him to do something he didn’t want to do.
Go Packers!!!

The Packers got younger, better, and cheaper at RB. And to some people, that’s a loss.

Jones is at the age where the vast majority of running backs hit the injury/decline in performance wall. The chances of him playing more than half the schedule are statistically pretty slim. Saying Rosenhaus won and the Packers/Gutekunst lost is absurd to say the least. The Packers are known to cut a player one year too soon rather than take a chance on injury or inability to perform at their established level derailing the season. I hope Jones remains healthy and has a productive year, but I understand why the Packers didn't want to pay more than they offered.
Everyone seems to have forgotten that Emanuel Wilson is the Packers third back with no need to draft a running back in the first four rounds. The Packers/LaFleur might be thinking of rotating Jacobs and Dillon with Wilson being the change of pace back. That keeps all three relatively fresh and, hopefully, healthy in games throughout the season.

My assumption all along was that Aaron Jones was worth more to the Packers than he was to any other team, because he is such a good fit for their offense. Looking back, this assumption was proven to be wrong. I think Gute wanted to pay Aaron Jones to be RB #2, albeit a really good one. Jones was never a full-time RB to begin with. He always needed to be paired with another RB who was rotated in quite heavily. They gave Jones more carries than usual at the end of last season, with great results, but it was not sustainable. I think Gute wanted to get a better RB to rotate with Jones, whether through free agency or the draft, with the new RB being the workhorse. Because of that, Gute judged Jones to be worth less than he was before.

The Vikings, on the other hand, had nothing at RB, so they were happy to pay Jones to be the #1. The loser is not Gutekunst, it is the fans. Aaron Jones' legacy is also a loser. Instead of pursuing a Super Bowl for a fanbase that adores him, he is a one-year placeholder on a team that will be starting over with a new QB, and they don't even know who that QB will be.

So when Jones has a injury plagued season with the queens and he will when he's getting full box of defenders cuz no one will respect the queens qb then his career will be over. I would of took the 1 yr $6 mil and stayed in GB. Split time with Jacob's and get another yr contract

I think Jones was hoping to be paid extra for the intangibles; being well-liked, good locker room presence, etc.

Yes it would be nice to have Aaron Jones but he should have followed LeRoy Butler and taken less. Fans usually don't support Vikings in retirement. His agent did not care about future earnings like living in GB and making big bucks in retirement!!

There's a good chance this will turn out to be a case of a year too early is better than a year too late. I loved Jones when he was on the field, but that was far too seldom. Even the year when McCarthy barely used him he still ended up on IR and he was young at that time. Jacobs has got tons of talent and is a stronger runner than Jones. I just hope he turns out to be more durable.

Sorry Jennerjohn , wrong again...and im pretty sure Jacobs will prove to be a very good player...now can this please be the last article about a guy who isn't on the Packers anymore?? Come on, we went through this crap last year...Try concentrating on the players who are actually on the team or move to Minnesota and be a Viking fan if your that butt hurt...

I watched a documentary about Aaron Jones last night. He and his twin brother were stars.

"A Football Life Origins-Aaron Jones"
10/6/23 (created)

Enough about Jones, please.

Jones won't survive the season without an injury is my prediction. He's an all-time Packers great, but the time to move on arrived. Jacobs is a more than capable(and younger) running back.

I think Jones will do well in Minnesota until the next injury arrives.

One other point: the idea that you can get around the salary cap usually means exactly what the Packers did in the Aaron Rodgers-David Bakhtiari financial fiasco. The Packers have almost $47 million in dead cap money for this year.

Again, sentimentality will get you beat.

Gute lost cuz he never signed any LBs to help the def. Now nothing is left and the draft is very weak at LB. Poor job by gute.