Packers Daily Links: Jennings Says 2012 Could Be His Last Season With Packers

Wide receiver Greg Jennings' contract is up after the 2012 season. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Pro Bowl wide receiver Greg Jennings acknowledged in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that 2012 could be his last season with the Green Bay Packers. "This is my last year with the Packers under contract," Jennings told reporter Tom Silverstein. "That's my mind-set. I'm not thinking about (the) contract. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I have to make sure I go out there and do what I've been doing for six solid years here to get myself a chance to play somewhere." Jennings is set to become a free agent after this season, and while there's the possibility that he could sign a contract extension at any time, there's no guarantee that he will.

Defensive lineman B.J. Raji missed the Packers practice session on Monday, but there's reason for optimism that he'll return to action soon. "Raji sat out Monday's workout with a sprained ankle suffered against Kansas City Thursday night, but he did some running in the Don Hutson Center and said afterward that he's doing better," writes Tom Silverstein. "He would not say whether he was a lock to play against the 49ers, but it's clear that his injury wasn't as bad as it could have been." Fellow defensive lineman Ryan Pickett returned to practice on Monday after missing the final preseason game with a calf sprain, so the position is getting healthier little by little, which is good news heading into the season opener.

More on B.J. Raji and Packers' health situation comes from Fox 11, Fox Sports Wisconsin, ESPNMilwaukee.com and JSOnline.

The Packers finalized their practice squad with the addition of offensive lineman Chris Scott who spent the past two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. "He’s had an up-and-down start to his NFL career," writes Wes Hodkiewicz of PackersNews.com. "He played in only two games his rookie year after breaking his foot and starting the season on the physically unable to perform list. Last year, he spent a little time on the active roster, but was primarily on the Steelers’ practice squad." After keeping the unusually low number of seven offensive lineman on their 53-man roster, the Packers kept three linemen on their practice squad with Scott, Andrew Datko and Greg Van Roten.

More on Chris Scott and the rest of the practice squad comes from PackersNews.com, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Packer Report and JSOnline.

The Packers' season opener against the 49ers is only five days away, but jobs in the secondary are still up in the air, or at least the players and coaches aren't letting anyone know what their plans are. "The questions that were at issue throughout training camp apparently remain: Who'll start opposite Williams at the other cornerback spot in the base defense? Which of the team's young safeties will come in for Woodson in the nickel and dime packages? And who'll serve as the sixth defensive back in the dime?" asks Jason Wilde in an article for the Associated Press. It appears as if the Packers will keep these decisions secret as much as possible until the first game, so as not to tip their hat to their opponent. Reporters are not allowed at practice for any more than warm-ups, so any news that appears will come from the release of a depth chart or what the coaches and players choose to tell the media.

More on the secondary comes from the Green Bay Press-Gazette and AllGreenBayPackers.com.

The past of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his time at Butte College is uncovered in an article by the Associated Press.

Defensive lineman Phillip Merling is profiled in articles at JSOnline and the Press-Gazette.

The importance of winning the season opener against the 49ers is detailed in articles at the Journal Sentinel, ESPNMilwaukee.com and Packer Report, twice.

The risky proposition of keeping only seven offensive lineman on the Packers' roster is examined in an article by Jason Wilde.

Offensive lineman Derek Sherrod shares his thoughts about starting the season on the PUP list in articles at Fox Sports Wisconsin and ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Snippets from head coach Mike McCarthy's post-practice press conference are posted at JSOnline and PackersNews.com.

The readiness of running back Cedric Benson despite limited practice time is detailed in an article at the Press-Gazette.

Opinions on the backup quarterback position in Green Bay are shared at the Wisconsin State Journal and Lombardi Ave.

Features on cornerback Brandian Ross and a couple undrafted rookies are published at Packer Report.

The role of wide receiver Randall Cobb is considered at Packerpedia.

The offense is the focus of an article at the Packers official website.

The "Join Aaron" campaign by Prevea Health is detailed in an interview at the Press-Gazette.

A column on the Packers appears in the Marquette University student newspaper.

Video: The fence is painted and the Lambeau Field area gets ready for the regular season, from Fox 11...

Brian Carriveau is the editor at Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (17)

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Michael from Winnipeg's picture

September 04, 2012 at 08:54 am

I heard GJ on Mike and Mike this AM, and he repeated what he said to TS about his contract. It kinda scares me. Why must the media put the contract question out there, and put the player in an uneasy position of having to answer it.

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SpartaChris's picture

September 04, 2012 at 09:17 am

Controversy. Whether real or perceived, controversy = ratings.

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MarkinMadison's picture

September 04, 2012 at 09:20 am

If he wanted to dodge the question he would have. There are plenty of ways to non-answer. The Packers are going to have some tough choices to make with Rodgers, Jennings, Raji and Matthews all coming due in the next couple of years. Looking at the depth of each position, if you can't have them all I think GJ is the one you let go. I think GJ knows that, and so he answered the question.

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pkrNboro's picture

September 04, 2012 at 10:35 am

"if you can’t have them all I think GJ is the one you let go"

I agree.
But I'm sure I'll take a hit in the popularity polls.

I'm not sure where I saw it recently, but the phrase "you don't pay for the decline" is apt. If you really have a player, tear up his first contract and re-sign him while you can get him at a relative discount.

But, IMO, you can't have a bevy of players that you sign to their 3rd or 4th contracts. It's just too expensive. While these players are at the peak of their physical prowess, they're older -- and when they get injured, it's often more serious and carries with it a longer convalescence. A team gets no return on investment for the absolute premium, top-dollar salaries (still) paid during that recovery/IR.

The Giants ability to acquire dline talent is amazing. GB seems pretty good at developing wide receivers. With Rodgers, I think it is less about having a mega-whatever-WR, but more about having a guy that can run routes and catch

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MarkinMadison's picture

September 04, 2012 at 11:12 am

"With Rodgers, I think it is less about having a mega-whatever-WR, but more about having a guy that can run routes and catch"

That really sums it up, I think. It is also why I really question keeping JJ around. If GJ leaves in FA, then we will all get a chance to see if JJ can really be a starter next year, or not.

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pkrNboro's picture

September 04, 2012 at 12:02 pm

I've seen Driver diving to make a one-hand (or one-elbow?) catch.

I've seen Jennings lunge in mid-air, to pluck the back half of the ball that's past him.

I don't see that effort from Jones consistently.

I've seen so many balls that were thrown to him, that he could have caught, if he'd just stretched, or leaned, or adjusted, or dove, or... tried.

Because when balls bounce off both hands, while arms are bent (not extended), it doesn't look like he tries, or cares.

Was it after the SB, some celebration of the WRs, that he had to be coaxed/cajoled into joining his teammates at the podium? Strange behavior from a no. 4 receiver.

He's young.
He's likely superbly conditioned.
He's got every kind of pad and protection known.
He's making MILLIONS.

LAY OUT FOR THE DAMN BALL.

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TedTheSledge's picture

September 04, 2012 at 09:10 am

I lost track exactly where the Packers 2012 cap number is following the Lang deal, but they have some room left. Is it enough to get a in season extension done? Not at Fitzgerald type guaranteed money and years if Greg has his sights set at the top. GB has been trending to shorter deals at WR on their last few extensions, a trend that started with Jennings himself when he signed his current deal. We started the season with 3 important pending 2013 FA's (ok 2.5 since Masthay would have been RFA) and only Greg left to be addressed. If they can't agree on numbers with #85 it will be interesting to see which player may get a little 2012 love.

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PackerAaron's picture

September 04, 2012 at 09:48 am

According to PFT, Packers are $11 mil under the cap.

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elhandro's picture

September 04, 2012 at 10:26 am

Franchise him next year and then let sign a megadeal somewhere else. Especially since he would be 30.

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Cole's picture

September 04, 2012 at 12:16 pm

I would put it in order of importance as:

Rodgers
CM3
Jennings
Raji

Raji was not good last year. This is a make or break year for him. This offense needs Jennings more than the D needs Raji, assuming he plays to last years level.

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PackersRS's picture

September 04, 2012 at 07:52 pm

Raji has only played as a top 10 pick during a 6-8 game stretch, the end of 2010.

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packsmack25's picture

September 04, 2012 at 03:19 pm

Posturing in the media. No big deal. He's in contact negotiations now, so why would he give the FO any leverage?

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KurtMc's picture

September 04, 2012 at 08:12 pm

Sorry, after Arod, Raji is the number 2. Why? After Woodson, Raji wil be the soul of the D. Who else has logged the playing time? CM3 has sucess In part to Raji taking up double teams.

Lastly, CM3 is fantastic, but he will not sustain the reckless style of play for years. My 2cents.

Go Pack

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

September 04, 2012 at 11:00 pm

Not agreeing or disagreeing with your order of importance. But Clay need look no further than his position coach for someone who sustained a reckless style of play for many years at the same position. Now can Clay do it? Idk, but he's been discounted in football his whole life, I personally wouldn't bet against him pulling a Greene. Sure as hell hope he does!

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Ron Glick's picture

September 05, 2012 at 05:57 am

You are forgetting his genetics. His dad and his uncle played forever at a high level.

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djbonney138's picture

September 04, 2012 at 09:10 pm

My prediction. Rodgers takes a deep hometown discount to keep Greg around. Part of the reason Jordy had some good games was the attention opponents were give #85. That offense needs a superstar like Greg.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

September 04, 2012 at 11:03 pm

That would be sweet. And I agree, GJ is the straw that stirs the drink. Need to find a way to keep him around, he's got a good 3-5 yrs left... Gotta make it happen.

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