When the Green Bay Packers were handing out what’s largely expected to be meaningless tenders to guys who have little-to-no chance of being restricted free agents when a new labor deal is reached, they also snubbed a few guys.
Receiver James Jones, running back Brandon Jackson and safety Atari Bigby, all of whom would have been restricted free agents under the current collective bargaining agreement rules, were non-tendered. Once free agency begins, they’ll be unrestricted free agents regardless of how many years of service they have.
Although we know Bigby won’t return, it’s at least a little surprising the Packers didn’t tender Jackson or Jones.
Jones has four years of service and is likely to receive an offer to become a starter elsewhere, which we fully expect him to take. However, since he only just completed his fourth season, there’s a good chance Jones would have been a restricted free agent under the rules of the new collective bargaining agreement. If the Packers had tendered Jones, they would have received draft picks as compensation when he signs elsewhere.
Jackson is also a four-year player. The Packers have expressed some interest in retaining him, but Ryan Grant and James Starks are clearly ahead of him on the depth chart.
While Jones still carries a lingering hope of being a tremendous receiver he is not worth the risk at this point. Finley will be more an option in 4 wide with Quarless still developing were only slightly thin in pass catchers, watch TT draft WR in 5th or 6th depending on whose available. Word is that Jackson is asking for starter money…..yea….Rosenhouse is a nut. Bigbys writing was on the wall last draft.
I read elsewhere that the Packers did indeed send a tender to James Jones, but he dropped it.
Brett Swain can do what Jones did, except catch the ball.
That’s quite the assumption there Chuck. Sure Jones dropped some easy ones but he was a tremendous athlete, especially for a number 3 or 4. What has Swain done to impress you…fumble the ball, drop half of his passes thrown to him from A Rod? He could be a good receiver but why hasn’t he surpassed Jones or Nelson on the depth chart? I for one hope TT gives Jones a 1-year tender to see if he can fix his dropsies, who knows, maybe Bennett can do something with him. All I’m trying to say is Jones is no slouch…and he’s definitely not going to easily be replaced if he leaves.
The wife watched some of the local CP telethon today. James Jones was on there, working for the telethon. JJ is good shit. He would be easier to replace on the football field than in the community. I hope somehow he still sticks around. It largely depends on what he wants and what other teams offer.
he is no slouch, he was on in the falcons game. Why can’t he do that every time?