Cory's Corner: Packers Are Better Off Without Chocolate Cake
The Vikings are spending $35 million a season on one guy. The Packers have a handful of guys that can do just as much if not more.
Justin Jefferson is one of the best receivers in the league.
Heck, he might be the best receiver in the league.
But…$35 million a year?
The Vikings gave the 24-year-old a four-year, $140 million extension on Monday. Minnesota backed up a Brinks Truck for a receiver that disappeared in one career playoff game.
This is a time for the Packers to celebrate. Minnesota seems like it is in the driver’s seat by having a quarterback in a rookie deal. But the answer to finding more money in the couch cushions is not to spend it on candy bars and chocolate cake.
This takes me back to Davante Adams. The Packers had arguably the best wideout in the league. He was a perfect route runner, physical in traffic and had excellent hands. But deep down, the Packers knew that he was a want and not a need.
And no better reason is last year’s Packers. They were the youngest team in the league and that group continued to turn heads. Four of the Packers top five pass catchers last year were rookies. Having a receiver is awesome, but it’s like having a convertible in Canada. Does it really make a difference if you can only use it two months a year?
The Vikings are betting that Jefferson can overcome Sam Darnold (I’m as surprised as you are that he ended up in Minnesota) and the rookie No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Even if Jefferson does outplay both of those guys, which he likely will anyway this year, is it worth to the tune of $35 million?
Green Bay did it the right way. It got the quarterback right first. Then, it sprinkled in the offensive line and defense before worrying about the position players.
The Vikings were backed into a corner. Jefferson knew that there was no way that Minnesota would not sign him — the public relations nightmare would’ve been awful for a team that is still trying to gain an identity.
So don’t be worried about the Vikings. Minnesota decided that building up the offensive and defensive wasn’t worth as much as toe-tappers or first down receptions.
The Vikings opted for chocolate cake, but the Packers went for green beans. The most boring thing to eat of all-time might be green beans.
Green Bay is most definitely boring. They have drafted an army of offensive linemen, which makes sense because so many people are now believing in the guy that unit has to protect.
The Vikings don’t know if they can believe in their quarterback. That’s why they are now eating candy bars for breakfast. The problem is, you cannot keep doing that without getting a stomach ache.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (33)
Leatherhead
June 04, 2024 at 06:48 pm
Minnesota always wins the offseason. They're the September champion.
stockholder
June 04, 2024 at 07:07 pm
Deep down - It was the first step to get rid of Rodgers.
And as Much as Gute got the Draft picks.
It took the packers out of the super-Bowl.
Oppy
June 04, 2024 at 07:42 pm
Packers haven't been to the SB since 2010, but letting Rodgers go took the Packers out of the SB?
You're ridiculous.
stockholder
June 04, 2024 at 08:09 pm
but letting Rodgers go ?
Try Adams.
Was Rodgers the first step? Adams was.!
You just can't a difference of opinion.
A MVP QB and you take away a weapon that got double teamed.
Is that a way to win the Super-Bowl.?/
13TimeChamps
June 04, 2024 at 08:15 pm
How many Super Bowls did the Rodgers/Adams combo that played together for 8 years win?
stockholder
June 04, 2024 at 08:26 pm
Thats not the argument.
Oppy
June 05, 2024 at 06:53 am
It 100% IS the argument.
You just can't fathom that the Green Bay Packers are in a much better situation to have opportunities to win superbowls for a much longer frame of time today than they were three years ago.
That's the bottom line. You just can't get it through your head that the Green Bay Packers are a better football team today than they have been in YEARS.
This team is a case study for addition by subtraction. Look around at what IS. This team is already set up to compete for titles and they literally just cleared their cap woes. The best is yet to come.
stockholder
June 06, 2024 at 08:05 am
100 % No. it isn't -
Rodgers had a lot of playoff wins
with Devante Adams .
Even when they should have went to
the SB.
Bostwick blew his assignment.
And how many other times did they get screwed.
By the refs.
The only thing you want to bitch about is Rodgers.
Swisch
June 04, 2024 at 08:29 pm
In a heartbreaking playoff loss to the 49ers, our last gasp was Rodgers forcing a pass to Adams in double or triple coverage which fell to the ground incomplete, while another receiver who was wide open was crossing the middle of the field right in front of Rodgers' eyes.
A little further back, in another heartbreaking playoff loss to the Bucs, the Packers late in the game had first-and-goal from the 8-yard-line, and then fizzled with three frustrating incompletions.
In other words, there was to be no Super Bowl while Aaron Rodgers remained with the Packers, only heartbreak.
Due to his deterioration into arrogance, he was the fault line around which the Packers crumbled under pressure.
stockholder
June 04, 2024 at 10:34 pm
That is ridicules-
Oppy
June 05, 2024 at 06:56 am
Check out Al's confessions today.
CJ Stroud says out loud that he thinks if Matthew Stafford had the opportunites that Aaron Rodgers had, Stafford would have 3 or 4 rings on his fingers.
He doesn't get into why he thinks that, but it's unlikely that he thinks Stafford is more talented..
Oppy
June 05, 2024 at 07:00 am
.
Swisch
June 04, 2024 at 07:41 pm
It's nuts for the Vikings to pay Justin Jefferson that much.
It was nuts for the Browns to give Deshaun Watson a fully guaranteed contract of $230.
It was nuts for the Packers to give that last contract to Aaron Rodgers -- and we are so lucky we were able to find the Jets to get us out of it.
***
To me, it would be nuts to pay Jordan Love $60 million per season; I'd reluctantly go up to $50 million per season. The guaranteed money would be about one-third of it. So, six seasons for a total of 300 million (including this season, for a raise from $13 million); with $100 million guaranteed; and the payments per year portioned out in a way that works for both sides.
I've been a huge backer of Love all along, but he's only excelled for half a season in the NFL; and while coming through big time in the playoff game against the Cowboys, he threw two terrible interceptions late in the next game against the 49ers.
In other words, he's highly promising but still largely unproven.
***
I'm not ready to mortgage Lambeau Field to go all in on Love; nor to deprive other players of good salaries; nor to deplete our roster to mediocrity.
I saw a headline that seemed to say the Vikings are going to eventually lose three important players because of this new mega-contract to Jefferson.
I want to pay Love with respect, and even generosity, but not at all costs.
If need be, I'm perfectly willing to try Clifford and Pratt at quarterback.
If that doesn't work out, trading Love would bring a top draft pick for a talented replacement. If Clifford and/or Pratt do work out, we can use that draft pick at another position.
I truly hope it doesn't come to that -- but players who demand top dollar for their egos, especially at the expense of their teammates, aren't usually going to be the guys who are all in for championships.
If Love is truly the leader to take the Packers to the top, he'll take a little less personally to gain a lot for the rest of his teammates -- as well as for the good of the fans.
Turophile
June 06, 2024 at 03:02 am
Quarterbacks, in particular younger QBs, are different because they are crucial to making a good team that can compete for a lengthy period of time.
If you don't want to lose Love, you pay him..........and that means something up to about 20% of the current years cap (about $51.1m pa). If you balk at paying that, you lose him to another team that will pay up - and many, many teams would do that.
For wide receivers the salary bloat for top guys is beginning to make a case for keeping a top receiver for his first contract, then drafting again to replace him and keep your cap in check. That works as long as you keep drafting well.
Better perhaps to pay one guy top dollar (in this case your QB) and give him receivers that are good enough to win with.
The Packers may not have a Davante Adams on the roster, but they do have several talented guys you can win with. Most of them were accumulated in a two year window with a mixture of picks, none of them being first round picks, while Bo Melton was snatched off the Seahawks practice squad. Great job by Gute.
LeotisHarris
June 04, 2024 at 07:48 pm
Okay, I took a quick trip through that collection of words. Putting a potato in the tailpipe is never the correct answer. But that brings me back to how many ACL injuries we saw in the AFC last year. I know you're as mad as I am about the Fanatics uniforms deal with the NFL.
Just remember, if it almost always never gets worse, then I suppose the best might be yet to come. That you can bank on, even if it takes a roundabout way to get there. Please believe in Santa, though.
MitchAnthony
June 04, 2024 at 08:24 pm
Yeah gee whiz. I hope the Packers are working their tails off to find Jordan Love a supermodel/entertainer hottie who makes more $$$ than him so he can take team friendly deal. Get that man married off to the right gal and the Super Bowl rings will come one after the other, right?
:)
Just because this team has salary cap relief for a couple seasons, doesn't mean it is going to last. The Packers are in a favorable window for 24 and 25. As the salary cap grows every year, player salaries are going to grow every year in proportion. If you develop stars, you'll have to pay star salaries.
Swisch
June 04, 2024 at 08:36 pm
The Packers can be competitively generous with salaries while not being extravagantly idiotic.
I want our players to be well paid; but I don't want to, in effect, bribe them to be here.
If they want to be highest paid at their positions -- at the expense of their teammates and the diminishing of the roster -- then let them move on to another team that is foolish with its salary cap.
Starrbrite
June 04, 2024 at 08:57 pm
“Like having a convertible in Canada”—HA! good one Cory.
I grew up 30 yards from the Saskatchewan border—still can’t feel my hands.
Teams are held hostage by star players (Packer included—I recall the Sterling Sharpe holdout).
It’s the way it is.
The cap and salaries will continue to grow… and teams will continue to pay.
Go Packers!!!
pantz_bURp
June 04, 2024 at 09:05 pm
JJ with the Vikings will be doing the Greedy dance...move over the Gritty.
See what I did there? Hell yeah ...
*mic drop*
XXXX and OOOOs,
Pantz on the bedroom floor
pantz_bURp
June 04, 2024 at 09:15 pm
It got me thinking...I bet ya StockH has a Aaron Charles Rodger's tat somewhere on his body.
I have a plan to win MANY free brewskis as well as meeting a boocoo load of women while tailgating
Bare with me with this gem... ... ... ...
I am going to get "your name" tattooed on my upper left butt cheek. Sooo, I will go over to a fine woman I never met before and tell her, "I'll bet you a beer that I have your name tattooed on my butt cheek." Oh, she be like, sure...you don't even know me or my name.
I win, but first have to get my glutes in shape and buy some acne remover....
Pantz on the ground
stockholder
June 04, 2024 at 11:10 pm
No - I don't.
I do have a Starr, Farve, and Rodgers
Jersey on my Wall. Along with others.
No matter how you look at Rodgers now.
The friction between Gute and Rodgers was obvious.
And I'm sure deep down, Rodgers looked at Gute,
the same way most here look at him.
.
11Bravo1p
June 05, 2024 at 02:13 am
Positively? He has done an excellent job
Oppy
June 05, 2024 at 07:07 am
Imagine all those years you shit all over Aaron Rodgers, all the smack you talked about how the Packers would never be successful without Favre, only to now have his Jersey hung up on the wall.
Now imagine 15 years later doing the same song and dance, not having learned anything from past experience.
mnbadger
June 05, 2024 at 12:25 pm
I was right there with you until you mentioned the acne!
GPG!
pagac
June 04, 2024 at 10:48 pm
He's not a huge guy but he plays very physically, I hope he has a long uninjured career glad I'm alive to watch this.
poppyplaytimechapter3.io
GB@Germany
June 05, 2024 at 01:17 am
It‘s Mc Carthy not Williams in ugly purple.
Nevertheless they have 5 years of cheap QB salary, so the room to pay one of the best WR“s was there.
I even think, this decision was made, once the decided to not extend Cousins.
Might work out, if McC proves to be a solid QB.
Let‘s hope not, but for a verdict you need to wait a couple of seasons.
For us it‘s two more years, before Watson and Doubs want to get paid. So the SB window is these two seasons, before cap gets tough again.
Ya_tittle
June 05, 2024 at 05:10 pm
I noticed that too. Williams is in Chicago.
marpag1
June 05, 2024 at 04:32 am
Jefferson had more yards after two seasons than any other player in NFL history, gaining about 10% more than runner-up Odell Beckham.
Jefferson had more yards after three seasons than any other player in NFL history - almost 700 yards more than Randy Moss (!!!).
Jefferson had more yards after four seasons than any other player in NFL history, and this in spite of the fact that he missed 7 games in his fourth year due to injury.
His average yards per game of 98.3 is an all-time NFL record.
But... "The Packers have a handful of guys that can do just as much if not more."
LOL. Pull your head out, dude.
Coldworld
June 05, 2024 at 07:39 am
No doubt from me about Jefferson’s ability, but I think the point was intended to be that it’s not just him but the WR corps as a whole that determines aerial potential. With Jefferson’s price tag, it will be interesting to see what overall passing attack the Vikings can assemble and sustain.
Is even Jefferson worth that kind of cap %? In my view he’s probably the strongest candidate to be so, but he can get injured and he, like Moss, doesn’t represent omniscience. Of course, a lot depends on how well his QB can play to set him up to support his talent too.
Arguably the Packers depth through 5 or 6 WRs and ability to spread targets could well be more potent overall this year. It will be interesting to see if Jefferson, and others mentioned, can prove to be sufficient difference makers to justify this kind of investment level.
Guam
June 05, 2024 at 08:01 am
Excellent post CW.
Turophile
June 06, 2024 at 03:16 am
Nailed it, Coldworld
mrtundra
June 06, 2024 at 09:04 am
Minnesota should feel blessed having such a record setting WR in their camp. Tell me something: In the past two seasons what did the vikings win, with Jefferson as their big star? How many NFC Championships? Super Bowls? I cannot wait for our DBs to cover Jefferson, this season.
cdoemel
June 05, 2024 at 05:46 pm
I like that read. Nice. I’m so used to the measured, responsible way the Packers build their roster, it just seems odd that other organizations don’t do the same. It’s like the fool me once, fool me twice thing. How long before you get fed up with sucking?