Jennings on contract situation: ‘It is what it is’
Posted by on September 5, 2012 – 5:00 pm
WR Greg Jennings spoke to reporters at his locker on Wednesday about entering the final year of his current contract without a new deal. Jennings told other media outlets in recent days that it’s possible this could be his last season in Green Bay.
“It is what it is,” he said. “My focus is the 49ers and this year and putting myself in position to make plays for our organization, for this team and for the guys I’m lining up with. That’s my mindset. Bottom line, it’s always my mindset when I’m playing the game. I’m not worried about whether I’m going to end up here or whether I’m getting a contract done. That will take care of itself.
“If I’m here, I would love to be here. If I’m not, it is what it is. At the end of the day, I’m going to play football, I’m going to play 100 percent every single snap. This is my locker. I want this to be my locker until I hang my cleats up.”
He vowed not to let his contract status distract him or the team.
“It’s not a distraction,” he said. “I’m not going to allow it to be a distraction. I’ve never allowed my individual off-the-field deals that I need to take care of become a distraction to myself, let alone the team. I’m glad you guys are asking it right now, so we can kill it, because it’s a non-issue. It’s one of those deals where I can’t control the situation. I have an agent, he’s working diligently on that. He knows my stance on it, I don’t want to be involved in that.
“Do I want to be here? Absolutely. Everyone upstairs knows that, the guys around me know that, but at the end of the day, the focus has to be football.”
Tags: contract, greg jennings
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43 Responses
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By craig on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
May I respectfully suggest we throw the ball to Greg a few more times this year to verify his value to the team?
By pricecoprice on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
How about we let Aaron throw to the open guy?
By Jerry Dragolovich on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
Besides catching the ball he brings more to the table then that. They need him around for so many other reasons. Lets hope they sign him and I think they will.
By craig on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
So, I’m to understand that there is always just one open receiver? Or that Aaron threw to 85 every time he was open?
By craig on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
Agreed Jerry! <
By Sean on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
We need to keep this guy! He is such a value to our team, hopefully this won’t be his last year Green Bay and new contract will be done.
By chris on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
the packers would be fools not to re-sign jennings. plan and simple
By Cali on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
Jennings is good, not great, but good. It’s hard to determine his worth when he’s not a main reciever. Heck, there is no #1 reiever on the team. Every reciever and TE gets a shot. That’s what happens when the best QB in the NFL has choices. I agree with what dude said. Let’s throw to him a little more and see what we get. GO PACK GO!!
By airpacker12 on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
hes the only reciver that consistantly cathes the ball ! watch that sb game again ! you can have jj; gurley, and all the rest of that so called potential…
By Joe on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
I would be quite upset if jennings isnt back next year… It would suck having to play against him. Also, him and nelson are one of the best receiver tandems in the league. If it comes down to it ditch finley if he cant get his act together this year and keep jennings on board.
By airpacker12 on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
I KNOW THIS, WITHOUT JENNINGS THAT LAST SB WIN PROBABLY DOSENT HAPPEN……….
By Michael on Sep 5, 2012 | Reply
I think that we need Jennings.. Bt A-Rod needs to throw to the open reciever, not just Jennings to see if he’s worth it..Airpacker12 is correct without Jennings we wouldn’t have won the Suiper Bowl. He was the one telling them to go for corner routes because the Steelers couldn’t cover them, this lead to I believe are last TD, which was caught by Jennings in the corner of the end zone.. So Mr. Thompson if you read this we 85 back next & the year after. # gopackgo
By Packboi on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
Imagine Jennings gone and Driver retired. That would only leave Jones, Nelson, Boykins, and Cobb. WE NEED JENNINGS!!
By josh marshall on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
look the packers are looking toward the season they know jennings is a free agent they will give him a contract but their focus is on this season when the time arrives they will give him the contract they know he wants to be in gb just not going to rush it
By Matt on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
We need Jennings. The only reason Nelson had such great numbers last year is because Jennings is the primary concern for the defense. If salary is the issue trim the fat somewhere else, maybe Finley he hasn’t been producing like he should be. Not to mention with Driver retiring we will need a veteran presence in the locker room. Way I see it give the guy his money he deserves it.
By Tarlam on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
Both parties are certainly looking at the calendar; GJ knows this his last huge contract and TT knows he’s probably getting a WR that will peak this season and only decline thereafter.
I think mostly Ted Thompson will wait and see how Cobb and Boykin develop, not to mention if Jones can take another step and contribute on STs. Borel is also still waiting in the wings. Was Jordy’s last season performance a fluke or will he sustain it?
The emotional attachment of some fans is more than understandable. GJ is a model citizen, and an outstanding player and teammate. Frankly, I’d love him to be the next DD at the position and hand up his cleats in Green Bay, but not at the expense of losing a Pro Bowler at another key position.
By Justin on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
How about cut hawk who hasn’t done much of anything since being drafted. Use his money to resign Jennings. You have linebackers that are better and whom you use over hawk. Cut the fat for the better of the team. GO PACK GO!!!
By Dan Mueller on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
So what does it mean; “It is what it is”?
What that means is:
1) Contract talks have already begun; even before the season started!
2) Working out the details & incentives; takes time!
3) Will have a NEW contract by mid to late season!
By Zaedon on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
To be honest. I think the Packers need to look at Driver and Finley. If their production continues to decline then let them go. I think Driver is at the end of his career anyways. Finley has stone hands. This should be a no brainer. I also beleive that Jennings will not try and extort every last dollar from the organization. Give him a fair deal, and he will sign it.
By LeeinHongKong on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
No doubt TT will do what is in the best interests of the team as a whole. All fans want Greg Jennings to remain a Packer until his retirement, but the team also has to realistically deal with upcoming contracts for not only GJ, but also “A-Rod” and Matthews (both big sums, too) AND get all these deals done within the restrictions of the salary cap. If it should come down to, say, keeping Jennings or keeping Rodgers, which would you keep? It would be fantastic to keep all good players all the time, but business realities may not allow it. Let’s just hope that TT and his team’s salary-cap management skills and negotiation skills can keep the most valuable “core” players (of which I think Jennings is one!) around as long as possible. I’d hate to see Jennings wearing some other team’s colors!
By Troy on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
Guys chill out. It’s a business. It is literally impossible for a team to hold onto every good player. Jenning’s fate will probably be decided by how he preforms this season. Honestly, if you want him to stick around pray for numbers that arnt amazing. The better he plays this year the more other teams will be willing to pay him (like the Vikings) Remember we have Clay Mathews, Aaron Rodgers and BJ Raji to think about resigning soon too.
To those saying cut Finley… you are just moronic and dont know what you are talking about. His deal is only worth a couple million a year… a WR is worth 10-15 million a year. If you cut Finley you still have to fill his space with another TE. In no way would that free up enough room to suddenly make signing a top notch WR viable.
Remember teams dont just have an endless pool of money to sign everyone they like. This is exactly why the draft and develop method works so well. If you buy free agents you are getting them at value. If you sign rookies you are getting them cheap and can develop them into players worth much more than they are being paid. Clay isnt making $10 million a year right now.. but after he gets a new deal he probably will be.
By wesley on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
no point in worrying about what the details are on this contract thats coming. but for kicks in giggles, id say to cut hawk, finley and james jones. jones and finley dont catch anything and hawk might make the tackle so long as they run straight into him with someone on their back already. cant cut driver, he catches anything thats thrown his way. and as far as nelson goes, he didnt have great numbers because of jennings, he had great numbers because he is a beast! not only does he catch just about everything but hes not afraid to get hit while doing it and once he gets the ball he runs over anybody standing in his way. Its the kansas football way!
By jesse on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
Jennings is my favorite player on the team. He’s such a great dude. i know it’s a business but it would hurt to see him go. cmon Ted…
By rick on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
I think Jennings is great on and off the field and would love to have him back. With that being said wrs, like rbs, are not hard to come by. It would be hard to replace GJ because he is hard working, has good hands and is fast(with great character being the most important). He is not a freak at his position and that is the only way I would spend top dollar at WR, if he was a freak like Calvin. Clay is a freak at his position and due a new contract after next year. If I could only have Clay or GJ I would take Clay without even thinking about it. I want GJ to stay but the business side of football makes me think it won’t happen.
By yangstar on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
The Packers will take care of Jennings. I don’t think we need to worry about anything. Woodson got a deal done quietly. I think it’s just media hype. Like Greg said, it’s not a distraction and he’s not concerned about it.
By DCPackFan on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
Good luck Greg. I hope you retire a Packer.
By Dave on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
Hey, Greg Jennings is a winner. On the field, off of the field, he is a quality man and a quality player. You can’t have too many guys like him. Count on cooler heads to prevail and the right thing for the team to happen. He’ll get the deal. God bless you, all the same, no matter what happens, Greg.
By Edie on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
Greg Jennings is a BEAST.
By uranus revealed!™ on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
Gene WEEN’s extreme PE€N dream
By cheesediaspora on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
I think Nelson’s numbers when Jennings was out at the end of the year show that GJ might be on the way out. Rodgers makes the offense roll, not the WRs.
Any chance that they’re grooming Cobb to be GJ’s replacement? Sure looks that way.
I think if Finley & Cobb break through this year, GJ will be signing a big money contract with some other team this summer. Favre lost Sharpe & Brooks and still kept up his production. I expect the same even if GJ becomes a cap casualty.
By Kenny on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
Of the 4 “core” guys that will need new deals in the near future, Jennings is the most expendable.
If you assume that Jennings will want as much, or more, than the contract that is expiring, I don’t see the Packers being able to afford to keep him after this season.
Aaron will make 20+ mil a season. Clay and BJ will both be in the 10+ million a season range too, most likely.
You just can’t afford to keep everyone and it’s easier to replace a WR than an impact defensive player.
I would love to see a deal get done, and 85 stay with the Packers. However, I don’t think the odds are great of that happening.
By Big Red on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
Some way, some how they have to keep him. He is such a class act on and off the field. The leaque needs more like him, a great role model for the kids besides being a great WR. That hit he took from #43 in the SB and still hung on to the ball, I still can’t get over that.I’d take him over all the head case randy moss’s, dez bryants and terrel owens combined.
By airpacker12 on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
I JUST DONT THINK RAJI IS AN IMPACT PLAYER (OR RARLEY BETTER SAID )ITS HARD TO BE IMPACTFUL WITH A 2 DOWN LINMEN FRONT ANYWAY…..WHEN THE 34 FIRST CAME OUT THE BIG QUESTION WAS CAN YOU PRESSURE THE QB ?THE ANS ; YES,BUT ONLY WITH TWO GOOD OLB !THAT 2 DOWN LINEMEN FRONT WE RUN A LOT NOW IS THE REASON CM3 SACK NUMBERS NOSE DIVED ALONG WITH RAJIS………. FORCE CAPERS INTO A SMALLER PLAY BOOK AND RUN 34 THE WAY HE DID HIS FIRST TWO YEARS AND MAYBE RAJI WOULD BE MORE VALUABLE……..EITHER WAY ITS STILL A TOUGH CALL BECAUSE BOTH ARE EXCELLENT PACKERS !
By airpacker12 on Sep 6, 2012 | Reply
MICHAEL DONT FORGET THE CATCH IN THE SB, ON 3 RD AND 10…..THE THROW WAS PERFECT BUT MAKING THAT CATCH FULL SPEED WITH THE DEFENDERS HANDS BLOCKING OR DISTRACTING HIS VIEW WAS INCREDIBLE …THAT PLAY BURNED OFF 5 OF THE LAST 7 MINS. OF THE GAME ;AND GAVE THE STEELERS ONLY 1 MORE POSSION ! THE REST, HIS- TO- REEEEE !!!!
By Tyler on Sep 7, 2012 | Reply
Aside from numbers, Greg is the best personality I’ve seen from a receiver since….Donald Driver. These types of guys are what foster the “Packers Way”. I heard on the radio down here in KC that the Chiefs are struggling with finding “The Chiefs Way” which they believe hinders them from becoming an elite team. They mentioned perennial title contenders and how they each have their own “way” and without great team players like Jennings, Driver, and Rodgers there wouldn’t be the continued tradition of “The Packer Way”. With that said Ted Thompson knows what he is doing, we all know that, and I trust his decision making when it comes to putting the best team together, on and off the field.
By Andrew Strickland on Sep 7, 2012 | Reply
Oh yeah, they need to give my boy a new deal because he’s a TOP 10 RECIEVER in the NFL today.
By brad on Sep 7, 2012 | Reply
Just pay the man his money!!!! He deserves it!!!
By ray on Sep 8, 2012 | Reply
if finley keeps dropping passes we will regret!!
By Andrew on Sep 8, 2012 | Reply
When i first saw GJ with The Pack, the first thought i had was “uh oh, watch out for this one”…ask anyone who was watching the game with me when i said this….no joke. There are other “impact players” who don’t have the impact that GJ does, mostly on the field, but off as well. I sure hope he keeps producing, and that TT and MM decide to keep him around.
I wonder how many of his fellow players would take a small–but significant–pay-cut to keep him paid well and on the team. I wonder how many of any of the players would take a small but significant pay-cut to keep any good player on the team.
Would A-Rodg take $18Mil/year instead of 20, and would CM3 and others take $500K to $1Mil less on their own contracts, to keep other good players on the team?
Other teams and other players have done this in the past to keep players they KNEW they needed to make a run at & WIN the SB.
Obviously, this is probably DD’s last or second to last year at best–no matter how good he did on DWTS, and he did AWESOME!…made that show watchable just by being DD–but his time (age) is catching up on him. Love him, but it catches all of us eventually.
Don’t even get me started on JF…he’ll have one good game, and then drop easy passes in the next 5 games.
There’s your cap space for GJ! And pick up a decent free-agent TE.
By Andrew on Sep 8, 2012 | Reply
Or draft a tight end…either way, if JF is a bust for most of this season (as he was last season), he’s got to go.
By Sam on Sep 8, 2012 | Reply
We cant get rid of greg jennings he’s the most skilled reciever we have in my opinion.
By Chris B. on Sep 8, 2012 | Reply
Remember the Super Bowl when Jennings came to the sideline and said The Steelers were looking inside. He said they were looking inside all the way, and the deep post outside would be wide open. He was right. They listened, and Rodgers hit Jennings for a big gain on the deep post route right. He is more than just a player. He is a coach on the field. Keep him.
By Jack on Sep 9, 2012 | Reply
To Ted: we need Jennings for a chance to win. You know that. It would take 2-3 years even if you found another with his caliber to get them ready. It would be great if Jennings retires a Packer. He fits our culture and is a winner. We are better with him. There are a number of others that should go before Jennings. We love him. You know his value. He wants to stay. Let’s make it happen. Thank you, Jack