James Jones Wants to Start

[mraynrand]

There's not a huge separation between Jones and Driver in drops, so toss that out. But Driver has been willing to go into the middle and get clobbered. If Jones wants to start, then he has to beat out Driver - and Nelson - and show he can take a beating. And it would be nice if he could catch some more of those touchdown throws. I don't see anything wrong with his desire to be a starter, but his attitude has to be - "I've got to earn it." The Packers' attitude should be "You've got to earn it." Jordy Nelson's attitude should be "You've got to beat me out for the starting spot." I like it.

[Guiness]

If any of you were in his shoes, what would you say?



Some how, I doubt it.

You're right, that's not what anyone would say - and it's hard to imagine what a player could say in this situation and not come off looking at least a little bad. I think the safest thing is to just say I'd love to continue my career in GB, we'll see how negotiations go, that's in my agents hands, I'm just concerned with being the best player and teammate I can be.

As mentioned earlier, when 'taking care of family' gets mentioned you begin to worry. The comments about wanting to be a starter walked really close to the 'respect' mantra. You want to be a starter? I'm sure there's no glass ceiling in GB, if you're a better player than DD and Jordy, you'll be a starter. Get better than GJ, you'll be the #1 WR. It's not like you have to go elsewhere to earn that title, those guys haven't been given lifetime positions.

[Tarlam!]

I would say

I love having contributed to a SB winning team and bringing the Lombardi back home to the best fans in the world. I'm honoured that the organization values me enough to tender me and that gives me confidence that the club is interested in working out an amicable business arrangement that offers me the finacial security and freedom to pursue my goal of keeping the Lombardi at 1265. My personal professional goal of becoming a starter for the Packers someday soon goes without saying and I'm prepared to do whatever it takes and more to achieve that goal, but I know with guys like DD and Greg in front of me and the competition with Jordy and Brett I'll need to grow and have patience. I need to take advantage of every snap my number is called to let the team and coaches know just how reliable I am. Clearly, though, the business side needs to be addressed

But, that's just me.

[RashanGary]

I think what he's saying is, "The Packers have a lot of good receivers. It's going to be hard for me be crack the staring lineup here. If I'm not a starter, it might be hard for the Packers to pay me as one. I want to be a Packer but I'm worried they won't value me the way other teams will and I'll be gone"

In not so many words, I think that's what's going on with Jones. He has to take the money. He owes it to himself and his family. The way this is shaping up, it might not be with the Packers. There is a lot of uncertainty for a player like Jones who doesn't know if he's going to be making 2 million or 6 million per year. He's probably anxious, probably wants the Packers to reach out and make him a good offer. He's in a tough spot. He was talking about something very personal and important to him. I think he did pretty well.

[Patler]

I would say

But, that's just me.

Easy to do when you have time to think about it. Would you be so eloquent when a reporter sticks a mic in your face and asks a question?

Even so, isn't that about what he said? He deferred to Jennings and Driver as standing in his way, just as Jennings still refers to Driver as the #1 receiver on the team.

The "take care of my family" phrase comes from most players in a contract negotiations. Driver even said it a few years ago when he was unhappy with his contract. It seemed out of character for him, but he said it. It's their shorthand way of saying, "This isn't the game we played in high school and college anymore. It's a business and this is my job. A primary concern for me, you and everyone who works or wants to work is taking care of our families the best way that we can. Sometimes that includes changing jobs when pay, benefits and career aspirations are more promising elsewhere. Sometimes it includes passing up an opportunity when you decide it is better for your family that you not accept. But in the end, my family's well-being is the most important thing to me."

[Patler]

I think what he's saying is, "The Packers have a lot of good receivers. It's going to be hard for me be crack the staring lineup here. If I'm not a starter, it might be hard for the Packers to pay me as one. I want to be a Packer but I'm worried they won't value me the way other teams will and I'll be gone"

In not so many words, I think that's what's going on with Jones. He has to take the money. He owes it to himself and his family. The way this is shaping up, it might not be with the Packers. There is a lot of uncertainty for a player like Jones who doesn't know if he's going to be making 2 million or 6 million per year. He's probably anxious, probably wants the Packers to reach out and make him a good offer. He's in a tough spot. He was talking about something very personal and important to him. I think he did pretty well.

I agree. Subconsciously, he was probably hoping Driver would retire. It would put added value on him for the Packers. No different than when the rest of us look at our potential career paths at the company we work for. Kampman decided that he no longer had the career path he want in GB, so he left, because other teams valued him higher in their schemes and offered more money. He decided he would enjoy their job better than the one the Packers had available. Its no different for Jones.

[Tarlam!]

Easy to do when you have time to think about it. Would you be so eloquent when a reporter sticks a mic in your face and asks a question?

He was bound to be asked questions like that given his status, so I would expect his agent to have coached him up. It's called "preparation". So, yes, my answer would have been very similar to what I wrote.

[mraynrand]

.

The "take care of my family" phrase comes from most players in a contract negotiations. Driver even said it a few years ago when he was unhappy with his contract. It seemed out of character for him, but he said it. It's their shorthand way of saying, "This isn't the game we played in high school and college anymore. It's a business and this is my job. A primary concern for me, you and everyone who works or wants to work is taking care of our families the best way that we can. Sometimes that includes changing jobs when pay, benefits and career aspirations are more promising elsewhere. Sometimes it includes passing up an opportunity when you decide it is better for your family that you not accept. But in the end, my family's well-being is the most important thing to me."

That's exactly what came out of google translator: english to pro athlete. Well done

[vince]

I agree with Fritz and Tar. I don't have issue with what he said in terms of judging him as a person. I do think what he said is telling in terms of where his head is at. Every free agent with a brain says they want to come back to their current team so that means nothing IMO. The tender is a non-move in his eyes and he's intending to test the free agent waters to the fullest. There are a lot of receivers out there, but I suspect he'll be as attractive as some of the older guys with bigger names but more mileage and baggage.

Ted has already been forced to give Hawk a signing bonus, pushing cap dollars into the future rathing than paying now which he doesn't want to do. But he had to in order to keep Hawk and stay where they tghink they need to be with the coming cap.

Guys like Jones who are good but not elite and not team leaders that are looking for paydays (don't blame them) are going to be lost. Ted needs to continue to replace them with quality cheaper draftees as he's been able to do thus far.

That was very well said btw Tar.

[Patler]

He was bound to be asked questions like that given his status, so I would expect his agent to have coached him up. It's called "preparation". So, yes, my answer would have been very similar to what I wrote.

Well, good for you. That sure hasn't been my experience. I have been in that position many times in my life, when I knew I would be a spokesman and would be asked questions. When I had mentally prepared my answers. I can't tell you how many times after it was over I thought, "That didn't come out the way I wanted it to." or "I wish I hadn't said THAT." or "Why didn't I say that instead?"

In the end, these guys are jocks, not PR specialists. I think Jones' answers were perfectly fine. Finding fault in what he said is simply nitpicking, in my opinion.

[Tarlam!]

Well, good for you. That sure hasn't been my experience. I have been in that position many times in my life, when I knew I would be a spokesman and would be asked questions. When I had mentally prepared my answers. I can't tell you how many times after it was over I thought, "That didn't come out the way I wanted it to." or "I wish I hadn't said THAT." or "Why didn't I say that instead?"

In the end, these guys are jocks, not PR specialists. I think Jones' answers were perfectly fine. Finding fault in what he said is simply nitpicking, in my opinion.

You seem to be getting bent out of shape, but I don't get why. You invented a character, then invented a quote and asked if any of us expected a similar quote to be a reality. I in no way critized what Jones actually said, I merely answered your hypothetical. Then you challenged me on it and I assured you my preparation would have been such that I feel confident my answer would have come out like I wanted. As you, I have held position where I've a lead negotiator, I've had press mikes in my face, unlike you, I have never said I wish I hadn't said that". At worst, I've said, I shouldn't have stayed up all night drinking or, geez, I wish I'd prepared better.

I know they are jocks, but they can learn complex routes and blocking assignments etc. Surely they can learn a string of sentences. Again, I didn't criticize a thing about what he said.

[Patler]

I do think what he said is telling in terms of where his head is at. Every free agent with a brain says they want to come back to their current team so that means nothing IMO. The tender is a non-move in his eyes and he's intending to test the free agent waters to the fullest. There are a lot of receivers out there, but I suspect he'll be as attractive as some of the older guys with bigger names but more mileage and baggage.

I suspect the tender is a non-move in everyones eyes, including the Packers. It's almost certain that Jones will be an unrestricted FA when a new CBA is signed, just as he would have been under the old CBA. All of these tenders by the Packers will be meaningless, in my opinion. They will simply have no effect at all, because anyone with 4 or more years will be unrestricted.

Guys like Jones who are good but not elite and not team leaders that are looking for paydays (don't blame them) are going to be lost. Ted needs to continue to replace them with quality cheaper draftees as he's been able to do thus far.

I agree completely. Unfortunately, as Belichick said in an article a few years ago, every good team has to have talented players who contribute while being underpaid. There simply isn't enough money to go around otherwise. The easiest way to achieve that is with players who contribute to your team during years 1-4 of their careers. Players older than that have to be starters, almost, or they cost too much.

[Patler]

You seem to be getting bent out of shape, but I don't get why. You invented a character, then invented a quote and asked if any of us expected a similar quote to be a reality. I in no way critized what Jones actually said, I merely answered your hypothetical. Then you challenged me on it and I assured you my preparation would have been such that I feel confident my answer would have come out like I wanted. As you, I have held position where I've a lead negotiator, I've had press mikes in my face, unlike you, I have never said I wish I hadn't said that". At worst, I've said, I shouldn't have stayed up all night drinking or, geez, I wish I'd prepared better.

I know they are jocks, but they can learn complex routes and blocking assignments etc. Surely they can learn a string of sentences. Again, I didn't criticize a thing about what he said.

Nope, not bent out of shape at all. I just think most fans expect perfection from these dumb jocks, and you aren't going to get it.

I'm impressed Tarlam. You are the only person I have ever known who claims to have never misspoken in public, or who never regretted the words they have chosen. Even the most accomplished public speakers I have known all had moments they regretted. I suspect you are not being honest with yourself.

[Tarlam!]

Nope, not bent out of shape at all. I just think most fans expect perfection from these dumb jocks, and you aren't going to get it.

I'm impressed Tarlam. You are the only person I have ever known who claims to have never misspoken in public, or who never regretted the words they have chosen. Even the most accomplished public speakers I have known all had moments they regretted. I suspect you are not being honest with yourself.

This getting too personal for me, Patler. To reiterate, I answered your hypo and your challenge. You think you know me, but in fact, you know a cyber me. Skin, Nutz, Bretsky, Partial, Ziggy, Mad, OPF, GB Rulz, Pip, Harvey, Superfan and Ras have actually met me and will tell you I drink too much, but when sober and prepared, there's a remarkablely high chance that I won't stick my foot in my mouth.

So, my statement of regretting being ill prepared or not on my game because of a hangover stands alone. Further, when I am prepared, as Jones most certainly should have been given his status, I have never ever had to regret what I said to a reporter or into a mic.

I hate public speaking and I admit to being the worst public speaker I know, but I have zero issues in negotiations or with journos or before running cameras.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think Jones came across better than I thought he would. He sounds like somebody who is unsure if the Packers will retain him, but would be happy to return. He also sounds like he wouldn't have an axe to grind if he went elsewhere. I was more impressed with his attitude than Cullen Jenkins--although I don't really begrudge Jenkins for feeling the way he feels either.