The Green Bay Packers released some well-known, veteran players to clear up cap space last week. Aaron Jones, David Bakhtiari, and De’Vondre Campbell were among the players given their walking papers by GM Brian Gutekunst. Two of those three players made public remarks criticizing the way the team handled some aspect of their departure. This is not the first time departing players have been critical of the Packers front office in recent years. So, do the Packers have a problem with how they treat outgoing players?

Do the Packers Have a Problem with How They Treat Outgoing Players: De’Vondre Campbell

The most openly critical player of the three released last week was Campbell. The former University of Minnesota star enjoyed a career year in his first season with the Packers back in 2021. That earned him a lucrative new contract with the team. Unfortunately, he could not maintain that level of play in the following two seasons. Injuries played a role in the drop off in his play.

Last season, Campbell announced that he would not play through injuries because he did not feel it was appreciated. His social media post said, “Not going out my way anymore and I’m not playing through injuries anymore cause when s*** goes wrong they always use it against you. I’m treating everyone accordingly and giving them the same energy they giving me. Focus on yourself and your mental 59 you owe it to yourself.”

When he was let go by the Packers, he was more direct in his criticism. “GB is the worst team on how they treat the player’s on their way out…Wish you the best of luck. Here’s to hoping someday GB treats the players right!! It’s business until it’s not!!”

Campbell signed a new contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

Aaron Jones

Jones was the catalyst for the Packers offense in recent seasons when he was healthy. He gained 100-or-more yards rushing in each of the team’s last five games including both postseason contests. When Jones was healthy, he made the entire offense better.

At 29, Jones is considered old for an NFL running back. He missed six games due to injuries in 2023 and was on a play count for about six more contests.

The Packers asked Jones to take a pay cut and reduce his 2024 cap hit after he had already taken a pay cut to stay with the team in 2023. When they couldn’t agree on a new number, the Packers released Jones and he signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Jones addressed his departure from Green Bay at his introductory press conference with the Vikings. “My agent had called me before all of that happened, told me it was a possibility, so my mind was already prepared, and I just wanted to go where I felt wanted. That’s here, and I’m excited to be here.”

While Jones typically does not make critical statements in public, he left Green Bay feeling “not wanted.” Clearly, the star running back’s departure was not on ideal terms.

Do the Packers Have a Problem with How They Treat Outgoing Players: Davante Adams

Jones and Campbell were not the only star players to be critical of the Packers front office on their way out the door. In 2022, star receiver Davante Adams left Green Bay after demanding a trade to the Raiders. Adams expressed his displeasure with the way the team handled contract negotiations with him.

Before the Packers meeting with the Raiders this season, Adams said he probably would have stayed in Green Bay at least another season had the team handled negotiations differently. “Had they made the correct offer or submitted something like they did right before I left, then I would have 100 percent been there for another year,” he said.

Aaron Rodgers

The most publicized departure in recent years was obviously Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Fame quarterback openly feuded with the front for years before he was traded.

“It’s just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go,” Rodgers said in 2021. “It’s about character, it’s about culture, it’s about doing things the right way.”

He also added, “I wanted to help the organization maybe learn from some of the mistakes in the past, … about the way some of the outgoing veterans were treated and just the fact that we didn’t retain a number of players who i felt like were core players to our foundation, our locker room. High character guys…I’m talking about Charles Woodson, Jordy Nelson, Julius Peppers, Clay Matthews, Randall Cobb, James Jones, John Kuhn, Brett Goode, T.J. Lang, Bryan Bulaga, Casey Hayward, Micah Hyde. Guys who were exceptional players for us, great locker room guys, high character guys. Many of them whom weren’t offered a contract at all or were extremely low-balled, or were, maybe in my opinion, not given the respect that guys of their status and stature and high character deserved.”

He initially went as far as to demand Gutekunst’s removal according to published reports. Rodgers later mended fences with the team for another season before demanding a trade after the 2022 campaign.

Is This a Big Problem?

So, does this all represent a pattern that could cause of problem for the Packers organization in the future when they look to sign free agents and draft players? They did not have any issues this season when they added Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs.

Football can be a heartless business where players are discarded as soon as their production fails to live up to their cap number. While every team has to make difficult cuts, how they do it can matter. Are the Packers any better or worse than the other 31 teams in the NFL?

The Packers cannot let this become a long-term issue. Is this a real problem or is it sour grapes from players on their way out?

 

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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