He isn't going anywhere.
With Rodgers, Clay, and Raji's contracts all up/need extending there is a possibly that he doesn't come back...and it's the one position that the Packers can afford to lose a guy without it really hurting the team.
Rodgers wont let him walk lol
ESPN has said in the past that it is very likely that he'll get the Franchise tag.Could always franchise him for a year then be done with him.
The game after Jennings went down the Packers suffered their first regular season loss so I think we did skipp a beat there. Also he didn't seem 100 % when he returned in the playoff loss. He's had concussions but has played in 81 of 88 games.
I don't necessarily agree you can just plug in another guy. Jones doesn't give us the same element and Cobb is still an unknown. Driver is done and Boykin runs a 4.7 40. We'll see how all this plays out. Who knows were his production will be this year? That could drive his market price up or down. Long ways from saying goodbye to him.
ESPN has said in the past that it is very likely that he'll get the Franchise tag.
I keep hearing people saying that the WR corps is so deep that if Jennings left, it wouldn't matter. I don't think I agree at all with that idea. He is the tip of the spear in that group. He takes coverage away from the other receivers, so they can make their catches. He is one of the best route-runners in the NFL. He's a true blue-chip player. He would be sorely missed if he walked away from the Pack.
I should note I don't even like talking about this stuff leading up to game #1. I wish Jennings felt the same.
I don't think I'd attribute the loss to KC to the absence of Jennings...it looked like a flat and ill-prepared performance across the board...we looked past that game. This is supported by the fact we put up 80 offensive points in the next 2 games against DET and CHI, one with Flynn at QB. The game before KC, for that matter, we put up 46 points against OAK with Jennings catching 2 for 20.
In any case, you're right, it is not a foregone conclusion and you cannot plug in just anybody for a Pro Bowl quality player. However, approximately the same considerations came into play with Jenkins and Wells, and the money involved in those decisions what not quite so daunting, albeit not so-called "skill position" issues.
With Nelson's ascendency, Jennings is more like a #1.5 and not a #1. He may be worth market value to some other team without a bona fide #1, but market value for us presents difficulties.
The key here is not Cobb, or Boykins for that matter, but Nelson and Finley. If those guys continue to show they're horses we can ride into the future, the picture will be dimmer for a Jennings re-up, unless he's willing to take a significant home town discount, which does not appear to be the case. And to reiterate, he'll be 30 next season.
And then there's the 2013 draft.
The game against KC was our worst offensive performance of the season. Anyway you want to couch it they skipped a beat and Jennings was the only guy missing on offense. I think Jennings being out had much to to do with the flat offensive play against KC.
Nelson is solid but without a viable compliment both guys effectiveness probably decline.
The CHI and DET games would suggest otherwise....regarding Jennings absence and Nelson's ability to work without him.
I would like to propose the idea that with only Raji and Pickett as NT since Muir was cut, and having 11 DB, we may be using Nickle and Dime to diminish Raji's role/importance/value so we would not have to pay him as much. Jennings leaving would be a significant blow to our WR corp, but its not impossible. I hope this doesn't affect his season.