quote:During a Tuesday morning appearance on the NFL Network’s “NFL AM,” the 28-year-old Jones expressed his desire to be considered a No. 1 wide receiver for the Packers after establishing career highs in receptions (65), receiving yards (784) and touchdown receptions (14), which led the NFL.
It’s a much different scenario than the bear market he met for his services after the team’s Super Bowl run in 2010 when he finally agreed to a three-year deal with the Packers that runs through next season after finding little interest in free agency.
“I’m ready,” Jones said on Tuesday morning. “I work hard every year. I’m ready to take in that role if we don’t get Greg (Jennings) back. Hopefully, I can continue to have some success, make some plays and help my team win.”
From JSO:
quote:Not everyone can do what Jones did. That is, swallow your pride after falling flat in free agency and returning to the team that seemingly didn't care enough about you to offer a great contract.
You have to really respect what Jones did, which is sign a modest three-year deal and come back as though nothing had changed. If anything, he worked harder than ever to prove he was a No. 1 or No. 2 receiver.
In 2011, he caught just 38 passes and played third fiddle to Jennings, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley, but he didn't pout and came back last year and with Jennings hurt caught a career-high 64 passes, including a league-leading 14 touchdowns. One more year like that and he'll have a chance to strike it big on the free agent market next spring.
If James Jones has a year like he did in 2012 and Finley (assuming GB doesn't cut him) returns to 2009 form, Ted Thompson will have 2 big decisions to make going into 2014.
Both entering final years of their deals.
Both could be due for big pay days in FA. And you'd wonder whether both (if they did put up big numbers) performed well in order to get $$ or whether they've matured and are the real deal. With JJ, I'd tend to lean to he's matured. Finley? Could be either reason.
