Packers' Jennings vents frustrations
Green Bay Frustration finally set in for Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings in Sunday's overtime loss to the Washington Redskins.
Jennings apologized Wednesday for some sideline antics during the 16-13 loss and said he did the same to receivers coach Jimmy Robinson.
"It felt good, honestly, I'm not going to lie," Jennings said. "It felt good to relieve some of that built-up tension because I never really do that. You know, I apologize. I had to tell Jimmy, my coach, 'My fault, Jimmy. It's not you, it's this game of football.'
"And being a competitor you get kind of caught up in the game and get caught up in your emotions and they get the best of you sometimes, and I definitely let it get the best of me on Sunday."
Jennings wouldn't reveal exactly what he did to feel the need to apologize. But since he never previously exhibited diva qualities like Terrell Owens or Randy Moss, it was likely benign.
Still, Jennings isn't exactly thrilled with the state of the passing offense or his role in it, even though he ranks second on the team with 31 targeted passes, according to STATS LLC. Donald Driver has 24.
Jennings' 14 receptions tie him for 79th in the NFL.
"Frustrated, that's probably an understatement, honestly," said Jennings. "You get frustrated in the game of football. Opportunities can be misconceived sometimes. Targets - they can be targets but they cannot really be targets. It's a game where, when you get an opportunity, you've got to make the best of it. We're going to make it happen."
Jennings certainly has a right to be frustrated. He has just two receptions in each of the last three games. He had three in the second game against the Buffalo Bills.
The only other time Jennings, who was given a three-year contract extension through 2012 worth $8.75 million annually, had nine catches over four games in his career was at the end of his rookie season in 2006. He had 10 catches the first four games last season.
"I was in the same situation last year," Jennings said. "I'm kind of starting to get too familiar with this area, but it's all a part of the game."
In '09, Jennings had 23 receptions in the next four games after his drought.
Coach Mike McCarthy doesn't think Jennings is lacking in opportunities.
"I don't look at it that way," McCarthy said. "We have moved Greg around. He is playing inside and outside and we'll continue to do so. These are actually good issues to have on your football team when you have a number of players that can be productive with the football.
"It's really the responsibility of the quarterback just to run the offense and throw it to the open guy. We'll continue to make sure that schematically we are creating enough opportunities for Greg and Donald and the rest of the perimeter."
The case is certainly there to be made that quarterback Aaron Rodgers should make it a point to find Jennings.
In 36 games, including playoffs, since Dec. 23, 2007, the Packers are 6-10 when Jennings has three or fewer receptions. Four of those victories were against Detroit and Buffalo this season, St. Louis (1-15) last season and in the meaningless '09 finale at Arizona.
The Packers are 12-8 when Jennings has four or more receptions.
"You have to keep perspective and realize that it's all about the unit," he said. "And the better the unit is, the better the team will be."