It was early to mid-season (2010) when Cullen Jenkins voiced his displeasure about the lack of communication from the Packers regarding his contract. "It's almost like maybe a slap in the face. I'm not the type of player that causes a big scene or goes out and displays his unhappiness. You just kind of feel like you're not in the plans, like they just don't see you as a valuable enough player." said Jenkins. Jenkins, who was coming off his first 16 game starting season from the 2009 season knew that at age 29 this was his best chance for a big payday and the Packers weren't even talking to him about a contract.

It should be noted that Jenkins only played in four games during the 2008 season and was set to be 30 years old during the 2011 season. Past injuries and his age, plus the Packers investment of a 2nd round pick in Mike Neal were reasons for the Packers to be patient and let the market set the price tag. This is a common practice by the Packers and often times it rubs players the wrong way.

The Packers actually countered the Eagles offer but Jenkins mind was made in October that he was not returning for only a few extra bucks in the bank. Uncharacteristically, he would later play into the fans ire by saying he was going to give the Packers a hometown discount.

Going forward a few years to the off-season before the 2013 season and we have a 29 year old Greg Jennings coming off an abbreviated season targeting $12 million per season. Per Jason Wilde, the Packers offered Jennings about $10 million a year during the season. Jennings left with a bitter taste in his mouth as he referred to Aaron Rodgers as "the guy they have now" and "12" and also saying the Packers "brainwash" their players into thinking the Packers are the creme of the NFC North division. Ultimately, Jennings signed a five year deal for $47.5 million, or $9.5 million per year with the Minnesota Vikings.

These quotes from Jennings at his charity golf outing are very telling. "The way I exited Green Bay was very unprofessional," Jennings said. "But I don't feel any of that here. I felt more of a disrespect from Green Bay, honestly. It was more dealing with myself -- it was, 'Man, I really wanted to stay in Green Bay.' I really wanted to stay here [in Minnesota], but I've grown so much in my faith, to where I recognize where God is moving and making change.

"It just was really something I was dealing with myself. I had to recognize that I had a level of pride to where I felt like, 'Wow, I went through all of this.' It was almost a sense of entitlement, like, 'Wow, I dedicated my entire career, and [there's] no fight, no want?' It's almost like you disowned your child. But that's what I was feeling -- and again, selfishly. Bottom line, I was hurt, because I did want to stay. But I wasn't willingly embracing change at that moment. It's unfortunate, but I've been very apologetic to them personally. I don't have a lot of things where I wish it wouldn't have happened. I definitely wish I would have handled that better."

Both Jenkins and Jennings felt the Packers disrespected them and handled things unprofessionally. The theme here is (and stop me if you've heard this before, e.g. 2008) the team did not communicate their desire to retain the player.

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Jennings wanted a boatload of cash, more than the Packers were willing to offer knowing they had contracts for Nelson and Cobb coming.

Jennings then proceeded to milk his "injury" all season to avoid getting hurt on his payday. All the while bitching about his contract. Somehow he was A-OK for the playoffs though, coincidence? Or trying to show other teams how healthy he really is.

I absolutely believe he willingly did not contribute in order to preserve his body because his foot was out the door already.

If I was in the front office, or a coach, I wouldn't offer a dime for someone who acted like Jennings did. I think his sister was a nice window into Jennings real feelings.

Also, how the market reacted to Jennings, and the contract he ultimately got (and lost), Ted offered him a perfectly reasonable deal.

Jennings brought his situation upon himself. He's just incapable of taking responsibility for it.

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Letting Jenkins go was a huge mistake. If not for how good he was, but that we did not (and still don't) have a complete DL.

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I think the packers org. should be more forthcoming when it comes to contracts and playing for the team - ya I know its a business. But the packers try to hold themselved above other teams when it comes to certain types of things ...

Why is it many of our good players seems to develop a bad taste in their mouth when it comes to not having a job.

al harris, woodson, jennings (ok I get he wanted a bit too much), jenkins, hawk (not sure how he left but including him).

I get some if not all of these players wanted more then the packers were willing to pay - but I know most of these guys wanted to stay a packer and often there appears a lack of communication - perhaps thats what you get when dealing with agents etc ...

AJ Hawk released a 30 minute podcast when he was released and was nothing but complimentary towards the organization including how his release was handled.

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Sounds to me like it isn't that the Packers didn't communicate enough it's that guys like Jenkins and Jennings wanted them to communicate more enthusiastically. I always thought Jenkins got butthurt because GB turned down his "hometown discount" which likely turned out to be way higher than what he ended up with and Jennings got butthurt when GB lowered their initial offer after the market determined he wasn't worth as much as he thought. The fact that these 2 got released from their new contracts after like 2 years shows GB probably more appropriately valued them while the teams they went to overpaid. Players like to spout the "it's just business" phrase when talking about their contracts but then take it personally when the team takes a business approach to it.

It's water over the dam; It's sour grapes by a couple of players who wanted more than they were worth and then went on to prove they weren't worth the money they got - thankfully with other teams.

I'm neither a Thompson-hater nor a strong Thompson supporter, but he did get these two right.

As for "communicating", you do that in direct proportion to how enthusiastic you are to re-sign the guy - which in the case of these two apparently wasn't much.

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Jenkins was never healthy, and he was turning 30.

And remember, the year before he had injured his leg goofing off kicking field goals before a game.

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Let's face it .....any player that doesn't grt his demands met, 9 times out of 10 will whine about how he was "dissed" or "not appreciated".
What numbers did Jennings put up in Minnesota?
But his big numbers here had nothing to do with "number 12" throwing the ball to him?
"Whaaaah! I didn't get what my ego said I should get!"

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Jennings didn't want to leave so I don't believe the theory that didn't contribute to avoid injury. The best way to get a payday is by putting up big numbers, not joining a team that got to the playoffs without your contributions. That logic doesn't mesh for my thinking.

Jennings was overvalued by his agent (and clearly his sister) and he started to really believe the hype. I think the same thing happened to Javon Walker.

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One of the things that's worth mentioning is that it is much more difficult to balance contracts when you have a franchise QB vs a first contract QB. You're competing against teams that have around an extra 20 M to play with and have the pressure of building a winner. The Packers have been very good at making the right decision, better than the players/agents record.

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