The Greg Jennings thread

[Mothman]

Greg Jennings was on ESPN's "First Take" today talking to Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. Beware: if you follow the link and watch the video, you'll have to listen to listen to lot of Stephen A. Smith. He can't fathom why Jennings would leave a team with Rodgers at QB to play for the Vikings with Christian Ponder.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... or-rodgers

[dead_poet]

Caught this on the plane. Would've been nice if Jennings would've been able to speak.

[Mothman]

Caught this on the plane. Would've been nice if Jennings would've been able to speak.

LOL! That's not allowed when Smith is in the room.

[Demi]

He can't fathom why Jennings would leave a team with Rodgers at QB to play for the Vikings with Christian Ponder.

Same reason a lot of players go to worse situations...a bigger contract!

[Demi]

But what are all the Packer fans and folks like you going to do if the Vikings have a better year than the Packers? Would Jennings still just be a "sell out"?

If by "sell out" you mean someone that took more money to go to a worse situation? Then yes, he still would be...

the Vikings are on the same level as the Packers, and love and respect for the Packers is based on what they did 3 years ago and the 2012 and 2013 group is not the same as the 2010 or even 2011 team.

It's based on recent history yes. More then just one season, which the Packers still won more games in then the Vikings. In which the Vikings had one of the greatest performances by a individual player in the history of the league. And still managed the very last wild card spot. Revise history all you want, it's just as easy to find situations where a play here or there means the Vikings aren't even in the playoffs.

The Packers won double digit games the last 4 years. The Vikings aren't even over .500. Ignoring the freakin' ring they won during that same period of time.

Oh, and one team having a top 5 player at the most important position, and the other bottom 5.

Las Vegas has Packers as 5th best odds to win the super bowl. Vikings tied for 6th worst. 8/1 versus 30/1. NFC Championship? Packers 4/1 Vikings 30/1 tied with Eagles and Lions and only the Cardinals worse. Division? Tied with lions at 6/1. Bears and Packers with better odds.

Could they finish better? Of course. Will they? Not very likely. And Jennings didn't come here because it was a better situation. Packers and Patriots were better options, but offering less. Hopefully he didn't pretend like this was a better situation....

[Mothman]

The teams weren't separated by much at all last season and recent history is still history. The Packers' success over the last few seasons guarantees them exactly nothing. We'll have a much better idea of which situation was better once this season plays out.

[King James]

I can't stand Stephen A. Smith. I can't wait until Ponder finally proves him wrong so he can shut his mouth.

[Eli]

Watching that was about as enjoyable as having my teeth cleaned.

[Demi]

We'll have a much better idea of which situation was better once this season plays out.

He didn't sign his contract after this season played out though...at the time he signed the contract everything is pointing to the Packers being a better situation. For an individual player at his position to flourish, and the team to have success.

[Eli]

Can't blame Jennings for his decision. Given his age, this is the last big contract of his career and the Packers weren't showing him much love. His performance over the next couple of years won't have a lot of bearing on what he earns in the last years of his career. In fact, if he ends up having chosen a team with no confidence in its passing game and unwilling to throw the ball down field, it could even extend his playing career.

[jackal]

I think the Vikings are moving the right
Direction. Green Bay will make the playoffs
and get bounced again IMO. If Rodgers goes
down they won't even make the playoffs.

Seattle and The Niners are both better
than Green Bay

Give the Vikings one more good draft and
and a FA or two and I think we will over
take the division from them.

[Tark10]

Bayless was in Dallas for years as a journalist. That should tell you all you need to know about Bayless. The Vikes were willing to go all out and pay Jennings because the team needed a top flight receiver. I firmly believe he chose the Vikes strictly for the cash. Would you rather be on a team with a top 5 quarterback who has a ring and is a proven commodity OR catch passes from a guy ranked 27th by Jaws. I hope this all works out for us. If Ponder can move up to around the 15th ranked Q.B. I'll be happy.

[Mothman]

He didn't sign his contract after this season played out though...at the time he signed the contract everything is pointing to the Packers being a better situation. For an individual player at his position to flourish, and the team to have success.

I understand what you're saying but his choice wasn't between last year's Packers and last year's Vikings or just the teams as they were constituted when he signed in March. He knew more moves would be made and his chances to be on a successful team are arguably as good in Minnesota this year as they would be in Green Bay. That doesn't mean it will turn out that the Vikings were ultimately the better situation for him but the teams were only separated by one game in the W/L column last year and that's because the Vikings made a 7 game improvement while the Packers experienced a 4 game slide. That could mean GB had an off year and will be better than 11-5 this season and Minnesota overachieved and will drop in the W/L column OR it could mean one team is on the way up and the other is sliding back to the pack (no pun intended).

As I said, we'll know which situation was better when we see how this season plays out. Honestly, I think it could go either way or they could end up looking pretty even.

[losperros]

Nobody has ever punched Stephen A. Smith in the mouth? Or at least stuffed a sock in his mouth? He's a real piece of work.

Anyway, Jennings handles himself with class in this interview, as he always does. He's a welcome addition to the Vikings, in my view. If he can stay healthy, I believe Jennings will be a big time contributor for the team in multiple ways. Having guys that can really play and possess great attitudes like AD and Jennings just has to help the team.

[Mothman]

Nobody has ever punched Stephen A. Smith in the mouth? Or at least stuffed a sock in his mouth? He's a real piece of work./quote]

You would think he'd get punched on an almost daily basis!

I agree and Jennings talked about how hungry he perceived the Vikes to be, which I consider another big positive.