Third in a series.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – For the last several years, the members of the Green Bay Packers wide receiver corps – Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Brett Swain or Ruvell Martin – have purported themselves to be the NFL’s best group of wideouts.While other teams’ units might have quibbled with how deserving they were of the top spot, there was no denying that the group was among the best in the league.“My receivers make me look really good. I’ve got five really talented guys who I’d match up against any guy in the league,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said in the days leading up to Super Bowl XLV. “Greg Jennings is as good as any receiver (in the league). Donald, Jordy, James and Brett all have a lot of talent and different things that they can do for us. It’s tough for us to get them all on the field at the same time, but we try to draw plays for each of those guys every week.”Now, the band is almost certain to break up.With Jones officially becoming an unrestricted free agent Tuesday and eligible to negotiate with other teams – although prohibited from signing with anyone, including the Packers, until 5 p.m. Wisconsin time on Friday – he is expected to depart after four seasons with the Packers.A 2007 third-round pick who has had his share of ups and downs in his time in Green Bay, a receiver-poor team likely will pay him starter’s money, and the Packers – with Nelson entering the final year of his deal and Jennings set to be a free agent after the 2012 season – are unlikely to compete hard for Jones’ services.“I definitely feel like I’m ready (to be a full-time starter),” Jones said. “I work hard. I’m just hoping for the opportunity, whether it’s in Green Bay or somewhere else. I feel like I have the ability to be one of those guys, to be a starter. I’m just excited about the opportunity, wherever it might be.“I’m glad we were able to do it together, win a Super Bowl, if I was to go (elsewhere). We were able to share that together. But it would be hard (to leave). But we all understand it’s a business, we all have families we have to take care of. If I’m blessed to stay in Green Bay, I’m blessed to stay there. And if I’m blessed to go somewhere else, I’m just happy to play football.”In 65 career games and 18 starts (including playoffs), Jones has caught 166 passes for 2,305 yards and 16 touchdowns. Last season was his most productive, with 50 catches for 679 yards and five touchdowns in 16 regular-season games and 11 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns in the Packers’ four postseason games, including Super Bowl XLV.But he also dropped what may have been four long touchdowns during the season: a potential 72-yard touchdown in the Packers’ 9-0 win over the New York Jets on Oct. 31; a possible 29-yard touchdown in the Packers’ 45-17 victory over the New York Giants on Dec. 26; a likely 63-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers the Packers’ 21-16 NFC Wild Card victory at Philadelphia; and a potential 75-yard touchdown in the Packers’ victory over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV.“Let me just say this: I have a ton of confidence in James and his abilities,” Rodgers said late last season. “He’s a guy I think we need to keep around. We need to find a way to get him the ball more often. He’s as talented and as good as any receiver we’ve got when the ball’s in the air, using his body. Obviously I know he’d like to come up with a couple more plays here and there, but I have absolutely no reservations throwing him the ball.”But Jones impending departure isn’t the only uncertainty at receiver as the Packers prepare for Saturday’s first practice of training camp. Driver, after six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, turned 36 years old just before the Super Bowl, was slowed by a leg injury for part of the season and could be on the verge of major decline, even though he intends to play two more seasons. That might mean that Nelson, who had a career game in the Super Bowl (nine catches for 140 yards but also three drops) could wind up playing more snaps than Driver and force the Packers to spend big money to keep him after the season.Jennings, meanwhile, is coming off his first Pro Bowl selection and is solidifying himself as an elite receiver. But by choosing to sign only a three-year extension, he’ll be a free agent after the 2012 season and still very much in his prime – meaning keeping the remaining band members together may not be easy, either.QUICK READ: WIDE RECEIVERSDepth Chart No. Name Ht. Wt. Age Exp. College 85 Greg Jennings 5-11 198 27 6 Western Michigan 80 Donald Driver 6-0 194 36 13 Alcorn State 87 Jordy Nelson 6-3 217 26 4 Kansas State 89 James Jones* 6-1 208 27 5 San Jose State 18 Randall Cobb 5-10 191 20 R Kentucky 16 Brett Swain 6-0 200 26 3 San Diego State 11 Chastin West 6-1 216 24 1 Fresno State 17 Antonio Robinson 6-1 195 25 1 Nicholls State * -- Free agentBurning Question What’s next for Jennings?There’s no question that Jennings became the focal point of the Packers’ offense after tight end Jermichael Finley landed on injured reserve with a knee injury suffered in Week 5. After catching just 14 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns in the Packers’ first five games, Jennings was downright unstoppable thereafter, catching 62 passes for 1,082 yards and nine TDs the rest of the way – making him the most productive receiver in the league over the season’s final 11 games. Jennings carried it over into the postseason, when he had 21 catches for 303 yards, including two touchdowns in Super Bowl XLV, when his late third-down catch-and-run essentially clinched the victory. Now, with Finley returning to action, quarterback Aaron Rodgers must find a way to keep Jennings top of mind.On the rise Nelson.Nelson’s productivity in the Super Bowl may have just been a preview of what lies ahead this season. But as impressive as his nine-catch, 140-yard, one-touchdown effort was, he could have been even better if not for three dropped passes – and he’ll have to be much more consistent with his hands if he moves up the pecking order assuming Jones departs as a free agent. After catching 45 passes for 582 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season, Nelson shared the team lead for playoff receptions with Jennings (21) for 286 yards and two TDs in four playoff games. His route-running has improved on an annual basis.Stock falling Driver.Driver thrives on naysayers and doubters, and while he remains an excellent leader in the locker room and ambassador in the community, but age catches up to everyone, even the great ones. Just 42 yards away from breaking James Lofton's franchise record for career receiving yards (9,656), According to STATS LLC, Driver’s yards-after-the-catch were way down (180, the least among the top four receivers) and he was credited with seven regular-season dropped passes. But he also flashed his determination and drive on a 61-yard touchdown against San Francisco, and anyone who chooses to bet against Driver does so at their own risk.The most interesting man (not in the world, but at the position) Cobb.Conventional wisdom says that because the entire offseason was wiped out by the lockout – no rookie orientation camp, no organized team activity practices, no mandatory minicamp – the odds are against Cobb, a second-round pick from Kentucky, contributing significantly at receiver this season. But as an ex-quarterback, Cobb may have the football IQ to pick up the Packers’ complex offense quickly, despite the missed time. Even if his snaps at receiver are limited, he figures to see action on returns and gives coach Mike McCarthy a Wildcat quarterback if he wants to explore that formation.Key competition No. 2 receiver.While Driver’s career accomplishments and standing in the locker room demand respect, meaning he will likely be playing the first offensive snap of games, don’t be surprises if Nelson ends up playing more plays than Driver. While all the receivers figure to see plenty of playing time given McCarthy’s love of three- and four-receiver sets, Nelson is in line to see his role expand significantly in a contract year. He opened last year as the No. 4 receiver but actually played more snaps than Jones, and the same thing could happen this year with him as the No. 3 receiver while Driver holds onto the No. 2 job in name only.NoteworthyJennings enters the season with 40 career touchdown catches (in five seasons), and 16 of those TDs have covered 40 yards or more. His touchdowns have averaged 31.5 yards, which ranks second among active receivers with at least 20 TD receptions. And, since 2007, Jennings’ 27 catches of 40 yards or more are the most in the league, ahead of Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson, Houston’s Andre Johnson and Terrell Owens, all of whom have 20. Remarkable, then that the guy was ranked No. 74 in the NFL Network’s Top 100 list of players and only the 15th-best wide receiver.Quoteworthy“I'm excited to get an opportunity to work with all of those guys. I think we all have an opportunity to continue to grow and continue to learn. As far as veteran guys, certainly it's more about holding each other accountable and making the most of our opportunities in doing the little things. It's always about let's get better and let's improve and I think moving forward I think all of those guys, they have an understanding of my approach to things and I certainly have a feel for those guys as well, having been around them the last few years. I'm looking forward to the opportunity.” – Edgar Bennett, on shifting to coaching wide receivers after coaching running backs, his old position.Next: Tight ends.
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