It’s not surprising.
Arizona Cardinals v Green Bay Packers | Patrick McDermott/GettyImages
If the Green Bay Packers had made an offer comparable to the Baltimore Ravens’, would Jaire Alexander have stayed?
“Yes,” his father, Landis Alexander, told ESPN Milwaukee.
The Packers released Alexander last week on the eve of minicamp, and it took a little over a week for the All-Pro cornerback to land with his new team, where he reunites with college teammate Lamar Jackson.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Alexander signed a one-year deal worth $4 million, which can rise to $6 million. A bargain.
It’s a tale as old as time. A Packers star feels disrespected on the way out of Green Bay. It’s like clockwork. And based on what Jaire’s father said, he has a point.
He noted that the Packers didn’t match the Ravens’ offer, instead low-balling Jaire with a deal that included no guarantees.
“To not have any guarantees in there was where we had the issue. It wasn’t actually the dollar amount, it was the no guaranteed money,” he added. “It’s kind of insulting to come to a two-time All-Pro, and somebody who gave blood, sweat, and tears to you, and to not have any guarantees.”
Landis Alexander shut down speculation that his son refused a pay cut. Quite the opposite. He then took to social media to add more context.
Jaire Alexander’s father confirms he wanted to stay with Packers but received an insulting offer
Along with his appearance on ESPN Milwaukee, Jaire’s father spent time on social media providing more details. He noted that Jaire “absolutely” wanted to remain in Green Bay, but the team “insulted him” with a deal “only a fool would sign.”
“It was never about refusing to take a pay cut or thinking he is worth more. He knows he’s worth more but he also knows he’s been hurt,” Landis added.
Alexander’s father noted that the Packers’ offer was for $4.3 million, which could rise to $6 million based on incentives. However, the lack of guaranteed money is the key factor. He believes the team was “setting it up for a more attractive trade” and “didn’t really want him.”
Of course, there are two sides to every story, but this follows a similar pattern to other ugly Packers exits.
The team reportedly asked Aaron Jones to take a 50 percent pay cut last offseason, a year after he had already taken less money. Jones understandably declined and decided to stick it to the Packers by signing with the Minnesota Vikings.
Aaron Rodgers raised similar concerns about the Packers while he was still on the team.
The NFL is a tough business, but are we sure the Packers couldn’t have found a way to match the Ravens’ offer? A one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $6 million? Come on.
They now enter the season with a trio of Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, and Carrington Valentine. It’s fine, but this group is hardly going to cause the other three NFC North quarterbacks to panic anytime soon.
The Packers got this one wrong.
