Packer fans went to dinner last night to the news that long-time star running back, Aaron Jones, would no longer be wearing green and gold. We woke up this morning to the news that he now would be wearing purple. (Ick) It’s certainly been a tough pill for many to swallow, myself included. But when looking at the best interests of our team, I have to admit this was the right move. Begrudgingly, albeit.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
The incoming Josh Jacobs is an upgrade in almost every measurable way. Almost. But we’ll get to that later.
First off, he’s cheaper. That was one of the biggest reasons these moves happened. Green Bay and Jones couldn’t agree on his paycheck. We could argue all day about whether or not the Pack should have just coughed up the money, but that’s a different discussion for a different day.
Jacobs is also younger. While still a seasoned veteran, he’s just over 3 years younger than Jones. I know there doesn’t feel like there’s a big difference between 26 and 29, but it’s quite a lot in terms of running backs, since they don’t usually last much longer than 31 or 32.
Stats wise, they’re both extremely comparable. Jones has the slight edge in yards-per-carry, but there’s one glaring difference. The Packers offensive line is better. Granted, the Raiders OL had a strong second half to their season, which unsurprisingly is where Jacobs had most of his better games. I’d like to see his stats when he’s starting behind a better group of linemen, and he’ll get that in Green Bay.
“The incoming Josh Jacobs is an upgrade in almost every measurable way. Almost. But we’ll get to that later.”
Remember this? Now let’s address it.
Where I’ll miss Jones will be in his abilities as a locker room leader. He’s a passionate player that brings his teammates up with him. There’s no “I” in “Team”, nor is there one in “Aaron Jones”. That’s something you can’t see in any stat book, and I hope Jacobs can become that as well. For now, he’s the new guy.
Either way, this is the best move in the long-term, and that’s what we need right now. Since Jordan Love showed us that he truly can be “the guy”, and the rest of this young team showed us rapid development, I’d say things are looking up. The window of opportunity to bring our beloved Lombardi Trophy back home is WIDE open. The future truly looks bright in Green Bay.
COVER PHOTO CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS
