James Jones 2013 Green Bay Packers Evaluation and Report Card

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1) Introduction: James Jones is another example of a Packers wide receiver increasing the team’s overall toughness. Jones missed more than two games with a knee injury, then returned and played hurt for the next month. He also played through a broken rib late in the season. Jones risked further injury during a contract year, which says a lot about his character and toughness.

Packers WR James Jones

2) Profile:

James Jones

  • Age: 29
  • Born: 3/31/1984 in San Jose, CA
  • Height: 6’1″
  • Weight: 208
  • College: San Jose St.
  • Rookie Year: 2007
  • NFL Experience: 7 years

Career Stats and more

3) Expectations coming into the season: I’m not sure anyone expected Jones to catch 14 touchdowns like he did in 2012, but they were expecting him to continue being a reliable target in the passing game.

4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: An 11-catch, 178-yard game in week 2 against Washington tops Jones’ list of highlights. Catching an 83-yard touchdown against Detroit is also up there. Injuries and the loss of Aaron Rodgers caused Jones’ production to dip in the middle of the season. He also dropped a couple of tough, but catchable, passes against the 49ers in the playoffs.

5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Jones averaged almost 2.5 more yards per catch in 2013 than he did during his breakout campaign of 2012. He seemed to be having more success getting downfield before he was slowed by the knee injury (he struggled to get separation the remainder of the season). When he was healthy, Jones was exactly what the Packers needed him to be: a tough, fundamentally strong, dependable receiver.

6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Jones’ performance against the 49ers is a game he’ll want to forget. He failed to come down with the ball on three separate occasions when he had a chance to make a big play. Each catch wold have been a difficult one, but it’s those types of plays that need to be made in the playoffs.

Season Report Card:

(B) Level of expectations met during the season

(B) Contributions to team’s overall success.

(D-) Contributions to team during the playoffs

Overall Grade:  B-

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Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .

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13 thoughts on “James Jones 2013 Green Bay Packers Evaluation and Report Card

  1. JJ’s always been what I’d call ‘a Packer guy’. Tough, reliable and he does something that’s getting pretty rare these days – puts team over self.

    I have no clue as to the odds or chances, but I hope that he and the Packers find a way to reach middle ground on a reasonable deal.

    At some point, the organization needs to make sure that the roster is populated with enough veterans that can help develop the young guys and bolster them in the tough times.

    1. Agree with what Savage said. Both he and Jordy just go out and play. Never heard either one of them bitch about anything. Great character guy.

      Suppose some will complain about a lack of separation, but I would have no problem if the Packers were some how able to retain him.

  2. I hope that the Packers can find a way to keep J. Jones. Obviously this is price dependent. Jones knows the offense and when healthy he still gets open and he has shown that he can make difficult catches. He missed a few in the playoff game but the conditions factor into to making difficult catches. He plays hard and fights for yards after the catch. A good Packer and a reliable target for Rodgers. TT likes to sign his own FAs and I hope that he does with Jones. Thanks, Since ’61

  3. Jones is getting to the same point that Driver got to near the end of his career. He is having trouble getting separation and generating a consistent impact. Jordy Nelson is a consideration and threat in almost every game. Jones, not so much. I think that TT letting Jones try FA again tells you something about how the Packers see his value.

  4. IIRC,it was the during the 09′ off season and here on Jersey Als there was a debate/question of who should be retained..Jones or Nelson.I stood firm for Nelson as he seemed the go getter and Jones seemed lacking in desire to prove what only he believe in himself.
    Today,I still stand firm for Nelson but would stand for Jones’ retention,though not on the same level of demand.

    I don’t sense JJ needs another case of humble pie as 3 years ago,but it wouldn’t be prudent to simply let him walk either.A decent raise is in order and merited.

    Any money that may have been earmarked for Finleys return,the extreme dollars for Raji and perhaps part of any money saved from the release of dead weight,surely can be made available to keep JJ for a few more years.

    With so many Grade C players on the defense..can we be so passive and let loose a constant Grade B or B- player on offense since that is what keeps any hopes alive to date.

  5. Jones is very much a player that is made much better by those around him. Rodgers, Jennings, Driver, Nelson, Cobb, Finley all drew considerably more attention from defenses than Jones ever did. Good player but simply not very difficult to replace. Boykin would do equally as well as Jones, which for the Packers lowers his value. Maybe some other team in need of a WR will throw money at him, but I doubt it. That would be his best chance for a big pay day. Only small issue of losing Jones is the depth at the position would be somewhat compromised. That said, let him walk unless he signs a very team friendly contract. I don’t see the need to pay him 3M or more, more like 1.5M.

    He’s 30 now and for a guy who was never fast in the first place he’ll be losing a step and some of the ability to separate in the very near future.

    If he leaves use a 3rd on Donte Moncreif and your in good shape again.

      1. If he’s willing to come back at a very TEAM friendly deal, I don’t have a problem w/ bringing him back. But we are going to need recievers in a few years and getting another younger WR to pair w/ Cobb is wise. Jones doesn’t do enough to make himself a must keep player and Boykin is as good IMO.

  6. I think the deep WR draft pool that some draft “experts” are discussing will lesson the number of teams anxious to sign him to a large deal. I think seeing Greg Jennings experience first hand will also make Jones think twice about jumping strictly for more money. I hope we can keep him but expect that if its more than his current deal, TT will let him walk. GoPack!

  7. I like Jones, but after the last game he played, watching the ball bounce off of his helmet and shoulder pads on crucial situations during the game, that pretty much did it for me. I believe he is replaceable. Maybe he’s just not a cold weather player…

  8. Some WR deprived team like the Jets will offer him 3-4M per year on a short term deal..2-3 years. With all the problems that must be addressed on D, I don’t think Jones will be back

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