Matt LaFleur addresses surprising decision by Green Bay Packers
After beating the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed a surprising decision that was made earlier on Monday. Before playing the Rams on Might Night Football, the Packers released veteran wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Watkins, a former Clemson standout, caught 13 passes for 206 yards in nine […]
After beating the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed a surprising decision that was made earlier on Monday.
Before playing the Rams on Might Night Football, the Packers released veteran wide receiver Sammy Watkins.
Watkins, a former Clemson standout, caught 13 passes for 206 yards in nine games with Green Bay this season.
LaFleur was asked about the decision after the Packers' 24-12 win against Los Angeles.
“That’s one of the things that’s not cool about this business," said LaFleur when asked about releasing Watkins. "You have to make some tough decisions, and certainly he’s a guy that, I know myself and the rest of our staff and I think I can speak for everybody in that locker room, we have a lot of respect and love for Sammy Watkins."
"I certainly wasn’t fired up about the timing of it," added LaFleur. "But it was one of those deals where I had to get Patrick Taylor up as the third back, and he was out of elevations. It was a tough decision. I can’t thank him enough for just the type of person he is. The energy he brought to this team. It started off really good for him to start the season, and then he had the injury and it just kind of fell off from there. It’s tough. I don’t like it. But it is what it is.”
The timing was certainly unfortunate. Getting released is never fun. But getting released on game day might be the worst possible scenario for a journeyman player hoping to make an impact.
At the end of the day, the NFL is a business. It sounds like LaFleur didn't love the decision, but it was a move that, unfortunately for Watkins, had to be made.
Featured image via MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK
