New Packers acquisition spills the beans on what truly makes playing in Green Bay so appealing to NFL players
Green Bay traded for Zaire Franklin.
The Green Bay Packers have three pillars on the football side: Head coach Matt LaFleur, quarterback Jordan Love, and edge defender Micah Parsons. They are the big reasons why the Packers can be competitive in any given season.
Linebacker Zaire Franklin, acquired by the Packers in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts for defensive tackle Colby Wooden, knows exactly that. On the “Jim Rome Show,” the experienced defender talked about those three pieces and what motivates him to play in Green Bay.
“First thing first, a lot of respect for the head coach, Coach LaFleur,” Franklin said. “Obviously, we’ve played against him, competed against him, knowing he’s a sharp mind.”
On defense, the linebacker admitted that having a star player like Micah Parsons in front of him makes his life much easier.
“A pass rusher like Micah Parsons is going to make everybody’s life a little bit better out there in Wisconsin,” Franklin added. “So I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to meeting the guys. Me and Jordan have already talked. I talked to a couple of the coaches already. Jonathan Gannon, playing in that system, playing with his defense. Obviously, me and JG were together in Indianapolis, so we’re pretty close. We kept up even when he was the head coach for Arizona.”
Quarterback reality
It’s nearly impossible to win big in the NFL without a high-level quarterback. Outside of his rookie year with the Colts, when he played with Andrew Luck and a season with Philip Rivers in 2020, Zaire Franklin has seen some bad performances at the most important position — Jacoby Brissett, Brian Hoyer, Carson Wentz, Matt Rhyan, Sam Ehlinger, Nick Foles, Gardner Minshew, Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco, Daniel Jones, a washed version of Rivers, and Riley Leonard.
Now going to Green Bay, Franklin will finally have a consolidated franchise quarterback situation on the other side of the ball.
“At quarterback, that’s where it all ends up when you’re a player who’s been through what I’ve been through in this league,” he mentioned. “You want to go somewhere where the quarterback is right, and Jordan Love is definitely the type of quarterback I want to play with.”
The Packers have invested in a couple of older players on defense, with Franklin and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, who are both 29. Beyond the football production, leadership is also a factor.
“I’m looking forward to going there, helping lead that defense,” Franklin added, “and being a person that helps move them forward to bring a championship back to Green Bay.”
Green Bay Packers News
Top remaining free agent targets for the Packers after two intense days of free agency to strengthen key areas of the roster
Packers can still get good value signings
