Vikings receive major boost ahead of Packers matchup
The Minnesota Vikings are entering a do-or-die matchup against the rival Green Bay Packers in Week 17, so, with all due respect, it's going to need all the help it can get.That's why Wednesday's news regarding the suspension of Packers All-Pro cornerback, Jaire Alexander, is such a big deal.Green Bay decided to suspend one of […]
The Minnesota Vikings are entering a do-or-die matchup against the rival Green Bay Packers in Week 17, so, with all due respect, it's going to need all the help it can get.
That's why Wednesday's news regarding the suspension of Packers All-Pro cornerback, Jaire Alexander, is such a big deal.
Green Bay decided to suspend one of its best players after he declared himself a captain moments before Week 16's pregame coin toss against the Carolina Panthers. He even called/won the toss, but almost put the Packers in a very bad spot by saying he wanted the defense on the field instead of saying the team wanted to defer to the second half.
That would’ve allowed the Panthers to choose what to do for the second half, which means they could've just said they wanted to get the ball, again. That, in turn, would've cost the Packers a possession in a game where they won by, you guessed it – one possession.
“That was a big mistake,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur after the game. “That’s something that you review with the guys before they go out there every time about, ‘Hey, we win the toss, we’re going to defer.’ I went to the officials before the game [and] made sure they knew what we were going to do. We had an incident earlier this year where we had a similar situation, so [I'm] always trying to be proactive in that approach.”
That apparently angered the Packers to the point where it decided the best way to move forward is to suspend Alexander ahead of a must-win game that also just so happens to include a matchup against the NFL's best wideout in Justin Jefferson.
The decision to suspend a player is never easy and not one we take lightly. Unfortunately, Jaire’s actions prior to the game in Carolina led us to take this step. As an organization, we have an expectation that everyone puts the team first. While we are disappointed, we had a good conversation with Jaire this morning and fully expect him to learn from this as we move forward together. We look forward to welcoming him back next week as he is a valued member of this team and will continue to be in the future. – Packers general manager, Brian Gutekunst
It's a respectable decision, but it could determine the season
You never want to players to think they're above the rules – or anyone else is, either. The Packers made sure they made it clear to a very young team that won't be tolerated. And it's the right move, ultimately.
But let's be real, here. This is a huge loss for an already struggling defense and secondary. In case it's been lost in the marathon that is an NFL season – the Packers traded their other starting cornerback, Rasul Douglas, to the Buffalo Bills before the trade deadline. Now, they'll be without their No. 1 corner in Alexander, as they head into a make-or-break game when it comes to their own season.
Yes, the Vikings are going to be without tight end T.J. Hockenson and it remains to be seen what happens with Jordan Addison. But the idea of a Vikings quarterback throwing to Jefferson against the combo of rookie seventh-rounder, Carrington Valentine, and backup, Corey Ballentine, is music to any fan's ears, no matter who plays QB on Sunday.
