By Marques Eversoll
Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson was making plays all over the field Saturday at the Packers’ first training camp practice of the 2014 season. And about halfway through practice, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted that the team had agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $39 million, including $14.2 million guaranteed.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky wrote Thursday that Nelson was seeking about $10 million per year on his new deal, which ignited debate among Packers fans as to whether or not the wide receiver was worth that kind of money. Clearly, the Packers feel he is.
“Jordy Nelson is an outstanding football player and a great ambassador for the Green Bay Packers,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s something that everybody is excited about. I’m glad to see that Jordy will be here for some time.”
New contract aside, Nelson may have been the star of the season’s first practice. He had multiple catches up the seam, an outstretched grab on the left sideline and a deep ball for a 41-yard touchdown on the right sideline over cornerback Antonio Dennard.
“If you look at the practice today, I thought the team work, there were some really good components,” McCarthy said. “Jordy had a heck of a day, particularly down the middle.”
In a pressure period of practice, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hurried by multiple pass rushers but eluded pressure and found Nelson on the left sideline. It was a perfect pass into coverage, and Nelson came up with a nifty grab with both feet in bounds.
A few plays later, Rodgers fired a laser to Nelson up the seam for a long gain. Later in practice, Rodgers hit Nelson — who had about three steps on Dennard — on a deep ball for a long touchdown and an overwhelming applause from the stands. By then, news of Nelson’s new deal may have already reached the phones of the Packer faithful in attendance.
Nelson had been answering questions regarding his contract throughout the Spring, and the Packers feel fortunate to have him locked up.
“I’m not really involved in (contract negotiations),” McCarthy said. “Every training camp, every season, distractions are coming. That’s a part of a business. If you can avoid them, that’s a good thing for your football team.”
With plenty of attention on Julius Peppers and the rest of the newcomers, it was Nelson who stole the show Saturday. Coming off a season in which he posted a career-high 85 catches for 1,314 yards and eight touchdowns without Rodgers for most of the year, it would appear the sky is the limit for Nelson and the rest of the Packers offense in 2014.
You can hear Marques on SportsLine, Monday through Friday 4:00-6:00pm on WDUZ 107.5 FM and 1400 AM “The Fan” and on the Saturday Morning Showcase at 8 am on Saturdays. You can follow him on Twitter @MJEversoll and/or email him at [email protected].