GREEN BAY, Wis. — It’s been a busy week for the Packers as they’re making a number of roster moves ahead of the coming season.
One of the biggest, the release of running back Aaron Jones.
“All my life I always wanted to be a running back, so I modeled my game after Aaron Jones a lot,” said Darius Watson, a Packers fan and rapper from Ashwaubenon. “For me, it’s kind of a devastating hit to lose him from the team. We understand that sometimes things just don’t work out. Sometimes things can’t just fall into place.”
Jones is expected to sign a one-year contact with the Minnesota Vikings.
“Yeah, I’m not going to lie it definitely does hurt,” Watson said. “My sister lives in Minnesota right now, and I know she’s about to be talking all her mess. It just hurts. It hurts a lot.”
Jones was a popular player in Green Bay and was involved with the community – including being named a nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for those efforts.
He helped and supported veterans organizations as well as working with and making donations to the Boys And Girls Club.
“It’s hard to find anybody in this city that has anything bad to say about him,” said Adam Stordeur, a Packers fan from Green Bay. “A good role model for young kids with the way he carried himself.”
He understands the decision to release Jones, but it’s still difficult for many fans to see.
“Like they say, age is undefeated. The Packers usually have a good pulse when it comes to time to move on from players. I still think he has a lot of miles left on the tires, but I guess we’ll see.”
The Packers are planning to sign running back Josh Jacobs to the team from the Raiders.
Fans said they hate to see Jones go, but know it’s part of the business.
“He was pretty popular in the community. He’ll always have a place in my heart just because he was a Packer. Just like Aaron Rodgers, I have no animosity towards it. Business is business at the end of the day.”