The Green Bay Packers handed down rare discipline to one of it’s highest paid players with the one game suspension to Jaire Alexander. This is how the media release from the Packers read:
Green Bay Packers Cornerback Jaire Alexander has been placed on the Reserve/Suspended list by the club for one game for conduct detrimental to the team. General Manager Brian Gutekunst announced the transaction Wednesday.
“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,” said Gutekunst. “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. 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.”
Alexander last contract extension made him the highest paid defensive back in the league but 2023 has been plagued by injury. A bad back held him out early and then a shoulder injury kept him sidelined for six weeks. The team admitted the severity was underestimated. He had been practicing the last several weeks but wasn’t able to play until last week in his return to his hometown of Charlotte.
Unbeknownst to Head Coach Matt LaFleur, Alexander joined the already pre-determined three captains out to midfield for the pre-game coin toss. It was Alexander who called tails and after seeing it come up, told referee Alex Kemp “we want to start on defense.” Kemp was able to get clarification about declaring to defer, before allowing the Carolina Panthers the choice at each half. LaFleur admitted briefing an official about the choice to defer and was surprised by Alexander’s self appointed captaincy.
The decision by Gutekunst is just another jolt in the secondary room on a defense that is floundering toward the finish of another disappointing season. It began when secondary and passing game coordinator Jerry Gray departed and Greg Williams was brought on board. Veteran safety Adrian Amos departed in free agency. As injuries had the entire preferred secondary of Alexander, Darnell Savage and Rudy Ford unable to get snaps together, the trade of Rasul Douglas rocked the room. It all forced newcomers like veteran Jonathan Owens along with Corey Ballentine and rookies Carrington Valentine and Anthony Johnson Jr. into heavy snap counts.
Alexander told reporters after the game he meant no harm in being back home to take part in the toss.
In May of 2022, Alexander signed a four year, 80 million dollar contract extension, his second contract since being drafted in the first round in 2018. He’s earned second team All-Pro owners and was voted to a pair of Pro Bowls over his first five seasons with the team. In February of this year, Alexander converted salary into a signing bonus adding a voidable year on the contract and saving the team 9.4 million in salary cap space. Alexander will have cap hits of 24.3 million next season, 25.8 in 2025 and 27.8 in 2026 according to Spotrac.
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