The human drama of free agency

Jim McKay could have narrated the Packers first few days of free agency this year.

In my head, he did.

“The thrill of victory!” I thought when we signed running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney.

“The agony of defeat,” when we lost Aaron Jones.

Sometimes, “the human drama of athletic competition” can really get you down.

I’m a little miffed at my Packers for raising their ticket prices and then releasing one of my all-time favorite players.

I understand it’s a business, but it’s a business that measures the worth of human beings and that can be a tricky scale to read.

I hope the Packers fully considered Aaron Jones’ impact on Green Bay, both the team and the community at large, when they let him go.

His stats on the field tell one story – the 63 touchdowns, 5,940 yards on the ground and 2,076 yards in the air.

But what about his impact off the field?

It seemed to me, he navigated the enormous challenges of life as a young man in the spotlight of a global stage as gracefully as he moved on the football field.

These professional athletes don’t just represent their current team when they sign their NFL contracts. They wear the jerseys of every team they ever played for, and every neighborhood those teams represent. 

Jones began playing for the Packers in 2017, which means he played through some of the NFL’s weightiest years from a social justice standpoint. During that time, he managed to reiterate his respect for the flag, our country and the military that defends it, while also acknowledging persistent racial inequities. He demonstrated admirable composure and leadership then and throughout his years in Green Bay.

Twice, Jones, the son of two Army sergeant majors, represented the Packers as the Salute to Service nominee, including this past year. He has volunteered for the teams’ “Huddle for Heroes” events, for Patriot K9s of Wisconsin and countless other events. He makes regular virtual and in-person visits to military hospitals.

He’s also a locker room leader who helped shepherd his very young teammates into a flock of brothers last year. 

It’s really hard to replicate that type of leadership.

So, if you wore one in his honor, I hope you tip your sombrero to Aaron Jones and wish him well (though not too terribly well when the Vikings play the Packers).

Mostly, I hope we all appreciate everything the man did for our team in the seven years he spent here.

He wore that Packer jersey exceptionally well.