When the Green Bay Packers signed Jimmy Graham on Tuesday afternoon, people knew another move had to happen. Cap space is a funny thing. It can lead to things becoming awkward with the fan base when popular players are asked to leave the organization. This happened with Jordy Nelson and the Green Bay Packers. The breakup is official between one of the best Packers receivers of all-time and the team who drafted him in the first round. Even if this pains Packers fan, it was the right business move to make by the team.

With last season’s performance along with his lack of separation, Nelson is not a nine million dollar receiver. Even in a crazy, wide receiver market, he isn’t the same player anymore. The ACL tear changed how Nelson played football despite having a bounce back year in 2016. Nelson could no longer player at a high level from the outside and had to be moved into the slot this year. Green Bay had every reason to offer him close to the veteran’s minimum for a 10-year player. Nelson had every reason to reject it too. Green Bay didn’t see much worth in Jordy, and that’s the absolutely right thing to do.

Packers’ offense needed to get younger, faster and Nelson became the causality. He’s a well-respected player in the media, so, that’s why you see the likes of Rich Eisen defending him like he’s a family member. Therefore, the Packers are going to look like the assholes in this situation. That’s okay. If it’s an unpopular decision with the fans, most of the time they know more than the fan base. Nelson should be remembered fondly, but save the bullshit that he could have fit with this team at his salary figure. That wasn’t going to work with what the Packers are trying to do this season.

Nelson will be a forever Packer even though he will be suiting up in another uniform next season whether it’s in Oakland, New England or somewhere else. It will be very interesting for Nelson’s legacy if he can do with a quarterback not named Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. If it’s Tom Brady, it might be apples to apples, but Derek Carr might be a different story.

Thanks for the memories, Jordy. Look forward to your Packers Hall of Fame induction.

Charlie.