Super Bowl champions Green Bay have agreed new deals with wide receiver James Jones and running back John Kuhn.
Champs bring back receiver and running back, linebacker leaves
Super Bowl champions Green Bay have agreed new deals with wide receiver James Jones and running back John Kuhn, while linebacker Nick Barnett has left the Packers to join the Buffalo Bills.
Both Packers coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers had stated the need to keep hold of both Jones and Kuhn, who played major roles in their title-winning season.
San Jose State man Jones has 149 catches and 13 touchdowns in three seasons in Green Bay, which includes three scores in seven play-off games and five catches for 50 yards against Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl.
Jones has bags of ability, but his concentration has been questioned with drops being a problem, but his mind seemed to be focused during last season's play-offs and he will remain in Green Bay.
Popular running back Kuhn has also played his part for Green Bay, mainly in short-yardage situations in near the goal-line, and Lambeau Field fans will be delighted he has agreed on a new deal.
Own players
After losing back-up running back Brandon Jackson to Cleveland, defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins to Philadelphia and guard Daryn Colledge to Arizona, McCarthy was keen to keep hold of his own players.
"You're always hopeful to keep your own players," McCarthy had earlier said. "So, yeah, I'm hopeful that both of those guys are able to come back.
"Just like the men that left here. You don't want to lose your own guys, that's for sure. That's the way we're built. We draft them and develop them, but the reality is you can't keep everybody. It's hard to see some go. That's just the nature of our program."
Rodgers added of Jones: "He's an important part of this team. He plays a big role for us. We need to add him back, I think. We need to add John Kuhn back.
"Those are two guys out there right now who are important to us. It's not my decision, but I'm definitely pulling for those guys to bring 'em back."
Bills for Barnett
Linebacker Barnett was released by Green Bay after injuries limited him in the last two seasons, as he played just four times last season due to a wrist problem.
Barnett, who has 15.5 sacks and nine interceptions in 107 career games, watched a Bills walkthrough and quickly reached an agreement soon after.
"He's a special kind of player and you can't help but be excited about the possibility of playing with him," Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman said.
