Aaron Rodgers wasn’t the only one irked by Jordy Nelson’s move to the Raiders.
Speaking to ESPN Wisconsin, Nelson, 33, who was released by the Packers last March after nine seasons in Green Bay, addressed the move, which resulted in the veteran receiver signing a two-year deal with Oakland.
“I wasn’t happy. [I was] disappointed,” Nelson said, according to Wisconsin’s WTMJ. “There’s a small chance you could play your whole career in one place with one coach and one quarterback and one offense. … When there’s that opportunity, no one wants to move their family halfway across the country.”
Following Nelson’s departure, Rodgers, 35, penned a touching tribute to his friend and one-time favorite target.
“Hard to find the right words today to express what 87 means to me. No teammate exemplified what it means to be a packer quite like him,” the Packers quarterback posted to Instagram.
“From living in GB full time, his incredible contributions to the city, state, and region, to his consistent, reliable play on the field. Definitely a sad day and the toughest part of this business. There will never be another quite like white lightning.”
The Packers added Seahawks castoff Jimmy Graham to their roster last offseason, which Rodgers subtly shaded on social media.
As for Nelson, who will wear black and silver when he returns to Lambeau Field this fall, he would have preferred to stay in Wisconsin a little longer.
“In a perfect world, I would have played a couple more years in Green Bay,” he said. “At the same time, I’ve met a lot of great people out here, met a lot of great teammates.”