The Green Bay Packers are 6-6 and have put themselves in a position to make the NFL Playoffs after missing the postseason in 2022. Of course, they have a great deal of work to do with five games remaining, but the fact that they are in this position after being 2-5 at one point is impressive.
The improbable run began after the Packers lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers and fell to 3-6. After the loss, cornerback Jaire Alexander was asked if he was worried about the outlook of the Packers’ season. His response was, at the time, hilariously confident. He said that Green Bay would win out, so he was not worried.
Related: Green Bay Packers Fans Brutally Turn on Jaire Alexander Ahead of Week 14 Matchup with Giants
No one took him seriously at the time. After all, Green Bay’s next three games were against the Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs. As it turns out, the Packers won all three of those games and now have a very favorable schedule the rest of the way. Indeed, it is very possible that they can go 5-0 the rest of the way, bringing Alexander’s prediction to fruition.
Alexander became the talk of Packers’ social media over the weekend after his inspiring, yet flamboyant, interview with reporters after practice on Friday. In that interview, he called himself a prophet and addressed the status of his injured shoulder. In short, it’s almost as bad of an injury that caused him to miss most of the 2021 NFL season. Alexander is listed as questionable for Monday night, and is unsure if he will be able to play.
This video gives me all the confidence I need- ladies and gentlemen, Jaire Alexander is playing. pic.twitter.com/EYauLUKRxi
— RELA 𝕏 (@itzzSKL) December 8, 2023
Former Green Bay Packers Running Bay Gary Ellerson States that Jaire Alexander and David Bakhtiari Need to Go
As reported here earlier, former Packers running back Gary Ellerson took issue with how Alexander presented himself during his interview. During his segment on “The Homer Hour” on ESPN Radio in Milwaukee, Ellerson argued that Alexander proved he does not want to play for the Packers anymore and that he should be gone. Furthermore, Ellerson argued that left tackle David Bakhtiari should also be dismissed from the team as both players are “bad” for the young players on the roster:
“Move on. I want the guys that want to be here, to play here.”
– Gary Ellerson on Jaire Alexander
Isn’t he hurt or what’s the problem that (some) folks have with Jaire?
— GBP Daily – Rob Westerman lll (@GBPdaily) December 10, 2023
At one point, Ellerson references “the Bakhtiari Effect” when talking about Alexander.
The five-time Pro Bowl left tackle heard it, and it does not appear that he was too happy.
Green Bay Packers Left Tackle David Bakhtiari Calls Out Gary Ellerson
On Saturday evening, Bakhtiari posed this question to Ellerson on X (formerly Twitter):
.@GaryEllerson I’m curious. What do you mean by “the Bakhtiari effect?”
— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) December 10, 2023
To which, Ellerson replied:
It’s a figure of speech… It’s about players having their own voice, not being controlled, having freedom to move to other teams if they so choose. That’s what older players fought for. Player advocacy. https://t.co/hdmgqfY4Xo
— Gary Ellerson (@GaryEllerson) December 10, 2023
Ellerson’s response certainly does not mesh with what he said about both Alexander and Bakhtiari during the show. Furthermore, he stated that the way that Alexander chose to use his voice was a bad thing.
It is disappointing that Ellerson, along with some fans, are choosing to ignore the fact that neither player wants to be injured. It is also a shame that both players have been criticized for who they are and how they choose to present themselves.
Apparently, people forget that football players are actual human beings and not the simulated computer generated figures they see on their screens when they play Madden.
There are few who Carry the G as passionately as Alexander and Bakhtiari, who recently revealed that his plans for 2024 are to return to the Packers and take back his starting left tackle position.
Football is a violent game. Injuries happen, and unfortunately they are often serious. No player asks for them. And every player has a right to be their true selves in their own locker room.
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