The Green Bay Packers mostly control their own destiny as they go into the final two weeks of the 2023 NFL season. If they win on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, and if they defeat the Chicago Bears in Week 18, they have a 95% chance of making the NFL Playoffs.
Of course, in order to make it back to the postseason, they need to put their best foot forward on Sunday in Minnesota, who also is playing for a NFC playoff spot. Unfortunately, they are going to have to do so without two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, who was suspended by the team on Wednesday.
While head coach Matt LaFleur said that there is never “just one” reason that goes into the decision to suspend a player, Alexander making himself a captain for the coin toss in his hometown of Charlotte was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Despite facing a Vikings’ offense that boasts one of the best wide receivers in the entire NFL in Justin Jefferson, Alexander will not be on the field.
The reactions among fans, of course, is mixed. However, one former Packers quarterback had some pretty strong words for the team’s coaching staff following the decision.
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Kurt Benkert Defends Jaire Alexander and Calls Out Coaches
Former Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert has not been silent about how his personality clashed with coaches and management while he was in Green Bay. In fact, he stated that his own attitude and actions on social media directly led to his release by the Packers after just one season.
Now a content creator with Sleeper, Benkert is not shy about sharing his opinion on any big story around the NFL. He had some especially strong words in defense of Alexander, his former teammate, and towards some of his former coaches:
Jaire getting suspended for going out as a captain then picking defense first at the coin toss is honestly so weak
At least someone was trying to take control of the Packers defense 🤷🏻♂️
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) December 27, 2023
Like yeah he meant to say defer but it’s besides the point.
Notice in his post game he said all of his teammates backed him up. Meaning the players were on his side and tired of the other BS going on around there. 🐸☕️
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) December 27, 2023
The “BS” that Benkert is referring to is obviously a shot at defensive coordinator Joe Barry and the rest of the coaching staff. Between Alexander and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell’s recent tweet, it is clear that Barry has lost the locker room and the players are done.
As Benkert states, Alexander had the support of his teammates when he went out as a captain. The game was held in his hometown of Charlotte, and typically players get to be captains when they return to their hometown. The two-time Second Team All-Pro said that Coach LaFleur did not know he was from Charlotte, so he took matters into his own hands.
Were the Packers right to suspend Alexander? Absolutely. However, his actions point to a much bigger problem: Barry has lost the locker room and the players are losing respect for LaFleur for keeping him. LaFleur asserted some authority by going along with the suspension, but he is going to have to move on from Barry in the offseason if he wants to avoid a similar situation next season.
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