I'll keep this short because I'm sure we've all had our fill of the Grady Jackson saga. It seems Grady Jackson was "unhappy" when he arrived in camp and now he's even more "unhappy" because he failed his physical. He claims the Packer front office is playing games with him because, as he puts it, they don't want him anymore but yet they won't trade or cut him.

As Mike Tyson would say; that's ludicrous...

The Packers have a vested interest in Jackson and as even he puts it, this is a business. Why can't he see this as a business decision on the Packer front office's part and not a clever ploy to keep him off the field? I mean, the man waddled into camp out of shape, overweight and nowhere near ready to play football. He's fresh off of offseason knee surgery and yet he wonders why the Packers failed him on his physical.

Now before we go any further, let me just say that I think Jackson is an important part of our sputtering defense and we need him back this year but again, he wants more money than he signed for when he first agreed to play for Green Bay. Is he worth more money? Probably. But the timing, and his handling of this whole thing is really bad.

Especially on the heels of, actually along side, the Walker situation.

But let's hold the lunch wagon for a second, okay? Jackson says the Packers are showing him no respect by keeping him off the field and by not paying him or cutting or trading him.

Respect. . . .

It seems to me that Jackson doesn't respect himself much, either. Or the Packers for that matter. He's screaming that the business end of the game is what's making him unhappy and yet he came into camp unable to do his job. He had knee surgery during the offseason and reported to camp out of shape, overweight and nowhere near in football condition. And he wants the kind of money his peers are getting? What's wrong with that picture?

So the Packers, in what is obviously a business decision, failed him on his physical to keep him from perhaps getting injured during practice. Remember that the Packers would be obligated to pay him for the season if he should suffer an injury during camp and not play in the regular season. And there is a history of injury for Mr. Jackson which would also warrant such a decision. Add the age factor and he's lucky they don't have him sedated and sitting quietly in a private room somewhere.

So for Jackson to even suggest this is a clever ploy by the team to teach him a lesson is crazy. The Packers did the same thing last year with center Mike Flanagan and guard Mike Wahle, who were recovering from knee injuries and were activated several weeks into camp. And both of those players came to camp in pretty decent shape compared to Jackson.

And further more---I knew I wouldn't be able to keep this short----just because you deem yourself in the same class as the likes of Sam Adams, Ted Washington and Marcus Stroud doesn't make it so. I deem myself in the same league as George Plimpton and Norman Mailer but, well, let's not go there.

And the man should know where his bread is buttered. How many other teams were looking to take him when the Saints booted him out the door a few years ago? Not many, you can believe that. Which brings me to my other thought, if he wants out of Title Town, where else does he think he's going? I can't image there's going to be many teams willing to pay the overweight, aging, often injured lineman what he thinks he's worth in today's market. He might be very surprised at what he finds waiting for him out there.

So here it is, the reason for my venting; I think keeping him around to spread his kind of cancer in the locker room and on the field is big a mistake. Yes, he could be a major part of our defense this year, but if the coaches and front office can't keep him from spitting out all kinds of negative comments about the situation and the organization, then it would be in their best interest to cut ties with Jackson and get him out of town as soon as possible. A disgruntled player is not someone you want around because it will effect the rest of your team. And that's all we don't need this year is another distraction.

So until next time, Don't Stop Till You Hear The Whistle.