Getty Image / Todd Rosenberg
The NFL ecosphere was miffed on Wednesday when the Green Bay Packers suspended superstar cornerback Jaire Alexander for this weekend’s crucial game against the Minnesota Vikings due to conduct detrimental to the team.
It was reported that the suspension was due to Jaire Alexander’s actions at the pregame coin flip on Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers. Considering the Packers are still very much in the NFC Playoff Picture, suspending one of the best players on the team certainly raised some eyebrows.
People were even more confused when the reported reason came out, and it had to do with a coin flip. Apparently, Alexander, who was not delegated to be a captain on Sunday, decided to go out to midfield with his teammates anyway for the pregame coin flip.
When the Packers won the toss, Alexander said that the team wanted to play defense first. Problem is, that would mean that the opposing team gets to receive in both the first and second halves. The correct word to say is “defer”, meaning the choice is deferred to the second half. Had the referee not allowed the Packers to correct Alexander’s mistake, the Panthers would’ve received in the first half, and would’ve had the choice to kick or receive in the second half. Obviously, they would have elected to receive.
Now, that is a pretty big screw-up by Jaire Alexander. But, to suspend one of the best players on the team for something like that when the team still has around a 30% chance to make the playoffs seems suspect.
So, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur had to clarify why he was suspended. Here’s more according to Pro Football Talk.
Coach Matt LaFleur clarified during his news conference Wednesday that Alexander erroneously telling referee Alex Kemp that the Packers wanted to “play defense” rather than defer wasn’t the reason for Alexander’s suspension.
“It had nothing to do with that whole incident,” LaFleur said, via video from the team.
Alexander, though, anointed himself a captain and went to midfield with the three elected captains for Week 16. That might have served as the proverbial straw.
“I’ll just say this: It’s never for one thing,” LaFleur said. “I think there’s a lot of lessons along the way from everybody involved and hopefully we learn from them, and I think we will. I think there will probably be better communication moving forward.
“I think Ja is going to be here a long time. He’s a hell of a player and just looking to move past this and learn from it, and we’ll all move forward and be better for it.”
LaFleur said he had a “long conversation” with Alexander on Wednesday morning.
“That’s something that we made together,” LaFleur said. “It’s unfortunate that we’re at that juncture. [We] felt like it was in the best interest long term for our team and for Jaire. Certainly it was a tough decision, especially kind of where we’re at right now, and one we don’t take lightly, but there are standards we’re all held accountable for. When they’re not met, unfortunately sometimes you have to take some drastic measures. However, I will say that we are expecting to get him back, and we’re looking forward to getting him back.”
According to his coach, it had nothing to do with the coin-flip incident. I’m not sure if I believe that, but I do believe that it wasn’t just the coin flip incident that caused the suspension.
Either way, that will be a huge loss for the Packers. The two-time All Pro would’ve been tasked with covering arguably the league’s best receiver in Jordan Jefferson.
Green Bay likely needs a win on Sunday and in their Week 18 game against the Bears to make the postseason.