One of the wildest things that has occurred in the NFL this offseason was the Green Bay Packers releasing franchise running back Aaron Jones. It was a shocking move simply because Jones was arguably Green Bay’s most important offensive player. He was a true leader and everything that the Packers were all about.

According to NFL insider Dov Kleiman, Matt LaFleur was stunned to hear that Jones was released during free agency after refusing to take a pay cut. Here is what he had to say at the annual league meetings last week about that:

“It happened really fast, so I don’t know all the details of that. I’m not involved in those types of conversations.”

Not only was Green Bay’s head coach shocked, but that had to have been the feeling around the entire fanbase too. Jones was the focal point of everything that the Packers did offensively for the majority of his time in Green Bay.

After being drafted in the fifth round in 2017 out UTEP, Jones would go on to become one of the best running backs in franchise history. He ranks in the top five in rushing yards, average yards per carry, and rushing touchdowns. In four of his last five seasons, he recorded over 1,100 scrimmage yards.

Along with skill players like Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, and Randall Cobb, Jones was one of the best playmakers that former quarterback Aaron Rodgers ever played with in Green Bay. He also helped shorten the bridge between Rodgers and Jordan Love, which is why Green Bay is ready to contend for a Super Bowl in 2024.

The move to cut Jones was a shocker, but Green Bay acted quickly to replace him by adding All-Pro back Josh Jacobs. It will be weird not seeing Jones in Green Bay in 2024, but the Packers won’t be bad because he isn’t there.