Wow. On the first day NFL teams could openly pursue free agents, fans of our beloved Green Bay Packers were put through the ringer.
While the team made two huge additions, the Packers also announced that many familiar faces would not be back next season.
In a surprising move, perhaps the best running back in the team’s history was released.
Aaron Jones was a a fan and team favorite, and poof, just like that, he’s gone.
Packers with massive additions, subtractions from roster on first day of NFL Tampering Period | WEAU
According to a report from ESPN, the Packers inked former Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs to a 4-year, $48 million contract. Jacobs is a 3-time Pro-Bowler who put up 805 rushing yards in just 8 games for the Raiders last season.
In a corresponding move, the team is releasing star running back Aaron Jones. Jones was drafted by the Packers in 2017 and is third on the franchise’s all-time rushing list. Jones played 11 games with the team last season while battling injuries and produced 656 rushing yards. The move was confirmed in a press release by the team. Green Bay’s back-up running back AJ Dillon has entered free agency and there has yet to be any rumors regarding a potential return to the team.
The Packers also released long-time left tackle David Bakhtiari earlier in the day. Bakhtiari had spent his entire 11-year career as a member of the team, earning five All-Pro nods during his tenure. Bakhtiari has battled a series of knee injuries in recent years including last season when he played just a single game. Bakhtiari confirmed the move via social media Monday afternoon.
In other additions, Green Bay signed former New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney to a 4-year, $68 million contract according to a report from NFL Network and seemingly confirmed by McKinney via social media. McKinney was one of the leagues highest rated safeties in 2023 totaling 116 tackles and 3 interceptions.
From valid, albeit surprising free agent signings to not surprising and possibly invalid recall petition signings…
Dairyland Sentinel’s cursory look at the recall petitions circulated by those attempting to oust Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos reveals some oddities. A large number of circulators were from out of state. These individuals from Florida, Arkansas, New York and elsewhere have also obtained many signatures from outside of Vos’ district.
The Speaker has vowed to have his team thoroughly review the validity of each signature. So, just because a sufficient number of signatures were turned in, does not mean there are enough VALID signatures to trigger the frivolous and expensive recall election.
There are a few more acts left in this drama.
Robin Vos recall effort: what you need to know | WISC
The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission will determine whether there are enough valid signatures on the petitions submitted Monday to trigger a recall election of Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos this spring…
In the case of the Vos recall effort, petition organizers had until 5 p.m. Monday to submit the petition. Completed petitions must be filed no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 60th day after the date of filing a recall registration statement.
Successful petitions to the WEC must contain the signatures of qualified electors equal to at least 25% of the vote cast for the office of Governor at the last General Election held within the same district or jurisdiction as that of the officeholder.
The six members of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission make the determination on whether the recall petition is successful. If so, the WEC would call any potential recall elections for state and federal offices. That election would be held on the Tuesday six weeks after the date on which the certificate of sufficiency is filed.
If more than two people compete for the office, a recall primary will be held on the date originally set for the recall election. The recall election will then be held on the Tuesday four weeks after the recall primary.
Efforts to boost literacy in Wisconsin’s public schools moved forward with a key committee vote yesterday, despite opposition from some in the education establishment. This is an issue we’ve highlighted previously, and one we will continue to monitor in the months ahead.
GOP lawmakers blast state as committee OKs new reading standards | The Center Square
Wisconsin’s push to help children in the state’s schools read better took its next step forward Monday.
The budget-writing Joint Finance Committee approved four new reading programs for the state’s public schools…
The new reading curricula are required under Wisconsin’s read overhaul law, known as Act 20. But Born said schools are not required to use the new lessons. He did say local schools won’t get any state money to buy textbooks or lesson plans for any curriculum that is not part of the Act 20 overhaul.
“I am not an expert in curriculum. I am not an expert in education. That’s why, in the bill, we created a panel of experts to be brought together,” Born explained. “[That] a panel of experts, including people from DPI, said these are the best that meet the standards.”
JFC Democrats opposed the new reading plans.
They fear lawsuits from local schools and don’t like the four choices offered.
“We are saying that all of this isn’t a mandate, you know this is just what you’re going to get a grant for. Well, it is a mandate because what we’ve done is we’ve outlawed the teaching of three queuing and similar holistic approaches, and we’re saying this is how we want to teach reading. That’s a good thing, but we are also narrowing down the choices that schools have to simply four curricula,” Rep. Deb Andraca, D-Whitefish Bay, said.
Advocates, like Quinton Klabon with the Institute for Reforming Government, said the new curriculum is the “first comprehensive reading legislation in decades. It will replace discredited reading curricula that have wrecked most public and private schools, upgrade teachers’ skills in classic, phonics-based methods, reflect those changes in university teacher programs, and get parents more involved if their child is behind in reading.”
It’s going to take some time to get used to a Packers’ backfield without Aaron Jones. But if the team continues to improve and brings another Lombardi Trophy to Titletown, yesterday’s personnel moves may be seen as the catalyst.
That’s the hope anyway.
Meanwhile, if it’s the second week of March it must mean the legislature is almost done, right? The State Senate meets for the last scheduled time of the year today, expect a lot of last-minute deal making on bills and appointments.
We’ll continue to monitor developments in Green Bay, Madison and across the state and will be back again tomorrow with more Key Reads.
