Packers Wish Veteran LB Happy Birthday, Cut Him 3 Hours Later
Most NFL teams are undergoing a honeymoon period at training camp as players hope to carve out roster spots for the regular season. Highlights are showcased, lofty expectations are formulated, and generalized optimism is present at the end of July.
But then the Green Bay Packers came along.
Packers Wish Veteran LB Happy Birthday, Cut Him 3 Hours Later
The Packers social media team wished a happy birthday to veteran outside linebacker Jonathan Garvin shortly before 8:00 am Friday — and then the team released him three hours later. Not a good look.
Here’s the tweet:
And then ESPN’s Rob Demovsky tweeted, “The Packers have released Jonathan Garvin. The fourth-year linebacker skipped most of the offseason program. #HappyBirthday.”
Almost emulating the famous, “How are you gonna get fired on your day off?” line from the 1995 film Friday, Garvin was released on his birthday, mere hours after the Packers acknowledged Garvin’s big day.
Drafted by Green Bay in the 7th Round three years ago, Garvin spent three seasons in Green Bay and appeared in 38 games. He’s not a little-known ‘camp body’ fans have never heard of. A Minnesota Vikings equivalent could be considered Josh Metellus or Kris Boyd.
After an obvious disconnect between the Packers social media department and the general manager, Garvin will now hit waivers and can be claimed, in order of last year’s standings, by any NFL team. Garvin played 673 defensive snaps in Green Bay since 2020 and 257 special teams plays.
Following the move, the Packers outsider linebacking corps now looks like this with the preseason two weeks away:
- Preston Smith
- Rashan Gary
- Lukas Van Ness
- Justin Hollins
- Kingsley Enagbare
- La’Darius Hamilton
- Brenton Cox Jr.
- Kenneth Odumegwu
- Keshawn Banks
Other notable NFLers with a July 28th birthday include Jeffery Simmons, Christian Barmore, Michael Badgley, Matt Milano, and Vikings long snapper Andrew DePaola. None have been cut today.
The Packers defense ranked 18th in 2022 per defensive DVOA. With Aaron Rodgers now playing for the New York Jets, Green Bay is forecasted for a third-place finish in 2023 behind the Detroit Lions and Vikings, according to oddsmakers.
Garvin is 24 years old.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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