Packers teammates support Jordan Love 100 percent

GREEN BAY, Wis. – On a sunny and mild morning, the Green Bay Packers left the Don Huston Center on Monday and entered the Ray Nitschke Practice Field for the first practice of training camp.

Fans filling the stands and lining the surrounding streets enthusiastically cheered the return of football to Titletown.

Quarterback Jordan Love and coach Matt LaFleur waited behind the players. While fellow quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt wore their protective red jerseys, Love wore civilian clothes. Instead of a helmet, Love wore sunglasses.

Love will not train until he signs a contract extensionLove attends meetings and observes what’s going on from the office. At some point he got talking to General Manager Brian Gutekunst.

This is not holding out. It is holding out. Since there was a belief that a deal could be done soon, there was no ill will. Rather, there was an understanding. Before the Packers can take care of the unfinished business from last season, their quarterback still has some contractual matters to take care of.

“I think it’s really important for us,” Gutekunst said. “At the same time, I’m convinced that we both want the same thing. We want to have Jordan here for a long time, give him that stability and it also gives us some stability for our group.”

No one understands the business side of the sport better than the players. The players have supported Love to the nines, and Love’s approach has undoubtedly played a role.

“I think it shows his character in terms of his willingness to be around his guys and support them,” receiver Christian Watson said. “Obviously, there’s a business side to this sport. We’re going to support him 100 percent, just like he does for us.”

“He deserves every penny he gets – and more. I’m happy for him and hope he gets what he wants and we can get this thing under control.”

Right tackle Zach Tom added:

“Jordan has won over the entire dressing room. We are all happy for him. I knew last year that he was the best, so it’s not really a surprise, but of course it’s good that he is now getting this recognition and will reap the rewards.”

While Love awaits a contract extension that could make him the highest-paid player in NFL history based on average annual salary, defensive tackle Kenny Clark got his big payday when he reported to training camp on Sunday. His three-year contract extension will keep him in the team until the 2027 season.

Love’s contract extension, which is set to run through 2028 or 2029, is likely next on the agenda for Gutekunst and Russ Ball, the team’s contract negotiator.

“Yeah, hopefully, man. We definitely need him,” Clark said.

Without Love, returning substitute Sean Clifford took over all reps as No. 1 on Monday.

“The thing about Jordan is that he’s been here 100 percent of the time during OTAs,” Clifford said. “He’s been working all summer. The guys know that. Nobody questions his work ethic. Now he’s got to do what he’s got to do. He’s our leader. He’s someone everyone can count on.”

“It’s not a question of his morals or ethics or anything like that. At the end of the day, it’s a business and I don’t think it’s going to take super long. It’s just what he has to do right now. But it speaks volumes. He’s not in California. He’s here. I got here at 7. His bag was already there. He’s here early and he stays late. He does all the little things, so there’s no need for the players to worry, that’s for sure.”

Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt were the only quarterbacks, which meant a heavy workload for a practice that nearly reached the 90-minute time limit.

“I think during the routes-on-air (period), when you only have two quarterbacks, I was a little out of breath,” Clifford said. “So I went to him and said, ‘Hey, take your time, but I’d love to have you back, brother.’

“He’s got to do what he’s got to do. At the end of the day, I think Green Bay does a great job of combining the family aspect – it really feels like a family here – but it’s also a business. We’re here to win games and in that sense, things have to get done. But I think he’s handling it really well.”

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