Cory's Corner: Throw The Tinfoil Hats Away
All Bakhtiari wants to do is play, but his pesky knee is isn't allowing that to happen.
David Bakhtiari remains one of the most intriguing Packers stories of the 2023 season. A lot of people had a hard time with the veteran offensive lineman not playing in Atlanta last week — to the point that some were even claiming a conspiracy theory.
First of all, we have to get back to the beginning. On Dec. 31, 2020, one of the best left tackles suffered a torn left ACL. He missed all of the 2020 postseason and only played 27 snaps in Week 18 of 2021 before missing another postseason.
He then needed not one, not two but three surgeries to reduce swelling in his knee. Last season, he played 597 offensive snaps out of a possible 1,095. But even though he missed a lot of time, he still played at a very high level.
Fast forward to this season. Bakhtiari played 55 out of 60 snaps in Chicago for the season opener and he was the second-highest graded offensive linemen behind right tackle Zach Tom.
What I’m getting at is there isn’t a conspiracy. You can be mad that the Packers or coach Matt LaFleur doesn’t want to talk about it, about it, but then again, LaFleur doesn’t owe you anything.
Bakhtiari turns 32 on Sept. 30 and all he wants to do is play. And it’s not because he has a cap hit of $21.2 million — the largest on the team by $8.3 million. He just wants to continue to prove that he is one of the best left tackles in the game and the knee injury that altered his carer arc and potentially the franchise’s is still causing problems.
“You think I don’t want to play?” said Bakhtiari on Wednesday. “You think I want to be a great football player and then just disappear? (Expletive) no. I appreciate (Brian Gutekunst). We’ve had plenty of talks. He’s been amazing to me, and being even able to vent to him about it. It’s been extremely stressful. It’s the human side. I’ve just been sitting here quietly just like, ‘Whatever it is, is going to be it.’ And I just have to take it for what it is.”
So as hard as it is for some people to accept that Bakhtiari didn’t play in Week 2, get used to it, because his knee isn’t completely right and he’s likely going to miss more games this season. He isn’t going to practice much this year either, but none of that concerns me though. He proved that he could still play after coming back from three surgeries. Granted that’s a huge toll physically, but that’s also a big lift mentally as well. Every time he goes out on the field, is his mind racing with thoughts about what could happen if he plants wrong, if he gets blocked into or if he falls weird?
Just think about if Bakhtiari never got injured in practice. Does Aaron Rodgers end up in New York and do the Packers win more games? If he didn’t get injured, I think he would already be a lock for the Hall of Fame, but unfortunately he still has some ground to make up.
“When I really mean it’s day-to-day, whatever type of control you think you have in a day-to-day, it literally has mine too,” Bakhtiari said. “This could be the only game I even miss. I don’t know. I’m just making sure that I check my boxes. I’m able and ready. And when it is, great, let’s go out and play.”
So throw your tinfoil hats away. Put the conspiracy theories aside. Bakhtiari wants to play. And that’s all you need to know.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
Comments (31)
HarryHodag
September 23, 2023 at 06:41 am
I noticed there was no mention of his contract. Sadly in professional sports you are paid to play not rehab. The Packers have been very generous to an outstanding player but there comes a time when a divorce is the only option.
Bitternotsour
September 23, 2023 at 08:15 am
wait, you mean he has a contract? he's paid as one of the top left tackles in the game? unpossible.
the packers haven't been generous, they are paying a guy who was the best at his position in all of football. they are paying him market rate. he got hurt. you don't get to tear up his contract, it's a contract. think of it this way, he's on sick leave. he has a doctor's note.
it is infuriating to me that a part of the fan base is so ridiculously fickle that they treat a loyal, fabulous player like a piece of rusting equipment. grow up.
LambeauPlain
September 23, 2023 at 09:25 am
Fans were mostly positive on Bakht's big deal for one of, or the best LT in the NFL. Then he hurt his knee and developed chronic issues...so of course some praising fans then, attack Gutey now for making such a stupid pact.
I expect most of the positive people then, that are nattering nabobs of negativity now, are also Badger Football fans...now that Coach "Fickell" is HC.
TKWorldWide
September 23, 2023 at 10:31 am
“No mention of his contract”? What about paragraph six?
dobber
September 23, 2023 at 12:04 pm
Must've added it surreptitiously after the fact...I think it's a conspiracy.
TKWorldWide
September 23, 2023 at 01:44 pm
Always wise to watch out for those surreptitials!
marpag1
September 23, 2023 at 07:19 am
I laughed out loud when I saw that Cory Jennerjohn, of all people, was campaigning against tin foil hats. LOL.
CheesedDeadHead
September 23, 2023 at 09:33 am
After being beat out in the Cheese Head Hat Manufacturing bidding to the Packers, Cory doesn't want to lose out on the Tinfoil Hat opportunity. He is bad mouthing Tinfoil hats to drive down the price so CHTV can swoop in and buy them before the Stockholder Family Trust makes an offer.
dobber
September 23, 2023 at 12:01 pm
It would be funnier if he were campaigning against poorly-written hawt takes that were a couple days late.
TxFred
September 23, 2023 at 08:51 am
This is bidness. Not touchy-feelie crap. Ignore 69! Develope & train his replacement. Let 60 come crawling wanting to play. There 2 or 3 chomping at the bit for 69 to get out of way. Might as well suck this up like AR. Going to be a long year.
jannesbjornson
September 23, 2023 at 01:06 pm
His replacement is not on this team.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 25, 2023 at 11:11 pm
Who are you trying to punish?
LeotisHarris
September 23, 2023 at 09:00 am
Reading this has changed my perspective. The Jennerjohn Effect is real, people. My fitted Mitchell & Ness tin foil hat now rests on a shelf in the closet, but I have to wonder; the article makes no mention of Lombardi, no mention of Ted Thompson, *and* no mention of the fact that both Bob Skoronski and Fuzzy Thurston played the 1965 season without knees! None. No knees!
So, even with our uncovered heads, we still must ask the questions. Who benefits most from Bakh's absence? Who has the power to keep him on the sidelines? Why do we never see Bakh and Don Barclay in the same place at the same time? How much stock does the Packers Brass hold in Big Knee Brace?
Follow the money.
Bitternotsour
September 23, 2023 at 09:03 am
thank god we have someone unafraid to connect the dots. open your eyes sheeple.
TKWorldWide
September 23, 2023 at 10:34 am
I am on board.
All it takes is motive and opportunity.
The deep state and the matrix are both real.
Johnblood27
September 23, 2023 at 11:10 pm
Don Barclay? I smell some Ross Verba skulking around somewhere too... The whole attitude thing is so not Donny B...
Heard it from Florio who
Heard it from MD Smith who
Heard it from Glazer you been limpin' around
They say you got a small tear
But you played against the Bear
They're talkin' about you and it's bringin' me down
But I know the Lambeau hood
And talk is cheaper when the story is good
And the tales grow taller on down the line
But I'm telling you, Davey
That I don't think it's true, Davey
And even if it is, keep this in mind
You put out in pass pro, Davey
If that's the way you want it, Davey
No run blocks, then I don't want you around
But I don't believe it
Not for a minute
You went under the blade Davey
So you can be The Man Davey
You're thinking up your white lies
You're giving the trainer eyes
You say you're gonna play, but you won't say when
But I can feel it coming
If you play Sunday, keep running
And you need never look back again
You put out in pass pro, Davey
If that's the way you want it, Davey
No run blocks, then I don't want you around
LambeauPlain
September 23, 2023 at 09:43 am
Is the Packers' O better with Bakht for 7-8 more games or no more games with a 2024 4th rounder in tow?
The Big Goal for this team is to win the North. David B will assist greatly achieving it and he most certainly knows it too. He has a lot of pride in his craft and expect is a leading leader in the locker room.
If you have had knee issues, raise your hand...I expect you understand. David is does not seem like a coupon clipper like Mary Bennett or Z, for that matter.
Leatherhead
September 23, 2023 at 12:24 pm
We have 15 games to go. Surely, Bakhtiari will be able to play in some of them, and when he does, it will help. Trading him accomplishes very little, even assuming anybody would trade for a guy who isn't healthy enough to play.
Cue Norman Dale: This is our team
Coldworld
September 23, 2023 at 09:59 am
The fact is with Bakh that we could be seeing the last throes of a retirement t forced by physical issues. I for one don’t doubt that Bakh wants to play football: he’s always been a football guy. That doesn’t mean he can.
As to the treatment, Bakh signing when he did has worked very well for him financially and not for the team. Bakh has admitted as much. The team gambled (on a longer contract than I thought wise) and lost. It can’t be said it wasn’t a reasonable gamble given his premium position, excellence and then excellent availability record. They rolled the dice and lost. Bakh certainly hasn’t financially, but the team took on that risk knowing it was there.
Right now, my issue is continuing to plan for Bakh. He saves us essentially nothing if we release him this season. He is not tradeable injured and even if healthy, may have minimal value. So keeping him or not isn’t the issue, planning for him to be available is.
We need to proceed as if he will not be back, settle the LT position and let the player develop. If Bakh suddenly gets healthy enough to play and practice somewhat and an injury happens, then let Bakh try to play as long as he can hold up. Until then, play Nijman/Walker/Jones or move Tom to left and play one of them at RT, or 2 of them and Tom at C (my preference). That’s the no tinfoil hat reality now.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 25, 2023 at 11:18 pm
Yes. Assuming Tom comes back from his knee injury quickly because it's not serious, put him at C, and use our other excellent OTs. Nijman needs to play, I think he gets worse when he doesn't play.
Bakh should be our LT when he's ready, but on a limited snap count so he doesn't overdo it.
dobber
September 23, 2023 at 12:01 pm
I read this and thought I'd logged in to Packers.com.
Coldworld
September 23, 2023 at 12:27 pm
At least when Vic was there there was an element of non sycophantic thought there. Not that I always loved Ketchman, but I did go there at least in his day for something other than history or official statements.
Leatherhead
September 23, 2023 at 12:20 pm
All things must pass and the Packers are going to replace Bakhtiari . Right now, he can't play so it's looking like our starting LT against New Orleans is going to be Walker?? With Newman?
Who are we lining up this week if not Bakhtiari and Jenkins? This was anticipated as a strength of the team and they're both gone.
We're about 1 more injury away from not being able to put solid line on the field, IMO.
Coldworld
September 23, 2023 at 12:30 pm
If Bakh doesn’t go, and we need to run the ball—the Saints aren’t good at run D—then why are we sitting Nijman? It makes no sense, he’s been our best run blocking lineman the past two years. Not much makes sense to me from the Stenovich/Butkus collective. Let’s just hope the rotating LTs on debut farce is consigned to the past.,
packerfanroy
September 24, 2023 at 02:50 am
I can't remember if it was Stenovich or Butkus but one of them made some comments that make it seem like Nijman is in the doghouse with the coaching staff. I think the rotating LT's is telling both backup tackles that they need to step up and take the job and not just wait for it to be given to them. I'm not saying that is right or correct but from my POV that seems to be the situation. The FO might not like what they see at T in next years draft and are hoping to not have to reach for a potential starter. Which isnt a bad thing, reaching to draft a need instead of letting the board come to you isnt a bad strategy.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 25, 2023 at 11:22 pm
I agree that Nijman seems to have fallen into disfavor but why? Guy's a beast. You can't convince me he's not one of our "best 5."
packerfanroy
September 27, 2023 at 06:12 pm
Like I said in my post, I'm not saying its right. It just seems to be the case. I was just looking to add some info/context that I picked up reading a coaches quote somewhere.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 25, 2023 at 11:20 pm
CW,
exactly. Nijman needs to play.
packerfanroy
September 24, 2023 at 02:41 am
I'm just glad he got to 'wave' good bye to all the Bears fans at Soldier Field.
JDH1313
September 24, 2023 at 05:30 pm
I call BS, He hasn't wanted to play for the Packers ever since his buddy got booted off the team, I bet a dollar to a hundred if he's traded to the Jets he would play every game with his buddy at QB!
chaka
September 26, 2023 at 01:57 pm
Thompson would have never given him such a contract. Gutey doesn’t know what he is doing. Baht is useless to the team and is taking up a roster spot.