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Mark Murphy admits business trumped popularity in release of Jordy Nelson

Everyone in the Green Bay Packers organization had to know that releasing Jordy Nelson would be an unpopular move.

So it was no surprise to team president Mark Murphy that when first-year general manager Brian Gutekunst cut the wide receiver shortly before free agency opened and then news broke that the Packers made Nelson only a low-ball offer, the reaction was negative.

But it was another move that served as a reminder that football is not a popularity contest but rather a calculated business.

“On the Jordy [situation], what we have tried to do over the years is provide the resources to football so they can make decisions based on football, not business matters,” Murphy told reporters at the NFL annual meetings in Orlando. “That cuts both ways. And if you think you need the money and we have it to sign somebody, you can do it, but also, I’m not going to say you can’t release somebody because he’s really popular in the community.”

Gutekunst determined that Nelson, who turns 33 in May, was not worth the $10.25 million he was owed in salary and bonuses for this season.

“I think Brian handled that well,” Murphy said. “Whenever you move on from a player like Jordy, you’re going to face that. That’s just the reality. And I give Brian [credit]. I think he actually met with Jordy in person. I think Jordy may have been at player rep meetings, and he came back, and so we wanted to make sure that it was handled well. And it’s just difficult.”

Less than two weeks later, Gutekunst let veteran safety Morgan Burnett leave in free agency to sign a relatively cost-effective deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I told Jordy and Morgan, ‘You’ll be remembered as Packers,’ and we want them to come back and feel good about their experience here,” Murphy said. “I think how you part ways, I’ve been around the league a long time, and it usually doesn’t end in a pretty fashion. I know the way my career ended, I was bitter for a long time. So I’ve tried in the position I’m in now to work in a way that the players at least have an understanding why decisions are made.”

The Packers signed veteran tight end Jimmy Graham to a three-year, $30 million deal (that could easily end up being a one-year, $13 million arrangement) on the same day they moved on from Nelson. However, the two moves likely would have been made independent of one another.

The Packers also were involved in contract negotiations with former Jaguars receiver Allen Robinson, who signed with the Bears. According to First Coast News in Jacksonville, Robinson’s decision came down to the two NFC North rivals.

Nelson leaves with a solid place in team history: third in all-time receptions (550), fifth in receiving yards (7,848) and second in touchdowns (69). He also was a favorite target of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Together, they hold the club record for most touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver combination (65), breaking Brett Favre and Antonio Freeman's record of 58.

A second-round draft pick in 2008, Nelson was actively involved in the community and was one of the rare players who lived in the Green Bay area year-round.

“I had the opportunity to talk to both Jordy and Morgan Burnett,” Murphy said. “I told both of them, that’s the worst part of this business, is when you have players like both of them -- great players for us, tremendous impact on the community.

"I mean, Jordy, you couldn’t have asked for more, and Morgan was the same kind of person. But Jordy was such a leader on the team, he’s our player rep, respected throughout the community [and] across the league, but the nature of our business with the salary cap, you really have to make difficult decisions and I give Brian credit for being willing to make some of those tough ones.”