Right after we said linebacker Jamari Lattimore wouldn’t be back with the Green Bay Packers, he went out and made sure of that, signing a deal with the New York Jets.
The length and terms of the deal have not been reported. Considering the Jets were the only team to show interest in Lattimore, we can guarantee you that neither are substantial.
For Lattimore, the writing was on the wall toward the end of last season.
Lattimore took over as a starter for the colossal disappointment that was Brad Jones in week 2. In all, he started five games at inside linebacker in 2014, registering 39 tackles.
However, almost as soon as he became a starter, Sam Barrington started taking playing time away from Lattimore. Eventually, Barrington was the starter and Lattimore was out of the lineup.
The Packers really made their feelings about Lattimore known when they put him on injured reserve with an ankle injury after week 13. Mind you, he didn’t have a broken ankle or torn ligaments. The powers that be clearly just didn’t want him around anymore.
To his credit, Lattimore wasn’t bitter about it. He actually released a statement thanking just about everybody in the organization today.
And why not?
The Packers gave him a shot as an undrafted free agent from Middle Tennessee back in 2011.
A guy that nobody thought would do anything in the NFL has managed to carve out a four-year career for himself thus far.