Reminder: Packers made out on Nelson - JSOnline. Tyler Dunne wrote this after the Bills re-signed WR Stevie Johnson to a five-year, $36.25 million contract. Wait until you see Marques Colston and Vincent Jackson's new contracts. And Bills fans think Johnson's new contract is a "very fair deal for both sides."
But there's no reason to feel bad for Jordy Nelson, who's playing on a four-year, $13.989 million contract until 2015. He knew what he was doing when he extended it. Even after his break out season (1,263 yards, 15 touchdowns), he's still only started 15 games in his career. At the time he signed his extension (10/2/2011), he only had 8 career touchdown receptions. If he'd suffered a season-ending injury in early October, he'd probably receive nothing better than a one or two-year deal with few guarantees.
However, that doesn't change the fact that Nelson's contract is a bargain for the Packers. As Tyler Dunne pointed out, the Bears gave more money ($18.55 million total, $9 million guaranteed) to Earl Bennett last December, who finished the 2011 season with 381 yards and 1 touchdown. Who knows whether another team would have viewed Nelson as someone worth of No. 1 WR money, but any contract negotiations would have used Johnson's contract as the starting point.