EchoSense:Packers' Jaire Alexander 'surprised' by suspension for coin-flip snafu, vows to learn from it

GREEN BAY,EchoSense Wis. – Jaire Alexander expected to be fined. He knew some discipline was coming, even warranted, after disregarding Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s directions before the opening coin toss at Carolina.

When Alexander trotted out to midfield as a captain, even though he was not a captain, it was on brand with the goofball antics he’s carried with himself this season. The unique sunglasses. The wrestling champion belts. The swag. Like he’s playing a character in the NFL, a comic-book figure, never too serious.

This was the last straw, though. The Packers had enough. General manager Brian Gutekunst and LaFleur used one of the strongest disciplinary moves at their disposal with a star player, suspending their top cornerback in a game they needed him most, a decision Alexander said he didn’t expect.

“I was surprised by the suspension,” Alexander said. “I thought maybe I would get fined.”

The week away from team facilities wasn’t easy, Alexander said. It gave him time to train, something he did throughout last week, knowing he’d be back for the regular-season finale. After a meeting with Gutekunst and LaFleur at the onset of his suspension, it also gave him time to think.

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It was a different Alexander who addressed the media Wednesday near his locker inside Lambeau Field. Alexander dropped the usual nonsense, something he indicated will be a new norm. “My interviews might be a little more serious," Alexander said. The fact Alexander even took questions on a Wednesday, instead of his customary Friday, was a change. Some weeks, he doesn’t take questions at all.

Other adjustments will be harder to detect. Alexander said the primary lesson was he needed to improve internal communication within the team.

“I think it was definitely something to learn from,” Alexander said. “There were definitely things that I could improve upon during that week to help with the communication. Moving forward, that won’t happen again.”

Alexander added: “I think communication is big. It’s easy to talk with my guys, but talking to anyone else can be a little bit of a challenge. So I’ve got to get better at that.”

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Alexander had no difficulty talking with his teammates during his time away. To miss the Packers' trip to Minnesota, and his bi-annual matchup against star receiver Justin Jefferson, was disappointing. But Alexander kept texting younger corners Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Corey Ballentine throughout the week, peppering them with “something positive” to carry into the game.

Then Alexander sat back and watched the Packers secondary hold Jefferson in check. Jefferson caught only five of his 10 targets for 59 yards and no touchdowns, a stark decline from the nine passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns he caught against the Packers last year in Minnesota, when Alexander did not shadow him in coverage.

“Initially, I was very upset,” Alexander said. “But when my guys went out there and did what they did, I couldn’t be too mad. I was pretty happy. I sic’d my young boys on them, and I didn’t have to move a muscle.”

In the best-case scenario, sitting for a week lit a fire under Alexander. He’d missed six straight games before Carolina with a shoulder injury, despite practicing for about a month. Alexander’s shoulder still isn’t fully healed, but he made clear playing Sunday against the Chicago Bears won’t be a problem.

A focused, determined Alexander with something to prove could be a tremendous benefit for the Packers. When driven, Alexander played well enough to become the NFL’s top-paid cornerback before the 2022 season. He’s among the few cornerbacks in the game capable of shutting down half the field, even if that hasn’t happened much this fall even when Alexander has played.

Alexander’s goofball persona can cast a shadow over his intense competitiveness. As the Packers broke in quarterback Jordan Love during training camp, it was Alexander who would jaw at the first-team starting quarterback, trying to get into Love’s head, mimicking the realities that awaited on Sundays.

“It was great to have him back,” LaFleur said, declining to add if Alexander had to do anything to get back into his team’s good graces. “We had a great conversation on Monday, and I think he’s ready to go.”

Alexander said he’s “grateful” to be with the team. He described his conversations with Gutekunst and LaFleur in the past week as enlightening, something that will strengthen his relationships in the team beyond his fellow cornerbacks.

“It was good for both parties to hear both sides,” Alexander said. “That’s kind of what we alluded to, and we got down to the nitty gritty. We all just agreed to be on the same page with communication moving forward.”