GREEN BAY, Wis. – James Jones knew he and wife Tamika were going to be up bright and early on Friday morning, and the Green Bay Packers veteran wide receiver figured he’d be up late Thursday night, too, giving Santa Claus a some-assembly-required helping hand on the gifts young sons James and Jordan would be finding under the Christmas tree.
That’s why coach Mike McCarthy’s edict that all football personnel – from players and coaches to the administrative, strength and conditioning, training, and equipment staffs – take the entire day off for Christmas on Friday meant so much to Jones, who spent his first seven seasons NFL in Green Bay before playing for the Oakland Raiders last year – and having to practice on Christmas.