Latest Packers signing just gave Vikings fans something to laugh about
By Adam Patrick
Over the last few decades, we've seen plenty of NFL players suit up for both the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. Notable names like Brett Favre, Ryan Longwell, Greg Jennings, and Za'Darius Smith are among the group of current and former players who have had stints with the Packers and Vikings during their time in the league.
Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones joined the club earlier this month when he made the jump from Green Bay to Minnesota, and on Tuesday, former Vikings kicker Greg Joseph became the latest member of the group when he agreed to a contract with the Packers, according to his agent Brett Tessler.
The Green Bay Packers are signing my client Greg Joseph who kicked for the Minnesota Vikings the past 3 seasons. Holds the NFL record for game-winners in a season (5), Vikings record for longest FG (61 yds), & led NFL in TB% in '21. Had other interest but liked this opportunity.
— Brett Tessler (@TesslerSports) March 26, 2024
Green Bay Packers about to find out why the Minnesota Vikings didn't re-sign Greg Joseph
Signing Joseph is certainly an interesting decision by Green Bay, especially since they already had two kickers on their roster in Anders Carlson and Jack Podlesny.
Oddly enough, Carlson is the brother of former Minnesota draft pick and current Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, and Podlesny spent some time last year with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent. So, maybe the Packers just like kickers with a connection to Minnesota?
Whatever it is, it's probably not going to take very long for Green Bay to realize why the Vikings decided not to re-sign Joseph this offseason after he spent the last three years as Minnesota's kicker.
Last season, Joseph's 80 percent field-goal conversion rate ranked 28th in the NFL, and this was an improvement from his 78.8 field-goal percentage in 2022, which also ranked 28th in the league among qualifying kickers.
To make things even more intriguing for the former Vikings kicker, he has only gone 3-for-7 when attempting a field goal in three career games inside Green Bay's Lambeau Field. Packers fans must be ecstatic about their favorite team signing a guy who has made less than half of his field goal attempts inside of their home stadium.
Perhaps a change of scenery will be good for Joseph, and he'll have a career transformation with Green Bay next season. However, if his struggles during the last three years as a member of Minnesota's roster are any indication of what's to come, Packers fans are not going to be happy with him during the 2024 campaign.
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