Michael Jenkins

Packers WR James Jones is in the midst of a near-flawless season. The sixth-year wideout is catching everything in his vicinity. One acrobatic grab at a time, Jones is shedding a label he believes he never should have had, a label that probably cost him millions of dollars. To fully understand Jones' 2012 season, you have to go back to 2010. Deep, embarrassing drops tainted an otherwise solid season for Jones.

And, as luck would have it, he was a free agent the following off-season. Point blank, NFL teams told Jones' agent they didn't want him because of the drops. To them, the drops defined Jones.

Jones won't say which teams snubbed him, but the Minnesota Vikings may be on the list. There was some initial interest. But Green Bay's NFC North rival, a team lacking playmakers at receiver, eventually chose Michael Jenkins over Jones that off-season. Interest lukewarm, Jones re-upped with the Packers at $9.6 million over three years.

He'll probably get another chance to cash in. After next season, Jones will be a free agent again. Maybe a few teams that gave Jones the cold shoulder come crawling back. It's mid-November and Jones is still catching everything.