However, the Green Bay Packers receiver may be overlooked by opposing defenses because he is white, or at least that’s the running joke in the Green Bay locker room.
Nelson and fellow wide receiver Greg Jennings discussed it in a profile of Nelson in the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
“Honestly, I think it is [a factor],” Nelson said when talking about whether or not he’s overlooked by opposing secondaries because he’s white. “As receivers, we’ve talked about. I know [Packers cornerbacks coach] Joe Witt tells me all the time, when all the rookies come in, he gives them the heads up, ‘Don’t let him fool ya.’ That’s fine with me.”
The fourth-year wideout out of Kansas State is having the best season of his young career. Nelson has caught more touchdown passes (seven) than the likes of Wes Welker, Mike Wallace, Larry Fitzgerald and Vincent Jackson. Only Calvin Johnson and Rob Gronkowski have visited the end zone more.
Nelson, who has quickly become one of Aaron Rodgers‘ favorite targets especially in the wake of an impressive Super Bowl performance, continues to impress his teammates.
“However you want to put it, he’s taken full advantage of it,” Jennings said. “It’s not because he didn’t put the time in. It’s not because he’s the white guy. A lot of it has to do with the fact that guys look at him and say, ‘OK, yeah, he’s the white guy, he can’t be that good.’ Well, he is that good. He’s proven to be that good, and it’s because of the work and the time that he’s put in not only on the field but in his preparation off the field.”
As the Yahoo! blog The Postgame points out, Nelson has caught 61 passes for 1,082 yards and 13 touchdowns in his last 15 games.
