Packers G.M. Brian Gutekunst admitted Tuesday the team hasn’t seen the surveillance video connected to running back Josh Jacobs’ misdemeanor battery case. This isn’t just any video either. The police report *strongly suggests* it shows images of the alleged assault, and Gutekunst is out here saying they haven’t even laid eyes on it. Seriously, how is that possible?
The Elephant in the Garage
This whole situation around Josh Jacobs and his misdemeanor battery charge is already messy, but Gutekunst’s comments at a press conference just ramped up the tension. He was asked directly if the team had viewed the footage from the camera in Jacobs’ garage. His response, relayed via Rob Demovsky of ESPN, was pretty straightforward, if not a little concerning:
“We have not seen the video. Again, those are legal things going on right now, so we’ll let those play out. That’s really not for us, but in the appropriate times, if those things become available, we’ll figure that stuff out when that time comes.”
It’s like they’re waiting for a formal invitation to view evidence that could be absolutely crucial for one of their players. What are we doing here? The police report itself points to this video being significant. To not proactively seek it out, especially with the NFL season already underway, feels like a massive oversight, or maybe even an intentional blind spot.
“We’ll Lean on the Legal Process,” They Say
When pressed on whether the team needs to see this video *before* making any decisions about Jacobs’ future, Gutekunst doubled down on his passive approach. He stated, “Again, we’re going to lean on the legal process and let that happen, but we’ll take things as they come.” That’s a classic wait-and-see line, but when a player is involved in a misdemeanor battery case with alleged video evidence, how much waiting can you really do?
Fans expect teams to be on top of these situations, not just letting things “play out.” Jacobs is a professional athlete, representing the team. If there’s video, shouldn’t the organization be fully informed? It makes you wonder what kind of internal investigations are happening if they’re not even looking at key pieces of evidence like this surveillance footage. The stakes are Jacobs’ reputation, his career, and the team’s image, for crying out loud.
Ray Rice Flashbacks Are Hitting Different
This whole scenario can’t help but stir up some uncomfortable memories from the past. The source article explicitly brings up the notorious Ray Rice elevator video from August 2014. Remember how the league initially claimed they hadn’t seen *that* video either, even though it was easily accessible as part of his case file and Rice himself controlled it?
The argument back then was simple: the league could have told Rice he couldn’t play until his lawyer made the video available. Now, here we are in September 2026, and a similar situation is unfolding. If the police report points to a video of an alleged assault, and it’s from a camera in the player’s own garage, how hard could it *really* be for the team to get their hands on it? This isn’t just about Gutekunst’s statements; it’s about the precedent this kind of inaction sets, and the real questions it raises about accountability in the NFL.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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