Packers miss Davante Adams, but might miss this star even more

The Green Bay Packers situation gets even worse when considering another former player is now thriving in their new environment — with the Vikings. 

NFL media continues to focus on how Green Bay has been struggling to move on without Davante Adams post-Packers breakup. At least in that situation, the Packers are actually doing better than the 2-5 Las Vegas Raiders.

But the situation is a little different for another heart broken by the Packers organization. Fueled by rivalry, revenge, and his own incredible talent, Za’Darius Smith and the 6-1 Vikings are having themselves a year. Smith in particular is thriving post-breakup as he leads the Vikings in sacks and TFL.

Unlike the peaceful departure with Adams, Smith wasn’t so thrilled about how the Packers organization overlooked him in his last season with Green Bay. If success is the best revenge, Smith is putting on a clinic about how to plague exes with regret.

Packers could really use Za’Darius Smith and Davante Adams right about now

There’s been quite a few storylines in regards to the soured relationship between Smith and the Packers. In short, the Packers decided to release Smith after he was sidelined with a back injury, and the lacking faith is something Smith took personally. In September, Smith shared insight about his decision to join the Vikings with Go Long’s Tyler Dunne:

"“How I was here in the building. I came down to here. To a nobody. To everybody in building. I was like, ‘Damn, why am I being treated like this? I brought the culture. I helped change this s—. Why the f— am I the one being treated like that?’“Walking past me not saying nothing. ‘Z, how’s your back doing?’ There was none of that. As you can see, that adds on to why I’m on the other side. So, I can go back. I get to go back two times a year.”"

Before the season even began, Smith made it clear he was really looking forward to sacking Aaron Rodgers. He talked about it on The Rich Eisen Show in May, mentioned playing the Packers twice a year in March, then there’s the Week 1 moment where he actually did body Aaron Rodgers, just like he planned.

Smith has looked fantastic all year, and leading the Vikings in sacks and tackles for a loss proves that. Just like they did at the trade deadline, the Packers failed to reel in a big player — one who was dedicated to the organization and feels grieved by their indifference.

It’s another excruciating loss for the Packers, and another monumental gain for the Vikings, who also just landed T.J. Hockenson in a trade with the Detroit Lions. Aaron Rodgers seems to be haunted by laughing at the NFC North, and for shrugging off Za’Darius Smith, too.