R.I.P. Kevin Barry

[Harlan Huckleby]

http://www.packersnews.com/archives/news/pack_26114389.shtml

Dissapointing, I hoped he might yet compete for right guard spot.

[mraynrand]

Santana Dotson
Steve Warren
Ahman Green
Kevin Barry


WTF? Pretty much the same injury in the span of about 7 years. This is a pretty rare injury, even in the NFL. I'd be pretty pissed off if I wasn't drunk from celebrating the Mavs victory.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Probably this offers a roster spot for Will Whitiker to backup RG and RT.

I think this is a pretty significant loss, but lets see if Whitiker has made some strides.

[mraynrand]

Huck, don't be sweatin' it man. Barry wasn't gonna be a guard in this offense. Maybe they lost a backup tackle, but face it, Barry was pretty much stop-gap even at tackle.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't know what Barry could do. It's true, last season I argued that he must not be too great if he didn't get a shot at RG with all the desperation. But hell, he looked ok in his playing time, and I've come to believe that the coaching staff failed last year, I don't trust their judgements. So, damn, I insist on being dissappointed.

[Patler]

The Packers were paying him like they expected him to be more than just a stop gap backup. Something like $2.7 million for two years. Losing Barry isn't devastating, but disappointing none the less.

[Scott Campbell]

Crap. I wanted to see if he could lose the weight.

[mraynrand]

Scott: You can still watch to see if he loses weight - just tune in to his web cam at willbarryloseanounce.com.

Shamrock - I couln't care less what the Packers were hoping for Barry based on what they were willing to pay him. He had several chances to get into the lineup as a starter and prove himself and pretty much failed. I look at it this way - if the guy couldn't get PT over Whitless last year, he has zero chance of being a guard. With Clifton and Taucher in place (current injuries notwithstanding) the only way he was going to sniff PT was as a replacement for one of those two - thus the designation stop-gap. perhaps he could routinely play as well as he did against San Fran in 2002(?), but somehow I doubt it.

[Patler]

Shamrock - I couln't care less what the Packers were hoping for Barry based on what they were willing to pay him. He had several chances to get into the lineup as a starter and prove himself and pretty much failed. I look at it this way - if the guy couldn't get PT over Whitless last year, he has zero chance of being a guard. With Clifton and Taucher in place (current injuries notwithstanding) the only way he was going to sniff PT was as a replacement for one of those two - thus the designation stop-gap. perhaps he could routinely play as well as he did against San Fran in 2002(?), but somehow I doubt it.

First, I don't think Barry ever had a chance to become a starter last year, because Sherman flat out said he was "too important" in the U71 to let him start. That was the absurd aspect of Shermans dedication to a formation he used 10-12 times a game.

Secondly, the coaches early this year hinted that they might look at Tauscher as a guard, and I think that should have been a possibility if the guard position did not otherwise resolve itself. Barry would have been fine as a replacement at RT. Their preference clearly was to first have Barry challenge for the guard position.

My only point on the salary was that to offer that to Barry, they must have considered him to be a legitimate candidate to start. You don't normally offer that to a guy you plan on having as a backup. The could simply have just let him sign with Detroit, and brought in a much cheaper backup. To lose a serious challenger for a starting position is not earth-shattering, but its not just a ho-hum thing either, unless others step up.

[Deputy Nutz]

Barry is the reason why you don't let fat over weight players take part in mini camp. The thigh just couldn't bare the weight.

Barry has had all the chances in the world, and every year he comes to camp out of shape. Hell Mike Sherman tore into his ass during a press conference, then Barry went to a fat camp. No will power, no sacrifice for this glutten. Do you really want a player like this starting on the offensive line? Do you really want him on the team?

[wist43]

I thought Barry was the natural replacement for Rivera when he left two years ago... but, of course, Sherman is an idiot, and Barry languished in the "U-71".

Now that he's done for this year, he probably doesn't have a future with the team, and I suppose that means that fat slug Whitticker now has a spot on the roster.

I wouldn't move Clifton or Tauscher to accomodate any other position... Colledge is pencilled in at LG, and it appears Coston has the inside track at RG.

Center is a toss up between Wells and Spitz. I'd prefer to see Spitz win that battle. Wells is undersized and doesn't play with very good leverage... an undersized player absolutely has to play with good leverage - Wells doesn't.

[mraynrand]

I thought Barry was the natural replacement for Rivera when he left two years ago... but, of course, Sherman is an idiot, and Barry languished in the "U-71".

Sure, Sherman was an idiot - to the tune of the best running attack in the history of the Packers, using a FA rookie pick-up as an added tackle/TE. Maybe Barry 'languished' in the "U-71" because he wasn't good enough to play guard. It's possible you could be right - Barry may have been better than Whitless had he played guard start to finish last year, but your analysis is clearly flavored by irrational, over-the-top anti-Sherman bias.

[retailguy]

but your analysis is clearly flavored by irrational, over-the-top anti-Sherman bias.

WIST??? Nah, say it isn't so......

[Harlan Huckleby]

We really don't know that much about Barry, we're speculating. He came to camp in good shape last year - still not shot at a starting job. This year he comes in heavy. He was a good drive blocker. No, it's no great tragedy to lose him. But I hadn't given up on him.

[Deputy Nutz]

Basically, when the team all but hands you a starting job, by the contract you sign, and all you have to do is manage your weight correctly, and you blow that then I have little empathy for you. It is not like this guy is working as a furniture salesman to make ends meet in the off season. Work out for two or three hours a day, and go on a diet. Thats it, all you have to do. But that fried chicken is just too tempting....