RT

[HarveyWallbangers]

I wonder if Bedard has any inside knowledge or if he just throws stuff at the wall.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/43908562.html

In the article above, Bedard writes that Giacomini is the favorite to be the starter at RT. He writes that this will be Barbre's "last chance". He writes that Barbre will likely have to win the starting job to make the roster. Then, he writes that it's unlikely that he will.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/44007332.html

Then, I read the transcript of a McCarthy interview (listed above), and it's the second time he's mentioned Barbre first when talking about the RT position.

To me, it seems Bedard throws things against the wall--without really knowing what's going on. Now, it's entirely possible that Barbre doesn't win the spot, but is he truly as much of a longshot to make the roster as Bedard makes it appear. I'm not so sure.

[RashanGary]

Pro Football Weekly, when the season finished last year, wrote about having inside information that the Packers are very high in Giacomini. Now, he's coming off surgery and is very young. It might be tough for him to get back.


I could see wanting Barbre to shit or get off the pot though. This is approaching Junius Coston territory. The guy has shown nothing in two years. Are we really going to keep him around for 3 years with zero contributions? It's time for him to step up.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Coston got 3 years before he was run out of town his 4th year. Is it really shocking that a guy isn't good enough to be a starter in his first two years?

Rivera didn't start his first two years.

Wahle wasn't very good his first 3-4 years.

Flanagan didn't start his first 5 years in the league--although he had some injuries.

I agree that he has to start showing something, but I could see him improving enough to make the roster without being a starter. When they drafted this guy, they knew he was a developmental type pick. He played at a small school and he's dumber than a box of rocks.

[vince]

I think he's talking out of his ass, although I have a hard time disagreeing with most of what he's saying. Of course, I'm talking out of my ass too though.

[3irty1]

I've felt Barbre was on the fringe of taking a starting spot last year when they were looking at him for guard. If hes gotten any better since then he should be kept.

[RashanGary]

Everything seemed to be going good until he punched James Campen at practice. Ever since, he's been on the hot seat.


I'm hoping he steps up too, Harv. I'm not dismissing him, I just think he should be good enough now to get on the field when we need him. This will be his third full training camp with us and he's had two full seasons of practice as well as almost three years in an NFL training program. He definitely should be better than any rookie we have.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'm not even arguing for Barbre. More Bedard's take. I read it this morning, and I thought to myself: is Barbre really a longshot at the position? To me, it's him vs. Breno, and it's a pretty even battle between the two. It's not like Breno has proven anything.

[Partial]

I've heard that he actually punched BTT, not Campen. Dude's gotta use his head. Can't go around punching people.

[Patler]

Re: RT

To me, it seems Bedard throws things against the wall--without really knowing what's going on. Now, it's entirely possible that Barbre doesn't win the spot, but is he truly as much of a longshot to make the roster as Bedard makes it appear. I'm not so sure.

I would suspect Moll to be at a make-it or break-it point in his career, but not Barbre. Moll has been around for three years, and has over a year's worth of starts under his belt. He needs to start producing

Barbre was drafted with the thought he wouldn't be ready his first year (of course that was true for Moll, too). Last year may have been a little disappointing, but Barbre really hasn't played either. I think he gets at least a third season and perhaps even a fourth training camp before they give up on him. Of course, what we don't know, but Bedard might know, is if the coaches feel they are not making headway with him. If they have reached that point he is as good as gone.

[RashanGary]

I'm not even arguing for Barbre. More Bedard's take. I read it this morning, and I thought to myself: is Barbre really a longshot at the position? To me, it's him vs. Breno, and it's a pretty even battle between the two. It's not like Breno has proven anything.

IC. I agree. I'm a little skeptical of Barbre, but you're right, it sounds like Bedard feels the same way but writes it like it's fact or inside info.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: RT

I would suspect Moll to be at a make-it or break-it point in his career, but not Barbre. Moll has been around for three years, and has over a year's worth of starts under his belt. He needs to start producing

Barbre was drafted with the thought he wouldn't be ready his first year (of course that was true for Moll, too). Last year may have been a little disappointing, but Barbre really hasn't played either. I think he gets at least a third season and perhaps even a fourth training camp before they give up on him. Of course, what we don't know, but Bedard might know, is if the coaches feel they are not making headway with him. If they have reached that point he is as good as gone.

I agree. I guess I'm just not sure I can trust Bedard at this point. Just reading into McCarthy's statements, it seems like he's expecting it to be a good battle. I don't think the Packers are to the point where they think Barbre has really disappointed, but we'll see what he does in his final chance. I get the feeling they feel that he has a shot at being the starter this year.

[Patler]

Re: RT

I agree. I guess I'm just not sure I can trust Bedard at this point. Just reading into McCarthy's statements, it seems like he's expecting it to be a good battle. I don't think the Packers are to the point where they think Barbre has really disappointed, but we'll see what he does in his final chance. I get the feeling they feel that he has a shot at being the starter this year.

I think the reason you feel the way you do about Bedard (and I feel the same way) is that he gives you absolutely no reason to think that what he writes is anything more than his own gut feeling. I do not get the impression that he gets information that we don't. In many of his articles he simply rehashes and consolidates information from other sources. Heck, he even supplies the links. I never get the impression that he has "unidentified team sources" or anything like that. In the current article, nothing would suggest that he has talked to coaches, players, trainers, locker room attendants, security guards or anyone else about Barbre.

Bedard has become a gossip columnist more than a reporter.

[retailguy]

Re: RT

Bedard has become a gossip columnist more than a reporter.

Maybe Bedard is really Joe Arrigo.

[vince]

I agree. He should be held to a higher standard than that. If it's his opinion, that's fine, but he should explicitly state that. If he has a source inside the Packer organization, he should disclose that.

He purposely (and unfortunately he's not unique among Packer reporters in this regard) takes advantage of the assumption many make that he is actually a "reporter" who verifies statements presented as fact, cites sources, etc. And he doesn't explicitly state one way or another when drawing conclusions so as not to undermine the impression that he's actually done those things we tend to assume he's done.

Here's a perfect example:

Giacomini will be tested by a couple of last-chance players: Tony Moll and Allen Barbre. This is it for both. They've had chances to grab starting positions in the past and failed. Both will likely have to win a starting spot in order to make the roster.

Does he know this from talking with the O-line coach or McCarthy? Doesn't appear so, but he states matter-of-factly, "This is it for both."

Bogus journalism.

[DonHutson]

Re: RT

Bedard has become a gossip columnist more than a reporter.

That seems to be the difference between a column and a blog. You can say any old shit in a blog, quote questionable internet sources, and whatever else.

A lot of people here don't like McGinn, but at least the guy has an extensive network of NFL sources to talk to.