Barnett Refuses to Move?

[RashanGary]

It's only a matter of time before Hodge takes the middle. Barnett can complain all he wants. Hodge won't be on the bench for 2 years and he won't be on the SLB EVER.

Has this become the most heated roster battle? I think so.

[red]

plus, i think this offseason showed us that, if you are a good LB you are going to get a 50 some million dollar deal, no matter what position you play.

could it be like gregjennings (nick) is saying? is nick realising that a lot of his tackles came because of where he played, not how good he is? and does he figure without the huge tackle counts he's really not a special player worth the huge $$$$$

[RashanGary]

On a side note, Widle likes to stir the pot, but boy is it entertaining. This is a great approach to sports jourelism. This is what we all wanted to hear. This is what we all suspected but never saw in words. I take back my distaste for Wilde. He brings it when everyone else is affraid.

[Row 67]

Why can't some of these dickheads just say "heck yeah- if moving me outside gets our three best players on the field, I'm all for it." If Hodgie earns it, I'll move. That would really make us a devastating defense. I know that whatever position I play, I'm going to take care of my assignment and shut down my man or my zone. That will just make it easier for the other guys. I probably won't be able to pad my stats as well outside, but I'm going to get rewarded for my total body of work when my contract is up, so a year or two at the other position shouldn't be an issue. I'll just use the opportunity to show my versatility. Who knows, if our defense really gels and is the catalyst for a Super Bowl run, who knows, I might make even more money"

Part of this is the press's and the fans fault. They constantly hound these guys with interview after interview. Every play in practice is scrutinized.

The interesting thing about this whole issue is how TT is stocking the team through the draft. We have depth at linebacker, safety, cornerback, RB, fullback, TE and D-line. We're a little thin at offensive line due to injuries, and because no receiver stepped up, we're weak there. We have depth at punter and kicker (although quality at kicker is still a question), and we're a bit thin at QB depth. However, after another draft or two, this team will be DEEP at almost all positions. So when (or if) a guy like Barnett wants to be a problem, you can let him walk in FA, or trade him, or cut him. And you still have a Hodge to pick up slack, with Taylor and Poppinga or some other guys still around.

[red]

It's only a matter of time before Hodge takes the middle. Barnett can complain all he wants. Hodge won't be on the bench for 2 years and he won't be on the SLB EVER.

Has this become the most heated roster battle? I think so.

at least he's fighting for it. for that i'll give him credit. unlike roman, who as soon as the team brought in someone to compete with him, he threw a little hissy fit and said he wanted out

we haven't heard nick bitch yet about the team not talking to him about drafting another MLB

its just that if he losses this battle for MLB at some point, then he needs to move outside and do whats best for the team

[Packnut]

Barnett

I've been pretty neutral on Barnett but his latest comments really tick me off. He should have stated he would do whatever was best for the team. He brought up his past record but really, how many game changing plays has he had? How many times has he blown up a RB in the hole?

Until the hitman can understand coverages, we're stuck with Barnett.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Barnett also lost respect with me after his comments about money. I would have respected him alot more if he said he didnt want to move b/c he likes the middle and left it at that.

As for the notion of trading him, hell no! If we lose one more star player, I will need to take my anger out on someone and it will be TT. If one more of my favorite players leaves this team I will be to pissed off.

[RashanGary]

TT inherited Shermans roster and it's quite clear he wants tough guys on defense. Barnett in the middle is not a tough guy. Maybe McCarthy can have a chat with Barnett and convince him to move but Barnett isn't stupid. When this defense was brought in everyone talked about how it funneled plays to the MLB. Barnett does not want to have to do the little things that go unnoticed. He wants the stat-line. It's comparable to a chucker at PG...It might seem helpfull when looking at the statline, but the guy who just does the little things changes the game in the positive direction. I'm not a fan of Barnett at this point. I would love to see him traded next off season.

[4and12to12and4]

Wow. What a statement. We were all kind of waiting for something like this to happen. The writing has been on the wall since draft day. I totally understand Nick's thinking on this. I mean, if any of us were up for a new contract at our jobs and a newcomer came in and wowed the company with a couple of weeks of good work, and we were in jeapordy of losing our position after giving the company our all for three years, we would be pissed too. Would we just take it on the chin and say "Well, it 'might' be what's best for the company's gross numbers, so I'll take the back seat, even though it's going to jeapordize the rest of my career". It's a tough pill to swallow for anyone.

So, I don't fault him for his position on this, I do however fault him for taking it to the press and saying "I'm not moving". This is the biggest problem with these guys today in the NFL. He should have just kept his mouth shut and dealt with it privately with TT and MM. Why these guys blow up to the press is beyond me. I know that to be as good as Nick is, to be good enough to simply play in the NFL means you have a very high level of competitiveness and pride, but, I wish these guys would handle the press with more class. Barnett just put his coach and GM in a tight spot by saying he "won't". No player has that right, and I hope MM takes him aside and reprimands him for that. He put himself above the team and his coach with that 'public' statement.

As fans, we want to win. That's all we care about in the end. As players, this is their livelyhood, their legacy. Most players want to win, just as we all want our company to be successful, but all players are, by nature, going to be more selfish to their own future than their teams success, just as we are more worried about our own individual success and future than our companys. I think we can all agree on that. So, IMO, I don't look badly on Nick for his position on this, I just wish he would have stated it behind closed doors.

[red]

As for the notion of trading him, hell no! If we lose one more star player, I will need to take my anger out on someone and it will be TT. If one more of my favorite players leaves this team I will be to pissed off.

but lets say hodge beats him out for MLB sometime this year, or next year, and nick refuses to play anywhere else. that would mean he's the backup and a ST player. would it be worth it to keep a guy on the team with that much trade value who is only a ST player, only to lose him to fre agency after 2007, and get nothing for him?

i'm guessing we can get a 1st or 2nd rounder for him, at least.

[RashanGary]

I know why Barnetts pissed. If he was secure in his position he wouldn't have said this. He would have said "the best player will win" or soemthing like that. This just shows that his whole story has validity. Barnett has been a good player but Hodge truely is pushing for playing time in the middle. I would like to see HOdge in on Goaline and short yardage and then start next year. I see no reason to stir the pot right now. I think Hodge is a year away from earning it anyway. Maybe you give Barnett a raise next eyar adn move him to the outside. I'd be happy with that resolution.

[Deputy Nutz]

I think everyone knows how I feel about Barnett in the middle. I could make 120 tackles in this system and having 350 pound linemen eat blocks for me. When Barnett becomes a free agent the majority of the teams will watch film of him, and determine that he will be best suited to play on the outside. He is absolutely horrible fit in a 3-4 defense, and in a base 4-3 he just isn't physical enough to take on blocks, and then defeat blocks from fullbacks and tight ends, much less offensive guards and centers.

The one thing that Barnett brings is speed. He uses that to make up for the fact that he has trouble getting through traffic, and getting off blocks. As a middle linebacker he is one of the worst blitzers I have ever seen, absolutely no instincts what so ever. His coverage skills are good, but lets not flatter him, they are not great. He is an arm tackler, a drag down type guy, who will miss tackles or get dragged for several yards by bigger ball carriers.

Just the little I was able to see of Hodge at training camp on Monday, spoke volumes about they way the game comes to him. He has fantastic instincts. Hodge isn't real big but he is able skip around blocks but still maintain his position to make the play. He has an excellent dip and rip move, where he drops his shoulder enough to make himself narrow enough where blockers have a hard time hitting him and driving him off the ball. He might not need Barnett's speed, but if he doesn't make mistakes he won't need Barnett's speed.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

As for the notion of trading him, hell no! If we lose one more star player, I will need to take my anger out on someone and it will be TT. If one more of my favorite players leaves this team I will be to pissed off.

but lets say hodge beats him out for MLB sometime this year, or next year, and nick refuses to play anywhere else. that would mean he's the backup and a ST player. would it be worth it to keep a guy on the team with that much trade value who is only a ST player, only to lose him to fre agency after 2007, and get nothing for him?

i'm guessing we can get a 1st or 2nd rounder for him, at least.

You guys are not giving Barnett enough cerdit. I remember mouths ago people were saying how they love Barnett and how hes one of the best line backers in the league, and all of a sudden hodge does good for two weeks in practice and were talking about a trade.

If we keep trading away our first round picks when will we ever be good? Whats the piont of having a young guy develop into a good player and then trade him away, that is retarded.

My whole piont is we should make it work, before talking about trading another young star.

[Packnut]

Barnett

He just is'nt a game changing punnishing LB. However, I still think we bring hitman along slowly and see if he can pick up pass coverage. Once he does, then it's time to make the change.

[red]

the one thing i noticed at family night that i've never seen out of barnett, is hodge was blowing up plays, and getting to the RB before he got accross the line

i think what i'm trying to say is, he looks a lot more aggressive and capable of playing with that aggresion