future of LB's...

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't think most people think Barnett sucks cept Wist but he is only alittle above average thats my problem he wants Urlacher or Ray Lewis money not worth it, 5 million max. One other note he was not that strong this year he gave up the most plays over twenty yards other than Manuel and he was doing it before he broke his hand. That is a major red flag on this team that stat should 99% of the time be led by a corner we had a safety and LB leading, not good.

I doubt he wants Urlacher or Ray Lewis money. I'm thinking he wants something closer to E.J. Henderson or Daryl Smith money. Maybe Urlacher and Lewis signed new contracts years ago before the cap really went up, and they are underpaid. However, you have to base what you'll pay a player based on the current market.

[Partial]

Ok, for all of you to know, Hawk is NOT a MLB. He's not. People say he played MLB in college, but he didn't. Anthony Schlegel was OSU's MLB. Barnett proved his worth in the Seattle game when he didn't play. Hodge is no where ready to play at the NFL level, and Barnett had a very solid year, and can still improve a lot based on our TEAM improvement. Do you invest in both Barnett and Briggs, yes. Why? cause we have money, and the cap will go up every year to help us with it. You people are crazy if you think we need to drop Barnett.

What do you think of Briggs? Is he overhyped and overrated because he plays next to Urlacher, or is he really a baller?

[Partial]

I think we should sign Barnett and Briggs so as to corner the market on linebackers. If nobody else has linebackers, it will make the ZBS more effective. People will be running formations like five linemen and six defensive backs, it will be chaos!

Lets sign 'em all!!

[wist43]

Barnett was OK this year... even a little above average - shocking that I would admit that, huh???

When I did watch him this year, I was shocked when he actually took the proper angle, or didn't abandon his gap responsibility... made me wonder if they were trotting an imposter out there - I'm sure it's due more to his smelling a new contract than anything else. The guy is a punk, and punks only tend to step up when money is on the line - witness Cleditus Hunt.

Still hate the guy, and would just as soon throw money at someone else... no comparison between Briggs and Barnett - Briggs is a far better player.

[Fritz]

Wist, the depths of your dislike know no bounds. From the accounts I have read, Barnett is a pretty upstanding guy. A punk? Whoa.

I say pay the guy. Then look for another linebacker in the draft who can, in a year or so, compete with Poppinga for the starting strong side job.

See if Hodge will grow up and learn to be an NFL player next year.

Sign Lance Briggs if it becomes a possibility and if the Pack has the cap space (that is, if TT doesn't use the cap money elsewhere and if Briggs even becomes available) - to a more front loaded deal.

[wist43]

Fritz, I did say he played okay... or did you miss that part???

Will never like the guy... samarai celebrations when they're getting blown out??? I'm sure Reggie White would have smacked him down and put an end to that crap in a hurry. Wouldn't want a guy like that for a teammate, and I don't want him on my team as a fan.

Like I said, will never like the guy - but, he did play to at least an average level last year... I've erased most of the losses, however, (still have the Jet game on tape) so all I have left on tape are the wins where they played fairly well.

[Patler]

On list after list, reputable and not reputable, ranking middle linebackers Barnett finishes in the top 10. Usually somewhere around #8. You don't just throw that kind of mlb away without a replacement. Hodge has to make an astronomical turnaround after his dismal display against Seatttle to be considered a viable alternative. The Packers have no one else. Losing Barnett would negate the gains made this year in the linebacker group, unless they draft or sign someone of equal ability.

There are lots of teams that would be happy to have Barnett playing for them. Last year (2005) I charted Barnett's tackles and Urlachers tackles, based on the info on the NFL.com game sheets. Barnett made about the same percentage of his tackles for 0, 1, 2 or 3 yard gains as Urlacher did, Barnett was even a bit better, as I recall.. Urlacher had a few more tackles for loss than Barnett did. That's what I see as the big difference between them, making the big play. Urlacher does, Barnett not so much.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

On list after list, reputable and not reputable, ranking middle linebackers Barnett finishes in the top 10. Usually somewhere around #8. You don't just throw that kind of mlb away without a replacement. Hodge has to make an astronomical turnaround after his dismal display against Seatttle to be considered a viable alternative. The Packers have no one else. Losing Barnett would negate the gains made this year in the linebacker group, unless they draft or sign someone of equal ability.

There are lots of teams that would be happy to have Barnett playing for them. Last year (2005) I charted Barnett's tackles and Urlachers tackles, based on the info on the NFL.com game sheets. Barnett made about the same percentage of his tackles for 0, 1, 2 or 3 yard gains as Urlacher did, Barnett was even a bit better, as I recall.. Urlacher had a few more tackles for loss than Barnett did. That's what I see as the big difference between them, making the big play. Urlacher does, Barnett not so much.

I actually agree with Wist and Palter. I agree with Wist in that I hate how Barnett celebrates with his little dance when were getting blow away. That shows me that he cares more about his individual performance then the performance of the whole team. I agree with Palter, however, in that I do believe that Barnett is in the top 10 in MLB in the league and that you can't just let a guy like that walk. And with the cap going up each year, you can't get many good players in free agency anymore. So if you let Barnett go, it's just another guy you have to replace in the draft, and even more time before we become competitive again.

[Patler]

Barnett's celebration is absolutely one of the worst I have ever seen, in any sport. As to when he does it, sadly it seems that the score doesn't matter for most pro athletes anymore. They celebrate a moderately successful play even when they are getting their butts kicked. Barnett is no different than many others. I hate all the contrived celebrates. I didn't even like the "gravedigger" celebration. To choreographed for me. I like only the spontaneous exhibitions of excitement.

As I recall, Barnett had no celebration routine as a rookie, and came up with one only when he was asked to be more of an "emotional" leader. He said he thought a "celebration" would help. He had an equally bad one for a short time before his current one. His do not look sincere in the slightest, and should be stopped.

[BobDobbs]

I think that Briggs is a better, more forceful player than Barnett is. I don't think that you can necessarily switch out one for the other. Briggs plays on the weakside which is where we have AJ Hawk right now. If we bring in Briggs do we put Aj over the tight end? Or if we sign Briggs do we put him in the middle?
That is the main problem as I see it where do you play the guys? If you just sign people without regard for how they fit your system you end up with the Redskins. I would be happy to see Briggs as a Packer. He can bring blitz and blow up running plays big time. Can he cover? That was a huge problem with the linebacking core and Barnett in particular. A lot of big plays over the middle.
I think Briggs and Barnett are roughly the same age. They both came in the same draft along with EJ Henderson, Boss Bailey, and I think Hunter Hillenmeyer. Pretty good LB draft for the NFC North.
Ultimately, I think if the Bears don't sign Briggs before free agency begins, then there will be a major bidding war. Barnett still is under contract, so we will be able to negotiate him down because we are the only bidder.

[wist43]

I've never seen a ranking list that even had Barnett on it, let alone in the top 10...

Two years ago, PFW ranked the top 24 MLB's and Barnett wasn't even on the list...

Now I'll grant you that he played better this past year, but he still blew an awful lot of assignments and tackles...

Even allowing that he may have figured out how to take a proper angle - he still hits with the force of a gnat, can't get off blocks, and until he proves it to me for more than 1 year, I'll still contend he doesn't have the instincts of the average cheerleader.

Don't like him, never will.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I've never seen a ranking list that even had Barnett on it, let alone in the top 10...

Two years ago, PFW ranked the top 24 MLB's and Barnett wasn't even on the list...

Now I'll grant you that he played better this past year, but he still blew an awful lot of assignments and tackles...

Even allowing that he may have figured out how to take a proper angle - he still hits with the force of a gnat, can't get off blocks, and until he proves it to me for more than 1 year, I'll still contend he doesn't have the instincts of the average cheerleader.

Don't like him, never will.

The last quote says it all.

PFW has had him about #20 the last two years for ILBs (not just MLBs). Since a lot of teams are running the 3-4 defense, that puts him in the top half of starting ILBs--according to PFW. I imagine he'll jump up a few spots this offseason. Guys that stick around and prove they are starting quality tend to get bumped in the ratings as they get into their prime.

Personally, I don't care about the celebration. I used to hate that stuff, but now 1/2 the guys in the league do it, so what are you going to do? I got over it. Compared to the celebrations of today, I kind of like the samarai.

[Patler]

The lists on which Barnett is low are the fantasy football rankings which put a premium on turnovers and TDs. Scout, GM and NFL analysts almost always have him in the top 10 of middle linebackers. I posted several of them last year in the off season, on which ever board we all frequented then (JSO, CE, this one, whatever it was!) That was also when I posted Barnett's 2005 tackles by yardage gained on the play, to dispel the argument that all his tackles are well downfield.

I'm not a huge Barnett fan, but he is good enough to keep unless and until an all-pro comes to GB.

[hoosier]

Re: future of LB's...

Does anyone know how old Briggs is?? And imagine next season with Briggs, Barnett, and Hawk as our LB's!! WoW!!!!!

Isn't Brigss a weak-side LB in Chicago? Could he be moved easily to strong side?

[ny10804]

My take on Barnett, if he never got injured, we'd be in the playoffs (Seattle). I'd think TT would wait to the middle of next year to resign him. As for Briggs, I'd be more interested in Adalius Thomas from the Ravens -- he is the best SSLB in the game, and can effectively rush the passer at DE. We could cut KGB after June 1st.

Idk though, I don't get the impression TT would throw money around like this.