Barnett Contract Done

[POLISHHAWK]

Nuff Said

[BF4MVP]

Packers sign Barnett to long-term extension

Press-Gazette

The Green Bay Packers announced this morning that they've signed linebacker Nick Barnett to a long-term contract extension.


General Manager Ted Thompson made the announcement in a statement released by the team.

Barnett, 25, has led the Packers in tackles three of his four seasons. The 6-foot-2, 232-pounder is going into his fifth season with the Packers.

He was to make $1.95 million in base salary this season, which was the final season of the contract he signed as a rookie.

[Sparkey]

Now that Barnett has his $$$, will he be more receptive to moving outside so that Hodge can play the middle?

Assuming Hodge is capable of playing the middle in the NFL ????

[BF4MVP]

Assuming Hodge is capable of playing the middle in the NFL ????

That's a pretty big assumption..Judging by his play last year, he's not as ready as I thought he'd be coming out of college..

[MJZiggy]

Assuming Hodge is capable of playing the middle in the NFL ????

That's the tricky part.

[woodbuck27]

I believe that Barnett's stance has always been that he deserves the middle.

[Chester Marcol]

That's great news getting this behind us. Hate the contract talks that outsiders always have to make an issue. We wouldn't have been able to listen to even one Barnett interview without hearing a contract question.

As far as where he plays, I would much prefer going into this season with more certainties than more experiments. Last year was a perfect time for that with the new coaches and not really knowing where everyone would shake out. The need to experiment and shake things up is for teams still finding their way. I'd like to think we are a team with fewer questions than last year, and what to do at MLB isn't one of them.

[CaliforniaCheez]

Reading between the lines

The Packers announced it. Barnett's agent is not crowing about how he screwed the Packers on the deal like a Rossenhaus would.

It would cost more to replace him than it would to keep him.

Barnett has proven he is worth keeping.

With the Kampmann, Wells, Driver, Jenkins, Barnett deals we can see that players will get long term deals from the Packers and what type of players the Packers want to retain.

The 2003 draft class is done and Williams is next from the 2004 draft class.
Looking to next year:
A decision after next season will be made on Cole.
Poppinga and Montgomery decisions will have to be made though they are signed through 2008.
Then the length of a Tauscher decision will have to be made. He too is signed through 2008.

[LL2]

I believe that Barnett's stance has always been that he deserves the middle.

He doesn’t DESERVE the middle any more than Hawk, Popps, or Hodge. It’s M3 that ultimately decides who plays where. He deserves to play where it makes the defense the best.

[LL2]

Reading between the lines

Barnett has proven he is worth keeping.

There is no doubt about that. Whether you like Barnett or not, he would’ve received twice in guaranteed money next year and TT wouldn’t have paid him. 5.5 per year is a excellent deal. Briggs is tagged to get 7.2 mil next year and I do not think Briggs is better. Briggs has been to the probowl but the probowl is a joke and a popularity contest. Bears LB’s always have received more attention.

[Partial]

'atta boy TT. Anyone have details?

I predict it is front-loaded for about 10mil this year, than about 6 mil the rest of the way. 4 years long. So, 28 million over 4 years. Not a bad deal for Barnett at all considering Adalius Thomas signed for 5 years, 35 mil (thank you adalius for keeping the market in check and saving us about 10 mil in barnett)

I have a hunch a good chunk (14 mil) is guaranteed.

[oregonpackfan]

TT was wise to get this contract extension finalized before the season began. This should end any speculation about free agency, etc.

This is a job well done by TT, IMO.

[CaliforniaCheez]

The more front loaded the better. Barnett is not an injury risk and deall along the lines of Wells or even Kampmann will be helpful.

[Packnut]

Money

35 million over 6 years is a ton of cash. It would be nice to see him make a few game changing plays once in a while since he's getting paid this much.

[Packnut]

Barnett

12 million for this season so it is heavily front loaded which everyone expected.