COMPLETE COVERAGE: BARNETT'S WET EXPOSE & PREDICTIONS

[mraynrand]

I'm inclined to believe fans are causing a lot of the problems. Sometimes players either want to be left alone or, at the bare minimum, be treated with some dignity. When you're at the game, just about anything goes as far as trying to get autographs etc., but in public players should be treated like anyone else, respecting their space.

I don't know if it was the same bar, but my brother and I would run into Barkley at this bar on the Marquette campus after Bucks games and the guy was awesome. During games, I hated his guts, but afterwards, he's just a nice guy tossing back a few. Buy him a couple of beers and the guy would sit there and talk hoops for hours. But almost every goddamn time there would be these spindly ass jerks trying to provoke him. With some of the shit they pulled, I'm surprised he didn't beat the crap out of more of them.

[The Leaper]

Honestly...if the NFL cracks down and penalizes every player that gets in a "he-said, she-said" pushing match, then it will become difficult for teams to field a full roster at some point in the future. Hell, every NFL team will suddenly have a new "department"...one that actively seeks to get future opponents in trouble by sending hot women out to clubs to pick fights with certain players.

While Barnett was stupid, this is clearly not going to be dealt with by the NFL. If it happens again, then they likely will take a stronger look at it. He wasn't toting a gun...he wasn't at a dog fight...Barnett just needs to make better decisions in the future.

[MJZiggy]

I don't know, you can talk about his behavior all you want, but I also believe that while a man shouldn't push a woman, she clearly was out of bounds here as well. I don't expect to be pushed around by a man, but I'd never harrass one all night long either. To me the rules of decorum work both ways. He was out of bounds, but then again, so was she, and, quite frankly, the bar owner was there and obviously aware of the situation. She couldn't have stepped in? Why should he have had to deal with this woman on his own? I've had plenty of times in clubs where security has asked me if someone was bothering me, she was obviously bothering him. Why didn't they ask?

[Merlin]

What I find interesting is that based on the stories posted to go along with the poll, there are 4 people who actually think he should be arrested or sanctioned but yet I only count one person who posted saying he should be fined (I assume by the NFL). Barnett haters scared to post? It's obvious that's who they are because no way does this get an indictment based on the articles.

[The Leaper]

I'm not sure...

Perhaps Wist is more hopeful for Barnett now that one of his tackles has actually put someone on their ass.

:P

[TopHat]

UPDATE FORTHCOMING.

[TopHat]

UPDATE: POLICE REPORT FORTHCOMING

http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070625/PKR01/70625062/1989

Barnett police report isn't done yet.

Appleton police said today they hope to send their report on the bar incident involving Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett to the Outagamie County district attorney’s office by the middle of the week. Earlier, police said the report on allegations that Barnett shoved a woman to the floor at a downtown nightclub would be ready today. The incident occurred at Wet, 344 W. College Ave. Barnett, 26, was booked into the Outagamie County Jail on a misdemeanor battery charge after the June 17 incident, and later released on a $500 bond. Sgt. Pat DeWall said officers have more interviews to do after “something came up.” “It’s like anything else,” he said. “That’s like one of how many other things they are working on.” District Attorney Carrie Schneider said last week that it could take a week or more for her office to review the reports and make a decision on issuing charges once she gets the reports from police

[packinpatland]

Re: UPDATE: POLICE REPORT FORTHCOMING

http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070625/PKR01/70625062/1989

Barnett police report isn't done yet.

Appleton police said today they hope to send their report on the bar incident involving Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett to the Outagamie County district attorney’s office by the middle of the week. Earlier, police said the report on allegations that Barnett shoved a woman to the floor at a downtown nightclub would be ready today. The incident occurred at Wet, 344 W. College Ave. Barnett, 26, was booked into the Outagamie County Jail on a misdemeanor battery charge after the June 17 incident, and later released on a $500 bond. Sgt. Pat DeWall said officers have more interviews to do after “something came up.” “It’s like anything else,” he said. “That’s like one of how many other things they are working on.” District Attorney Carrie Schneider said last week that it could take a week or more for her office to review the reports and make a decision on issuing charges once she gets the reports from police

I hope they are taking their time because they want to make sure they get everything right. If not, they sound alittle 'Barney Fife-like'.

[TopHat]

UPDATE: BARNETT POLICE REPORT GOES TO DA

http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070626/PKR01/70626126/1989

Police report on Barnett case goes to DA

Police have sent to the Outagamie County district attorney their report about an incident in which Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett allegedly shoved a woman at a downtown nightclub. Police Sgt. Pat DeWall said the report about Barnett’s June 17 arrest was taken to the district attorney’s office this morning. District Attorney Carrie Schneider said last week she would review the report as soon as possible, but said it could take as long as a week before her office makes a decision on charges. Barnett, 26, was jailed on a misdemeanor battery charge and released on a $500 bond after the incident early June 17 at Wet, a nightclub at 344 W. College Ave.

[TopHat]

VIEW

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070627/PKR07/706270499/1057/PKR&located=RSS

Barnett should've walked away. Nick Barnett should have known better.

The Green Bay Packers linebacker was arrested last week following an altercation at an Appleton nightclub, and Outagamie County district attorney Carrie Schneider is expected to decide soon whether to formally charge the Packers' linebacker. The incident appears relatively minor, as far as barroom misbehavior goes. Barnett was arrested on a misdemeanor battery offense for allegedly shoving a woman. There is no excuse or justification for Barnett's alleged actions. However, it should be noted some bar patrons treated Barnett rudely, according to nightclub owner Kathie Peotter. One woman threw a drink at Barnett, and another fan grabbed Barnett's arm and asked for an autograph.

Beyond proving that nothing good happens to a professional athlete at a bar at 2 in the morning, the incident shows Barnett has a lot to learn. As the Packers' starting middle linebacker for the past four years, Barnett has established himself as a leader of the defense. His efforts were rewarded when the Packers signed Barnett to a six-year, $35 million contract extension in April. But with fame and fortune come responsibility, and it's high time Barnett, 26, begins acting like a leader off the field. If Barnett can't handle himself in an acceptable manner in street clothes, then his considerable efforts in uniform will be rendered meaningless. No one is saying Barnett has to be a choirboy. But a minimum standard of acceptable behavior would be to keep his name off the police blotter. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is cracking down on players who wind up on the wrong side of the law, and Barnett could face a suspension. Barnett has to know his off-field behavior has consequences that can adversely affect his teammates.

Barnett and other pro athletes deserve some sympathy when it comes to dealing with obnoxious people, particularly in a bar. Players should be allowed to spend a night out on the town without being hassled by belligerent fans. However, Barnett's experience as a nightclub owner in Green Bay should have taught him knuckleheads inevitably will surface. What Barnett hasn't learned is how to respond to bad behavior. A prominent football player simply must walk away from potential trouble. An early-morning nightclub confrontation is no place to prove your toughness or defend your honor. Barnett has ample opportunities to do that every week during the season. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he has stressed to his players the importance of avoiding problems in public places. "(This is) part of the lifestyle of being an NFL football player, and they've got to be smart out there," McCarthy said. "First of all, you need to avoid that type of environment, and when you're in that type of situation, you need to defuse it. We'll continue to talk about those things with our football team...."

[retailguy]

What I find interesting is that based on the stories posted to go along with the poll, there are 4 people who actually think he should be arrested or sanctioned but yet I only count one person who posted saying he should be fined (I assume by the NFL). Barnett haters scared to post? It's obvious that's who they are because no way does this get an indictment based on the articles.

How about we rename him "Pacman" Barnett?

[Merlin]

Apples to Apples to some I guess.

[TopHat]

PACKERS NEWS POLL

How should the NFL punish Nick Barnett for his arrest?

Suspend him 13.6 percent
Fine him 22.9 percent
Depends on the verdict 48.6 percent
It shouldn't 14.9 percent


Editorial: The bar owner was right, "...Blown way out of proportion". Yet, no one had the common sense at 2 am before the Appleton charity softball game to keep their cool and nip it at the bud." THESE DAYS TYPICAL FOOLISHNESS INCLUDING "WHO" DECIDING THE CASE WHO SHOULD REMEMBER HOW COME THE PACK WERE IN TOWN!

[woodbuck27]

If some chick was right up on me throwing her drink, I'd reach over and push her away too. Sometimes it's hard to gauge just how easy it is to push a girl over. You think you're just getting her the hell away from you and she ends up floundering on the ground like you gave her an uppercut or something. I've been there. Women are weaker than they look. The problem is, if a woman wants to throw liquor and ice on you there is no way to win. Either you get wet and maybe catch an ice cube in the ear and walk away with no real harm or you push her away and get arrested. It was a no win for Barnett but at the same time, people should be smart enough to stay away when they have so much on the line.

It's obvious that the situation could have been better handled by Nick.

He might have just offered her another drink. . .Ehh.

[Merlin]

I agree the situation should have been handled better by Barnett. But hindsight is always 20/20. We were all young once, some of us still are. If we all haad a dollar for everything we "should" have done, I would think we would all be rich by now.