A Little More Green And Gold For Mr. Barnett » Brats & Beer

April 11, 2007
posted under: Nick Barnett, Packers

Some good news out of Packerland as Nick Barnett gets his contract extension. Green Bay signed the veteran MLB to a five-year extension yesterday reportedly worth $35 million, including about $11 million in guaranteed money. That sounds just about right considering Barnett’s stats and what some other linebackers have been getting in recent deals.

It’s good news too for Green Bay, which locked up a veteran leader on defense for six more years. That means Ted Thompson doesn’t have to spend a draft pick this year or free agent money next on the linebacker position. It also means Abdul Hodge has a little more time to develop before the Packers need to call on him full-time.

Barnett’s extension is also good news for coach McCarthy’s whole “Packer people” concept. If that term means anything, it’s someone like Barnett who shows up to work everyday, doesn’t grouse about things like salary, and just works hard to improve at his position. Of course that means the team needs to come through and support those players, so hopefully this will send a good message to the rest of the roster and maybe to the rest of the league that this is how the game needs to be played.

So could it be that the Packers could go into training camp without some dark cloud hanging over the team, a la Javon Walker or Mike MacKenzie? Wonders never cease to amaze.