The Green Bay Packers probably didn’t need any extra motivation against the [intlink id=”13″ type=”category”]Chicago Bears[/intlink] last Sunday.
A division game, a hated rival, a chance to take a two-game lead over last season’s [intlink id=”527″ type=”category”]NFC North[/intlink] champs — all these things provide plenty of motivation.
If you ask safety [intlink id=”1034″ type=”category”]Morgan Burnett[/intlink], the Packers had another reason, though — [intlink id=”162″ type=”category”]Nick Collins[/intlink], whose season was ended by a neck injury a week early.
“Anytime you lose a brother, a big-time playmaker like that, we played for Nick,” Burnett said after the game. “We kept Nick in mind and played hard for him.”
Burnett, who missed most of last season, knows what Collins is going through.
“I want to cherish every moment that I’m out there after missing so much of last season,” Burnett said.
Burnett was one of the Packers standout performers in the game, intercepting [intlink id=”405″ type=”category”]Jay Cutler[/intlink] twice.
You have to wonder if the Packers’ long list of season-ending injuries in 2010 will help motivate some members of the team even more this season. It’s still early, but you know guys like Burnett, [intlink id=”209″ type=”category”]Jermichael Finley[/intlink] and [intlink id=”64″ type=”category”]Ryan Grant[/intlink] — all of whom went on injured reserve last season and couldn’t play in the playoffs — will make the Packers even more dangerous.
It’s a scary thought.