We wouldn’t really call this a surprise. A player finds motivation after being discarded by his long-time team?
Wow. You’ve got yourself a real scoop there Scoopy McScoop!
That being said, it’s still interesting to hear what Nick Barnett had to say about getting cut by the Green Bay Packers prior to the 2011 season.
“It was huge,” Barnett said. “I was disappointed in the fact that I was released, and definitely wanted to go out and show them as well as show myself and anybody else who doubted me that I’m still who I am. I’m still here to play football. I still love to play the game. I’m still going to run to the ball, make plays and have fun. The plays are not always there, but I was blessed to have the type of year I had. It was fun as far as the individual stats. I was just out there proving it to myself and proving it to anybody else.”
Barnett, who played the first eight years of his career for the Packers, was released when the lockout ended and later signed with the Buffalo Bills.
Although he was an injury waiting to happen during his last three seasons in Green Bay — he missed 19 games in those three seasons — Barnett went out and had a nice year for the Bills in 2011. He recorded 130 tackles, three sacks and three picks.
It was Barnett’s best season since 2007.
Meanwhile, the Packers pretended A.J. Hawk was a functional replacement, which went real well.
Anyway, you’re welcome, Nick.
Best of luck to Nick. From his tweets he seems like he will always want to be remembered as a Packer and still loves the organization.
Hindsight is 20/20 as far as who should have been kept. How do you say no to AJ Hawk coming off a Super Bowl and leader of the league’s 5th ranked defense?
Also, who is to say that Barnett doesn’t under perform in 2011 if he is resigned instead of Hawk?
The Buffalo Bills defense always provides plenty of opportunities for tackles. The leading tacklers typically come from the worse defenses.
Always respected Nick. He couldn’t avoid injuries with the Packers and that was his undoing. No contest between him and a guy who plays every game.
Now, he will become just another FA to go to some crap team and be forever lost.
Enjoy being home for the playoffs every year.