Packers Question of the Day - Is Mike Daniels too Aggressive in Practice?

After getting into a mini-brawl with Packers' versatile offensive tackle Don Barclay, Mike Daniels sparked some questioning across social media about his demeanor with his teammates.

Riling up your colleagues is one thing, but using your hand to bash them across the brain which can potentially not just injure not just your hand against their helmet, but if contact is made just right, could even cause injury to the guy on the receiving end. In a full-contact training camp practice over a month before the season-opener, that would be a very bone-headed way to end up on the injury report.

Of course, that wasn't the ordeal in this scenario - instead, Daniels and Barclay proceeded into a shoving match. No one has an issue with Daniels displaying this style of play on the field against the opposition, but should he ease up a bit in camp? Comment your thoughts below.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (47)

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Since'61's picture

August 01, 2016 at 11:56 am

Daniels - should definitely lighten up. What is he trying to prove, especially against Don Barclay. While I agree that he should practice hard it should never get to the point where he might injure one of his teammates. Also, his over aggressive behavior during games has resulted in him being penalized when a little discipline would likely prevent the unnecessary penalty. Finally, while Daniels is the best Packers DL he is often pushed around by opponents OLs especially in the playoffs. I would prefer that he save his aggression for our opponents and go out and take over a game and make some big stops at a crucial point in a real game. Reggie White or Willie Davis he is not. Thanks, Since '61

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Big_Mel_75's picture

August 01, 2016 at 12:56 pm

Practice like you play. You give 50% in practice you will give 50% in game. These are men getting paid big money. Quit being a wimp

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marpag1's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:31 pm

Daniels is definitely NOT a heavily penalized player. In fact, only in 2014 did penalties seem to be any kind of issue at all. According to NFLpenalties.com, Daniels had 12 penalties total in the past four years (10 accepted and 2 declined). Only two of the 12 total were stupid penalties (one taunting, one unsportsmanlike, both against Seattle). The unsportsmanlike was declined.

Here's the full rundown:

2012 - 2 accepted penalties in 18 games: illegal use of hands and encroachment. 8 yards total. 60 D-linemen had more than 2 accepted penalties in 2012.

2013 - 1 accepted penalty, 1 declined in 17 games: illegal block above the waist and offsides (declined). 4 yards total. 90 D-linemen had more than 1 accepted penalty in 2013.

2014 - 5 accepted penalties in 18 games: running into kicker, illegal use of hands (x2), Neutral zone infraction, taunting. 32 yards total. 11 D-linemen had more accepted penalties, and 8 others had the same number of 5.

2015 - 2 accepted penalties and 1 declined in 18 games: neutral zone infraction, encroachment, unsportsmanlike (declined). 10 yards total. 55 D-linemen had more than 2 accepted penalties.

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Finwiz's picture

August 01, 2016 at 10:02 pm

At this point I don't even think he's Gilbert Brown or Santana Dotson, is he?
He's young though, so he can improve.

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Finwiz's picture

August 01, 2016 at 09:34 pm

"Reggie White or Willie Davis" he is not.....do ya think? Exactly correct. Something tells me this guy THINKS he's better than he really is? Maybe he could lay off the chest thumping until he gets up to about nine sacks.

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marpag1's picture

August 01, 2016 at 12:07 pm

Meh. It's football. Pretty much by definition, football is a "shoving match." People who aren't shoving aren't playing football.

It's training camp. It's hot. It's not an issue.

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TarynsEyes's picture

August 01, 2016 at 12:16 pm

There's more to talk the talk and walk the walk. It's knowing how to control it and against whom to use it.
Daniels is good player on the defense but he isn't so great as his demeanor leads him to act at times....50/50 real/false.

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egbertsouse's picture

August 01, 2016 at 12:26 pm

Maybe he's pissed that Barclay is still on the team wasting salary cap bucks that could be used for someone who is not a stiff. I know I would be.

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ray nichkee's picture

August 01, 2016 at 12:36 pm

I appreciate what barclay did before his acl snapped and maybe he just needed some time to get back to where he was but I was thinking the same thing.

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lucky953's picture

August 01, 2016 at 11:06 pm

I suspect Daniels was looking for an opportunity to rough Barclay up. He's trying to help the guy find some fire in his play, imo.

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Koostyroosty's picture

August 01, 2016 at 01:17 pm

no, Mike Daniels is not too aggressive.

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Mags's picture

August 01, 2016 at 01:25 pm

Is this really a story to write about? Must be running out of things to cover during training camp.

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ZacharyJacobson's picture

August 01, 2016 at 02:06 pm

This isn't a story and we're definitely not running out of things to cover during one of the most interesting times of the year. This is a part of a daily question series where I reach out to fans - like you - and see how they feel about certain topics surrounding the Packers and the happenings in camp. I'm sorry if you take offense to being asked for your opinion.

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JerseyAl's picture

August 01, 2016 at 02:47 pm

Would you rather see a blank page? As Zach said, we're trying to get our readers' opinions on things. If this topic doesn't interest you, then why even comment?

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jasonperone's picture

August 01, 2016 at 03:06 pm

Exactly, folks. As tired as some of you seem to be about the topics that are/aren't here, we're equally as tired of hearing "is this really a topic?". Yes, it's a topic because. .it's published and therefore - it is. That would be like staring at a stop sign and asking "is that really a stop sign?" At that point, people start questioning your sanity so save yourself the funny looks and either read and discuss or move on!

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2016 at 03:37 pm

Wait... Your saying if you don't like an article, you don't have to comment on it?
Furthermore you don't have to write your displeasure for it?

WOW... MIND IS BLOWN!

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JerseyAl's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:38 pm

+1

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ray nichkee's picture

August 01, 2016 at 05:37 pm

All the contributors to CHTV get a thumbs up from me and most others I hope. Thank you for the effort good or bad. Keep it up guys.

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ZacharyJacobson's picture

August 01, 2016 at 06:49 pm

Appreciate that very much.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

August 01, 2016 at 01:29 pm

A mini brawl...really? Cam Newton & Josh Norman had a mini brawl.

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ZacharyJacobson's picture

August 01, 2016 at 02:08 pm

I didn't know there were specific levels of a "brawl". Should I have said mini mini-brawl? They weren't trying to inflict damage on each other like you typically would in a full-fledged brawl. Anything below that I'd consider a /mini/-brawl. Is that seriously all you got out of this?

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DrealynWilliams's picture

August 01, 2016 at 02:21 pm

If we all know the 2 weren't trying to inflict damage to each other then why is this a question? Isn't this normal behavior around this time? Especially with the D-Line & O-Line. The article is suggesting the he should be tamed while practicing, but I commented on the "mini brawl" part.

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JerseyAl's picture

August 01, 2016 at 02:48 pm

tough crowd today...

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DrealynWilliams's picture

August 01, 2016 at 02:57 pm

I'm not criticizing the article at all. I'm just giving my opinion on the claim that Daniels is too aggressive in practice.

If D-Line and O-Line fights/brawls/mini-brawls/mini-mini-brawls/shoving matches/whatever are common in training camp then why is Mike Daniels being pointed out? He's not the only dog on Defense. He's just the loudest. Just supporting my answer/opinion.

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Tundraboy's picture

August 02, 2016 at 08:04 am

Lol

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TKWorldWide's picture

August 01, 2016 at 09:16 pm

Actually, scientifically, there are 12 different levels of brawl. The first level is admitting it.

Or is it, the first level is, no one talks about brawls?

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Handsback's picture

August 01, 2016 at 01:38 pm

Daniels has an edge that the Packers need. You can't take that out of him even if you wanted to.
I understand Daniels and Barclay are neighbors and good friends anyway. Their issues aren't permanent.

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J0hn Denver's Gavel's picture

August 01, 2016 at 01:44 pm

Mike Daniels DID show restraint by "slapping" Barclay's helmet. If he didn't show restraint, Barclay would best- be in a coma, worst- be dead.

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Mojo's picture

August 01, 2016 at 01:50 pm

It all depends if he's on other teammates all the time or knows when to dial it back.

It's good to have leaders who make it known they want to win, but it gets old in a hurry when it becomes an every day thing. Especially if a player is already giving his all but gets beat. Then it becomes STFU already.

As far as Daniels - good that you want to play on a tough minded team, but pick your spots. Don't do stupid things that will cause injury or penalty. Remember you get beat too.

I don't have a problem though if he's calling out a teammate everyone knows is dogging it. Nothing wrong letting teammates know you're there to get a ring.

Where was Daniels when Cletidus Hunt was on the roster?

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JerseyAl's picture

August 01, 2016 at 02:49 pm

You can take Daniels out of Jersey, but you can't take the "Jersey" out of Daniels...

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marpag1's picture

August 01, 2016 at 03:17 pm

Ah, seems like just yesterday that the Packers were saying the same thing about that other notable Jersey boy, Orrin Thompson. Or his brother Jeremy. Or BJ Raji for that matter...

Don't feel too bad, though... Raji was actually born in New York :)

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JerseyAl's picture

August 01, 2016 at 03:26 pm

Raji never had the "Jersey" gene. I've mentioned on here before I know people from his hometown who warned me when he was drafted that motivation would be an issue with him. They weren't wrong.

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marpag1's picture

August 01, 2016 at 04:58 pm

Agreed.

The Packer scouting department is excellent, but I've often wondered if maybe they don't give enough emphasis to finding guys who have the "fire in the belly."

I must have read at least a dozen articles over the years written by professional scouts who were describing how they conducted combine interviews. Almost all of them said that when they suspected a player might have motivational issues, the scouts went into the interview and acted like complete jackasses towards the player. Basically, they were picking a fight with him: "Why are you such a wuss? You're like a girl out there. We think you're soft, you can't play" etc. Of course, they were doing it to see if the guy would get pissed off and aggressive, and if he did then he was the kind of guy they wanted, a guy who isn't going to take crap sitting down. Daniels would pass that test, I think. Raji? Um..... Yet the Packers drafted Raji ninth overall.

I don't know exactly the right way to explain it, because there are some very good players in the league who are also quite gentlemanly (and I admire that). But generally, NFL football ain't for gentlemen. It's for big bad dudes with a generous bit of "A-hole" in their personality. (Pardon the French). So it does seem a little silly to me to wonder if maybe Mike Daniels is a little "too aggressive." Heck, that's exactly what you want. Give me a guy who starts a few shoving matches any day.

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lucky953's picture

August 01, 2016 at 11:03 pm

Ahh...Julius Peppers?

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2016 at 03:08 pm

I love Daniels attitude. I love that he tore into Clark the first day. I love seeing him showing the passion that is needed to compete in this game.

I don't consider Daniels as dirty, I just love his take no crap attitude.

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LeagueObsrvr's picture

August 01, 2016 at 03:12 pm

I don't have a problem with it. Daniels has established himself as the emotional leader of this defense. Many of the great defenses of the past were led by emotional leaders. Guys like Ray Lewis and Mike Singletary and even Warren Sapp come to mind. Daniels wants to take this defense from merely good to great, and I'm all for it. Admittedly he runs the risk of alienating some teammates with this approach, but as long as Daniels is performing well and the defense is producing results, I think he'll continue to have the respect of his teammates.

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Bear's picture

August 01, 2016 at 03:59 pm

If we're worried that Daniels is to aggressive in practice.............we are really soft!

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DrealynWilliams's picture

August 01, 2016 at 04:35 pm

Bingo.

Or to be more PC -- finesse. Lol.

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stockholder's picture

August 01, 2016 at 04:00 pm

I'm sure Mike has a lot of energy. But this is still up to the coaches to decide whether he's being to aggressive. If they condone it. Let it happen. Until they calm him down. It's earning his check. Or somebody just needs to grow a pair. The thing that I would want them to be careful of, is the bullying. I would hate for us to be like Miami, and start trouble over mike being to aggressive.

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guzzi2000's picture

August 01, 2016 at 04:46 pm

I don't mind aggressive play, but getting into a fight in football gear is beyond stupid. When the fight occurs it is usually started by the guy who just got beat or felt he was fouled. If this occurs usually the guy who retaliates is the one that is penalized and in so many cases
leads to wiping out a big play at a critical time or worse yet an ejection. A player can be an aggressive leader by there play. Fighting on the other hand tells me the player is undisciplined and will get that reputation and opponents will use it to their advantage.

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Dustin Evans's picture

August 01, 2016 at 06:10 pm

Man the 85 bears defense would kill the first string offense in practice, that dicka had to ask them to ease up so he could run a play. It was just a slap on the helmet it could be worse, plus it was on Barclay, who thanks to Dwight Freeney of the cardinals basically made you look like a fool this off season. Pointing out exactly how he was going to attack him and succeeded at do so. Maybe he needed Daniels to light a fire under his ass after that national embarrassment.

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J0hn Denver's Gavel's picture

August 02, 2016 at 08:47 am

I never heard this one before. You mind elaborating on what Freeney said/ context?

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Dustin Evans's picture

August 02, 2016 at 10:12 pm

It was on all or nothing. A new football documentary this off season that was about last season and it followed the cardinals. Freeney basically said he'd beat Barclay with speed and he did it effectively. http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2016/7/4/12092392/all-or-nothing-dwigh...

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 02, 2016 at 12:54 am

IDK.

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Tundraboy's picture

August 02, 2016 at 08:07 am

More Daniel's attitude and less Raji attitude is just what this team needs. It's Football.

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Finwiz's picture

August 02, 2016 at 08:10 am

No argument there, @Tundraboy

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dobber's picture

August 02, 2016 at 08:46 am

Agreed. Play fast. Play aggressive.

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