Packers To Part Ways With Nick Barnett

The veteran linebacker took to his Twitter account to let fans know his time as a Packer has apparently come to an end.

What can I say? It would seem I was wrong. (Wouldn't be the first time.)

From Nick Barnett's Twitter account:

Just met with Ted, Thanks for the great 8 years. Very blessed 2 be apart of such a great tradition and great fans.. Happy I was able to be here for the great xlv run... I will always keep a Special place in my heart for this team and city..

The Packers would clear $5.9 million in cap space with Barnett's release.

UPDATE: Tom Silverstein reports that the Packers told Barnett they will try to trade him before they release him. Hard to see a team giving up a pick for a player they know will be on the open market as of Thursday.

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

__________________________

0 points
 

Comments (32)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Jay's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:03 am

So was this just a clean release or a trade?

0 points
0
0
mike's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:11 am

they're trying to trade him first. if they can't he will be released. I'm gonna miss those samurai celebrations

0 points
0
0
Briandevil78's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:03 am

Classy exit from a classy player Nick you will be missed

0 points
0
0
PackersRS's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:19 am

THIS

Barnett will be missed. Was a fan favorite for a lot of time, classy guy (though some people disagree). Will cheer for him as I did and do with Kampman.

0 points
0
0
RockinRodgers's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:03 am

That is a alot of cap space. So I can see that.

0 points
0
0
Ed's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:06 am

"It would seem" or you were wrong? :)

0 points
0
0
PackerAaron's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:16 am

Nick Barnett's Twitter account is not an official NFL transaction. I'm not officially wrong until Thursday. ;)

0 points
0
0
Ken's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:21 am

Aaron: I gotta admit that I was wondering if you'd own up. Pretty happy that you did and I think it's another reason this is the best Packers blog around.

Now only if Bristol had your team's sense of accountability!

Brandon Chillar: stay healthy dude.

0 points
0
0
PackerAaron's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:30 am

Thanks Ken.

0 points
0
0
IdiotFan's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:45 am

Yeah, I understand why they did this, but if either Hawk or Bishop gets hurt, that depth chart drops off rather quickly...

0 points
0
0
lebowski's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:06 am

Bummer. Hawk and Bishop better stay healthy and hungry.

0 points
0
0
brian's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:17 am

Not happy to see him go, but I would have been pretty surprised to see it work out any other way.

0 points
0
0
dsnider's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:21 am

Lets hope they have a deal in the wings to get something for him. Otherwise teams will just wait until the release is official.

0 points
0
0
Briandevil78's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:30 am

Not for sure why people say that teams wont trade because they can give upnothing to have him but you take a risk of the other 31 teams getting him as well. Plus there are alot of teams that need to add cap because of the new cap% rule so you het a good proven LB for a 4th or 5th round pick why not go for it

0 points
0
0
CSS's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:40 am

I don't believe the floor on the salary-cap takes effect until the 2013 season (at least that's what John Clayton reported).

I can't imagine many teams eager to assume that salary for a linebacker with injury history on the wrong side of 30. He will be a good veteran presence on a young team like the Lions or Bucaneers with a lesser contract.

0 points
0
0
PackerAaron's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:46 am

The reason I think teams wait is two fold. 1 - they get a chance to take a look at his injured wrist and 2 - they don't take on Barnett's contract and salary. They get to negotiate their own.

0 points
0
0
Briandevil78's picture

July 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Fair enough just wish we could get something for him

0 points
0
0
Jay's picture

July 26, 2011 at 12:08 pm

If he's cut and becomes a starter on another team, are we in line for a compensatory pick?

0 points
0
0
PackerAaron's picture

July 26, 2011 at 12:10 pm

No, because he would have been release. Comp picks are for players lost via free agency.

0 points
0
0
Chazman's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:37 am

The Packers never seem to be able to get anything for players they are planning on releasing. Sometimes it’s a foregone conclusion so I understand why they don’t get anything for the player but in this case, couldn’t they have kept a lid on it so they might have enticed a trade offer from someone? Or is this a case of the Packers respecting Barnett enough to let him know the situation and Barnett not reciprocating?

0 points
0
0
NoWayJose's picture

July 26, 2011 at 12:38 pm

I think you might be overestimating the effect of "keeping a lid on it." There aren't many secrets in this league.

All the other teams know that the Pack are paying to starting MLBs already, that Barnett is older and has been injured, and that he has a big cap number.

Also - the Pack knew Barnett would talk about this... Its Barnett after all! Good luck Nick.

0 points
0
0
Chazman's picture

July 26, 2011 at 01:05 pm

I suppose, it still seems to be that we never get anything for any player but you're absolutely right the Pack knows Barnett. Best of luck Nick!

0 points
0
0
Jim's picture

July 26, 2011 at 11:52 am

Just heard Barnett on the radio, seemed kinda broken up about it but was very classy. Good luck Nick

0 points
0
0
Tarynfor 12's picture

July 26, 2011 at 12:05 pm

So much for the I'll do what ever statement.
Interesting to find out what he was willing to do or not do,or perhaps TT made this decision long ago.

0 points
0
0
Mojo's picture

July 26, 2011 at 12:27 pm

Bummer, I was hoping he would stay at a reduced salary.

Good luck Nick, some of us around here appreciated what you did.

0 points
0
0
PackerBliss's picture

July 26, 2011 at 12:32 pm

Would we be able to release and then re-sign him like we did Hawk? and would that make any sense?

0 points
0
0
PackerAaron's picture

July 26, 2011 at 12:41 pm

"Would we be able to release and then re-sign him like we did Hawk?"

Yes they could. I doubt that happens though.

0 points
0
0
Jake's picture

July 26, 2011 at 02:43 pm

At least you weren't alone in your cluelessness. Silverstein was just as clueless and he gets paid to know these things.

0 points
0
0
fishandcrane's picture

July 26, 2011 at 03:05 pm

"Clueless" a bit harsh for people who are only speculating so you'll have something to read.

0 points
0
0
Dong Slinger's picture

July 26, 2011 at 06:06 pm

Hope the two of us can re-unite on the Eagles squad this year. The Dong Slinger like that samurai move.

0 points
0
0
Chris's picture

July 26, 2011 at 10:46 pm

Any reason to think that the release of Barnett allows for the resigning of Jones?

0 points
0
0
PackerAaron's picture

July 27, 2011 at 08:32 am

They're still pretty tight up against the cap even when they release Barnett. Doubt one helps the other.

0 points
0
0