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      Nick Barnett takes swipes at Rodgers via Twitter

      January 30, 2011 /
      Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) drops back to pass as Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) pressures him during the fourth quarter of their NFC Championship playoff game at Soldier Field in Chicago on January 23, 2011. The Packers defeated the Bears 21-14 to advance to the Super Bowl. UPI /Mark Cowan

      Injured Packers’ linebacker Nick Barnett hasn’t played since Week 4 because of a wrist injury, but he’s keeping himself relevant this week by speaking out about everything from Jay Cutler to hurt feelings over a team photo.

      Now, he’s deleting his Twitter account after taking a few swipes at quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

      From NFL.com:

      The most recent hurt feelings came after Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked during a five-minute media availability Saturday if he feels for his teammates on injured reserve because they can’t take part in the run-up to the game next Sunday.

      Rodgers didn’t directly address the way his injured teammates chose to express their disappointment about potentially being left out of the Super Bowl team photo. But, without naming anyone, he said Saturday that some of the team’s 16 injured players chose not to stay in town and rehabilitate.

      “I’ll say this, I was on IR back in 2006 and I chose to stick around and finish out the season with my guys and be here every game. Some of those guys didn’t,” Rodgers said. “Some of the guys who were injured, they still are part of this team, but they didn’t choose to stick around.”

      Barnett, who hasn’t played since Week 4 because of a wrist injury, fired back at Rodgers on Twitter.

      “Looks like people have something to say about where some people choose to do there rehab,” Barnett wrote. “Try rehabbing with 16 others then 53 more. Doubt you get the full attention needed.. It’s easy to speak about others when you are not in their position.. Talk about ‘union’ ha.”

      Barnett, who later erased those tweets, added: “Goodbye twitter… It was fun while it lasted.. But we need to focus on important things.

      Barnett also tweeted how he was never trying to be a distraction and how he loves the city of Green Bay. He just wanted to be included as a teammate, which is certainly understandable. It must be hard to watch your team get prepared for the Super Bowl knowing that you won’t be playing thanks to an injury.

      That said, he says he wasn’t trying to be a distraction but that’s exactly what he was. How childish is it to be taking swipes at your quarterback via Twitter – during the week of the Super Bowl, no less. If Barnett had a problem with what Rodgers said, he should have taken it up with the quarterback in private. Or better yet, he shouldn’t have taken anything personal and allowed his teammates to prepare for the biggest game of their lives.

      Deleting his Twitter account was probably a smart idea.

      External Sports, NFL, Super Bowl

      Is Jake Locker’s draft stock falling?

      January 29, 2011 /

      Depending on what slot he was taken at, Washington quarterback Jake Locker passed on anywhere from $36-72 million when he decided to stay in school for his senior season. Still, if he played well in 2010, that money would have been waiting for him in the 2011 NFL Draft.

      The problem is that he didn’t play well. After completing 230 of 395 pass attempts for 2,800 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as a junior, he struggled while completing just 184 of 332 attempts for 2,265 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine picks as a senior. Now, according to recent projections, it looks like he may fall into the second or third round.

      From FOX Sports’ Adam Caplan:

      What I liked: You can clearly see his outstanding athleticism. Locker, like many of the quarterbacks here this week, throws fairly well on the run. He is better passing outside of the pocket. He also has pretty good arm strength.

      What needs improvement: His release point is going to need to be adjusted in the NFL. Locker rarely made two solid or accurate throws in a row, which is a troubling sign. Too many of his passes sailed high or away from his intended receiver. The ball simply does not come out of his throwing hand well — which is alarming.

      Round projection: Third.

      While ESPN’s Todd McShay continues to be high on Locker, some have referred to his accuracy as “terrible” while others believe that he’ll never be a starting quarterback at the pro level.

      That said, isn’t it a little premature to say whether or not he’ll struggle in the NFL? After all, he hasn’t had his Pro Day yet and the scouting combine is still a couple of weeks away. In fact, the Senior Bowl hasn’t even been played yet, so if Locker impresses over these next couple of months he could improve his draft stock greatly.

      If most pundits thought that he was a top-5 pick last year, then obviously he has the tools to be a first-rounder (unless of course those pundits off about him last year, which wouldn’t be surprising). Let’s hold off before we deem this kid the next Brian Brohm.

      College Football, External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Albert Pujols to reject all trade proposals

      January 29, 2011 /
      St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols has fun with Yadier Molina (L) and Pedro Feliz (R) in the dugout in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on September 27, 2010. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

      If the Cardinals couldn’t re-sign Albert Pujols and hoped, at the very least, they could trade him in a blockbuster deal then they’re out of luck. That’s because Pujols would exercise his no-trade clause on any potential deal.

      From ESPN’s Buster Olney:

      The Cardinals have never really pursued any of that trade discussion.

      But no matter what happens in the last days of negotiations before Pujols arrives at the Cardinals’ camp in spring training, the slugger will not be traded.

      The understanding within the St. Louis front office is that Pujols will not accept any trade going forward, according to sources. He has the right to veto any trade proposal, and would do so.

      This means there are only two possible results in the negotiations in the Pujols talks: Either he signs a contract extension with the Cardinals, or he will become a free agent this coming fall.

      As Olney points out, the Cardinals’ choices in this situation are expensive in different ways. If they sign him, his new contract will be in the neighborhood of 10 years and $275 million. If they can’t come to terms with Albert, then the backlash from fans will be enormous.

      This is why most fans complain about there not being a salary cap in baseball. It’s not easy for mid-market teams like St. Louis to just say, “You want $300 million, Albert? Done.” The Cardinals have an entire roster to think about and they don’t have the payroll flexibility like the Yankees or Red Sox do. They’re stuck. Either they pay Pujols and potentially are cash-strapped for the next 10 years, or they let him walk and hope fans won’t burn down Busch Stadium.

      It’s not like Pujols isn’t worth the money. If any current player is worth $300 million, it’s him. He’s the best pure hitter in the game and no disrespect to players like Matt Holliday, but Pujols is also the Cardinals’ lineup. But again, they continue to be faced with a huge dilemma when it comes to their payroll options.

      External Sports, MLB

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