While the past week was relatively quiet for the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, there was one small controversy. Packers linebacker Nick Barnett and tight end Jermichael Finley, who are both in injured reserve, complained that the injured players would not be included in the team’s team photo. The players complained to coach Mike McCarthy, and plans were rearranged so everyone could be included.
But that’s not the end of the story.
When asked about the injured players not being able to play in the Super Bowl, Rodgers expressed little sympathy. Instead, he decided to comment on how many of the injured players didn’t stick around to support the team after getting hurt during the season. Here were his words:
“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. And so, we love them, we care about them, we don’t wish injury on anybody, but this is a group of guys that’s really come together and has been great to work with. It’s been great to work with the guys we brought in midseason, some of them, and the young guys. Some of the guys who were injured, you know, they are still part of this team, but some of them didn’t choose to stick around.”
It’s clear Rodgers was bothered that many of the players didn’t rehab in Green Bay, and maybe he feels like they want the spotlight the other guys earned. Barnett, who was in his eighth season as a Packers linebacker, already had expressed regret that the team photo issue became a controversy. It may have seemed like that was the end of things, but Rodgers’ words inspired more reaction from Barnett.
The linebacker immediately tweeted but later deleted the following messages: “Well looks like people have something to say about where some people choose to do there rehab. Try rehabing 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 clearly felt defeated by the controversy, and felt like deleting his twitter account was the only thing to do: “Goodbye twitter… It was fun while it lasted.. But we need to focus on important things.. I love this team this city.. All I wanted to be is included as a teammate nothing more.. Looks like it has back fired on me.. I guess … That was asking too much… Sorry if I offended anyone.. That was not my intention.. Never that.”
Barnett’s point that it’s hard to get the proper attention in a full locker room, especially as someone on IR, is valid. But that’s still no excuse for disappearing. Of the 16 Packers on IR, reporters say only a handful were around the team regularly. Why didn’t the other guys visit the team more frequently? You feel like an outsider when you’re injured, but you can still do your part to support the team. In that sense, Rodgers was right.
