I'm not comfortable drawing such a conclusion from last night's game. I'm really not. The players may have spoken to sloppy play and a lack of composure, but the not-handling-the-spotlight argument is far too abstract, IMO. I think its sort of a sports cliche -- especially in football when the sample size is so small. So far there have been three games played. Drawing conclusions as to the character of this team is silly. We all participate in it, but drop back a moment, it seems premature.

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I agree that they seem a little nonchalant, but, like McCarthy in press conferences, I like to think they're saving their anger and frustration to focus it on improving each other, the team. We hear about McCarthy going off on the team and never see it in pressers. That's fine with me, and I believe it's true for the players as well, as we heard in the so-called "Come to Jesus" meeting last year. I'd rather they use their frustration constructively than blow their tops for the press.

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I'd rather this type of loss now than Week 16 while fighting for a playoff spot.

I'm not thinking we're doomed by this game, not at all. I think we're still one of the three best teams in the NFC.

I'm more interested in how we play the Lions than griping bout how we lost this game. If we bounce back with a solid, smart performance, all is well. If it's more of the same. ... I'll then consider worrying.

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I couldn't agree more. In my opinion, the true signifier of an undisciplined locker room is players airing their grievances publicly. If you look around the league at those types of team, some (like the Cowboys) are immensely talented but always find a way to choke. On the flipside look at organizations like Indianapolis -- they keep a lid on things, they even make decisions that acutely anger the fans, but the best interest of their team is at the forefront of decision making (whether or not their decision making is correct is another thing).

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Nothing wrong with that article. And I loved the quotes from Barnett.

As far as the players being nonchalant - maybe that was shock... I know everyone in that locker room thinks the better team lost, but what can you do about it other than learn and be better next time?

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Totally agree with this. The Lions aren't a top caliber team, but they're not the pushovers they've been the last few years, and like the rest of the NFC North they play the Packers like it's the Super Bowl twice a year. Anything can happen. Looking forward to seeing how the team bounces back next week.

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When Peyton Manning plays the worst game of his life, his public expression of anger or disappointment shouldn't be seen as a precondition for his ACTUAL anger of disappointment.

I think we consumers of media too often assume that quotes tell the whole story. They usually don't. Players are coached on how talk about these things, and while I'm not ascribing them as Socratic wonders of public discourse, they typically tow the line (and as stated, when they don't it usually comes from undisciplined locker rooms or just asshats like T.O.).

And again, I think there's a palpable disconnect between "we lost our composure" and the story, which asserts this was due to not handling hype and the big stage.

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This team was not going to go 16-0 so a loss now is better than later in the season I think. They can learn and improve from it just like the Tampa loss last season. Now, they just have to make sure that they do.

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Exactly. I don't think at any point the players were thinking "Oh shit, we were picked to win the SB, we better not screw this up." Virtually every team in every season has had at least one dud like this where one error compounds another, and fortunately I think many of the packers' errors are correctable.

I think they just couldn't handle themselves! 18 penalties...

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