GREEN BAY, Wis. -- You might have heard this before: The phasing out of A.J. Hawk from the Green Bay Packers defense has begun.

It happened in 2010, when the inside linebacker did not play a single snap on defense in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Days later, his agent went so far as to say Hawk would be open to a trade if the Packers weren't going to play him.

A week later, Hawk was back in the lineup, had perhaps his best season and was the starter in Super Bowl XLV.

Rob Demovsky  wrote:

Poor Buckeye, he's not going to handle this well!

Originally Posted by: DakotaT 

It is great that Hawk has been consistent and a good leader for the team, but we need him to take a backseat with backseater money if he wants to stay.

Originally Posted by: TheKanataThrilla 

Exactly. Hawk is a nice player to have on the team. A nice veteran presence. But the Packers need and have needed an upgrade from Hawk for years. He's a decent to average player that knows the defense very well, but I would like to see someone with more talent in his position. Hawk would look great as the number 3 ILB, though.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower 

I do believe if you go back and check you will find that I am the one who has said since Barrington was drafted that it was to take over for Hawk.

Because of injuries last year, and earlier this year, the transition from Barrington to Hawk is just now just taking place.

I do believe if you go back and check you will see that I am the one who said at the beginning of the year that if AJ Hawk played 1000+ plays this year, like last , that it was not going to be a good year for The Defense.

Cut your crap son, I have never said AJ Hawk was great. That was you and your boys making shit up.

AJ Hawk has been the best option at whatever position The Packers wanted him to play for the last 8+ years.

2 years ago when Hawk took the pay cut(even though Ted guaranteed all his base salary through this year, thus in the end it really wasn't a cut), it was easy to see that this is probably Hawks last year.

I'll say it again, if this is AJ's last year, when he is gone, whether it be Barrington or a future draft pick taking his place, I will only hope that player can grow into what Hawk has been for The Packers.

I sure won't be bashing that player if he happens to have a bad game like most of you will.

So in response to your statement of how I will handle Hawk leaving,...As usual you are just FULL OF IT!!!!

Originally Posted by: buckeyepackfan 

I do believe you need go out and purchase a sense of humor!

Originally Posted by: DakotaT