Ted read your note and asked me to respond: LOL

TT’s contract w/ Bulaga is a thing of PERFECTION. It’s 6.75M/yr for 5 yrs, but only 8M G.

As compared to Parnell who got 6.4M/yr for 5; but 14M G in 2015. Or Austin Howard 6M/yr for 5 and 13.8 G in 2014.

I think when BB is playing he’s easily worth 6.75M per. If he can’t stay healthy he’s not.
If Ted Thompson decides he’s thru w/ BB he can cut him next year and cap hit is only 800K; if he’s cut after 2016, the cap savings is 3M.

Compared to Zach Streif who only signed a 4 yr 20M deal, but w/ 8.4M G. Cap hit if cut after 1 year 2.2M; after 2 years savings is only 1.3M

The problem w/ “monster contracts” comes when the player seriously underperforms or is hurt and cutting him causes another player, or players, to be cut or not signed. Like what happened in Seattle because of Rice, Miller, Harvin and Jimmy Graham not working out [Okay, I’m BarfarNostradamusing the Graham one, LOL].
Ted Thompson had three choices:
1. Let BB go and run w/ Barclay at RT.
2. Let BB go and try to sign: Parnell, Gilbert, Newton or Free, not knowing how they would mesh.
3. Sign BB to fair contract that gives the team injury protection; and have Barclay as back-up.

Even w/ the meniscus, if I could turn back time; I still pick #3!!!!!

Don't remember having it out over anything. You probably exaggerating something that wasn't anything, again. Lame. Weak.

Something actually worth discussing... Packers face some strong defensive front sevens in the upcoming weeks. Aaron gonna be the running man lol

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I agree Tretter is the next best OLman; but he starts only if he is the best RT. I agree w/ Z2C that musical chairs is not something you do or do only when there are no other options. If the RT is weakened, you don’t weaken a 2nd position; you shore up the RT w/ backs and TEs chipping or D-teaming if necessary.

But I think Barclay is still the best RT standing and will start.

In 2013, Barclay had 15 starts [14 regular and 1 PO] and gave up 9 sacks, 27 hurries and committed 5 penalties [3 FS and 2 holds], not very good. But, here’s the way I remember the season: Barclay a young 2nd yr UDFA started out shaky and steadily improved in games 1-4. He had 2 clunkers in games 5-6 and then lost reps w/ the 1s to Sherrod and Newhouse. After that fire was lit under his tail, he achieved the mark of being an average/serviceable starter in games 7-8-9 [except 2 sacks to Mclellen in game 8 that were mostly coverage sacks] and then BAM, he gets hurt and misses games 10 and 11. For games 12-16 his pass protection was pretty good he just didn’t seem to have the same power in run game. And then he had a real clunker in PO game v. SF. One should gauge the upside of young ascending players by the degree and amount of positive things they do, not by their overall performance or the bad things they do. In 2013, Barclay showed he could become an average to above-average player.

OL is the one position where guys can ascend for a number of years. Barclay improved in 2014 by: going through OTAs and part of camp; continuing to learn playbook; further film study; mentally executing reps; plus just taking life more seriously by being a year more mature and feeling his football mortality.

In 2015, he improved as well. It didn't show immediately in PS because he needed to bang off the rust and develop trust in the knee. And he did just that: in NE he stunk; in Pitts he improved to bad; and played very well against 2 good OLBs v. Philly and again v. NO, though against 2nd stringers. Now he’s had 2 more weeks of practice and took several reps w/ the 1s. If he has full confidence in the knee, Barclay will be at least an average/serviceable Tackle in 2015.

Plus it’s a contract year!

I think that's the BEST case scenario for Barclay at this point.

True. And if Barclay does start, it should be at Guard rather than Tackle where his lack of mobility was exposed so badly. That overrules any "musical chair" concerns, especially where they have had most of a week to get used to things.

Assuming McCarthy doesn't listen to us in who he starts, I HOPE he yanks Barclay really quick if/when he starts to suck, in favor of Tretter or Walker. It seems like other teams sub in new O Linemen without a hitch; It shouldn't be that big a deal for the Packers, especially with our super mobile QB (or is it mobile Super QB).

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Don Barclay was terrible during his 20 or so starts. He earned a negative rating on nearly each start. Don't hold out hope for this guy.

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I presume you're referring to a PFF "negative rating." I'd love to know what his rating was in pass blocking for each 2013 game. Is that something easily shared? And if i remember right a "0" rating is an perfectly average player, so if Barclay got a zero he'd be the 16th best RT playing, correct? So a small minus grade might make him the 18th or 20th best RT in the game, which to me is a very positive rating.

The overall grade i believe reflects pass pro AND run blocking. I dont care about run blocking, it was supposedly Barclay's strength. And a certain % of the time Lacy will break the tackle of the guy Barclay missed anyways. I just want the passing game [and AR] protected.

I know he had a bad PO game v. SF; but thought his pass pro was pretty good down the stretch in 2013, and by "pretty good" I mean for a back-up swing tackle.

Plus his 21 starts against real live NFL players will serve as an invaluable experience, that non of the other possess.

I'm not.