It didn't "kill our depth at other positions" last year when salaries were actually higher at ILB. Looks like they have a even more room because of salary structure this year. The numbers are off sportrac.com and some other website, so I can't vouch for their accuracy. When talking salaries, it is difficult to get accurate numbers.
Year 2010 2011
Hawk LB $4,124,000 $1,150,000
Barnett LB $4,000,000 $5,500,000
Chillar LB $2,350,000 $2,000,000
Bishop LB $550,000 $1,188,000
The question Mike McCarthy brought up about Chillar being able to come back from another surgery on that same shoulder makes having depth more important. Do you remember having 7 LBs miss games last year? That depth came in pretty handy then. If we had 2 fewer experienced LBs to start with, we would have been in some deep trouble.
I am not saying I want Barnett back. I think he is kind of a tool just like every one else. But the way Mike McCarthy made it sound, Bishop isn't even penciled in as the starter yet when he said, "Bishop would start if we played today. Luckily we don't play today." When asked who would start when we do play, he said that it depends on how well Barnett comes back.
I wouldn't say all signs point to Barnett being gone. The Coach isn't. I think he has a lot more credibility than reading the omens in the way salaries fall.
Here is a hypothetical. We dump Barnett, Chillars shoulder doesn't come back and Bishop pulls another hamstring and is out for 5 more games. How does our Psycho package look? Hawk, Wilhelm and Francois in the middle?
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.