Why Didn't the Green Bay Packers Trade Nick Barnett?

When the world champion Green Bay Packers returned from Texas and the lockout began, there was already much doubt about Nick Barnett's future in Titletown.

When his replacement at inside linebacker A.J. Hawk received a generous five-year contract back in March, Ted Thompson had also licked shut the envelope that would send Barnett away. 

The real question became by what means will he depart?

Many wishful Packers fans, as well as the organization, had hoped that Barnett could be traded for some draft picks that would undoubtedly be well-utilized in the future by Thompson or swapped for another, more useful player.

Instead, Barnett didn't even last through training camp and as most of you already know, was simply cut like grass on a Saturday afternoon.

So why wasn't he traded and set free with nothing in return?

The main reason is cap space, $4 million to $6 million worth of it. The Packers did try to trade him, but a taker couldn't be found quickly enough.

The extra cash was needed in order to re-sign valuable players like K Mason Crosby, who recently received a new five-year deal, and FB John Kuhn.

It would have been nice to get something in return for Barnett, but the Packers do not have a lot of enormous needs and the cap space is crucial to retaining the talent that won the Super Bowl last season.

Packers fans should thank Barnett for eight years of exemplary performance and be thankful that Desmond Bishop and Hawk are locked up to defend the middle for years to come.

Sources: Rotoworld.com

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