Nick Barnett

Nick Barnett

Barnett while in Green Bay
No. 50     Buffalo Bills
Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: May 27, 1981 (1981-05-27) (age 30)
Place of birth: Fontana, California
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	Weight: 236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
College: Oregon State
NFL Draft: 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29
Debuted in 2003 for the Green Bay Packers
Career history
Green Bay Packers (2003–2010) Buffalo Bills (2011–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
1× All-Pro selection (2007) Super Bowl champion (XLV)
Stats at NFL.com

Nicholas Alexander Barnett (born May 27, 1981 in Fontana, California) is an American Football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. A graduate of Fontana A.B. Miller High School in Fontana, California,^[1] the Green Bay Packers drafted him out of Oregon State University in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft with the 29th overall selection.

Barnett and his defensive teammates had not had a steady defensive coordinator for more than four years. In 2006 the Packers hired Bob Sanders as their fourth defensive coordinator in as many years. Despite instability in the coaching staff, Barnett has consistently posted impressive statistics. Barnett had anchored the young linebacking corps since his rookie year in 2003, and had been the starting middle/inside linebacker of the Green Bay Packers since his NFL career started. On April 10, 2007, Barnett signed a six year contract extension worth $34.85 million, after extended negotiations with Packers management.^[2]

On July 31, 2011, Barnett signed with the Buffalo Bills.

College career

Barnett was a four year letter winner (1999–2002) at Oregon State, starting the last three seasons at strong side linebacker.

As a senior, Barnett was a first team All-Pacific 10 Conference selection. He led the conference in tackles with 121 (62 solo).

Barnett registered his single game best against the University of California in 2001 with 18 tackles (11 solo).

He majored in Business Administration and Communications.^[3]

College statistics

Year	Team	GP	GS	TK	SO	AS	FR	FC	INT	TFL	PBU	SCK	PRES
1999	Oregon State Beavers	12	0	11	6	5	0-0	0	0-0	0-0	0	0.0-0	0
2000	Oregon State Beavers	12	5	44	34	10	2-9	0	0-0	3-4	1	0.0-0	0
2001	Oregon State Beavers	11	11	73	41	32	0-0	1	1-0	6-20	4	2.0-11	5
2002	Oregon State Beavers	13	13	121	62	59	0-0	2	0-0	21-72	7	6.0-43	1
Total		48	29	249	143	106	2-9	3	1-0	30-96	12	8.0-54	6

Professional career

Green Bay Packers

Nick Barnett during pre-game warm-ups at Lambeau Field.

Barnett won NFL Defensive Rookie of the year & was named the GMC Defensive Player of the Week for games played on September 23–24, 2007 for his superb coverage against Brian Westbrook.

Barnett recorded seven tackles (five solo) that helped limit Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson to under 3-yards/carry in the Packers' 31 - 24 win over San Diego. He also had a timely fourth-quarter interception at the Green Bay 40 and returned it to the 2-yard line to set up the Packers' second score in a span of 56 seconds and to secure the victory.^[4]

Barnett missed much of the 2008 season after suffering a torn knee ligament during November 9's game against the Minnesota Vikings.^[5]

Barnett suffered a season-ending wrist injury in a Week 4 matchup vs. the Detroit Lions. He was put on injured reserve on October 7, 2010.^[6] It's the second time in the last three seasons Barnett ended his season on injured reserve. Barnett is second in all-time tackles for the Green Bay Packers.

On July 26, 2011, Barnett was informed by Packers General Manager, Ted Thompson, that the Packers will try to trade him, but if not, they will release him. ^[7] He was released on July 28, after Green Bay was unable to find a trade.^[8]

Buffalo Bills

Barnett signed a three year, 12 million dollar deal with the Buffalo Bills on July 31, 2011.^[9]

Professional Statistics

Year	Team	G	TTkl	Solo	Ast	Sacks	Int	Yds	Avg	Lg	TD	Pass Def	FF	FR
2003	Green Bay Packers	15	112	86	26	2	3	21	7	14	0	3	0	1
2004	Green Bay Packers	16	123	92	31	3	1	16	16	16	0	5	0	1
2005	Green Bay Packers	16	138	91	47	1	1	95	95	95	1	1	1	3
2006	Green Bay Packers	15	105	62	43	2	2	3	1.5	3	0	7	0	1
2007	Green Bay Packers	16	131	102	29	3.5	2	40	20	38	0	4	0	1
2008	Green Bay Packers	9	49	41	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0
2009	Green Bay Packers	16	105	82	23	4	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	0
2010	Green Bay Packers	4	24	19	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total		104	787	575	212	15.5	9	175	19.4	95	1	30	2	7

References

1. ^ http://www.nfl.com/players/nickbarnett/profile?id=BAR443417
2. ^ "Deal worth $34.85 million". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Online. April 11, 2007. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=590316. 
3. ^ "Nick Barnett Pre Draft Bio". Seahawks.com. March 28, 2008. http://www.seahawks.com/ardisplay.aspx?ID=2190. 
4. ^ "Nick Barnett Named Defensive Player Of The Week". Packers.com. September 27, 2007. http://packers.com/news/releases/2007/09/27/1/. 
5. ^ "Torn knee ligament to sideline Barnett for rest of season". www.espn.com. November 10, 2008. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3694063. 
6. ^ "Sources: Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett out for season". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5656843. 
7. ^ "Packers Return to Lambeau Field buy Nick Barnett Departs". WBAY. http://www.wbay.com/story/15151800/2011/07/26/packers-return-to-lambeau-field-but-nick-barnett-departs. 
8. ^ Rosenthal, Gregg. "Release Tracker". Pro Football Talk. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/28/release-tracker/. Retrieved 29 July 2011. 
9. ^ http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2011/7/31/2307689/nick-barnett-signing-buffalo-bills-nfl-free-agency-2011-green-bay-packers-news

External links

• Nick Barnett on Twitter