A picture is worth a thousand words...

but sometimes the words that preclude that picture can mean more.

A recent controversy with the Green Bay Packers involving some of their IR players being withheld from taking the team Superbowl photo has finally come to a resolve, one that in all reality shouldn't have been an issue in the first place.

The issue in question was that the team was scheduled to take the picture in Arlington on Tuesday, 3 days before the several players on the IR would have arrived. So naturally, the loudest players on the team in Nick Barnett and Jermichael Finley took to their twitter accounts to complain about the exclusion, calling it "sad". McCarthy, after ignoring the complaints, was confronted by the team captains and swayed into changing the picture to Friday instead so all the IR players could be in it as well.

On the one hand, I understand the players on the IR being upset. You want to be a part of the photo after your team made it to the biggest game of your life, I get that. Taking your complaints to Twitter though and making your thoughts public? Not smart. That's a bit childish if you ask me. If you have a problem with the way things are, then call up someone who can plead your case for you, last thing I'm sure McCarthy wants to deal with is players chastising him to the media for being inconsiderate. He's focused on the game, he wants his players focused on the game, and you're being a distraction, whether or not you intended to be.

In McCarthy's response to the situation and following his decision to change the schedule, he said "I think they made a poor decision, what they did," and went on to say it's really a non-issue and no apologies would be given. I don't think he was trying to insult them, but instead trying to say 'whatever, I think they handled it poorly, but it's all good now and we're moving on.' Barnett and Finley have always been big talkers, both pushing a 'Superbowl or Die' campaign all season, that unfortunately neither could see through and had to rely on teammates for. And talk can be good, in the right setting. The fact is, with Desmond Bishop's emergence, I think Nick Barnett's days are numbered. Not that he's a bad player or a bad guy, but he can't stay healthy, and it appears he's fallen out of favor with management. And to be frank, I think Bishop is playing better than Barnett when he was healthy. Finley can get away with some of these antics (and small ones at that), because he's a blossoming star and a great asset on the field.

Again, I should clarify that I don't think they were wrong in wanting to be a part of it, but the way it was handled was wrong and in many ways selfish. It's a non-issue now, but unfortunately for Barnett, he's not helping his case on a team where linebacker will be a very deep position next season. Right now, I'd give it a 30% chance he'll be back with the Packers next season, but until then, he can cheer loud from the sidelines while his team takes to field in a little over a week for a chance at bringing the Lombardi trophy home.