Too bad for those on IR, they are part of the team. That being said: Win the Super Bowl.

Thank you Aaron. That's well said. But besides Thompson, it also comes down to McCarthy, the guy who also has a huge part in doing the scheduling this week.. He's the head coach... and guess what, it's time to let McCarthy do his job in these next two weeks. He's been planning for this his whole life. They've earned the benefit of the doubt to do the right things. Time to step aside and support the players who are playing in the the game Feb. 6. Barnett and Finley need to learn how handle things better. It almost reinforces the decision the Packers made.

Regardless of feelings or your opinions, the goal is to beat the Steelers, everything else can take a back seat.

By these players doing something that only diminishes the chances of a Packer victory, shows their unworthiness of being in that photo.

I am sadden by the whole thing that this could not have been handled in house, going on twitter never solves disputes, but rather starts fights.

"Monumental PR blunder". Exactly. Very short sighted, made worse by lame explanation... two days is going to disrupt their rehab?? Seriously? Ugh.

Part of me wonders if this isn't so much a matter of Ted doing what he thinks is best, bad PR be damned, or Ted reminding everyone who is in charge and who calls the shots.

Ted doesn't seem like the overbearing dictator type, but nobody really knows all that much about Ted in the first place.

Of course, the answer also could be as simple as the front office and coaching staff not wanting the IR guys tempting the active guys to go out partying every single night.

I'm still pissed about them not giving Ken Ruettgers a Super Bowl Ring.

While I do empathize with them and wish they were in the picture, they all still get Super Bowl rings...which people remember a lot more than a picture. I really hope this doesn't distract the team and I am glad that both Finley and Barnett apologized.

I have to agree with Ted here. The least of his worries is a team photograph. It's a cool thing for the team, but if he (or other people) have to take extra time to accomodate 15 people for a photograph, it's a waste of time.

The team's, coaches', and management's priorities on football, not "say cheese!"

The IR guys will get over it. They are going to Dallas next week, and will be on the sidelines. They are in the pre-season team photo. Grow up.

Certainly a difficult decision. But, the right decision.

Unfortunately, the best way for the member of the Packers on IR is to stay away from the members that are going to play.

And, while I understand it is a blow to the ego of the guys who have worked hard for this team. They have to remember that it is also their job. They get paid for it. And we all deal with unpopular decisions in our job at times.

It is hard not to feel for them. But, the goal is the Super Bowl - not making everyone feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

"....as Finley smartly pointed out..."

I have never seen the combination of one or more of these words in print.

A little fun devil's advocate if you will..

I seem to recall quite a few 'monumental' PR blunders by the Packers the past few weeks (and years)... that being the case, I can't help but think that 'monumental' is starting to get over used by some folks. The Packers PR and marketing divisions will never be up to par for some fans, and surely there's always room for improvement, but it's almost like they (some fans) enjoy the opportunity to pile on the out-of-touch, clueless Packers brass. First Favre plays God, then a bubble gum chewing WBAY reporter threw together a chop-job disaster of a feature, and now the always fun and hilarious 88 and 56 start spouting off... and again, it's another MONUMENTAL PR slip by Blumb and Co... I appreciate the tough questions being asked, I really do, but at some point fans need to get a grip and stop trying to be a scolding mother in the midst of every bump in the road.. shit happens. We're in the Super Bowl. Let Ted and Mike handle their shit. They got us through Hell and back over the past three years... have some faith, their way works.

Ok, rant off... whew!!

Does everyone want Justin Harrell in that picture?

Part of me really wants to sympathize with these guys, but they got hurt doing what they love for at team that values their services and shows that value in the very tangible form of a fat paycheck every Monday for 17 weeks out of the year. Their checks didn't stop coming when they got hurt, and if what we all hope will happen actually happens, they'll have the same rings as everyone else to show for it. Let the active roster have their picture, they're the ones taking the field. If the guys on IR don't like it, take your own picture. Hell, take one with the entire with the training staff. I think that'd be a great way to commemorate a season in which the Packers took a team held together by 3rd stringers and street free agents to the Super Bowl.

I LOVE TED THOMPSON.

Any other human being probably would have just brought those guys down for the picture.

But that's just it... Ted IS NOT a human being.
He is some sort of android that has been programmed to evaluate football talent/ability.

All of this "emotional/empathetic" garbage does not compute.
It is quickly filtered out.

I LOVE THAT THE LEADER OF MY FAVORITE TEAM IS A HEARTLESS ANDROID!!!!!!!!!!

I WISH THE ENTIRE TEAM WAS HEARTLESS ANDROIDS... LIKE TERMINATORS!

Step one - receive instructions
Step two - analyze instructions
Step three - determine most efficient/effective way of accomplishing assigned task
Step four- accomplish assigned task at all cost
Step five - perform "title belt" (only because it was programed. not a show of emotion)
Step six - repeat steps 1-5

Aaron this is a very balanced article on a difficult issues – good job

How did Pittsburgh handle this issue?

First of all, what have other Super Bowl teams done? Is the policy really a "monumental" PR blunder (agree on the overuse/misuse of the word "monumental") if this is exactly what 88 other Super Bowl teams have done? Has anyone asked that question?

The reason I'm typing this is because Barnett and Finley decided to go public. Was that really an appropriate move? I don't think so.

Having said all that, the team's only option NOW is to include these guys and just make this all go away. The PR blunder was not the initial policy, I would guess. The PR blunder is not fixing it now. And I don't really think it's monumental.

This is only the beginning of a bigger PR problem for the Packers for the off season.

After we win the Super Bowl, who does TT keep next year for the 53 man roster, those that won it and deserve to defend it, or players on IR.

I have feeling many more controversial tweets are in store for the Packers.

Just imagine what A. Rison would have done if he had twitter when the Packers said thanks, but no thanks after that Super Bowl win.

I find it difficult to believe that this is even on Ted Thompson's radar right now. If he was the one who made the call, he did so right before he left for Senior Bowl scouting which is his job. It's his commitment to the team and the long-term picture that has led the Packers back to the promised land. Personally I don't see this as an issue unless it is made into an issue and if this is the worst that will come out in the next two weeks we should be just fine.
Go Pack!

This whole thing is distracting. Totally distracting.

The Packers have held strong against distractions all season and have seemingly acquired a bland appearance to the media.

It would be a catastrophe for this team to begin losing any focus of the task at hand over a photo and the use of twitter to speak one's emotion.

Had/have Barnett and Finley gone to the front office and spouted they discontent and the media got wind of it,fine.But this was no better than the IMMATURE Vince Young apologizing to Fisher on twitter than face to face like a man.

I don't care who is or isn't photographed and any player who is omitted via one reason or another should still have the grit and basic smarts to wait until after the GAME is won or...

For me,until more is reported,this is the example of some trying to put an "I" in TEAM.

Every player takes a hit for the team,if this is the hit they must endure,suck it up and enjoy the ring you'll wear.

If I were them,I would be more worried of my job as the team has shown they have many players.

Business is business and money is tight right now. Sorry guys, thanks for your service.

Those that are healthy and are playing this game. Get ready to play the game of your lives.

Just have 15 guys on the 53 hold up avatar-cut-out-heads on popsicle sticks for the I.R. guys.

I certainly agree that winning the superbowl is the priority. However, it seems to me that TT is being penny wise and pound foolish. How little does it cost to fly the IR guys down and house them for a couple extra days? And how much will this cost him in negotiations when the time comes with those players?

The idea that bringing the IR players down somehow distracts from winning the superbowl seems (to me) to be a false dichotomy. The coaches and GM having to deal with frustrated IR players is also a distraction.

I really don't understand why this decision - which seems incredibly shortsighted to me - was made.

Omitting the IR players from the team photo is just adding insult to injury. All the logistic concerns could easily be resolved. Last year, the Saints had 16 guys on IR and 13 were in the team photo. Packers management caused this PR mess, not the guys who made a brief mention of it on Twitter.

Obviously, I don't see what's going on behind the scenes, but I can't make out the mutual exclusivity between "having everybody in the picture" (playing into the whole, 'we're one happy family' narrative) AND kicking ass on the field against the Steelers.
Why on earth aren't both totally doable? Why on earth do they have to be put at odds to the other?

This hard-ass, "quitcher bitchin'" take seems so counter to the "we take care of our own," "we want 'Packer people' in our locker room" ethos.

All that said, families should keep their dirty laundry hidden, not twittered.

" ...monumental P.R. blunder of epic proportions. " ......

Floods, earthquakes & hurricanes are 'monumental & epic' ...... Not having your IR'ed players in the pic is merely an 'unfortunate' mistake ......

You exaggerate & overstate like ..... like ..... someone in the media usually does .....

1. The players in question should not have used Twitter to air their grievances
2. The IR players should absolutely be in the photo. Mike Silver's article today gave a great perspective. The Packers will have to deal with these guys in the future re motivation, contract negotiations, accepting back-up roles etc. It should have been handled better (as in bringing them in)
3. Having said all that, if Ted, Murph, MM or whoever has to make a PR mistake, make it in favor of team focus to win the SB. That's the most important thing right now

I hope they ask if Obama can take a picture of everyone.

Is TT thinking more about the future than we realize? Like it or not there is a business side of the NFL that is cold and calculating.

Has TT made roster decisions already or gaining an upper hand by making this move, keeping players egos and motivation in check?

Finley will be fine because he is a superstar talent but barnett is simply a solid player. I would bet my bottom dollar we draft one maybe two ILBs this year.

Maybe TT is still pissed that he did not get the interview (air time) during the NFC Championship ceremony.

Again with the "monumental PR blunder of epic proportions"...but Nagler, this time I pretty much agree with you. The rehab/facilities issue I can sort of understand--but it's also sort of a cop out; it's not as though they can't do rehab in Dallas. This is a question of team unity and togetherness, and the answer should have been a no-brainer.

That said, I'm sure this will be forgotten in a day or two, and I would guess, behind the scenes, things were smoothed over.

It's a good thing the Packers aren't looking to re-sign any of those players, bullet dodged. Tauscher only gave us 10 years of hard work.

"Early on, one of our p.r. people came to me and said, 'Well, Ted's not very good with the press.' I said, 'I didn't hire him to be good with the press. I hired him to build a football team.' And look at this. Look at what he's done." - Bob Harlan

I got it from a Peter King article.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1181202/1/ind...

I can't believe a team photo has turned into this big of an issue. They are in the season starting photo, they get to be in Dallas for the game on the sideline and get a ring when the Packers win. Is that not enough? I know Barnett and Finley made a stink about this. I did not see any stink from Grant or Neal on twitter about this.

It's not about the money, it's not about missing rehab days, quite simply it's about keeping the IR guys from being a distraction to the 53 who are still on the active roster. And Finley and Barnett's actions are already proving why this was a necessary decision.

Let them go down to Dallas and hang out with Eugene Robinson the week before the game.

Shouldn't Murphy step in to offer a compromise solution? This has gone beyond GB's football operations. As a lead sports story in the media, Murphy should perform his role as President and the person who leads the Packer's marketing activities.

Ted Thompson's an arrogant, egotistical, scumbag...haven't you guys figured that out yet?

It's going to feel soooooo good when the Packers get CRUSHED in the Superbowl!!!

hahahahahahaahahahaha....

Great article, Aaron.

There's defintely two sides of this. From TT's aspect, being the methodical (automatron?) that he is, I can understand why he didn't want the distraction *some* (why yes, Finley and Barnett, I am looking at you)of those on IR would bring along with their entourages. He wanted the active players isolated and focused on one task. Not on parties or media encounters, but on the game. Sure, Rodgers will probably have to shave the dead squirrel off his face for a Got Milk? ad that the QBs always do, but the focus is going to be on beating the Steelers. TT's motive are focused not on those off the field, but those who are going to make an impact Feb.6.

But I can totally understand the sting the IR list is feeling. They did go on IR because they did anything wrong, and yeah, it's understandable to appreciate how they may feel slighted or punished.

But you don't air your grievences on twitter where there is no filter before you send. There in complete the circle of this epic PR blunder. It started with the decisions at the front office and came full circle with a couple of distracting and petulant tweets.

That said, is it any wonder why Aaron Rodgers abandoned his twitter account at the beginning of the season? He dropped any opportunity for unwanted drama before it could even start.

I see this is put to rest now with all included in a Friday photo. That being said, I feel compelled to put, "Ted's Way" in parenthesis when I reference him at any point leading up to the Super Bowl. Feels menacing....

TEAM IS A TEAM AS IS A TEAM--THEY SHOULD BEIN THE PICTURE---PERIOD