Packers Daily Links: Baratz Responds to Comments on Rodgers

The agent of tight end Jermichael Finley appeared on ESPN Radio to discuss his recent comments on Aaron Rodgers. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Blake Baratz, the agent for Jermichael Finley and the person who opined that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was not a good leader, responded to questions about his recent comments on ESPN Radio's Hill & Schlereth. “In all seriousness there really was no ulterior motive or agenda. I was literally just voicing an (opinion),” Baratz is quoted as saying via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. “The original comment that I sent out – whether I should’ve or should not have can be debated and will be debated – but the response I got was, ‘Why isn’t Aaron Rodgers on that list?’ And I replied to that, and I shouldn’t have. I made a mistake, and I’ll take full responsibility and I’ll be accountable for that just because of what surrounded it and not so much what was actually written. I could really care less. Who really cares what someone’s agent thinks about a player?" Baratz continued by apologizing to Rodgers and Finley for an unwarranted distraction and also citing the respect he has for the people in the Packers front office.

For more on the Rodgers, Finley, Barataz soap opera, go to ESPNMilwaukee.com where Rodgers' responds to his incident of yelling at James Jones via his weekly radio show on the local ESPN Radio affiliate in Milwaukee and at Packer Plus where columnist Ty Dunne gives his take on the matter.

The Oakland Raiders have signed cornerback Brandian Ross off the Packers practice squad. "Joselio Hanson and another former Packer, Pat Lee, are the likely starters this week against Pittsburgh but the Raiders needed depth," according to Packer Report. "Ross, an undrafted free agent out of Youngstown State in 2011, spent last season on Green Bay's practice squad. He began the season on the active roster but was inactive for the season opener. He was waived and added back to the practice squad last week when Erik Walden was reinstated from a one-game suspension." There is now a spot open on the Packers practice squad. Options to fill it include wide receiver Tori Gurley who was cut by the Vikings this week, running back Marc Tyler who was cut off the Packers' practice squad to make room for Ross, or the one of nine players who had tryouts with the Packers last week.

More on the loss of Brandian Ross comes from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and PackersNews.com.

Punter Tim Masthay was named the NFL's NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Award on Wednesday. "Masthay punted five times for an average of 47.6 yards," according to Packer Report. "More importantly, his net average was 42.0 as he limited the dangerous Hester to two returns for 8 yards. Three of Masthay’s punts pinned Chicago inside its 20-yard line, giving him a league-leading seven." Of course, his touchdown pass on a fake field goal also factored into his honor. In related news, Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week Award, meaning Packers linebacker Clay Matthews didn't received the honor despite 3.5 sacks against the Bears.

More on Tim Masthay comes from PackersNews.com, the Packers official website, ESPN.com and Fox 11.

Scouting reports on the Seattle Seahawks come from the Journal Sentinel and Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Feature articles in Packer Plus this week include Clay Matthews facing former college coach Pete Carroll, comparisons on Cedric Benson to Corey Dillon, running back Alex Green and a preview of the Seahawks game.

Tackle Marshall Newhouse is the focus of a player profile by Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel.

Over at JSOnline, listen to the McGinn and Dunne podcast and read about the Packers' interior pass rush.

Linebacker Clay Matthews is the topic of an article at Fox Sports Wisconsin.

The Packers will see former quarterback Matt Flynn out in Seattle, more at the Press-Gazette.

Packers legend Bart Starr talked about the Packers and Aaron Rodgers in an interview with ESPN.

The future of wide receiver Greg Jennings is debated at Bleacher Report's NFC North blog and AllGreenBayPackers.com.

Aaron Rodgers commented on the NFL's replacement officials.

Analysis of cornerback Sam Shields appears at AllGreenBayPackers.com.

Packer Report has items on tight end Jermichael Finley and the Packers' salary cap.

Cheesehead TV's own Zach Kruse gives his take on Aaron Rodgers in his weekly column at JSOnline.

Video: The crew at the Press-Gazette previews the Seahawks game in their weekly Insiders video...

Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and an editor at Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (9)

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Evan's picture

September 20, 2012 at 09:13 am

I'm surprised Pat Lee is starting. Any word on how he's been doing?

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TedTheSledge's picture

September 20, 2012 at 09:23 am

Glad to hear Lee is moving up in Oakland. Probably won't help GB in compensatory system since he signed for peanuts (3/21/2012: Signed a one-year, $680,000 contract. The deal included a $65,000 signing bonus. 2012: $615,000, 2013: Free Agent) but it looks like Reggie has found pretty good value for this year at least.

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packsmack25's picture

September 20, 2012 at 10:59 am

They had no choice and he is as awful as you remember.

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MarkinMadison's picture

September 20, 2012 at 09:22 am

Apparently, getting 3.5 sacks against the Bears is the norm. :-)

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Derek in CO's picture

September 20, 2012 at 09:26 am

That agent's mouth just cost himself alot of potential clients. Nice work.

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bomdad's picture

September 21, 2012 at 07:18 am

Blake Baratz is not a good agent.

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packsmack25's picture

September 20, 2012 at 11:09 am

I'm sure Clay prefers the DPOY he was robbed of two years ago.

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TUNDRAVISION's picture

September 20, 2012 at 02:38 pm

finly's agent is a jerk...period....no class fool with a big ego and little wee wee i would guess. hey j-mike....tell the idiot to keep his idiot mouth shut....maybe you should too until you go pro bowl in the nfl you are a mouth...prove u are any good and catch those balls you keep dropping!!!

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Jamie's picture

September 20, 2012 at 03:16 pm

For this clown not to understand the natural implication, rightfully so or not, that his opinion is partially or wholely based on that of his client is idiotic and would be inexcusable if I were Finley...or Bishop for that matter.

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