Vikings’ Anthony Barr on hate messages

[HappyViking]

Vikings’ Anthony Barr on hate messages since hit on Aaron Rodgers: ‘I don’t feel it’s going to stop’
Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr was asked Friday about all
the hate messages he has received since his hit two months ago that
broke the collarbone of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Barr paused and pointed to a Twitter notification on his phone.

“I actually just got one right here,’’ Barr said in an interview with the Pioneer Press. “It says, ‘I hope you tear your ACL.’’’

Since the Oct. 15 hit on Rodgers at U.S. Bank Stadium, there
have been plenty of anti-Barr messages. Barr recently put on the
Internet a picture of a card he received from someone wanting him to end
up like Darryl Stingley, the New England receiver who was paralyzed by a
hit in a 1978 preseason game and died in 2007.

A simple search on Twitter reveals messages from apparent
Packers fans, reading, “I hate Anthony Barr,’’ “Eat (expletive) Anthony
Barr,’’ “Radical Minnosotan Terrorist Anthony Barr, “Aaron Rodgers about
to break Anthony Barr’s collarbone.’’

“I don’t feel it’s going to stop,’’ Barr said of the hate messages. “So it kind of is what it is.’’
Barr was not penalized nor fined for the hit that came after
Rodgers had rolled to his right and threw an incompletion in the first
quarter of a 23-10 Minnesota win. After spending eight weeks on injured
reserve, Rodgers is expected to return Sunday at Carolina. During his
absence, the Packers (7-6) went just 3-4 with Brett Hundley as the
starting quarterback to fall three games behind the Vikings (10-3) in
the NFC North.

The Packers play host to Minnesota next Saturday at Lambeau
Field. Whether Rodgers plays could depend on how he looks against the
Panthers and whether Green Bay wins to stay in the playoff race.

Five days after Rodgers’ injury and four days after Packers
coach Mike McCarthy had accused Barr of “an illegal act,’’ Barr insisted
he’s “not a dirty player.” He wished the quarterback a “speedy
recovery” and said he had the “utmost respect’’ for him.

[Guest]

Barr’s attitude toward Rodgers changed a week after that.
After Rodgers had said on the TBS show “Conan” that Barr gave him the
“finger (and) ‘suck-it’ sign’’ following the hit, Barr took to Twitter
to say Rodgers wasn’t telling the whole story. Barr wrote that he didn’t
retaliate until after Rodgers was “calling me all kinds of names, F you
this, F you that.’’

Barr was asked Friday how he felt about the impending return of Rodgers.

“I don’t really care,’’ Barr said. “It doesn’t really affect
me or this football team in any way. We have a game to worry about
(Sunday against Cincinnati at U.S. Bank Stadium). I’m sure they’re
thrilled about it. I’m sure he’s thrilled to be back, but my focus is
here with the Vikings.’’

Barr then was asked if his tone had changed any since he
wished Rodgers a “speedy recovery” because of what the quarterback said
on “Conan.’’

“No, I mean, like I said, I hate to see anybody get hurt and
I always want to see people recover as fast as possible, so good for
him and good for them, I guess,’’ Barr said.

Barr had put on Snapchat a photo of the threatening card he
had received in the mail that was postmarked Dec. 11 from Fort Myers,
Fla., with no return address. It read in part, “Proud of yourself? … You
didn’t have to throw him to the ground and purposely come down on top
of him. Did you jump for joy when heard his C-bone crack? … Come 12/23,
hope you get your neck snapped. Remember Daryl (sic) Stingley. Your
payback is coming.’’

Barr was asked why he chose to publicize the message.

“I thought it was funny that someone would take the time to address something like that, but to each his own,’’ Barr said.

Barr said that was the first piece of hate mail he had
received through the mail. It was addressed to the Vikings and was with
other mail brought to his locker.

Barr has seen numerous hate messages on the Internet. He
doesn’t seek them out to read but doesn’t go to any lengths to avoid
seeing them.

“I don’t usually read them,’’ he said. “I just skim over
them. I just happened to open (Twitter notifications) up and (the one
Friday about the torn ACL) was the first one that popped up. Sometimes
you can’t ignore it. That one was right there.’’

Barr said he doesn’t need to use any of the messages as
motivation because he’s a “pretty highly self-motivated guy and all that
stuff just falls by the wayside.’’

Regardless, Vikings defensive end Brian Robison said it’s
unfair the criticism Barr has received for the hit on Rodgers and he
condemned the hate messages the linebacker has received.

“I don’t think there was anything malicious about anything
that happened (with the hit),’’ Robison said. “That’s just part of
football. At the end of the day, I think as people we have to understand
that this game does not rule the world and people need to understand we
got to have compassion for people, and (the hate messages about Barr
are) just not what needs to be happening in our humanity right now.

“It needs to stop. People need to have love and compassion
for each other and understand that accidents happen and things happen.
Obviously, none of us want to see Aaron go down. Really truly, at the
end of the day, you want to be able to go out and beat the best and
Aaron Rodgers is definitely one of the best in the league if not the
best. So for us we want him to be out here.’’

It remains to be seen whether Rodgers will play against the
Vikings in Green Bay’s final home game of the regular season.
Regardless, Barr knows there will be plenty of questions for him during
the week about facing the Packers, and he’s ready.

“Yeah, it comes with the territory,’’ Barr said.

[Guest]

Way to keep it classy, Packer fans.  Not that the refs aren't partially responsible.  They've over-protected Rodgers for so long that Packer fans have a warped idea of what a clean hit looks like.

[Guest]

F' them...Hope their season ends tomorrow in Carolina.

Go Cam and Capt'n.

[Guest]

Fuck them. He didn't intend to injury Rodgers. I wish they would shut the hell up already. 

[Guest]

Would Packer defenders attempt a "payback" hit on Case?  Maybe not, but there's some extra incentive there for knockin' Case around.

Not trying to overlook today's game, but that GB game is going to be exciting, like rivalry games should be.

[Guest]

@HappyViking said:
Would Packer defenders attempt a "payback" hit on Case?  Maybe not, but there's some extra incentive there for knockin' Case around.

Not trying to overlook today's game, but that GB game is going to be exciting, like rivalry games should be.

I am fully expecting a cheap shot on several of our players in next week.  i certainly would hope that in light of recent meltdown at other heated contests that the refs will keep this one in hand early sending strong messages either way.  no need for thuggery in an already violent game.

[Guest]

Clay Matthews has taken some cheap shots on players but because he plays for the Packers, no commentators say anything about it. I am sure if he gets an opportunity, he will take it. 

[Guest]

I hope Barr lands on little Erin again in the rematch!

[Guest]

@dukes said:
I hope Barr lands on little Erin again in the rematch!

I am hoping erin gets knocked around a lot,  but I am not hoping that Barr injures him again.  twice in the same season would likely draw a lifetime ban from roger and his band of corrupt little elves.