Method and apparatus for scheduling packets for transmission in a network processor having a programmable pipeline

A network processor includes an arbitration device, a processing device, and a pipeline. The arbitration device receives a first packet and a second packet. The second packet includes a first control message. The pipeline includes access devices, where the access devices include first and second access devices. The pipeline, based on a clock signal, forwards the first and second packets between successive ones of the access devices. The arbitration device: sets a timer based on at least one of (i) an amount of time for data to travel between the first and second access devices, or (ii) a number of pipeline stages between the first and second access devices; adjusts a variable based on (i) the clock signal, and (ii) transmission of the first packet from the arbitration device to the pipeline; and based on the timer and the variable, schedules transmission of the second packet through the pipeline.