The New 'Old' Jermichael Finley

[Shawnsta3]

Good article hear from Jason Wilde- http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/common/page.php?feed=2&id=8441&is_corp=1

'Continuing a trend that began during organized team activity practices, the once-loquacious tight end is no more. He has been replaced -- at least for now, although he will tell you it’s permanent – with a less controversial, less talkative fellow'

'While Finley wouldn’t say how much he weighs right now – he’s listed at 6-foot-5 and 247 pounds, as he was last year, but said he’d gained about 10 pounds – he is clearly heavier than he was before. During the 2011 lockout, Finley unapologetically dropped significant weight believing he was more of a wide receiver than a tight end. Now, he looks as he did in 2009, when he had a breakout season (55 catches, 676 yards, five touchdowns) and capped it with a franchise-record 159 receiving yards in an NFC Wild Card loss at Arizona.'

Hmm.. quieting down, gaining weight.. Thoughts guys?

 

[News Bot]

It used to be easy to find Jermichael Finley, primarily by having working ears. But the Packers tight end has taken a different approach to this offseason, becoming intentionally boring after years of talking his way into unwanted attention. According to Jason Wilde of ESPNWiscon, Finley offered up a whole bunch of nothing during an…

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Source: ProFootballTalk.com

 

[NorthWestCheeseHead]

Playing nice for a contract year. But hey, if it gets us wins who am I to complain?

 

[13 Times Champs]

Finley had a good year last year and will have a better one this year. Go Fin!

 

[El Guapo]

Playing nice for a contract year.

He wants the money. Someone is giving him good advice

 

[PFanCan]

Fingers crossed. If he can consistently blow up the middle, Cover Two defenses will have their hands full.

 

[NorthWestCheeseHead]

I've had some strong opinions about him because of his work ethic since he came back from injury, but I'd honestly like to see him bloom into the great player that he has all the talent in the world to be. I think he'll have a pretty seller year this year as well as long as he keeps his nose to the grindstone. But I'll reserve judgement till after TT and co decide what to do with him contractually and see how he responds if they ultimately end up retaining him.

 

[realcaliforniacheese]

SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!

 

[News Bot]

Tight end Jermichael Finley will try to keep the swagger on the field and stay quiet off it, with approval from Green Bay Packers management.

Source: JSOnline.com

 

[ivo610]

It would be great to see him turn his career into more than just potential and for his mouth to stop running when it shouldn't, but I'll wait the season out and see.

 

[bozz_2006]

Everybody plays for something. Whatever a guy's major motivation is; glory, championships, money, fame, I don't much care. I want every one of our guys playing for what motivates him most.

 

[Oshkoshpackfan]

A more reserved J. Finley is like bigfoot, I got to see it to believe it.

 

[13 Times Champs]

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[Oshkoshpackfan]

^ lol.....not the 4x4 redneck wet dream on wheels, the elusive hairy beast in the woods. lol

 

[VolvoD]

He wants the money. Someone is giving him good advice

Hopefully it's not Greg Jennings....



now that I think of it, maybe Jennings and Finley switched bodies ala Tom Hanks in the movie Big.

 

[longtimefan]

Source: JSOnline.com

During the open locker-room session, a public relations official picked off Finley as soon as he appeared and followed him to his locker and back into the bathroom area to speak to Finley as the 26-year-old brushed his teeth. They reappeared. The interview began. And throughout the seven-minute interview session, the P.R. member leaned in to listen.

 

[HardRightEdge]

I've had some strong opinions about him because of his work ethic since he came back from injury....

His work ethic has never been in question, at least not by the coaching staff. MM has always been highly complimentary in this regard.

 

[peteralan71]

What I am concerned about is that we gave him too much money to start with in the last contract. Do we want to pay him more than $8M a year if we sign him to another contract?

 

[peteralan71]

Everybody plays for something. Whatever a guy's major motivation is; glory, championships, money, fame, I don't much care. I want every one of our guys playing for what motivates him most.

You read this pretty often, that professional athlete's are always looking for something to fuel them, no matter what it is. I recall Vic Ketchman saying that the athletes hope somebody cuts them off on the drive to the stadium just so they have extra fuel for the internal fire. May have been an exaggeration, but........ You get it.

 

[HardRightEdge]

What I am concerned about is that we gave him too much money to start with in the last contract. Do we want to pay him more than $8M a year if we sign him to another contract?

However, the last deal had only $1 mil guaranteed in the form of a signing bonus. Gross $ per year are usually negotiated down in exchange for guarantees, which you would expect in Finley's case. That assumes he's even given an offer after season's end and he doesn't break the TE yardage record as his more chatty persona once promised.

 

[13 Times Champs]

He did break the Packers record for catches by a TE with 61 last year.

 

[HardRightEdge]

He did break the Packers record for catches by a TE with 61 last year.

Finley's claim, I think before the 2011 season, was that he'd go over 1200 yds. and break the NFL record. If I recall correctly, Gronk beat him to it.

Yes, he did have a good year last season, coming on strong after the bye in particular. The drops were a problem, but widely exaggerated in my opinion. People were b*tching about a drop when the guy was fully laid out for a ball that few TEs could make an honest effort at.

 

[NorthWestCheeseHead]

Actually I was alluding more so to his blocking.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

What I am concerned about is that we gave him too much money to start with in the last contract. Do we want to pay him more than $8M a year if we sign him to another contract?

Not sure his next contract would need to start that high (unless he has an insane season). Gronk averages about $9m per season but the next highest is Witten at $7.4m. Not real sure that Finley will have a leg to stand on with any team if he's seeking to be the second highest paid TE in the NFL (even if he does have an insane season).

 

[13 Times Champs]

Actually I was alluding more so to his blocking.

Actually he is not a bad blocker downfield. I remember a couple of hellacious blocks he made last year. One freed Jones for a big gainer (maybe a TD?) as I recall.