What would we ever do without our favorite whipping boy? That’s the question we’ve been asking ourselves since someone suggested the Green Bay Packers could release tight end Jermichael Finley in March.
The mercurial one signed a two-year contract on the eve of free agency this past offseason. The deal pays Finley $5.75 million this season and $8.25 million next season. Forgot for a second that Finley’s play isn’t earning either of those amounts. He’s due a $4.45 million roster bonus in March.
That gives the Packers an easy out if they want to part ways with their outspoken, underperforming tight end. Releasing Finley then not only wipes the roster bonus off the books, but the entire $8.25 million Finley probably won’t earn next year.
If the Packers end up keeping Finley through March, well, then we all get to bitch about him for another year. You don’t make a $4 million investment in a player you don’t plan on keeping around.
This season, Finley has 24 catches for 210 yards and a touchdown. His 8.8 yards per catch average is, uh… below par. Oh, and he leads the team in drops, unfulfilled potential and blaming other people for his shitty play.
How that’s worth $8 million, I’m not sure.