It’s no news flash that the Green Bay Packers will overpay tight end Jermichael Finley if they keep him on the roster under his current deal. He’s scheduled to make $8.25 million in 2013, which gives him an elite-level tight end contract and also makes him the third-highest salaried player on the team. He’s neither an elite tight end or the third-best player on the team.
Hell, he’s not even the third-best receiver on the team.
He is a guy who’ll say something douchey though and thank god for that. Hey, Jermichael, maybe you could take a pay cut to help the team out and get your salary in line with your production?
Of course Jermichael won’t do anything of the sort, despite his repeated stance that he wants to stay in Green Bay.
“I’d have to walk for sure, meaning I couldn’t take a pay cut. Maybe I’d restructure if it’s a deal that I like and it makes sense, but I’m not the guy that’s just going to sign anything and let anything pass. I’m not that guy.
“Other than that, taking a pay cut or restructuring doesn’t sound good to me at this time. I like my deal. I start training in Minneapolis tomorrow and I’m more inspired than ever to start next season off right and be the tight end I know I can be. It’s all business at the end of the day. I just love what I do.”
But you love money more, eh?
Seriously, no one is going to voluntarily take a pay cut, but every time Jermichael opens his mouth I just want to punch him in it. We’re happy to defend a guy who runs his mouth so long as he produces, but it’s hard to call 61 for 667 and two touchdowns “production.”
We’d say a tight end who puts up those kind of numbers should be making around $4 million a year. That’s not the point though.
The point is, Finley is a dick. Is he enough of a dick that the Packers should just release him and wash their hands? Tough to say. Can Tom Crabtree be a No. 1 tight end?
The obvious solution is to restructure Finley’s deal, lower his cap number and give him some additional years. And if he keeps being a turd release him down the road.
It’s not really that simple though. Finley is in the final year of his deal and you know what happens then. Guys have career years in the final year of their deal. Finley could decide to play out his bloated contract, hope to put up monster numbers and then get a giant contract next season.
And then he never has to try again.