Tight end Jermichael Finley left no doubt — he wants to remain a member of the Green Bay Packers.
Finley’s contract will expire after the season and while the Packers have extended both receiver Jordy Nelson’s and guard Josh Sitton’s contracts, there appears to be little progress on a new deal for Finley. That doesn’t seem to matter to the tight end, who isn’t looking to go anywhere.
“I want to stay here, no doubt,” Finley said. “This is a town, this is a team, (an) organization, couldn’t ask for more. If they came to a conclusion (on a contract), I would look into it. I want to be a Packer for life, for sure. Hands down. I think this is the best organization for me.
“You can’t ask for a better city just because there’s nothing to do for one thing. I’m going to be real with you, there’s less trouble you can get into. It’s first class in everything they do — contracts, around the building, everything’s first class. I love it. Hands down, I wouldn’t even debate with anyone about it.”
Finley also said he was fine with the team using the franchise tag on him, which is something most players bristle at. If the Packers use the franchise tag on Finley, they’ll have to pay him more than $7 million for one season.
The fact Finley is okay with the franchise tag is a good indication he’s seeking around $7 million per season, which is a number the Packers may be hesitant to pay. The team has five tight ends on their roster and although none have been as productive as Finley, the Packers’ starter has been fairly inconsistent and, at times, a distraction.
Through seven games, Finley has 25 receptions for 334 yards and four touchdowns. He’s on pace to top his best career season, which was 2009, when he had 55 catches for 676 yards and five touchdowns, but has had a problem with drops, hasn’t had a 100-yard game and simply isn’t the focal point of the offense.
On top of that, he complained about not getting the ball enough earlier this year.
Finley obviously has loads of talent, but the question remains: Will the Packers make him one of the highest paid tight ends in the league?
More so, is he worth it?
I think last season answered the question about the Pack needing him to win…however I also belive that this is a new season and MM does like to “mix things up” in order to keep other teams on their toes…
Look for TT to let a few more games be played, then try to make YOTTO head sign a 4 year contract in the neighbourhood of 4-5 mio. pr. year with some huge escalators based on performance. That way – considering Finleys ego – he will think its easy for him to reach the major payday, and still get paid very good money in case he doesnt…which he still thinks he will.
The Pack will go with 5 TEs again next year and Trade/release Ryan G
We carry a lot of TE’s but nothing close to the talent Finley brings to the table. They have to invest in a guy that can stay in good health and continue to make plays. They will wait til the end of the year and sign him to another deal.
The Pack has never been too high on distracting players. Both Finley and Nick Barnett opened a can after during the road to XLV and one can see how that worked for Barnett. The pack proved that they could perform at the highest level without 88 and with some serious talent at TE, I say ‘good riddens Jermichel. Go play for a team that tolerates whining on Twitter.’
Watch out next year for D J Williams. Kid has talent & great hands. Remember Finley’s 1st year ? he was useless, going offside on MNF on that field goal, then turning into a monster TE. If i were to gamble, i’d say he stays.
I say sign him no matter the cost. This situation has all the potential to become Javon Walker, version 2.0. Since there is nothing to do in Green Bay, he can apply a single-minded focus on improving in the following areas and deliver performance that equals the hype and the contract.
1 – Catching the football.
2 – Breaking a tackle.
3 – Blocking someone.
4 – A new first down celebration (the chicken head/hand thing is just weird)
5 -Come up with a new slogan (how many years in a row can it be the one where you takeover?)
6-Become a spokesman for Twitter Anonymous
Packers need to manage him with kid gloves. He’s a personality on the edge, and a guy like that doesn’t have the professionalism to control his actions. He is a beast, but his maturity is where he’ll win or lose with the Pack.
i hope they re-sign him, he is better than the other tight ends on the Packers and most of the entire NFL, young, still developing, has any tight end in the history of the NFL had a game as he did against the Cards in that playoff besides Kellen Winslow?? no
His threat to other defensive teams alone is worth keeping him. I obviously care how productive he is this season with balls caught, yards, and td’s but remember most teams double team him, leaving our receivers open. I think his presence on the field is worth keeping him. And along the way he will have huge, breakout games.
With that being said I’m not saying the packers absolutely need him. Only for the right price. Don’t need to overpay him bc of other 4 TE on the roster, who all have the talent to work in our system.
Go Pack Go!
Chargers are in for a rude ass beating!
He IS worth it!!
We’re losing Driver soon, that’ll free a lot of money up.
I don’t see it.
3 of his 4 TDs were in one game. He is not being used enough to be worth the franchise tag.
He should go someplace where they will throw him the ball. Then, maybe he’ll be worth that kind of money.