So, they let Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley write an article for MMQB. In it, he talks extensively about the neck injury he suffered against the Cleveland Browns.
That injury caused Finley to lose feeling in his extremities and kept him in the hospital for several days following the game. Still, Finley says he’s going to play football again.
Of course I plan to play football again. This is what I love to do. I love the game. I love Sundays. Based on the feedback I’ve received from doctors at this point, the question is not if I’ll play again, but when. There is no better feeling in the world than making the “Lambeau Leap” into the stands, and I fully intend on having that surreal feeling again soon. I will do everything in my power to rehab and get back to the player I have been, and improve into the player I know I can be.
The real question is if Finley will play again this season. The Packers are taking a wait and see approach, but they’ve been particularly cautious with neck injuries in the past.
See Nick Collins, who was released and forced to retire after suffering a similar injury.
Perhaps the most chilling part of what Finley wrote is his account of what happened directly after the hit.
After I got hit, in the fourth quarter of our win against the Browns last week, my eyes were wide open. I was very conscious, but I could not move. I looked my teammate Andrew Quarless directly in the eye and whispered, “Help me, Q. I can’t move; I can’t breathe.” The scariest moment was seeing the fear in Q’s eyes. I knew something was wrong, but his reaction verified it. That really shook me up.
Our bet is Finley doesn’t return this season, which leaves his future with the Packers in doubt. This is the final year of Finley’s contract with Green Bay.
Will the Packers, or anyone else, want to take a risk on a guy with a serious neck injury? Maybe with a non-guaranteed deal.
Despite how you feel about the dude, you can’t help but feel sorry for him-there’s no worse possible feeling than knowing you have no control in a situation, particularly one in which your life us at stake.
Good luck to ya, J-Mike, make sure you’re 100% healthy, mentally and physically, before you decide to come back.
Just let him walk, and let it be over with. Even if he can somehow come back, he’ll ask for too high. He’ll probably ask for anywhere between 7-8 million a year. LET HIM GO!!!!
I read the article earlier. It was pretty frank, he didn’t seem to hold back on any info. That is some scary stuff, man. Playing again should be his second priority after getting healthy.
I’ve been pretty hard on Finley….His immature actions, anti- team comments, ect. Reading the article, maybe the dude has done some growing over the off-season. I cited the fact that this was a contract year, so he was just towing the line. Might still be true, but his writings are impressive and very mature. So i’ll give credit when it’s due. So in closing. I say Godspeed to you Mr. Jermicheal Finley. Best wishes to you and your family. Get well.
I had that same thought about his writings – very mature. It made me wonder if someone wrote them for him.
Couldn’t have put it any better myself, Pf4l.
He is healthy, has a $10MM disability policy (hint-take the money and retire) and his life will go on, comfortably. I think when this is all over, regardless of where your heart or head stood when it came to Finley, the one common thread to every recollection of his time with the Pack will likely contain some element of…what a waste of potential.
He could have been all-world on the field had he been able to disabuse himself of the idea that he had already attained that status in his mind.
I’d be curious as to what the annual premium would be for that $10M “career end” policy… Gotta be a huge percentage.
I don’t think he collects if he just retires. He probably has to be deemed with a permemnt injury.
Either way the article was well written and seemed from the heart. Maybe he did grow up. Sucks as he had been playing very well. Wish him well.