Green Bay Packers and Jermichael Finley Agree on 2 Year $15 Milion Contract

dont like it. would rather of tagged him. Don't understand why TT did it this way.

Perhaps to free up the franchise tag?

quote:

Originally posted by titmfatied:
Perhaps to free up the franchise tag?

Yep. Franchise Flynn and get some picks. I like it.

luv it, if we could get every player do this I'd be tickled.

TT scored big here IMO, he just bought us time in the TE/WR area.

Good move. Gets Finley here for more than a one year, allows him to get his head on straight and only think about football and not contract next year, which some think affected his performance last season.

If he performs, I can see them possibly extending the contract at the end of next season. While some people may not like his personality, in game antics, and his comments, the fact is the Packers were not going to let a talent like him walk away.

This is a nice little "cooling off" period as far as contract talks go for both sides.

quote:

Originally posted by trump:
luv it, if we could get every player do this I'd be tickled.

TT scored big here IMO, he just bought us time in the TE/WR area.

Exactly. Long enough to have guys ready if Finley doesn't come up big, and short enough to cut losses if they need to dump him.

If he gets Wells done, the draft is going to be really interesting ...

I like it. He'll get another big pay day or two, just like Jennings. And a year with him playing without worrying about an injury or a new contract will unleash the beast. I'm OK with this much over two years...

I like it. Gives Finley a chance to show his FULL potential before the Packers fully commit to a long term deal

Sounds like a win/win. Split the TE/WR $ amount. See what Finley can do when fully healthy which I think was an issue last year at least mentally. And, also see what we have with the other TE's on the squad.

Now, let's work on those hands Jermichael.

Surprised it was that much, but figured it was a short term deal. Finley is clearly a great talent, hopefully it shows on the field this year.

Maybe Flynn does get tagged and traded....

I doubt anyone gets tagged. Tag and trade for Flynn seems like a pie in the sky to me. It could happen but not likely.

Makes more sense seeing the breakdown. Cheaper than back-to-back years with the tag would cost, and the deal was going to be nearly $7M per year regardless of length. In spite of the armchair GMs insisting he wouldn't sniff $5M per year.

One could look at it as TT paid $250,000 over the projected franchise tag of 5.5 for a tightend in 2012 and in return bought an option for an additional year, retained the franchise tag, and doesn't have to deal with a possible holdout.

What slowmo said above. IMO Finley is very loyal to TT, MM and the GBP organization and working it out in this fashion illustrates this.

I think Finley will respond exceedingly well to this and have a terrific season next year.

I still don't see them franchising Flynn unless TT has a sweet deal worked out ahead of time, and as the team has little apparent leverage, methinks it's unlikely. Wells is more likely to get tagged.

Very savvy move. Works for everyone involved. If he signs Wells now too before the tag period is up, I'd guess the fat from the cap (like Cliffy, etc) would be trimmed and Flynn would get the tag.

If Ted turns all of this into retaining Wells, Finley and getting a primo draft pick for Flynn, I'll be happy.

Wells' franchise number would be steep, but maybe TT just having the threat of that would get him to sign on more reasonable terms.

quote:

Originally posted by NJWIS:
dont like it. would rather of tagged him. Don't understand why TT did it this way.

There always are the guys who don't like it. Tell us why or forget about it.

The timing of the deal is interesting. Why make a deal so early in the process? It does not mean the Packers will tag Flynn but it is a move I would expect if they were planning to use the tag on him. If TT is planning to use the Tag I would suspect we will she some cap space freeing moves.

It doesnt really give Finely long term security. He is still going to get the yipps if thats what the problem was this year.

TT also ends up overpaying if he plays both years out and doesn't play like a top 3 TE.

I would rather of seen the tag applied and make finely earn his money and then a new contract.

Interesting points made here by Tom Silverstein of the JSO:

quote:

@TomSilverstein: Finley's $7M average is 4th among all NFL TEs and two-year cash is fifth. But he's missing out on $17M to $23M guarantees that others got.

Silverstein goes on to note that Finley, by forgoing guaranteed money, is betting on the come he can avoid serious injury.

I think Finely would have gone tweet crazy and turned into an unneeded distraction had he been tagged. Now he's happy and TT didn't have to give out a long term deal to a player who still hasn't (and may never) reach his potential.

Best GM in the league, methinks.

I think Ted and the coaches know their stuff

Finley's contract is an old bird. 2 years no guarentees money. Early in the process, what they had another two weeks to work on the deal. The Packers have a history of waiting to the last couple of days before a deadline before doing these kind of deals. For some reason the PAckers wanted the Finley contract put to bed, Maybe a tag on Flynn, maybe they are planning to do somthing schocking like going after a big time free agent.


tom silverstein@TomSilversteinReply

I anticipate the #Packers using the franchise tag on Flynn now. They'll take the $14 million cap hit and then deal him to somebody

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/140080973.html
Packers now between 10 -13 million under the cap.

It might be a cliche by now, but TT really is a genius. Not only was he able to resign this guy, but at a deal that a) doesn't break the bank b) lets Finley prove he deserves the big payday and c) keeps the tag open for Wells or Flynn if need be.

This really does help alleviate the pain from the playoffs.

He seems to get these guys like Jennings, Collins and now Finley on cash-rich but short-term contracts with little exposure to the team if something goes wrong. I love it as a fan, but I'm curious about how they sell that to guys like this who would otherwise get enormous money on the open market.

ROTTT

quote:

Originally posted by JJSD:
I'm curious about how they sell that to guys like this who would otherwise get enormous money on the open market.

Finley played himself out of the monster contract with a very average year. This contract has a perfect level of risk on both sides. This is a perfect scenario. If Finley has a monster year TT has the option of extending him. If not, Quarless, Williams, and Taylor have time to develop and TT didn't break the bank to find out once and for all if Finley was going to put all that talent together.

TT is simply smarter than other GM's.

quote:

Originally posted by NJWIS:


I would rather of seen the tag applied and make finely earn his money and then a new contract.

More yips?

quote:

Originally posted by Goalline:

quote:

Originally posted by NJWIS:


I would rather of seen the tag applied and make finely earn his money and then a new contract.

More yips?

I know. I think its a no win situation. 2 years is not much security for an NFL player.

after seeing the money breakdown this year and next it makes more sense. he is basically getting 500K more than the tag and has a good chance to make 8 million next year.

Fine with this deal. If he proves himself, GB can sign him to a 4-5 year deal at 26 and he can get one more pay at age 30.

In these 2 years he can prove he deserves to be in the same conversation with Graham, Gates, Gonzales and Grankowski. Hmmm..maybe Finley should change his last name so it starts with a G.

From PFT:

quote:

In light of the new contract, the question of whether Finley is a tight end or a receiver won’t be as significant the next time Finley is due to hit the market. Based on the 2013 cap number in Finley’s deal, a 120-percent increase would put the tender for Finley over $10 million.

The deal also gives the Packers protection against the possibility that Finley’s potential never will fully be fulfilled, due either to injuries or ineffectiveness. Though Finley enjoyed the best season of his career in 2011, he generated only 767 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, and he has no Pro Bowl appearances.

I anticipated Finley's deal would be harder than Wells deal because of Finley's age and skill level. I wonder if this means there will be some sort of compromise with Wells?

quote:

Originally posted by packerboi:
in the same conversation with Graham, Gates, Gonzales and Gronkowski. Hmmm..maybe Finley should change his last name so it starts with a G.

Finley has the G on his helmet and that's worth a helluva lot more

Interesting to note that none of them has a ring yet either...

Good deal. Better than I expected.

Great that the deal is complete... Seems like a win-win for both..

Good news in cold boring February. TT & Finley both happy. TT get 3 good D draft picks and the PACKERS can get the Lombardi back in Green Bay where it belongs!!!

quote:

Finley's agent, Blake Baratz, presented the Packers with a compromise deal Tuesday, according to an NFL source familiar with the negotiations, and that got the wheels in motion for a new agreement. The deal was believed to split the difference between the $5 million a year Finley would have gotten as a franchise tight end and the $9 million he would have gotten as a franchise wide receiver. continue

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
It might be a cliche by now, but TT really is a genius.

quote:

Originally posted by JJSD: I love it as a fan, but I'm curious about how they sell that to guys like this who would otherwise get enormous money on the open market.

ROTTT

Sounds to me like maybe TT choked on his Bud Lite on ice when Finley's agent approached him with this offer. Couldn't have worked out better. Really happy Finley's agent talked him into signing this deal.