I thought this was a great contract at the time. Finley would have one year to prove himself at a very reasonable deal, followed by a 2013 price tag that would force the team to either send him on his way to FA or give him a long-term deal themselves.
Instead, he pulls off a season that perfectly encapsulates the headache/potential debate that's followed his whole career in 18 games. TT's left in the exact same position as last year, with no clearer idea on the guy's future but about 3x the money owed for another trial run.
One way or the other, I don't think TT ever intended to pay this price for just this year.
quote:Originally posted by Tschmack:
I believe Finley is scheduled to make more money this season than Cobb, Nelson, and Jones combined. Think about that.
That's interesting in two ways.....The way you meant it, and the way in which it shows what a genius TT is re: Nelson and Jones' contracts.
I would love to see Finley this season in GB, but if that $8 mill went towards possibly bringing back Jennings and say a mid-tier FA....then it's better spent that way!
I could warm up to that too Yuck. Losing both Jennings and Finley would be a dum move. Now, using that money to keep Jennings plus adding a TE in R1 or R2? I could wrap my mind around that.
GB, IMO, doesn't have the talent at TE some think without Finley. Quarless can be good but he sustained a devastating injury that he might not bounce back from. The rest of them are just okay. We need better.
GB, IMO, doesn't have the talent at TE some think without Finley. Quarless can be good but he sustained a devastating injury that he might not bounce back from. The rest of them are just okay. We need better.
Finley is only 25 and I'd take him over a 30 year old wideout who very well could be breaking down and wants a ton of money with a multi-year deal.
I guess it comes down to whether you believe he'll always tease you with his potential or finally put it all together. I fall in the latter camp.
I guess it comes down to whether you believe he'll always tease you with his potential or finally put it all together. I fall in the latter camp.
quote:One way or the other, I don't think TT ever intended to pay this price for just this year.
I think you're underestimating TT & his ability to have foresight.
I actually think the Packers need Finley more than Jennings. We have three great receivers with Cobb, Nelson, and Jones. If TT picks a WR in the draft, there is a good chance based on the past that he will be a nice addition. To me, that covers our need at WR. After Finley, we don't really know what there is at TE. Quarless is coming back from an injury. Crabtree is a great football player, but not an elite TE. We don't know about DJ Williams at this moment. Save the money and let Jennings walk.
Yeah, that year Finley was out cost us dearly.
/wait, what?
/wait, what?
Yeah that unique ability that Finley once displayed was not apparent in 2012. He wasn't fast and he wasn't a mismatch for many players like he was in '09.
I just don't see how Finley at an 8M cap number does anything to warrant that. It's nice thinking that it will be a matchup nightmare for DCs, but I'm struggling to think when we've even seen this yet? He's had flashes, moments, a few games, but I don't see how that money isn't better spent elsewhere - preferably on defense.
Fifty drunks on Moosehead in a bar could tell you jerdumdum will get cut if contract restructure not in the works.
quote:Originally posted by CAPackFan95:
Yeah, that year Finley was out cost us dearly.
/wait, what?
Someone was talking about keeping Jennings instead of Finley. That is what I was referring to. If TT let Finley walk, I wouldn't be too upset. If TT had to make a choice in who to keep, I would keep Finley just becasue of the position.
quote:Originally posted by Iowacheese:
Fifty drunks on Moosehead in a bar could tell you jerdumdum will get cut if contract restructure not in the works.
Finley has already said that the Packers haven't bothered contacting him yet. So it stands to reason that no renegotiation is in the works.
Seems unlikely that they're not at least considering keeping him around on his current contract. If they knew it was either renegotiation or cut, they'd have approached him with a renegotiation by now, presumably.
quote:Originally posted by Yuletide:
If they knew it was either renegotiation or cut, they'd have approached him with a renegotiation by now, presumably.
No rush on Finley since he is already under contract- and with both the draft and FA coming up- his future in GB is far from decided imo
quote:Originally posted by Satori:quote:Originally posted by Yuletide:
If they knew it was either renegotiation or cut, they'd have approached him with a renegotiation by now, presumably.
No rush on Finley since he is already under contract- and with both the draft and FA coming up- his future in GB is far from decided imo
Well the rush would be to decide whether to keep him around on his current contract, before his 3m bonus is due in 3 weeks. If they intend to renegotiate a long term deal or cut him if they can't, they have 3 weeks to do it. That they haven't even tried yet, seems pretty meaningful.
If the clues are that a renegotiation isn't something the Packers are pursuing, then the only two options are keeping him on his current contract or cutting him. Finley has nothing to do with either of those two options. And if the Packers were decided that they'd rather cut him than keep him at 8.5m, I don't see why they wouldn't have already cut him.
quote:Originally posted by Yuletide:
Well the rush would be to decide whether to keep him around on his current contract, before his 3m bonus is due in 3 weeks. If they intend to renegotiate a long term deal or cut him if they can't, they have 3 weeks to do it.
The only rush (3 weeks) is if they don't intend on keeping him. All indications are pointing to him staying in GB, now the question is it under the last year of his current deal or with a new one? A new deal does not need to be done before the $3mm bonus kicks in.
Agreed, the bonus time limit is only meaningful if the Packers don't want to keep Finley around under the terms of his current contract.
After the bonus, the Packers lose the ability to cut him. Sure, they could extend him after that, but Finley would be in the driver's seat about whether he plays out his current contract. If the Packers pay that bonus out, they're taking the very real chance of renting Finley for one more season for 8.5m.
After the bonus, the Packers lose the ability to cut him. Sure, they could extend him after that, but Finley would be in the driver's seat about whether he plays out his current contract. If the Packers pay that bonus out, they're taking the very real chance of renting Finley for one more season for 8.5m.
That decision may have been made when Quarless blew out his ACL and MCL.
Well, it's been about a week.
quote:
Jermichael Finley recently said he wouldn't take a pay cut if approached by the Green Bay Packers. The tight end's agent, Blake Baratz, told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Tyler Dunne that the scenario is not that simple.
Offseason Forecast: Packers
Around The League examines what's next for all 32 NFL teams in 2013. Gregg Rosenthal covers the Packers. More ...
"I would never just turn my nose up at anything," Baratz said. "I will listen and hear anybody about anything and withhold judgment until I do. I can't say today whether I would, whether I wouldn't, whether it's in Jermichael's best interest, his worst interest.
What Baratz is talking about is hardly a paycut. It's cashing in $8.25m this year for long term contract with more guaranteed money.
Not sure why any of this is news. Finley has no reason to take a paycut, as refusing one only ends up with him making $8.25m this year or hitting free agency. Both of those are better options than a pay cut.
Not sure why any of this is news. Finley has no reason to take a paycut, as refusing one only ends up with him making $8.25m this year or hitting free agency. Both of those are better options than a pay cut.
Yeah, John Friggin Carlson just got $9M guaranteed in FA last year. Regardless of your personal opinion of Finley, I can't see any way he comes under that if he tests the market.
The cap hits for Quarless, Williams, and Taylor combined are a little over 1/4 the cap hit for Finley. Not to say those 3 are anything special, but I'd rather see that 6 million difference be put toward another position.
I'd gamble on Quarless and Williams and draft a guy like Gavin Escobar in round 2.
I'd gamble on Quarless and Williams and draft a guy like Gavin Escobar in round 2.
They won't just cut Finley, so they'd have to either work out a sign and trade that is friendly to GB not getting a cap hit for SB $$... or could they trade him under his current deal where there is an already agreed upon deal with the new team? Not sure how they'd do that, or if Goodell would allow.
quote:Originally posted by Grave Digger:
I'd gamble on Quarless and Williams.....
Both those are huge question marks and I'd prefer to gamble on Finley. The Packers can offer him comparable money to what he'd receive in FA with a more cap-friendly contract.
$3.5mm due this week, Wed. I think at 4pm.
** edit **
Bonus is due today.
** edit **
Bonus is due today.
I think he's going to get it!
Finley tweet just in...Ecstatic 2 b back w @packers. Best place on earth. Thank u 2 my agents & family @blakebaratz @Jhart5266. I appreciate all that u do. #pack
Time to change the tread title. Hope he has a great career with the Green and Gold.
Time to change the tread title. Hope he has a great career with the Green and Gold.
The cool thing is, he's going to play his ass off this year. He needs a new deal for 2014
Yeah, he just posted the good vibes to Facebook.
quote:Originally posted by Boris:
The cool thing is, he's going to play his ass off this year. He needs a new deal for 2014
Playing his ass off for a new deal didn't work out so great in 2011.
Not a big Finley fan, but after losing Jennings, they couldn't afford to let him go. Maybe he'll catch the ball next season.
I have to admit, I think relying on Quarless as your best TE option at this point would have been a huge huge risk so I am glad Finley is back. Quarless certainly was looking good as a blocker before he got hurt, but I never was overly impressed with him as a receiver.
With Finley back, maybe they can bring Quarless along slowly and he can make a full recovery by the time Finley likely leaves for FA in 2014.
With Finley back, maybe they can bring Quarless along slowly and he can make a full recovery by the time Finley likely leaves for FA in 2014.
I don't think we will be resigning him no matter what happens. If he blows up and has a great season then how comfortable should the Packers be giving him a bunch of money? Also I don't believe he is the type of player that will play at a high level with a huge contract. Only way I would resign him is if you went through an entire season keeping his mouth shut on twitter and on the field. No more celebrating after a 5 yard pass. I want to see signs of maturity. If not, franchise him and tell him to do it again.
Got no issues keepin' JerMike. He's got a one year deal to prove his worth and he's still just 26. He didn't start out great in 2012 but his last 6-8 games a much better more consistent player.
He'll never be a fan favorite, and he's very unlikely to justify that full contract this season, but the team is better off with him than without.
His value at this point is probably closer to the $5M per year Chicago just paid Bennett, a guy with less production and upside to show.
I think it really did come down to Finley or Jennings, and Greg's decision to play with an elite QB in MIN sealed the deal on Finley.
His value at this point is probably closer to the $5M per year Chicago just paid Bennett, a guy with less production and upside to show.
I think it really did come down to Finley or Jennings, and Greg's decision to play with an elite QB in MIN sealed the deal on Finley.
quote:Originally posted by Pakrz:quote:Originally posted by Boris:
Expect him to play & play well in 2013 for the Green & Gold.
Him & Quarless on the field at the same time, will make DC's sleepless
Boris gets it. You dumdums wouldn't know a talented TE if he slapped you upside the head.
contract year for JerDumDum
Maybe he will play like it
Maybe he will play like it
That didn't seem to matter much to him last time he was playing for the money, but then again I have to admit he started to look as though the light had turned on for him the last part of last season. So maybe he did have a come to jesus moment.
I think we're overpaying for him, but we're better off with him than without him. And if he ever does find a way to put his money where that incredible mouth of his is, he's going to be one hell of a tight end. So maybe 7 or 8 months from now, we'll look back at this as a shrewd move by TT. Worst case, a mistake that was made for the right reasons, considering how strongly he finished the season last year. I can live with that kind of mistake.
I think we're overpaying for him, but we're better off with him than without him. And if he ever does find a way to put his money where that incredible mouth of his is, he's going to be one hell of a tight end. So maybe 7 or 8 months from now, we'll look back at this as a shrewd move by TT. Worst case, a mistake that was made for the right reasons, considering how strongly he finished the season last year. I can live with that kind of mistake.
it'd be really nice if they restructured his contract. as good as he has the potential to be (hawelawaaawa 
), i don't think he's worth $7 mil next year.
I see very little downside with this. Yes, one can make the case that the Packers are overpaying for Finley based on 2011 and 2012 performance. But it's now a one-year deal - Finley gets one last chance to prove himself, and the Packers stand to benefit if he lives up to his potential. If he fails, there are no future cap ramifications for the Packers, and Finley will likely have to accept a pedestrian deal next year from another team. Granted, if he falls flat on his face, we are effectively thin at TE, but it's not like he's the only viable option at receiver. I have no problem paying $7 million for this option.