I’d like to start this out by saying that I want to be a fan of Jermichael Finley. It took me a while to write this because I had to determine my own views regarding his potential return to the Pack. After some soul searching, I am completely against it. This is for a number of reasons, all of which are backed up by his stats. I can’t dispute the fact that he has made some very solid plays during his time in Green Bay, but he is simply not worth the money he has been paid and bringing him back is a major risk.
To start, I want to look at his statistics and be fair to the guy. In 2013, he played five games before he sustained the injury that would sideline him for the rest of the year. During these five games he was on track to the best season of his career. Unfortunately that isn’t saying much and he is one of the most overpaid players the Packers have fielded in the last few years. Last year his salary was close to $4.5 million, however, even Finley’s best year for the Packers was not worth that much. He has talent, don’t get me wrong. He’s had three seasons with 50+ receptions and has 20 touchdowns in his career of seven years (six starting seasons with the majority of two lost to injury). Overall, he gets decent receiving yardage when he is healthy.
Other than receiving, it’s hard to nail down whether or not Jermichael Finley is a good blocker. His blocking has been hit and miss over the years, literally. His good moments are good, but unfortunately they are few and far between. Incidentally, Coach Mike McCarthy recently stated that in his professional opinion, Brandon Bostick is the Packers best blocking tight end. Looking to alternates in the receiving game: Andrew Quarless has proven himself to be a respectable receiver, along with being able to thrown down a block. But the biggest problem with Finley lies in whether or not he is healthy.
As I said just a few sentences ago he has started six seasons in the NFL, but two of these have been cut short after just a few games. One was due to a knee injury and 2013 saw him dropped from the lineup due to a nasty neck injury. That’s two of six seasons in which he has barely played. Interesting to note that during the Packers’ Super Bowl winning season in 2010/11, he was also sidelined. I seem to remember the team looking very sharp that year despite his absence. I don’t want to sound insensitive, but that is an unfortunate statistic and two of six years spent injured is enough for me to consider a player extremely injury prone.
On top of this status, he’s already had one doctor fail him on a physical, while visiting Seattle. His collision last year with Tashaun Gipson was brutal and he was paralysed for some time, taken to the hospital, diagnosed with a bruised spinal cord and required spinal fusion surgery. This is the same surgery that sidelined Peyton Manning for a year a few years ago. Peyton returned and has been better than ever. But right now, Jermichael Finley’s health is up in the air and he is a major gamble for any team.
If the Green Bay coaching staff decide that they are terrified of Bostick and Quarless taking the number one and two spots for tight ends, and they are petrified at the thought of giving a chance to Jake Stoneburner or Ryan Taylor, I’d say they are better off looking to the draft, as there are no reliable free agent tight end’s left. If the thought of keeping Finley makes big red hearts appear in the eyes of Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson, and it is determined to be imperative, they would be smart to give him an offer like they did B.J. Raji. Give him a pay cut and a year to prove his worth.
It would be wrong to say that he wasn’t a good player for Green Bay but it is also wrong to say that if he is deemed healthy, he automatically deserves a contract that is anything more than a “prove it” year. Given his overall play and his state of being chronically injured, that type of contract is the only way the Packers are guaranteed to get their money’s worth with Jermichael Finley at this point.
As of now, Jermichael Finley is continuing to rehabilitate and is undergoing tests to determine the state of his recovery. If one thing is clear about Finley at this point, the guy has heart and he definitely wants to play football this year.
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