Jordy Nelson signed to 3 yr extension

[Fritz]

Why would you ever be so damn willing to part with superstar talent if the talent's attached to an even nominally checkable ego? Finley seems like a boy. A boy who wants to be loved. He's frustrating sometimes but he really does seem to mean well. I just don't see the evidence you guys do to trade a superstar talent. You had the #5 overall pick a few years ago and got AJ Hawk. There's just no guarantees. But you do know that Finley is a star talent.

[Smidgeon]

I have nearly forgotten about Quarless. Crabtree is out there all the time to block, but Quarless sightings have been few and far between.

Not sure about the stable of TEs. Taylor I believe was mainly targeted to help ST. Offense is optional with him for a year or two. DJ Williams has had a few snaps, but not much. He is a different type of receiver altogether.

A sturdier Quarless and Cobb might make the transition easier this year, yes. But I will be surprised if they don't offer Finley a market value deal.

I've actually noticed Quarless on the field a lot. Not catching passes, but being put in specifically to block. Plus, I think I read in McGinn's analysis that observers can tell that Quarless is passionate about being a great blocker. I don't know if it's now, but Quarless might be the most complete TE on the team. Not the most talented, but the most complete.

[Guiness]

I've actually noticed Quarless on the field a lot. Not catching passes, but being put in specifically to block. Plus, I think I read in McGinn's analysis that observers can tell that Quarless is passionate about being a great blocker. I don't know if it's now, but Quarless might be the most complete TE on the team. Not the most talented, but the most complete.

That's interesting, because he supposed to have great hands.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Why would you ever be so damn willing to part with superstar talent if the talent's attached to an even nominally checkable ego? Finley seems like a boy. A boy who wants to be loved. He's frustrating sometimes but he really does seem to mean well. I just don't see the evidence you guys do to trade a superstar talent. You had the #5 overall pick a few years ago and got AJ Hawk. There's just no guarantees. But you do know that Finley is a star talent.

But what good is his talent if he becomes a distraction and has something to say after every game? Rodgers is coming off of SIX TD game and he is complaining. Basically he is saying I don't care if you play great and hit the wide open guy I want MY stats. How is that wanting to be "loved?" That definitely sounds like a selfish person to me. Sure seemed like Rodgers and the offense as a whole took off after Finley went down last year. I'm willing to bet his injury was a blessing and we just couldn't see it at the time. Trading him is not about the trade pick or the player we would get in return more than it is about getting as much as we can for a player we don't want. And if this how his attitude is going to be than I don't want him. Talent alone doesn't win you games.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I've actually noticed Quarless on the field a lot. Not catching passes, but being put in specifically to block. Plus, I think I read in McGinn's analysis that observers can tell that Quarless is passionate about being a great blocker. I don't know if it's now, but Quarless might be the most complete TE on the team. Not the most talented, but the most complete.

Yep and didn't Finley say before the season started that he doesn't want to have to block or that it is a waste of his talents.

[Upnorth]

First this is the best thread I have read in a while. Great discussion

Why would you ever be so damn willing to part with superstar talent if the talent's attached to an even nominally checkable ego? Finley seems like a boy. A boy who wants to be loved. He's frustrating sometimes but he really does seem to mean well. I just don't see the evidence you guys do to trade a superstar talent. You had the #5 overall pick a few years ago and got AJ Hawk. There's just no guarantees. But you do know that Finley is a star talent.

Second, with at least 7 to 8 comparable TE's in the league, is he really a superstar? Could it be that certain scheme's are making the TE much more of a weapon again?? Could it be that when opposing D's try to take away Jennings, Nelson and Driver that makes Finley an easy go to?

[Brandon494]

Lets trade this fucker before he tears this team apart!

[Upnorth]

Lets trade this fucker before he tears this team apart!

Lets hope he doesn't demand a kings ransom and act like a bitch at negotiation time. He ain't no snowflake chuckles.

[denverYooper]

First this is the best thread I have read in a while. Great discussion

Second, with at least 7 to 8 comparable TE's in the league, is he really a superstar? Could it be that certain scheme's are making the TE much more of a weapon again?? Could it be that when opposing D's try to take away Jennings, Nelson and Driver that makes Finley an easy go to?

I think he's probably at the top of that group. Second in receiving skills only to Gates but I can see Finley passing him soon. Not as complete as Witten but his abilities as a receiver are superior. Vernon Davis is probably comparable if he hooks up with a better QB.

Thing is, (homer alert) Finley is one of the best receivers in the league. Not just receiving Tight End, but Receiver. If Aaron wanted to force him the ball, he'd make the Johnson-esque plays (playoffs vs Cards anyone?). But that's not how they roll. LIS before, he's the bait more often than not, much to his dismay at times. But he'll put up his share of eye-popping games. I wouldn't be surprised to see him drop a few TDs on the birds this weekend.

[denverYooper]

I agree with Fritz (and Brandon) about Finley's attitude. If you follow him on twitter, he seems like a good guy and really loves his wife and son a lot and honestly, a good portion of his tweets are about them. I think that says something about the guy. He's still working on his media game.

I don't think the attitude will be a contract holdup at all, really, because I don't believe the Packers feel it's an issue there. They're likely only waiting to find out some more about his durability, if that. Jordy's agent was in talks with the team for a few months before his contract was assigned. Nary a peep until last weekend. But if they're negotiating with Fin right now, you can bet they're trying to use his injury history in their favor in return for some security up front from him. He might be the one waiting to build up that history of availability.

[mraynrand]

Why would you ever be so damn willing to part with superstar talent if the talent's attached to an even nominally checkable ego? Finley seems like a boy. A boy who wants to be loved. He's frustrating sometimes but he really does seem to mean well. I just don't see the evidence you guys do to trade a superstar talent. You had the #5 overall pick a few years ago and got AJ Hawk. There's just no guarantees. But you do know that Finley is a star talent.

++++1

[Upnorth]

FWIW I really hope he stays with us, I just hope he is reasonable about the contracts. If we get arod at 10 mil a year I sure hope
finley is less. 7 mil a year tops.

[vince]

If he stays healthy, I think Finley is going to achieve his goal of being the highest paid TE in the league, and it'll be with the Packers. That's about $8 mil a year if I'm not mistaken. He's worth that and then some. He's the guy, after Arod the trigger man of course, that makes this offense unstoppable. The cap is going up by $40 mil or so over the next three years, and so are the contracts of the league's elite. I think Ted and Russ Ball will find room to get Finley, Wells, Arod, Raji, Matthews, and Jennings again, all signed in good time. Prolly Pickett too. His role will diminish hopefully, but I could see him sticking around for a short re-up/extension.

Driver, Clifton, unfortunately maybe Collins, Woodson, are all top-of-the-money-list guys that'll be coming off the books in the upcoming few years as well. Jones may not survive his three-year deal as the number 4 or 5 receiver. I think they'll have room and make room if necessary, to keep those guys you can't reasonably expect to just go out and replace in the draft.

[pbmax]

1. I don't know how this can be defined as a "tantrum":

"Percentage-wise, I'd say 80% of the time I was capped," Finley said of being double-teamed by a cornerback underneath and a safety over the top. "If every team wants to come in and double-team me, we've got guys like Greg and Jordy and James Jones.

"I just have to stick to doing my job."

Finley admitted it was tough to go from three touchdowns to three barely noticeable catches. He said it's going to be hard to stomach that if it continues.

Asked if it was a compliment that he drew two guys all day, he said, "Not really. I want the ball."

Finley said a perfect example of the attention he got was WR Greg Jennings' touchdown at the end of the half. Two defenders came after him, leaving Jennings wide open down the seam for a 17-yard completion.

"Both corner and safety ran to me and left Greg wide open," Finley said. "That shows you right there. Once you double team it leaves somebody open.

"I guess their main concern was stopping me today. But you know, 40-some points, I don't know what they were trying to do."

Finley said he hopes the coaches come up with some answers for the double teams so he can remain a big part of the offense. Against the Broncos, he stayed split out where he's more vulnerable to double teams.

"I'm not being selfish, but we'll have to come back and dial something up," he said. "You have to get your playmaker the ball in games when it's close. I can be the bull when everything's going wrong."

Notice he did not say the underlined part. 4 quotes about how the double team attention benefited the team and 2 about challenging the double team/wanting the ball more. A far cry from demanding the ball more. Also notice that Finley recognizes that the defensive plan of the Broncos enabled the Packers to win, and he can differentiate such a situation to one where they NEED Finley to win a game (last quote). This is an important part of recognizing one's role. He gets it.

2. Sometimes I think Packer fans do not know what a diva receiver is. For reference, think about the Bucs or the Eagles suspending a healthy receiver just to get him out of the locker room. Or picture Owens doing situps in his driveway.

3. Finley's level of diva-ish-ness can be measured by the amount of hand holding it took to get him to proclaim his solidarity with the team.

"He just told me to keep running my routes hard, that the ball was going to come my way," Finley said. "It's going to come."

4. Look at how picture-gate failed to divide the team before the Super Bowl. This locker room works and Finley is not a large problem in it.

Everyone needs to relax.

[Upnorth]

Excellent post PB, I never caught that he did not say that before. It really changes his perceived attitude. I still don't want to break the bank for this guy.