Let him walk

[mraynrand]

Don't make Eddie's father angry. You won't like him when he's angry.

[pbmax]

This theory goes as follows and begins now. All brontosauruses are thin at one end, much much thicker in the middle, and the thin again at the far end. That is my theory, it is mine, and it belongs to me, and I own it, and what it is, too.

My people call this animal "snake that ate an egg".

[jdrats]

Seems to me that all the discussion of Finley not being worth the big bucks and Driver being over the hill is because, as Packer fans, this year we don't have much of anything else to complain about, at least in regards to the offense.

But 58 seconds left and needing a score, and the first pass is to Finley.

Anytime facing a third and long and Driver is as likely as anyone to be the target.

I seem to remember this character named Charles Woodson who was a real loud mouth coming out of college and through most of his years with his first team. Never would have wanted him as a Packer, certainly would have been a locker room cancer.

In fact, pretty much everything I've heard from finley has been team oriented. And over a month ago he said he'd be glad to be Franchised by GB this year.

Way too much has been made of his drops. Didn't Jordy lead the team in drops last year?

I expect Finley to step it up big time with Jennings out and I'm betting we'll all be glad to have them both in the playoffs.

With three weeks to go, this team has already set a record for TDs scored in a season. Even if all Finley ever did was open up other receivers, they'd still be fools to let him get away. With McCarthy's emphasis on my-guy-is-better-than-your-defender no way do they let Finley get away. He will be a Packer for a long time.

[KYPack]

Finley has had an up and down year. He came up big against the Giants and was a go to guy in clutch time. 6 grabs and a TD with some big catches. He also had some key blocks in that game. One block dropped my jaw. He made a great read and executed a flawless angle block on the big Giant DE. Two years ago, he doesn't sniff that block, he would have blown the read. This year, he was on him like a big cat. Engage, sustain and finish, a form block all the way. He's not a green kid anymore.

But he still has a lot of work to do. He's 17th for TE's in catch rate at 61.8%. Thats what the 8 drops (he's tied for 6th in the league for most drops) gets ya. He runs sloppy routes and still has more to refine in his overall game. But he'll run the dog shit out of that seam route and the fade. Gronk and Graham are ahead of him as TE's. But Finley is the leading TE in the NFL in Yds/catch at 14.3.

He's a big thing and opposing DC's have to account for him on every play, usually giving two guys the responsibility to watch the big kid. No way MM wants to have a tool like that taken out of his playcalling toolkit. I'm siding with our resident grasshopper and Finley fan. I say the big kid stays in the picture and on the team.

[Tarlam!]

KY, even Rodgers has publicly called him out this season for not spending enough time in the study room. I think he relies way too much on his God given gifts still to be the elite TE he SHOULD be. Even in his last interview, Rodgers downgraded Finley's status from "the best TE in the game" (last season) to "one of the best".

I know, I am dissecting straws here, but it occured to me that the Franchise QB expects more. I might be completely off base, but Rodgers chooses his words rather carefully.

[KYPack]

KY, even Rodgers has publicly called him out this season for not spending enough time in the study room. I think he relies way too much on his God given gifts still to be the elite TE he SHOULD be. Even in his last interview, Rodgers downgraded Finley's status from "the best TE in the game" (last season) to "one of the best".

I know, I am dissecting straws here, but it occured to me that the Franchise QB expects more. I might be completely off base, but Rodgers chooses his words rather carefully.

I musta missed the "he should work harder" deal, or forgot it, one or the other.

if ARod said it, he's freakin' right! Finley definitely needs to work harder if he wants to be the best. Finley needs to work on his route running and refine his craft. He's sloppy, and rounds his routes, does a weak job of selling his fakes, etc. This really stood out to me when I saw the Saints play. Jimmy Graham ran a hook and go route that was a thing of beauty. Then I saw Finley run the same route and he just gave it a lick and a promise. Graham and Gronk are number 1, Finley needs to works at it if he wants the top of the mountain.

That said, Finley can be the best, if he'll bear down and put in the work.

[Fritz]

This is what most people think is the real question, isn't it? Will Finley put in the time to become the best he can be ? - which we all agree is damn good.

I suspect that MM and TT are in a better position to answer that and have come to some conclusions. All public word has been that the kid's a hard worker. So I'll go with that. I wonder if maybe it's less about his work habits and more about lapses in concentration.

I dunno. But I say you re-sign him, and if you can't, you slap the franny tag on him and try to work something out next year. Try finding that kind of blue-chip talent in the draft. It ain't easy - even for Ted.

[HarveyWallbangers]

From ESPN.

The NFL's top five tight ends
Matt Williamson, Scouts Inc.

The NFL has become a passing league and athletic, receiving tight ends are in vogue because stopping such players is extremely difficult. Put cornerbacks on them? Tight ends will run them over. Safeties can't keep up. Linebackers? Forget about it.

Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates started the trend and players like Jimmy Graham, Jermichael Finley and Rob Gronkowski are taking the torch now.

Who are the top five tight ends in the game today? Here is my list:

1. Rob Gronkowski

To me, there are three elite tight ends in the NFL right now. But while Gronkowski might be slightly less athletic and dangerous than Finley or Graham, he is far better as a blocker in the run and pass games. And we can't forget that blocking is a fundamental part of playing tight end. But Gronkowski isn't exactly a slouch as a receiver, either. More physical in getting position than Finley or Graham and also more physical after the catch, Gronkowski plays the game -- and the position -- like it was meant to be played. For a person as big as this guy is, he just shouldn't be able to move like he does. He is at his best near the goal line and has scored touchdowns at a remarkable rate.

2. Jimmy Graham

Amazingly, Graham is still very much a work in progress -- and that is scary since he's second in the NFL with 80 receptions this season. A few times every game, you see Graham and Drew Brees not quite being on the same page with the route the second-year tight end is expected to run, and my guess is that Brees is the one who is right 99 percent of the time. That isn't a knock on Graham, as he has very little experience playing this game at the NFL or college level. But he still makes the game look easy. This is an extremely special player, and he's only getting better.

3. Jermichael Finley

Graham over Finley is really splitting hairs. Finley's receiving numbers just don't compare this season, but Finley is further along right now, a slightly better athlete and more difficult cover. As great as the Packers' wide receivers are, to me, Finley is the guy who opens up room in the passing game for those around him. Yes, he has some inconsistencies, but it's also nearly impossible to guard him with just one defensive player. Again, I realize Finley's stats do not compare to Graham's, but let's see what he does now with Greg Jennings out of the lineup. Graham and Finley are neck-and-neck to me.

4. Jason Witten

I think Witten has a legitimate argument to someday be inducted into the Hall of Fame. His career has been fantastic, but 2011 hasn't been Witten's best season. And I am beginning to have concerns that his skills are beginning to decline slightly. It happens to everyone (even the guy listed fifth on this list). But there is also no denying that Witten is still an extremely effective blocker and receiver. He is reliable, tough and does everything asked of him extremely well. However, Witten is just no longer a difference-maker like the three tight ends listed above him.

5. Tony Gonzalez

Picking a fifth tight end on this list was very difficult, as, honestly, there aren't many worthy candidates. Antonio Gates has not been Antonio Gates -- although his past few games have been promising. Gates and Gonzalez -- two future Hall of Famers -- were both very close for this final spot … and they both are getting by with wisdom and experience at this point. Owen Daniels also was a strong consideration. Daniels is an extremely good route runner and solid all-around receiving option. Dallas Clark can't possibly be considered this season. Vernon Davis should be a top-five tight end, but the production just isn't there. Heath Miller is a very solid two-way player at the position. And Aaron Hernandez is a great receiver. But Gonzalez is quietly having an excellent season, after many of us wrote him off. He is doing his best work in the red zone. Gonzalez has been very impressive this season and deserves kudos for sure, but in the end, the elite list probably ends with Witten.

[Brandon494]

Stop posting these articles that make sense Harvey, Finley needs to go!

[smuggler]

"What do the best QBs in the league all have in common?" asks smuggler.

[Noodle]

But 58 seconds left and needing a score, and the first pass is to Finley.

Exactly -- good post, JDRats. Kind of indicates who A-Rod trusts. And Finley rewards that trust by making a hella great play that kickstarts the entire drive.

Give him a full pre-season to work on his routes and his connection with A-Rod, and I could see Finley having a monster season next year.

As to his contract, the Pack will tag him, fight about whether he should get the TE Tag price (about $5.4M for 2012) or the WR tag price (about $9.4M for 2012), then agree to split it at around $7M, and all will be good in Titletown. At least that's what I'm ordering my GM to do as a Packer Owner.

[pbmax]

This is what most people think is the real question, isn't it? Will Finley put in the time to become the best he can be ? - which we all agree is damn good.

I suspect that MM and TT are in a better position to answer that and have come to some conclusions. All public word has been that the kid's a hard worker. So I'll go with that. I wonder if maybe it's less about his work habits and more about lapses in concentration.

I dunno. But I say you re-sign him, and if you can't, you slap the franny tag on him and try to work something out next year. Try finding that kind of blue-chip talent in the draft. It ain't easy - even for Ted.

Finley has worked pretty hard in the past couple of years. His practice habits weren't thought to be good his first year. Everyone was talking about his development before 2010 and this most recent offseason he was rehabbing a torn ACL plus 2 additional surgeries to fix an infection. And he recovered from all that in 10 months (Nov to August). So he probably has not had a typical offseason in terms of TE work, even taking into account the lockout.

I worry less about his work ethic than about the results; he still does not have the same relationship to Rodgers as Nelson and even Jones seem to have in terms of QB-WR mind meld.

[Tarlam!]

When Finley screws up a route, misses a block or drops an easily catchable pass, watch Rodgers stare him down when he comes back to the huddle. I have made this a focal point because Rodgers sets the tone and he clearly signals to me, that Finley is working sloppy. And he has said as much in his post games this season, but with the dignity and respect he alway displays. Rodgers is challenging Finley. At the same time, he distributes him the ball, and the opportunities.

I am so convinced of this. And i think TT and M3 will lend their ears to what rodgers has to say about it, despite their policy on recruiting and running the team. Rodgers' football maturity is so obvious that they would be madmen not to take his opinion into consideration.

I wonder what Finley is like with a QB not named Rodgers, Manning, Brees or Brady. Particularly if his route running is as described by KY in that earlier post.

[MadtownPacker]

Maybe he just needs lasik.

[RashanGary]

I musta missed the "he should work harder" deal, or forgot it, one or the other.

if ARod said it, he's freakin' right! Finley definitely needs to work harder if he wants to be the best. Finley needs to work on his route running and refine his craft. He's sloppy, and rounds his routes, does a weak job of selling his fakes, etc. This really stood out to me when I saw the Saints play. Jimmy Graham ran a hook and go route that was a thing of beauty. Then I saw Finley run the same route and he just gave it a lick and a promise. Graham and Gronk are number 1, Finley needs to works at it if he wants the top of the mountain.

That said, Finley can be the best, if he'll bear down and put in the work.

The moment I realized Finley wasn't as good as I thought was when I went to youtube and flipped on Tony Gonzalez. Sure, he was a 1,000 yard per year TE for over a decade, but I went there expecting to find a similar athlete with a similar game to Finley. What I saw, even in a young Gonzalez, was a guy who ran amazing routes. He made the Finley type circus catches, but he also had safety and corners hips turned all around and created separation on top of using his elite physical talent.

Finley is an elite talent. I'm not so sure he's an elite football player. I think he's trying plenty hard. I just wonder if he has a feel for what's going on out there, for how he's being approached, for how he needs to adjust. . . . . Gonzalez knew how to set up defenders, knew how to coast through the zone, leaving a larger time window. Finley just runs his routes, seems to be caught off guard when a ball is thrown away from coverage, instead of right where Finley was running. . . Jennings, Nelson and Driver seem like they know the ball will be lead away from the defender and are more ready to adjust.

It's just little things about his game. He's just not living up. Jennings puts up the numbers year after year after year, even when he didn't have Finley or a running game to take pressure off him.