Finley

[Zool]

As the saying goes, it is time for Finley to "put-up, AND shut-up."

Fixed it for you.

[gbgary]

Big deal in and of itself? No, absolutely not. But, it does continue a pattern of recognizing, but deflecting responsibility. It started as a rookie and seems to continue each year in one way or another. Maybe it is just poor interview habits. In the end, it really doesn't matter.

As the saying goes, it is time for Finley to "put-up, or shut-up." His career has been frequented by injuries, with occasions of brilliance and some inconsistency. If he is ever going to be the player he and many others think he can be, its time to start. In his 5th year it is too late to talk about potential, it's time to talk about actual performance. He is in the middle part of his career, which should be his most dominant years.

I agree except or the deflecting responsibility. he admitted he over did it

[Brandon494]

What do he suppose to say?

[Pugger]

What's the big deal here? I'm pleased he recognizes he wasn't all that wonderful last year and worked hard to improve himself. So he overdid it. I say this is a hell of lot better than if he came into camp fat and satisfied after signing his extension. If indeed one of his motivations was to quiet his critics in the media and some fans so be it.

[Patler]

I agree. As I wrote earlier, it doesn't matter anymore. So long as he isn't a team distraction, and there is no suggestion that he is, answering inartfully is not a crime. Favre survived doing it for years. Lots of player do.

The only thing that matters from hereon out for Finley is actual performance. Not potential. Not what could have been. Not what should have been. No excuses for being injured, but no fault either; it just is. No excuses for having worked too hard, or for criticism having "forced" him to work himself into an injury; ultimately that is on him. No caveats in performance based on how he is used, the patterns he is asked to run, the depth at other positions limiting opportunities. No leniency for how he is defensed. All that matters is how he actually performs, because going into his 5th year, he is what he is and will be.

The Packers have paid him well to prove in the next two years that he deserves a long-term, top-level TE contract. He will either earn it or he won't; and if he doesn't the reasons why he didn't won't matter much anymore because they are unlikely to change going forward.

[denverYooper]

What's the big deal here? I'm pleased he recognizes he wasn't all that wonderful last year and worked hard to improve himself. So he overdid it. I say this is a hell of lot better than if he came into camp fat and satisfied after signing his extension. If indeed one of his motivations was to quiet his critics in the media and some fans so be it.

Having conducted job interviews and performance reviews and worked with all types of employees, the "I work so hard when no one's looking" immediately sounds like BS. Now, Finley shows up in shape and I believe that he probably *has* been working on his hands but it's at least clear (as PB mentioned above) that Finley might need to revisit how he goes about pursuing his offseason goals because he seems to be doing so in a way that is counterproductive to the team. As a guy who needs the reps, his not being available again is only hurting his development.

I really do hope he comes and plays lights out. I like him and I think he has the potential to do so, but the real issue is whether or not he can get his head in the game.

[Patler]

Having conducted job interviews and performance reviews and worked with all types of employees, the "I work so hard when no one's looking" immediately sounds like BS. Now, Finley shows up in shape and I believe that he probably *has* been working on his hands but it's at least clear (as PB mentioned above) that Finley might need to revisit how he goes about pursuing his offseason goals because he seems to be doing so in a way that is counterproductive to the team. As a guy who needs the reps, his not being available again is only hurting his development.

That says it very well.

I doubt that he overworked himself into the injury. Perhaps he "erroneously" worked himself into it by doing what he thought best, like last year when he decided to come in lighter even though he suspected the coaches would not be in favor of it. It's funny that guys known for being workout fanatics, like Driver, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, Al Harris, etc. never seemed to suffer training camp injuries from overworking. Coincidence? Luck? Heredity? Hard to say, but interesting none the less.

[pbmax]

The statements essentially do nothing to enhance our understanding of him as a player or person. But they do underline, as Patler and others have described, the difference between his potential and his production.

Regardless of how or why he is injured (remember also he had a concussion in this camp), the story of his career has been either unavailability or unreliability. I don't think its a gross injustice to frame his end of 2009 campaign and the beginning of the 2010 season as the exception at this point.

Finley is at the point where a good, but not great TE, who is available every week and doesn't suffer lapses that last a season, would out produce him. And that's a shame, because they should not be able to touch him.

[mraynrand]

What do he suppose to say?

YOTTO!



It's a game - have fun!

[Fritz]

He's still a puzzle. Many of us, myself included, did not at all like his first-year immaturity, but at the same time it seemed he was like a puppy who would grow up. Now, however, in modern-day NFL terms, he's a veteran, a grown-up, yet he still sometimes acts in ways that indicate he doesn't really quite get it yet. Thus it becomes a game of wait-and-see - but for how long? You'd hate to give up on the kind of monstrous talent he has, and MM seems to genuinely like him and claims Finley's not a problem, yet the guy has not been consistent, at all. This most recent interview, a small tick on the scale by itself, takes on added weight because this isn't year one or year two for Finley any more. It starts to look like a pattern, one that has not translated into consistent production commensurate with his skills.