Mice And Men - Texans

[Patler]

You disagree? With what? I said deserved or not. I think people like to have a guy they can dog pile on, like Jones, Hawk, Carroll, Buckley, etc. etc. Deserved or not, Finley seems to be that guy this year.

I don't think Finley is "that guy" this year. Bulaga, Nelson and Rodgers have certainly gotten a lot of criticism as well, along with Saturday. There has been a lot of criticism leveled at the DBs, too. Wilson is routinely "dismissed", regardless of what he does.

For the most part, a vast number of people here want to continue making excuses for Finley, no matter how often and how long he plays poorly

[Patler]

That he is being singled out like TBucky or Grabby Smurf. If any Packer can complain it's Bush about unfair critizism.

We are all Packer homers. Sometime it isn't fun looking at how your football "heros" are actually performing. Hell, I wanted the Pack to sign Finley to a long-term contract so I could finally buy his jersey.

I wanted them to sign Wells and let Finley go. Wouldn't have mattered. Wells is on IR.

[denverYooper]

You can only baby along a guy because of potential for so long. I think that time has come for Finley. Five years is a long time in the NFL. As I have said before, if he goes somewhere else, the change of scenery might set him free to become a star, but at this point it is looking unlikely that will happen in GB. For that reason, I think it is time to put him on notice that there are others behind him who can do what he is doing. If he wants to hold the job he has to start doing the things that the others can not. If he can't do those things, a cheaper alternative to Finley is in the teams best interest.

I agree with this. It's part of the reason that I started the DJ Williams thread, because maybe Finley just needs a wake up call to get out of his head and spreading some opportunities around would likely be a wake up call. He's really the only TE that the team has planned any regular work for in terms of the passing game and his gaffes are costing them right now. I think the Colts game really solidified that. And with Cobb emerging and Jones playing well, they might just not worry much about TE involvement (outside of the occasional Crabtree play) going forward this year. They might not need it.

It also would not surprise me to see him go elsewhere and flourish because I still think he has a lot of ability and maybe he is just stuck and his mindset is too far gone in the current setting.

[mraynrand]

For the most part, a vast number of people here want to continue making excuses for Finley, no matter how often and how long he plays poorly

lol your eyes must work different than mine

[mraynrand]

That he is being singled out like TBucky or Grabby Smurf. If any Packer can complain it's Bush about unfair critizism.

We are all Packer homers. Sometime it isn't fun looking at how your football "heros" are actually performing. Hell, I wanted the Pack to sign Finley to a long-term contract so I could finally buy his jersey.

How could I forget about Bush! He is the classic whipping boy. Finley is just the flavor of the month, but that special could be continued....

[Patler]

lol your eyes must work different than mine

Perhaps a little bit of exaggeration to enhance persuasion, but it really surprises me how many do make excuse after excuse for him.

[MadtownPacker]

Didn't think Finley played bad. More like "incomplete" as he played only 24 or so snaps. Had a redzone drop but so did Nelson.

You might not think he played bad but as you stated he play limited so maybe M3 (Packers head coach!!) is thinking along the sames lines as many here. That finley is not living up to the talk (his own specifically) and has constantly went public to cry about something that he has had control of this whole time (his hands).

I like finley still, he is marketable and has shown he has talent. But in the end the real question is does he have heart?

[pbmax]

If we were in the business of evaluating players, than making excuses for Finley serves no purpose. But as a fan, I want to have the upper hand in any debate with fans of other teams or folks who simply cannot stand Finley.

So excuse making is just practice for argument making.

In actuality, I want both. I want an honest evaluation of Finley, which is why I am happy this thread exists. I want the team to make a clinical evaluation of his value and I am pleased when I agree with their assessments. If we disagree, I hope the team is right but I am glad if y point is validated in some way or that I learn something.

But honest discussion of his strengths, weaknesses and value don't boost my spirits during the game or the ensuing debate with fans and friends.

[Patler]

If we were in the business of evaluating players, than making excuses for Finley serves no purpose. But as a fan, I want to have the upper hand in any debate with fans of other teams or folks who simply cannot stand Finley.

So excuse making is just practice for argument making.

In actuality, I want both. I want an honest evaluation of Finley, which is why I am happy this thread exists. I want the team to make a clinical evaluation of his value and I am pleased when I agree with their assessments. If we disagree, I hope the team is right but I am glad if y point is validated in some way or that I learn something.

But honest discussion of his strengths, weaknesses and value don't boost my spirits during the game or the ensuing debate with fans and friends.

For the most part, I don't talk sports with fans of other teams. I treat it sort of like religion and politics at a family gathering!

[Smidgeon]

I don't hate any player, but I do try to objectively evaluate their role on a team, and how they fit in both as to performance and with respect to the salary cap. For a few years many decades ago I was paid for my comments on high school and college players, and much later I ran around the US and Canada for the better part of 20 years to watch and evaluate young hockey players (through Juniors) because of various ownership interests I still have and related team responsibilities I had for 15 years or so. I learned very early to distinguish potential and athletic ability from actual performance on the field or ice. It is very easy to look at a physical specimen who looks great in practice and then give him more credit than he deserves for his actual game performance. It is easy to watch him do something well, looking graceful doing it, and automatically think no one else could have done it because he is just so gifted. But if you watch critically you will often see a much less gifted athlete do the same thing, but much less gracefully. The truly exceptional plays that only few can perform are much less common, and leap out at you.

Had you been here 3 and 4 years ago, you would have seen me as one of Finley's biggest supporters. I praised him at every opportunity for how he changed from his rookie year. I said his change in both attitude and performance were among the best that I remembered. I thought he really was on his way to becoming one of the dominant TEs. At that point, he really was making exceptional plays. I remember him just calmly snatching the ball away from DBs trying to cover him, and looking like a man among boys at times by just physically dominating plays (as a receiver, he has always been a very inconsistent blocker).

Two years ago, while out injured, he seemed to change his attitude again. An aggravation at the time, but no big deal. However, for nearly a season and a half his on the field performance has regressed badly. He now plays "small". The PI call is a good example. His combination of size and athletic skill should allow him to minimize the hand battles with defenders. He does not physically impose himself on the defender. Playing small got him the PI call on Sunday. His best plays are not ones that others can't make, and when given the opportunity to make exceptional plays, he has failed most of the time.

He is in his fifth year. Chances are high that he is all that he will ever be. It is not very common for a player to change dramatically after 5 years in the league, but two things are in Finley's favor with respect to that; he is still quite young having come out very early, and he has been injured often and has not had lengthy, consistent opportunities while not injured. Of course, the injuries raise an entirely different issue in and of themselves when considering his long-term role.

You can only baby along a guy because of potential for so long. I think that time has come for Finley. Five years is a long time in the NFL. As I have said before, if he goes somewhere else, the change of scenery might set him free to become a star, but at this point it is looking unlikely that will happen in GB. For that reason, I think it is time to put him on notice that there are others behind him who can do what he is doing. If he wants to hold the job he has to start doing the things that the others can not. If he can't do those things, a cheaper alternative to Finley is in the teams best interest.

Excellent post. Repped.

[mraynrand]

Perhaps a little bit of exaggeration to enhance persuasion, but it really surprises me how many do make excuse after excuse for him.

I thought it was funny because I think I'm the only one left making excuses for him. Seriously, I'm not his agent or anything, but I'm going to keep making those excuses until the guy gets better!

[ThunderDan]

I thought it was funny because I think I'm the only one left making excuses for him. Seriously, I'm not his agent or anything, but I'm going to keep making those excuses until the guy gets better!

Is that a life time appointment?

I sure hope Finley snaps out of his funk. The O can be so much more potent when Finley can create favorable 1-on-1 match-ups.

[mraynrand]

Is that a life time appointment?.

It depends on whose life you're talking about

[Patler]

I thought it was funny because I think I'm the only one left making excuses for him. Seriously, I'm not his agent or anything, but I'm going to keep making those excuses until the guy gets better!

Ya, when Brandon switched sides and gave up on Finley it was quite remarkable!

[LP]

Shit list:
LegendofthePack - For not putting finley on the mice list.

Should be put on a hell of alot worse list for bringing Brittney Spears into the conversation.