Salary Cap Visualizations

[denverYooper]

Nah -- forget it braddah. Keep using da kine.

Is that what you think he means by "In the Bluegrass"?

[rbaloha1]

The pros and cons of bringing back Jermichael Finley
By Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel Feb. 8, 2013

EMAIL PRINT |(59) COMMENTS
Green Bay — No single player draws quite a response from you guys quite like Jermichael Finley.

To recap, here’s what we saw this past year alone…

In June, Finley said he wanted to "freestyle." In camp, Finley was met with some competition. On the verge of the season opener, he maintained his goal not to over-think. There was that tweet. Midway through the season, Finley cited a disconnect with his quarterback. Finley's comments on Brian Urlacher created a stir. Bob McGinn reported that the team would likely part ways with the tight end. And by the end of the season, Finley finished strong.

Add it all up and those eight stories triggered 1,012 comments from readers on JSOnline. No, there isn't a more polarizing player on the roster. When 2012 was all said and done, Finley finished with 61 receptions for 667 yards and two touchdowns.

Now, it's decision time.

As detailed in today's paper, Finley believes it's "50/50" whether or not he returns. The Packers can save $8.25 million by releasing the tight end who is due a $3 million bonus in March. With many a salary cap decision on tap, that's a very real possibility. This isn't cut and dry. Here's a list of the pros and cons of keeping Finley around. And, as always, let us know what you think.

Pros...

--- Athletic, 6-foot-5, 247-pound tight ends don't grow on trees. The Packers have never boasted a tight end quite like Finley. At his best, nobody in franchise history comes close. The 2009 wild card game that Mike McCarthy called one of the best he's ever seen by a tight end is worth another look here. That tight end, knifing through secondaries like a deer, is rare in today's game.

--- When Finley's numbers dropped midway through last season, it wasn't necessarily all on him. He dropped the ball early, Aaron Rodgers began looking to other receivers and Finley was rendered a decoy for a stretch. He wasn't featured or fully utilized. In nine games, the tight end had five or less targets. By comparison, Jimmy Graham was targeted less than six times only once.

--- Speaking of "decoy," Finley still draws plenty of attention from defenses. Would any other tight ends on the roster create opportunities for others? Hard to say. Finley still drew the attention of defensive coordinators. Pop in the film and there are still defenders tilting his direction.

--- Finley ended 2012 on a high note. In his final seven games, Finley caught 32 passes for 396 yards with a touchdown. The drops were cut down. Rodgers looked to Finley again and he rewarded his quarterback's trust. The offense further opened up more as well. December was proof that there's room for a dynamic tight end to excel.

--- He has a high ceiling. He's still young. Next month, Finley turns 26 years old. With another year, maybe he does stay healthy, put it all together and emerge as a truly elite tight end. There's a good chance the Packers would regret letting Finley walk at this point in his career. They've invested a lot of time in his development.

Cons...

--- Finances. Obviously. The Packers may deem $8.25 million far too steep. That's an awful lot of money Ted Thompson could use elsewhere. Check out Tom Silverstein's story on the cap for the full rundown. Green Bay won't be able to keep everyone. The Packers G.M. must decide who stays and who goes.

--- Many times, the tight end has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons. The Packers weren't thrilled with his agent's tweet about Rodgers and he's been admittedly immature in the past. On this buttoned-up franchise, Finley stands out. Brutal honesty -- after all, his take on Brian Urlacher wasn't far off -- has gotten Finley into trouble.

--- Could be risky but maybe Green Bay has enough confidence in Andrew Quarless (back from injury), Tom Crabtree, D.J. Williams, Ryan Taylor and/or Brandon Bostick at tight end. Quarless was given a full season to recover from his knee surgery. And remember, the team did win a Super Bowl in 2010 when Finley lost for the season with a torn meniscus. Not to mention, there are a couple intriguing options in the NFL Draft. Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert or Stanford's Zach Ertz could pique Thompson's interest.

--- It may be best for both the Packers and for Finley to move on, to start fresh. Certain things Finley says in the Green Bay market wouldn't seem quite as bombastic elsewhere, in bigger cities. Another team may be more willing to take Finley in his entirety. And there could be another G.M. out there more willing to give Finley the multi-year deal he'll eventually seek.

Final Verdict...

It's funny. In Vegas, a shirtless Rob Gronkowski is dancing and body-slamming friends with a broken forearm. Yet many times, those antics are chalked up as "Gronk being Gronk." Point being, noise surrounding Finley is often overblown. Fans irritated over an emphatic first-down celebration should sit down and relax. This is a game.

Here's thinking the decision on Finley boils down to football and finances.

At what price is it worth giving Finley another season? Speaking to Finley on Thursday, this truly does sound like a "50/50" situation. He's not sure what to expect.

Right now, we're speculating. But in the end, it'd be smart for the Packers to ride out the back end of his two-year deal. He's still young and he still makes this offense much more dynamic. When the criticism reached a fever pitch last year, Finley kept a low profile and produced. The late-season report of his eventual exit was met with a calm sense of maturity in the locker room. McCarthy wasn't blowing smoke at his season-ending presser.

Green Bay is already likely to lose Greg Jennings. Losing Finley could be a major blow. Teams across the league search for weapons like Finley annually. The need to hang onto him may overcome any short-term financial constraints. Time will tell.

[Smeefers]

This is what I heard when I read the story.

Pro's: He has the potential to be awesome
Con's: He's still to immature to strive for that potential consistently

I guess we'll see how much TT thinks he's worth.

[George Cumby]

"Here's thinking the decision on Finley boils down to football and finances."

Now THAT is some hard-hitting journalism. Talk about thinking and writing in a way that makes the reader view the world in a different way.

Criminy, there's easily a half-dozen posters on this board that could do a better job than this hack.

Urinal-Scented, indeed.

[Guiness]

"Here's thinking the decision on Finley boils down to football and finances."

Now THAT is some hard-hitting journalism. Talk about thinking and writing in a way that makes the reader view the world in a different way.

Criminy, there's easily a half-dozen posters on this board that could do a better job than this hack.

Urinal-Scented, indeed.

lol. Good thing the decision didn't boil down to Mary Anne or Ginger, or Tastes Great Vs Less Filling, right?

[Cleft Crusty]

"Here's thinking the decision on Finley boils down to football and finances."

Now THAT is some hard-hitting journalism. Talk about thinking and writing in a way that makes the reader view the world in a different way.

Criminy, there's easily a half-dozen posters on this board that could do a better job than this hack.

Urinal-Scented, indeed.

Indeed. The staff at the US just isn't what it used to be

[Fritz]

lol. Good thing the decision didn't boil down to Mary Anne or Ginger, or Tastes Great Vs Less Filling, right?

Ginger. Always.

[George Cumby]

I prefer Mary Anne, myself.

[woodbuck27]

What happens if the same scenario happens next year?

As fans we live with that fact of life. That again.... too much adversity took us down.

[woodbuck27]

I prefer Mary Anne, myself.

Spend BIG for her if she comes with the tanning bed.

[Fritz]

Ginger would do nasty things that Mary Ann wouldn't even say out loud.

I wonder who Ted prefers....Mary Ann, Ginger, or the Combine?

[denverYooper]

Ginger would do nasty things that Mary Ann wouldn't even say out loud.

I wonder who Ted prefers....Mary Ann, Ginger, or the Combine?

[Cheesehead Craig]

Ginger would do nasty things that Mary Ann wouldn't even say out loud.

I wonder who Ted prefers....Mary Ann, Ginger, or the Combine?

Bitch please. Ginger would be too worried about her hair and make everything about herself. Mary Anne is a people pleaser and would certainly do anything she could to please people.

[Fritz]

I would rather hear Ginger's voice whispering the 40 times and the three-cone drill results of the Combine's top linebackers than hear Mary Ann reciting the sexual acts she would reluctantly perform with her eyes closed.

[Fritz]

QUOTE=Cheesehead Craig;714730]Bitch please. Ginger would be too worried about her hair and make everything about herself. Mary Anne is a people pleaser and would certainly do anything she could to please people.[/QUOTE]

Wait a sec...maybe "None of the Above" is the best answer, after all: