Finley To Have Surgery

[pbmax]

Okay, so the Packers placed Finley on IR, correct?

What happens if they do not offer him a contract, but someone else does? Are the Packers awarded a compensation pick?

Yes, IR rules don't prevent him from becoming a UFA.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Why would it not count as continuing his career if he gets a Doctor and Team to approve his return and he gets a minimum contract?

If a player of Finley's status wants to accept minimum offers, that is his business, and a foolish choice.

I do not believe a judge, let alone a jury, would force Finley to shop his services at a minimum salary in order to prove he is not able-bodied. A minimum salary would only demonstrate that the experts (GMs) believe that an elite player like Finley is likely to be done, they are just taking a flyer.

Those percentages don't tell us the overall number, but clearly players, with surgery and without are cleared to resume football.

It's the percentages that matters. How many players received fusion surgery and forgoed $10M insurance policies to take another shot at the game? I don't see it. I can see maybe a QB like Peyton Manning who doesn't have to concern himself with money (did he have a fusion?)

[MadScientist]

If a player of Finley's status wants to accept minimum offers, that is his business, and a foolish choice.

I do not believe a judge, let alone a jury, would force Finley to shop his services at a minimum salary in order to prove he is not able-bodied. A minimum salary would only demonstrate that the experts (GMs) believe that an elite player like Finley is likely to be done, they are just taking a flyer.

It would depend on the wording of the insurance policy. Nobody is forcing Finley to do anything, but if the wording is something like "... sustains an injury that make him unable to play in the NFL ..." and an NFL team clears him and offers him a contract, then he is a 'able' to play and can't collect.

[Harlan Huckleby]

"... sustains an injury that make him unable to play in the NFL ..." and an NFL team clears him and offers him a contract, then he is a 'able' to play and can't collect.

Sure, but are teams going to ignore Finley's contract expectations and offer a lowball that screws him? I just don't see this as a realistic issue.

If he wants to collect the insurance rather than play, and his injury has made him into a risky, borderline prospect, he is not going to seek or get a minimum offer.

If he wants to play, he'll probably find some way to play.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I wonder if he would have to actually fail a physical from an NFL team to prove that he's done? Definitive proof, IMO as no team would sign him w/o him going through one of those.

[Harlan Huckleby]

We've forgotten the point of insurance. Lane Taylor can't go out and buy a $10M insurance policy even if he could afford the premiums. The $10M figure isn't pulled out of thin air, it is an approximation of the value of Finley's future earnings.

If Finley has lost his ability to earn his estimated future earnings, he can collect on the policy. I'm sure the policy is written to reflect that fundamental agreement.

You can't go buy a $1M insurance policy on your "same crappy blue 72 Chevy Nova" (Beverly Hills Cop reference)

[Fritz]

We've forgotten the point of insurance. Lane Taylor can't go out and buy a $10M insurance policy even if he could afford the premiums. The $10M figure isn't pulled out of thin air, it is an approximation of the value of Finley's future earnings.

If Finley has lost his ability to earn his estimated future earnings, he can collect on the policy. I'm sure the policy is written to reflect that fundamental agreement.

You can't go buy a $1M insurance policy on your "same crappy blue 72 Chevy Nova" (Beverly Hills Cop reference)

I don't understand why all of you are worried about whether he collects on an insurance policy.

The real issue is what kind of comp pick could the Packers get if the guy signs with another team?

It'll be probably not a big contract, so he'd have to play lights out for the Pack to get even a shot at a decent pick.

[MadScientist]

Sure, but are teams going to ignore Finley's contract expectations and offer a lowball that screws him? I just don't see this as a realistic issue.

If he wants to collect the insurance rather than play, and his injury has made him into a risky, borderline prospect, he is not going to seek or get a minimum offer.

If he wants to play, he'll probably find some way to play.

Teams are not going to lowball Finley, assuming he actually can get cleared, but will offer him a contract that takes the risk into account. That may well be a minimum wage contract, although I would expect more of a minimum plus performance incentives kind of a deal.

I wonder if he would have to actually fail a physical from an NFL team to prove that he's done? Definitive proof, IMO as no team would sign him w/o him going through one of those.

He probably needs something to make the claim, either a failed physical, his doctors saying no, or his doctors giving a x% risk of paralysis that Finley says is too great. I suppose he could also claim that the injury has cost him his nerve and he can't play for psychological reasons.

[pbmax]

And what doctor is going to risk his reputation by saying a guy with a fused spine is good to go for the NFL?

Even for simple injuries, you often get different opinions from different doctors, medicine is not an exact science. Why would a doctor commit an all-clear to such a dicey situation?

So are you ready to say you were wrong here or should we research exactly how many Doctors have allowed players with spinal fusion to play again would prove the number isn't zero?

[pbmax]

Its light Finley is a moth, attracted to light. His neurosurgeon is on Twitter.

Jason Wilde @jasonjwilde 20h
Finley's doctor is on Twitter? RT @DrJosephMaroon: Packers' Finley elects to have neck procedure http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/1...eck-procedure/ …

[pbmax]

Thursday

Wes Hodkiewicz @WesHod 22h
#Packers injuries: Barclay DNP; EDS LIM; Hayward DNP; Jolly DNP; Matthews FULL; Mulumba LIM; Neal DNP; Perry DNP; Pickett LIM; Rodgers DNP

Neal is getting week off and is likely to play. Pickett is nursing a knee injury.

[pbmax]

Friday: Oh-Oh

Bob McGinn @BobMcGinn 1m
Sam Shields in sweats observing only at #Packers practice Fri. Don Barclay not around early. Mike Neal practiced. Dietrich-Smith seems OK.

[pbmax]

Difference of opinion on EDS and WesHod has Jolly back.

Wes Hodkiewicz @WesHod 13m
#Packers practice: Neal and Jolly returned but no Shields, Perry, Mulumba, EDS, Barclay, Rodgers or Hayward

[denverYooper]

Moved to Giants discussion.

[pbmax]

Whoa, wrong thread unless Sam is also playing TE.