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GREEN BAY - Jermichael
Finley is ready for the increased expectations that are sure to come
with his increased salary.
The Green Bay
Packers opted to pay their mercurial tight end a $3 million roster
bonus rather than cut him by 4 p.m. EDT Monday afternoon. Though
Finley swears he wasn't watching the clock, he took to Twitter
shortly after the deadline passed, saying, "Ecstatic 2 b back w
(at)packers. Best place on earth."
"It's a great
opportunity to stay with a great organization and a great
quarterback to move forward and win more championships," Finley
told the (Milwaukee) Journal Sentinel. "I'm ready to take my
game to another level. Every player wants to achieve as much as
possible. In my case, I want to get back to what I know and that's
playing great football."
The Packers have
long been enamored with Finley's size — he's 6-foot-5 and 247
pounds — speed and strength. Not only is he a big target for Aaron
Rodgers, but he draws multiple defenders and can block just about
anyone. He set a Packers record for receptions by a tight end last
season, finishing with 61 catches for 676 yards and two touchdowns.
But there were some
who wondered if his inconsistency early in the season made him
expendable. Finley dropped numerous balls and complained about his
role in the offense.
"I really felt
Jermichael Finley was a different man, a different player from the
bye week on," coach Mike McCarthy said after the Packers lost
to San Francisco in the playoffs. "I feel very good about the
way he finished the year. ... But we obviously have to look at the
first half, too, and make sure that's part of the evaluation because
we're all judged on 17 games."
Despite his
increased price tag — his salary this season will be $8.25 million
— Finley's youth and potential convinced the Packers he was worth
keeping. Green Bay also couldn't afford to let another big piece of
their offense go, having already lost top receiver Greg Jennings to
rival Minnesota and tight end Tom Crabtree to Tampa Bay.
"I love the
expectations that I have to meet this year," Finley said.
"I have to make it happen."
Finley, who turned
26 on Tuesday, told the Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/YxN6Mf
) he learned from last year's up-and-down season. The approach he
had in the second half of the season is the one he knows he'll need
to have in the future.
"It's all
about letting my play speak," he said. "It's all about
letting my ability do its job. That's what I'm going to do this year
and I guarantee I'll be relaxed and be the player I know I can
be."
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