HEADLINES

Jermichael Finley

NFC Rumors: Bucs, Saints, Finley, Cowboys

February 25th, 2014 at 10:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers are making a push to re-sign fullback Erik Lorig, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. The strong blocker has opened up holes for Doug Martin and the club’s other running backs and can also pitch in at tight end (link). La Canfora still expects the unrestricted free agent to test the open market, but he could still wind up back in Tampa Bay even if he does (link). More from around the NFL..

NFC North Rumors: Bears, Ratliff, Packers

February 21st, 2014 at 9:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Over the past two days, we’ve seen some Bears updates and a handful of Packers rumors. We have a couple more tidbits to add to the list, though…

  • Bears general manager Phil Emery may be willing to deal his first-round pick, writes ESPN.com’s Michael C. Wright. While Wright acknowledges the difficulty to evaluate Emery based on the GM’s dry sense of humor, he got the impression that Emery would field calls for the 14th pick. 
  • The Bears will meet with Jay Ratliff‘s camp in Indianapolis, tweets Wright. In the same tweet, Wright also mentions the team’s interest in bringing back cornerback Kelvin Hayden
  • The Packers may be looking to beef up their quarterback depth via the draft, writes Weston Hodkiewicz of Packersnews.com.

Packers Notes: Flynn, Jones, Finley, Cap

February 21st, 2014 at 10:15am CST by Luke Adams

Packers coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson have already addressed the media this morning in Indianapolis, so let’s round up some of the highlights from their respective sessions….

  • McCarthy indicated that a report suggesting Green Bay wants to get lighter on the defensive line isn’t necessarily accurate. McCarthy conceded that the defensive front may look a little different next season, but said he never wants his line to get smaller (Twitter links via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com).
  • Asked about a few pending free agents, McCarthy expressed interest in bringing back quarterback Matt Flynn, as well as pass-catchers James Jones and Jermichael Finley (Twitter links via Demovsky and Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).
  • Thompson deflected questions about his team’s biggest draft need and whether the Packers would use the franchise tag on cornerback Sam Shields (Twitter links via Dunne).
  • While some execs and experts have been lavish in their praise of this year’s draft class, Thompson was more restrained, telling reporters, including Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (Twitter link), that it’s hard to evaluate draft classes in the moment. In Thompson’s view, it won’t be possible to know how strong or deep this year’s group is until several years down the road.
  • Much has been made of the Packers’ cap flexibility, but Thompson says the team tries not to approach the offseason focusing too heavily on cap space: “We don’t talk much about the cap. We try not to make decisions based on the cap. We try to make football decisions” (Twitter link via Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin).
  • Thompson added that there are always “surprises” during free agency, but that Green Bay is approaching the free agent period intent on keeping their own players (Twitter links via Dougherty).

Packers Rumors: Finley, Raji, Pickett

February 12th, 2014 at 9:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest on the Packers..

  • Free agent tight end Jermichael Finley and his agent are optimistic that he’ll be cleared to play soon, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Meanwhile, Finley’s future with Green Bay remains uncertain. The Packers’ medical staff is conservative by league standards and did not clear safety Nick Collins after his C3/C4 neck fusion, a procedure that he is also believed to have also undergone. Given his past success and age (still only 26), Finley should pick up considerable interest around the league if he can show that he’s healthy.
  • The Packers want an athletic, Dom Capers-style defense, tweets Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. With a push towards athleticism and versatile personnel, that could mean the end of B.J. Raji‘s time in Green Bay. Don’t be surprised if the Packers’ defensive linemen are closer to 290 lbs than the 330 that Raji and Ryan Pickett weigh, Rapoport tweets.
  • The Packers could be getting ready to spend more on the open market than they have in recent years with about $30MM of cap room to burn, Rapoport tweets.

NFC East Rumors: Finley, Eagles, Redskins

February 6th, 2014 at 12:10pm CST by Luke Adams

Yesterday, we passed along word that Antrel Rolle has been recruiting Jermichael Finley in an effort to get the free-agent-to-be to join the Giants. However, Finley remains a Packer for at least a few more weeks, and agent Blake Baratz tells Paul Schwartz of the New York Post that working out a new deal to stay in Green Bay would be his client’s first priority.

“Right now he is a Packer and I know he would love to play his entire career there,” Baratz said. “For the next five weeks or so they have his exclusive negotiation rights. If it doesn’t work out in Green Bay for whatever reason then I believe there are a number of teams that could use a talent like Jermichael.”

While the Giants and other teams keep an eye on Finley’s recovery and wait to see if they’ll have a chance to sign him, let’s check in on a few more items from out of the NFC East:

  • Roosevelt Barnes, the agent for prospective free agent OLB Mike Neal, tells Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com that he could see the Eagles having interest in his client if Neal doesn’t re-up with the Packers in the next month. “Philly would be a good spot for him,” Barnes said. “But we still have a little while to go before free agency.”
  • The Redskins, who have opened contract negotiations with defensive lineman Chris Baker, will likely to seek to lock him up to a deal to the three-year, $3.3MM pact Kedric Golston signed a year ago, says Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
  • While the Redskins have plenty of projected cap space for 2014 at this point, Keith McMillan of the Washington Post breaks down the numbers and estimates that the club will have to use a good chunk of that room to retain its own free agents.

Rolle Recruiting Jermichael Finley For Giants

February 5th, 2014 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

While the NFL’s free agent period doesn’t officially open until March, at least one player has already been laying the groundwork to bring a prospective free agent to his team. At an awards dinner on Tuesday, Giants safety Antrel Rolle admitted that he has been recruiting free-agent-to-be Jermichael Finley, as Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News writes.

“I said I would love for him to be a part of the Giants so I wouldn’t have to face him,” Rolle said. “He’s an extreme talent. He’s an exceptional guy and more importantly I know he’s a fiery guy. I think that’s something we can definitely use on the offensive side of the ball.”

Finley, who underwent single-fusion spinal surgery in November, hopes to be cleared for contact soon and return to action in the 2014 season. The longtime Packer has mentioned the possibility of returning to Green Bay or signing with the Seahawks and said he’d “love to be a part of the Giants,” according to Rolle, so it sounds like the 26-year-old is looking forward to testing the open market.

As for Rolle himself, he only has one year remaining on his deal with the Giants, but has no interest in going anywhere and would reportedly be open to discussing an extension with the team this offseason.

Free Agency Notes: Jones-Drew, Veldheer, Finley

February 3rd, 2014 at 6:25pm CST by David Kipke

With free agency looming, let’s discuss some of the veteran players that find themselves in uncertain contract situations…

Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com thinks that Maurice Jones-Drew‘s days playing for the Jaguars are over. DiRocco explains that because Jones-Drew will have likely have to take a less lucrative contract to stay in Jacksonville, he will likely leave to pursue a a free agent deal similar to the ones received by Steven Jackson, Reggie Bush, and Shonn Greene last offseason.

Finley Eyes Return, Mentions Seattle

January 31st, 2014 at 10:11pm CST by Matt Feminis

Packers injured tight end Jermichael Finley, recovering from season-ending neck surgery, spoke with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio about his pending unrestricted free agency. Finley was upbeat and optimistic, saying he feels “awesome,” has been running routes and catching passes and expects to be cleared for contact in three to four weeks when his vertebrae fusion is complete.

Speaking on the subject of free agency, Finley expressed his desire to remain a “Packer for life,” saying he will give them first chance to be heard, but did not hide the fact he’s already pondered alternative destinations. “…I would love to be on the first flight out to good old Seattle,” said Finley.

It remains to be seen if the Packers, typically tight-lipped regarding free agent plans, will offer a contract to Finley, who missed a total of 26 games to season-ending injuries in 2010 and 2013. Finley has been outspoken in the past about his desire to earn all that he can, but his earning power will be predicated on his medical reports, and he might be forced to accept a one-year deal. Back in October, ESPN’s Rod Demovsky used the team’s 2012 decision to sever ties with former Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins to illustrate the complicated nature of Finley’s risk-reward situation.

Whether Finley is back in Green Bay or not, the team’s tight end situation is a question mark heading into the offseason, as No. 2 Andrew Quarless is also a free agent.