THE MOUTH THAT ROARED

Finley’s Tirade Becomes distraction as Pack Preps for the Giants

 

 

Now that the Green Bay Packers are on a roll after a dismal 2 -3 start the road ahead to the playoffs is becoming clearer. With the stench of having a game stolen away and a horrible second half against the Indianapolis Colts the Pack has righted the ship, weathered the storm of a rash of injuries,  torn off a 5 game winning streak and moved into a first place tie with Chicago in the NFC North. With a game against the Giants this week and another against floundering Tennessee in December the Pack has 4 more games in their division and they hold the hammer this time. Already up 2 – 0 in the division the fate of the post season lies in the hands of the Pack. And all is well in Titletown making it more for which to be thankful.

Not exactly.

Just when the Pack thought they were free from internal conflict up jumps TE Jermichael Finley once again in the press this week. In an article published this week by the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel Finley came out in an interview and called out his QB and current NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers by saying that the lack chemistry between Finley and Rodgers has led to a marked drop in Finley’s production. After catching his first TD since week 1 Finley said “Both of us need to just go out, maybe have a drink or two and just spill everything. It sounds easy, but it's not. He's throwing it to who he's comfortable with. I think (Randall) Cobb's taken my position from '09. I want to line up where Cobb's lining up because I know the ball's coming there.”

"But me and 12 (Rodgers) just ain't been on. He's had some guys come through this year, and he's gone to them instead of me. And really, it's out of my hands at the end of the day. If I could throw myself the ball and run under it, I'd do it every play because he's just not throwing me the ball like he used to."

Never at a loss for words and self-adulation Finley continued his rant against Rodgers. When asked where he views himself in the order of the Packers very deep receiving corps Finley said “"I'd say about fourth". I don't really want to put a number on it, but I'd say four if I had to. I'm pretty disappointed in it. I'm pretty disappointed in the numbers side of it, but I ain't had the opportunities either.”

True enough. Finley’s numbers have been down and Cobb’s opportunities have gone up especially in the absence of Greg Jennings who has only managed a handful of snaps all year and is now coming off surgery to repair an abdominal muscle. Finley was signed to a 2 year deal that will pay him an estimated $6.25 million in bonuses before next season, and that’s provided he is still a Packer.

When asked directly about the future and where he might be playing Finley said "I love that question man, I don't know. All I know is I have talent. And if Green Bay decides to do something with me, I'm 25 years old. I got a decade under my belt, yet. Who knows at the end of the day?"

With Jennings in his contract year and Father Time shadowing Donald Driver, 38, Finley is all too aware of what the future in Green Bay could be.” Just picture that, 85 (Jennings) and 88 (Finley) gone and 80 (Driver)," Finley said. "If that happens, you tell me. That's a lot of playmakers. End of the day, I'm saying good luck."

Finley has a well-documented history of dropping the ball in crucial situations. But Finley also seems to have that one figured out as well. The problem, according to Finley, is squarely on Rodgers’ shoulders for Rodgers’ apparent lack of trust in Finley as a receiver. “"What's frustrating is he trusted me. He threw the ball to me," Finley said of Rodgers. "I dropped balls in '09 and '10, but I came back. I made up for all that and nobody talked.

"Nobody said anything because I was catching the ball. I still might have one drop a game, but I'd have eight catches. Now, it's one target a game and if I drop that everybody just focuses on that. It's a little frustrating, but I keep my head up and I keep pushing, man."

Finley’s complaints have also been voiced publicly by his agent Blake Baratz who took to the Twitter airwaves to also have a go at the leader of the Pack on September 14 by calling Rodgers’ leadership qualities into question.

After having every Division 1 NCAA team pass on him for a scholarship, then watching his draft stock fall to 24, and finally being famously snubbed by Brett Favre upon his arrival in Green Bay Rodgers has grown a thick skin. Rodgers was cursed and vilified and even had children telling him he sucked for the mere notion of replacing Green Bay’s iconic Favre.

But that thick skin masks a white hot fury that Rodgers keeps well hidden from the public. When the naysayers lined up after Favre’s departure and tore into Rodgers he also developed the ability to hold an immeasurable grudge and shove it back down the throats of his detractors. No Division 1 team wants me? Fine. I’ll play Junior College ball at Butte instead. My favorite team, the 49ers wooed me only to take Alex Smith ahead of me? Let’s see who has a better career. Nobody picks me before 24? Every time I face your team you’ll wish you hadn’t made that mistake. Favre wants to humiliate me in public? Wait till I get my shot and my feet wet. I’ll show you – and everyone else who booed me – you are dead wrong.

Even 60 Minutes has felt the icy heat of Rodgers intensity. No sooner did a piece on Rodgers air was Rodgers offended by the presentation of it. Don’t expect Rodgers to do many more sit-downs with the television media anytime soon. Rodgers does have a well-earned sensitivity and has been slighted by so many he has had to learn to roll with it, harness it and use it to his advantage.

Rodgers has fostered a near legendary ability to catalogue, document and hold any slight and in turn have it feed his inner beast. Once he found his footing in the NFL Rodgers led a furious Packer charge that dismantled Favre and the Vikings on the way to the Super Bowl. Rodgers Super Bowl MVP and NFL MVP were less acknowledgements of his play and more symbols of in your face to his doubters.

After being questioned and challenged and doubted at every turn having a teammate and his agent call into question Rodgers is a very unwise move. After Baratz called Rodgers out on Twitter Finley’s average catches/ game dropped from 5.5 to 2.6.

Having Finley now take to the press to snub Rodgers may very well be an awful career move for Finley. It is highly doubtful Rodgers will want to sit down with his mercurial tight end. Finley’s public bellyaching won’t sit well with either Mike McCarthy or Ted Thompson, both of whom have mastered the ability to hide their feelings from the public. Any organization that can temper their tongues in the wake of the replacement fiasco in Seattle will bristle at the notion of one of their own turning on another.

Finley closed his rant by saying “Of course I'm unhappy, but I'm tired of beating it to death," Finley said. "I'm in the heat. I'm inside the heat. I'm ready to start getting on my groove and prove everybody wrong."

Finley has had some issues with his maturity since his arrival in Green Bay. He does possess undeniable talent. He has big game capabilities. The potential is there.

Potential.

It is the curse of the young and self-centered. In layman’s terms ‘potential’ is a long French word that means ‘Ain’t worth a damn yet’. What is so curiously puzzling and at the same time so prescient are Finley’s own words. “…It’s out of my hands…”Truer words were ne’er spoken. His ramblings have taken on a selfish “Me me me” tone and Finley has either conveniently forgotten or completely minimized his far too frequent drops. What makes Finley’s drops all the more maddening is the timing. Third down/ key game/late in a contest. Jermichael can yap all he likes but the plain simple truth is he has yet to deliver on that promise of potential. He has disappeared altogether in big games, his blocking has been and continues to be suspect and that has been from day 1 and he has shown Randy Moss signs of “I’ll play when I feel like it” childishness. And when he says “… If I could throw myself the ball and run under it, I'd do it every play…” he might find himself just as frustrated when - not if but WHEN – he drops another key 3^rd down throw.

Another point worth mentioning is the fact the Packers won a Super Bowl without Finley’s services. Harken back to last season’s grim meltdown against the Giants and there is the essential image of Finley, legs splayed as he sits on the ground staring at his hands in disbelief after a key drop. If that isn’t enough in the off season rather than a supersized long term deal Finley re-signed with the Pack for a modest 2 year deal at less than $10 million.

And he still hasn’t gotten the message. Teams can get anyone to drop the ball for them. As Finley edges closer and closer to becoming a locker room cancer he may well find he has caught his last ball from 12 soon. With the tight end group playing well (see Tom Crabtree) and pass catchers coming back from injuries in Andrew Quarless and D.J. Williams Finley may have ridden his mouth out of Green Bay. It is not above obvious to suggest that before publicly displaying a case of verbal diarrhea Finley should put up the type of numbers that are above reproach.

Rodgers for his part has remained mum on the subject publicly. He will not give the media or public even a peek at his feelings, not after this. If Finley thinks Rodgers has lost confidence in him and is favoring Randall Cobb he would do well to look at the differences. Any quarterback with the brain the size of a Lesure Pea knows that hitting a receiver who can convert catches into yards and points beats the hell out of one who might catch it. Or drop it. As a game unfolds there is not a lot of time for Rodgers to scan the field, spot an open Finley and say to himself ”Naaaaah, I don’t like him. Lemme throw it to the new guy in double coverage.”

Sadly, Cobb has shown he is just as likely to come down with the ball as Finley is to dropping the ball.

If Finley found he had lost a connect with Rodgers he would be better off just working on his game, without the mouth and whining and self-indulgence. Maybe he could take a new approach – the next time he wants the ball he should just open his mouth. That would seem to be the bigger target for 12 to hit.

And now the Packers have to gear up for the Giants. Forget the ‘revenge’ aspect of the game completely.

Revenge is for the media and fans who seek to assuage last yeas shocking playoff loss. This game is a crucial test for the past 2 Super Bowl Champs, one of which is on the rise and the other struggling to stay afloat. The Packers do not need Finley’s distractions and the G-Men, like Detroit, face an almost must win game. The only panacea New York can find is even if they lose they should still win the putridly awful NFC East by default. QB Eli Manning has struggled with his accuracy this season and should the Packers be able to pressure him he may toss a few more. Green Bay’s defensive line has to slow down the Giants inside running attack. If they can't it makes Eli’s job easier. Even if they can’t sack him Dom Capers and the rest of the defense knows they have to harass, bother and hurry Manning to get him out of a rhythm. They will have to do it without the services of Clay Matthews who will miss consecutive games for the first time in his career with a lingering hamstring injury.

Of course the Giants look to counter that by doing the exact same thing. Getting to Rodgers has already been identified by DE Justin Tuck as priority 1. Keeping Rodgers off the ground against the Giants stout pass rush is what the offensive line must do to win this one. Establishing a running game early may also help keep the dogs from attacking. One potential problem will arise if this game needs to be decided by a field goal as K Mason Crosby’s accuracy and confidence has been rattled lately. McCarthy may have yet another dilemma on his hands when he goes to a jumbo package protection schemes. Does the Pack’s boss trust his young TE Finley to protect Rodgers?

While the Pack is among the hottest teams in the NFL right now the Giants are in the midst of another mid-season swoon. They come in having lost their last 2 games and are in dire need of a W. Manning has taken much of the criticism; while he has been sacked a league-low 12 times his misses and interceptions are up. Manning has a tendency to press and force the ball when pressured rather than take the sack and regroup. It’s been so long since Manning has thrown a TD pass the Giants can’t recall the last one. His last TD toss was 4 games ago against the Cowboys, and this is from a quarterback who would like everyone to include him in the ‘elite’ category. While Manning and New York have struggled at times they look to be in top form. They dismantled the 49ers 26-3 but got mauled by the Bengals to the tune of 31 -13. Now with a bye week they look to get healthy against a Packers team that is anything but.

No revenge here. The Pack has their eyes focused on one goal.

Make that every Packer except Finley.

 

 

 

     GREEN BAY   24 

 

 

 

 

     New York  17