Last week, ESPN’s Tom Jackson didn’t believe in Packers tight end Jermichael Finley. (Finley responded with three touchdown receptions.)
This week, there’s a question as to whether the Packers believe in Finley. Charley Casserly of CBS reports that the Packers have had no talks with Finley on a long-term deal. Finley is due to become a free agent after the season.
Per Casserly, the Packers want to see more of a body of work from Finley, who missed most of last season with a leg injury.
But the Packers have an ace in the hole. If the Packers have to use the franchise tag on Finley, who plays more like a receiver, it’ll be the lower tight end number. For 2011, for example, the franchise tender for tight ends was $7.28 million. For receivers, it was $11.424 million.
And so it makes sense for the Packers to sit tight. Of course, the manner in which Finley reacts could influence the long-term wisdom of that strategy.