Finley's plan in 2009: Pipe down, step up for Packers

Shapecity · Jun 7, 2009

GREEN BAY -- Jermichael Finley says this year will be different. This year, he'll let his play do the talking.

He sounds believable, too.

Yet just when the Green Bay Packers' second-year tight end seems convincing, he does something to make everyone wonder whether the immaturity that hampered him last season as a rookie has really disappeared.

Take the first organized team activity practice that was open to reporters last week. On his way back to the huddle after a play, Finley slapped rookie free-agent linebacker Cyril Obiozor upside the head after the whistle -- something that, in a game, surely would have drawn a 15-yard penalty.

Then there's his Twitter page. That's right, the guy who had trouble keeping his mouth shut last season is posting on the Internet phenomenon. So far, his posts have been innocuous, and he's says he's been told by the team to "watch what he writes."

On the surface, at least, it all seems to contradict his mantra for 2009:

"Let your game do the talking," Finley said. "That's what I plan on doing this year."

Several times last season, what came out of his mouth made bigger news than anything he did on the field, where he caught only six passes for 74 yards and one touchdown despite appearing in all but two games. He criticized quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the two failed to connect on some big plays and questioned whether the coaches were using him the right way. It landed him in coach Mike McCarthy's doghouse.

Still only 22, the third-round draft pick out of Texas says he's learned from his mistakes. Ben McAdoo, the Packers' tight ends coach, believes that at some point during last season's struggles, there was a point of epiphany for Finley.

"It was probably when he had the rough go of it about the middle of the season with some of those throws and trying to figure some things out," McAdoo said when asked when things clicked for Finley.

"He just hadn't played a lot of football. But the encouraging thing is that didn't discourage him as a player and as a person. We talked a lot about not letting your performance on the field define how you work and who you are, and he really started to improve."

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After taking two weeks off following the season, Finley went back to work in the weight room. He reported for the Packers' offseason program in March and has been in town since. He said he weighs 245 pounds, which is about 5 pounds lighter than last season.

Just as important as anything Finley did in the weight room was what he did in the classroom. Finley admitted he didn't know all the Packers' plays last season. So, he says he threw himself into the playbook and has spent extra time in the film room with McAdoo.

After each OTA practice, they meet in McAdoo's office at 5 p.m. and watch film of that day's practice.

"Jermichael has been dialed in this offseason," McAdoo said. "He came back right after the little break after the season, and we've spent a lot of time together, watching film, going through the installations, walking through it and talking through it. He's fully invested, fully committed and he's setting the table for a good OTAs and a nice training camp."

The 6-foot-5 Finley easily is the best athlete among the Packers' tight ends. Though he remains behind veteran starter Donald Lee, Finley expects to take on a bigger role in the offense than he had last season.

"Not boasting or bragging or nothing, but I feel like this is my coming-out year," Finley said. "I've really, really got to work hard to make that happen because what I'm hearing and what I'm seeing is that the Packers and the staff got big expectations for me this year."
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Source: MarshFieldNews

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Finley's plan in 2009: Pipe down, step up for Packers

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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Finley's plan in 2009: Pipe down, step up for Packers

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