Packers

Packers Set On Franchising TE Jermichael Finley?

January 17, 2012

Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes that the Green Bay Packers are likely to use their franchise tag on TE Jermichael Finley.

Finley is said to be seeking a deal that would pay him an average of $7 million per season and include somewhere close to $20 million in guarantees. Green Bay could lock Finley into a one-year deal worth $5 million guaranteed by using the franchise tag so it would be a more team friendly contract.

Many have floated the idea that the Packers could franchise backup QB Matt Flynn rather than allow him to leave during free agency but the general consensus from several Packers reporters is that the move comes with too much risk for the team.

Finley is certainly a talented player with great size and athleticism but his 2011 season was largely disappointing. He was still a factor as he helped draw extra coverage and opened up the field for some of the other Packers receivers. I’d expect to see that Packers franchise him as well.