Throughout the 2011 season, Jermichael Finley stressed his desire to remain a "Packer for life." The contract he signed yesterday is far from a lifetime deal, but it's a step in the right direction.
Finley inked a two-year contract extension last night worth $15 million, which appears to be a great deal for both sides. Aaron Rodgers keeps one of his favorite targets for at least two more years and Finley can hit free agency again as a 26-year old in 2014.
The 6-5, 250 pound tight end is one of the most athletic offensive players in the NFL. He has the size of a standard TE, but the quickness and cutting ability of a wide receiver. Together, those attributes have caused several defensive coordinators to lose sleep.
The former Texas Longhorn caught 55 balls in 2011 for 767 yards and eight touchdowns in an offense that routinely had 10 or more players catch a pass in any given game.
Finley's repeated cases of the "Dropsies" were a hot button issue all season. Angry fans expressed their displeasure via twitter and hurled insult after insult at him in each of Green Bay's two losses, where his drops seemed to play a key role.
The big man seemed to take it all in stride and did his best not to react negatively.
The underlying issue in all of this is that the Packers now have a decision to make about how to use the franchise tag, which can be applied to one unrestricted free agent each year.
That's where backup quarterback Matt Flynn comes into play. Flynn has started just two games in his NFL career, but shined brightly in each performance. Filling in for an injured Rodgers at New England in 2010, he completed 24 of 37 for 251 yards and three touchdowns.
Fast-forward to the 2011 regular season finale in which Rodgers, along with top weapons Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley sat out, Flynn rewrote the Green Bay record books, a book that was first published 93 years ago. He threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns, setting the franchise record for both and becoming the subject of bar bets for decades to come.
In his two starts, both of which were against teams that went on to the postseason, Flynn has completed 68% of his passes for 731 yards, nine touchdowns, and just two interceptions. While his resume is far from complete, that won't stop many teams from trying to acquire Flynn should the Pack stick the tag on him.
Flynn would get a one-year deal worth about $14 million, which is about $6 million more than Rodgers makes. However, that gets wiped away as long as the Packers work out a deal.
The Redskins, Seahawks, Browns, and Dolphins are all in need of a signal caller and are sitting pretty in the draft. Joe Philbin, former offensive coordinator for the Packers, was hired as the head coach for Miami last month. Assuming at least two of those squads pursue him, that will certainly drive up the price and could easily land the Packers a top 15 draft pick.
Kevin Kolb brought the Eagles a good corner in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second rounder a year ago. Flynn's stock is likely even higher than Kolb's was.
Green Bay desperately needs an outside linebacker to play on the opposite side as Clay Matthews. CM3 was doubled nearly every play as opposing defenses keyed in on him as the only real pass rushing threat in green and gold. The draft pick that Matt Flynn would likely bring in could certainly resolve some key issues for a defense that ranked at or near the bottom in every statistical category.
The franchise tag period began on Monday and will run through March 5th.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Record Setting Crowd Expected for Rivalry Game
http://www.independentcollegian.com/record-settng-crowd-expected-for-rivalry-game-1.2697868#.TzQKLBzwznI
Monday, February 6, 2012
Is the Brady-Belichick Era Over?
As impressive as Eli Manning and the Giants were in their second Super Bowl win in four years, the bigger story from this game is what we should make of the Patriots going forward.
There was a time when New England was the best and possibly most feared team in the league, year in, year out. Tom Brady was lethal and unstoppable. Bill Belichick was crafty and ruthless.
When the Patriots won three championships in four years ('01, '03, '04), it seemed as if they could do no wrong, especially in the playoffs. More specifically, in Super Bowls.
In Super Bowl 36, Brady and the Pats were tied at 17 with St. Louis. They got the ball back with 1:30 left and Brady went to work. With no timeouts left, he took his team right down the field. Brady completed his first three passes of the drive before misfiring. He followed that up with a 23-yard pass to Troy Brown and then a 6-yarder to Jeramaine Wiggins before spiking it at the Rams 30 with seven seconds left, which set up the game-winning field goal.
Two years later in Super Bowl 38, Brady once again needed a last minute miracle. This time, against the Carolina Panthers. Standing at his own 40 with 1:08 to play, Brady once again delivered. He calmly guided the Patriots right down the field in an orderly, methodical fashion. He came through with two huge, clutch passes to Deon Branch on his way to setting up Adam Vinatieri for another clincher.
The following year, they didn't need a last minute drive to beat the Eagles. However, Brady still played an integral role in winning his third Super Bowl in four years, completing 23 of 33 for 236 yards and 2 TD's. Belichick's defense supplied the dagger in the end, intercepting Donovan McNabb with nine seconds remaining.
New England was at a point where they couldn't do anything wrong. They made every big play and won every big game. In 2007, they finished the regular season a perfect 16-0 and rewrote the NFL's offensive record books in the process before falling to none other than the Giants in Super Bowl 42.
Before that game, Brady and Belichick had won 14 of their first 16 playoff games, including a perfect three-for-three in Super Bowls. However, the Patriots are just 3-3 since, including 0-2 in Super Bowls. In 2009, they were embarrassed by the Ravens, 33-14 in front of their home crowd. A year later, they were once again ousted at home in their first playoff game. This time, by the Jets, 28-21.
Sunday's Super Bowl showed us that Brady, Belichick, and the Patriots may not be what they used to. Instead of finding a way to win, they squandered opportunities and made crucial mistakes, two things they didn't used to do.
On the very first play of the game, Tom Brady launched a pass under heavy pressure intended for nobody in particular. Standing in the end zone and inside the tackle box upon release, the referee rightfully called him for intentional grounding, giving the Giants two points and the ball back. A mental lapse like that had never before been seen from Brady in a title game.
With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, which is historically when Brady plays his best, he again made a very poor decision. With about 14 minutes left, he threw a jump ball for Rob Gronkowski near the end zone. Under normal circumstances, that's probably not the worst of ideas, especially considering "Gronk" caught 17 touchdowns in the regular season. However, with a badly sprained ankle, his leaping ability was non-existent and the pass was picked off. Brady needs to know that he shouldn't be throwing 50/50 balls to someone who can't jump.
Brady wasn't the only Patriot who made mental mistakes. Wes Welker, his favorite target and one of the most sure-handed players in the league, dropped a long pass with four minutes to play that would have put New England in prime position. Deon Branch, a receiver Brady connected with several times in past Super Bowls when he had to have a big completion to move the chains, dropped a pass on the last drive. Aaron Hernandez would do the same.
Even Bill Belichick, a so-called "defensive genius," had his share of problems. His once vaunted defense was ranked second to last in the NFL in 2011 and lacked even the smallest hint of a pass rush.
Long story short, these are not the Patriots from years past. The swagger and charisma from defenders like Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law, Mike Vrabel, and Lawyer Milloy are no longer present. The cold-blooded, clutch performances from the aging Brady and Branch aren't as frequent.
When Tom Brady takes the field next season, he'll be 35 years old. Assuming Matt Hasselbeck and Peyton Manning find homes next year, Brady will be the second oldest starting QB in the NFL by a year.
It's completely fair to ask if this is it for one of the NFL's finest dynasties.
There was a time when New England was the best and possibly most feared team in the league, year in, year out. Tom Brady was lethal and unstoppable. Bill Belichick was crafty and ruthless.
When the Patriots won three championships in four years ('01, '03, '04), it seemed as if they could do no wrong, especially in the playoffs. More specifically, in Super Bowls.
In Super Bowl 36, Brady and the Pats were tied at 17 with St. Louis. They got the ball back with 1:30 left and Brady went to work. With no timeouts left, he took his team right down the field. Brady completed his first three passes of the drive before misfiring. He followed that up with a 23-yard pass to Troy Brown and then a 6-yarder to Jeramaine Wiggins before spiking it at the Rams 30 with seven seconds left, which set up the game-winning field goal.
Two years later in Super Bowl 38, Brady once again needed a last minute miracle. This time, against the Carolina Panthers. Standing at his own 40 with 1:08 to play, Brady once again delivered. He calmly guided the Patriots right down the field in an orderly, methodical fashion. He came through with two huge, clutch passes to Deon Branch on his way to setting up Adam Vinatieri for another clincher.
The following year, they didn't need a last minute drive to beat the Eagles. However, Brady still played an integral role in winning his third Super Bowl in four years, completing 23 of 33 for 236 yards and 2 TD's. Belichick's defense supplied the dagger in the end, intercepting Donovan McNabb with nine seconds remaining.
New England was at a point where they couldn't do anything wrong. They made every big play and won every big game. In 2007, they finished the regular season a perfect 16-0 and rewrote the NFL's offensive record books in the process before falling to none other than the Giants in Super Bowl 42.
Before that game, Brady and Belichick had won 14 of their first 16 playoff games, including a perfect three-for-three in Super Bowls. However, the Patriots are just 3-3 since, including 0-2 in Super Bowls. In 2009, they were embarrassed by the Ravens, 33-14 in front of their home crowd. A year later, they were once again ousted at home in their first playoff game. This time, by the Jets, 28-21.
Sunday's Super Bowl showed us that Brady, Belichick, and the Patriots may not be what they used to. Instead of finding a way to win, they squandered opportunities and made crucial mistakes, two things they didn't used to do.
On the very first play of the game, Tom Brady launched a pass under heavy pressure intended for nobody in particular. Standing in the end zone and inside the tackle box upon release, the referee rightfully called him for intentional grounding, giving the Giants two points and the ball back. A mental lapse like that had never before been seen from Brady in a title game.
With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, which is historically when Brady plays his best, he again made a very poor decision. With about 14 minutes left, he threw a jump ball for Rob Gronkowski near the end zone. Under normal circumstances, that's probably not the worst of ideas, especially considering "Gronk" caught 17 touchdowns in the regular season. However, with a badly sprained ankle, his leaping ability was non-existent and the pass was picked off. Brady needs to know that he shouldn't be throwing 50/50 balls to someone who can't jump.
Brady wasn't the only Patriot who made mental mistakes. Wes Welker, his favorite target and one of the most sure-handed players in the league, dropped a long pass with four minutes to play that would have put New England in prime position. Deon Branch, a receiver Brady connected with several times in past Super Bowls when he had to have a big completion to move the chains, dropped a pass on the last drive. Aaron Hernandez would do the same.
Even Bill Belichick, a so-called "defensive genius," had his share of problems. His once vaunted defense was ranked second to last in the NFL in 2011 and lacked even the smallest hint of a pass rush.
Long story short, these are not the Patriots from years past. The swagger and charisma from defenders like Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law, Mike Vrabel, and Lawyer Milloy are no longer present. The cold-blooded, clutch performances from the aging Brady and Branch aren't as frequent.
When Tom Brady takes the field next season, he'll be 35 years old. Assuming Matt Hasselbeck and Peyton Manning find homes next year, Brady will be the second oldest starting QB in the NFL by a year.
It's completely fair to ask if this is it for one of the NFL's finest dynasties.
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