Packers tight end Jermichael Finley is hoping to get a contract extension by the end of this season.
If that doesn’t happen, Finley is cool with the Packers placing the franchise tag on him next February.
“If they do that, I’m down with that,” Finley told Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “I ain’t going to be [ticked] off. I just love the game, and I was just blessed to be making money. I’m just taking it all in.”
Finley is saying all the right things in his contract year. More importantly, he’s stayed healthy after missing most of last season following knee surgery.
“You can’t ask for a better city just because there’s nothing to do, for one thing,” Finley said. “I’m going to be real with you, there’s less trouble you can get into. It’s first class in everything they do — contracts, around the building — everything’s first class.”
His numbers (25 catches, 334 yards, four touchdowns) aren’t quite as big as expected, but that’s largely because the Packers have so many other weapons. It’s also possible Finley hasn’t completely regained his pre-surgery explosiveness.
The team has already signed guard Josh Sitton and wideout Jordy Nelson long-term this season. Finley’s deal always figured to be more complicated.
Retaining Finley at a big salary for 2012 via the franchise tag makes a lot of sense for the Packers, especially since Finley doesn’t have a problem with it.