One of the reasons the Packers signed tight end Jermichael Finley to just a two-year contract this offseason was because they wanted to see if he would mature on and off the field.
And one of the reasons Finley agreed to such a short deal was because he figured if he played well, his next contract would be even bigger.
The $14 million deal was seemingly a safe move for both sides.
So far, though, Finley has done little to help his cause.
After dropping a team-high 11 passes last season, he dropped three more in the first two games of 2012. He also lost a fumble deep in Chicago territory in Thursday’s win over the Bears.
When asked if the Packers still have confidence in Finley, offensive coordinator Tom Clements on Friday said: “Sure, he’s a talented guy, and we’re confident in him. He’s still an integral part of the offense.”
Through two games, Finley has matched Jordy Nelson for a team-high 11 receptions, but he’s averaging just 6.6 yards per catch and has a long reception of only 16 yards with one touchdown catch.
He’s only 25 years old, but it’s worth wondering if he will ever be able to shake the lapses in concentration that cause his drops.
“Everybody’s human,” Clements said. “He made a great catch after he had the turnover in the red zone. That was a very difficult catch. So he has the ability. He has confidence in himself, and we have confidence in him.”
Finley plays with emotion, which he displayed after the Lambeau Field crowd gave him a sarcastic cheer when he made a catch later in the game following the lost fumble. In response, he waved his arms in a move that suggested he wanted the crowd to quiet down
Rob Demovsky wrote: