NFL Free Agency Rumors: Jermichael Finley Might Take a Pay Cut After All

Last week, Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley spoke before he found out what his market value was, or at least it now appears that way. The tight end told ESPN that last week that he wasn’t interested in taking a pay cut to remain with the Packers but after taking a deep breath and realizing that there isn’t a market for an $8 million-per-season tight end, Finley has revised his stance.

“I would never just turn my nose up at anything. I will listen and hear anybody about anything and withhold judgment until I do. I can’t say today whether I would, whether I wouldn’t, whether it’s in Jermichael’s best interest, his worst interest,” Finely’s agent Blake Baratz said, via Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “There’d have to be a reason why he would have to take a pay cut. Maybe he would. Maybe he wouldn’t. It’s all hypothetical until the numbers are there. Is it a one-year deal like it is now? Are we adding years? Are we adding dollars? Are we moving dollars?”

While Finley may be backtracking on what he said, there is still an outside chance that there’s a big money deal waiting for him in free agency. The Packers have the rest of the day to try and hash out a deal with Finley as legal tampering begins at midnight Friday, meaning a team with a lot of cap space to burn like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could make Finley the offer he wants.

But judging from Baratz quick flip on statements made last week, the indication seems to be that there isn’t an $8 million-plus market for a tight end with injury problems who questioned the integrity of the best quarterback in the game today.

Still, Finely has talent and not everyone running an NFL front office is a genius, so until he re-signs with the Packers for less than he’s set to make, anything is possible.