Jermichael Finley recently said he wouldn't take a pay cut if approached by the Green Bay Packers. The tight end's agent, Blake Baratz, told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Tyler Dunne that the scenario is not that simple.
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"I would never just turn my nose up at anything," Baratz said. "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.
"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?"
The Packers are getting their financial situation in order with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews due major raises in the near future. It's anticipated that Rodgers' deal likely will be the richest in NFL history after Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco signed a six-year, $120.6 million contract to become the league's highest-paid player ever. So, safety Charles Woodson was released. There were no significant efforts to keep wide receiver Greg Jennings from hitting the market as a free agent.
Finley will count for $8.5 million against the salary cap in 2013 and is due a $3 million roster bonus March 27. The cap number is the second-highest on the team behind Rodgers. The Packers haven't made any requests, but it's not a stretch that general manager Ted Thompson would evaluate all options.
Everything involving Finley breeds a strong response from the Packers' fan base. Some will never accept his personality (and his Twitter habits) despite the fact he is one of the most talented tight ends in the NFL.
"It's not malicious. He actually has a good heart and he actually wants to do well and means well," Baratz said. "And he doesn't know how to express it the right way. But you don't get to know him through one-liners in the media. You get to know him by really spending time with him.
"He's not perfect. I'm not perfect. No one's perfect. But what I will say is he works as hard as any player I've ever been around and he's as competitive as any player I've ever been around, and that's probably both a positive and negative quality."
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
