After what he described as a "so-so" 2011, Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finleyis planning to simplify his approach.
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"It's all about letting loose and just playing my game," Finley told Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in a story posted Saturday. "Go back to high school a little bit and have fun with it now. Leave the NFL for what it is ... Obviously, the NFL is paying us for what we do. You have to take it for what it is, man. I say, 'Go back and have fun like I was in high school.' "
Finley dropped too many passes in 2011, finishing the season with 55 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns. The Packers signed him to a two-year, $14 million contract in February, so Finley has plenty of reasons to explore ways to improve his performance.
Finley told Dunne that new position coach Jerry Fontenot has been a boon. He also wants to get on the same page with, and earn the trust of, the man delivering the football. He's planning to fly to California after minicamp ends to continue working out with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, something he was unable to do during the lockout.
"Having an offseason, having chemistry with your quarterback is a big key to success," Finley said. "I promise you."
