Jermichael Finley

by Cyrus on Feb 21, 2008 7:17 PM CST

Jermichael Finley talking about why he left Texas: (From DMN)

Finley just finished up describing why he left Texas. It all started with the Oklahoma game, a big one for him. His four catches and 149 yards affirmed what he thought all along, and led him down the path of no collegiate return.
"That game showed that I needed the ball more," Finley said. "Texas couldn't do it, so I'm coming to the next level. And hopefully at the next level I'll get the ball more. Hopefully I get an offensive coordinator that'll get me the ball, some kind of way. It was against a great defense, a top-five defense, and I showed what I could do."

My question to you Mr. Finley, did you forget the A&M game already? You had one good half kid! It's not like the ball was thrown at you just one half. I may be over reacting, but I'm happy that he left. This is the type of player I don't like.

All comments, FanPosts, and FanShots are the views of the reader-authors who create them.

0 recs | Comment 29 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Something

About Finley always rubbed me the wrong way. He committed to UA I think before coming to Texas because we were hard after Marcellus Bennett instead of him. I never like to see a kid afraid to compete. That's how he always struck me.

by orangeblood1 on Feb 21, 2008 7:42 PM CST 0 recs

he should ask David Thomas how to get the ball.

DT didn't have a problem getting the ball in GD's offense.

by cortexas on Feb 21, 2008 8:08 PM CST 0 recs

maybe true to some extent

he sure did do a real fine job in college station, all those dropped balls...
I don't really like the "me first" mentality, however there's no doubt the guy had a lot of potential.

As much as he looked the part, he never really seemed to be a dangerous player you could count on any given saturday.

by owenh on Feb 21, 2008 9:16 PM CST 0 recs

We underutilized him, period

His comments are a bit sour, but it's the truth.

I'd think he'd be one of our top targets in the redzone, but how many TD receptions did he end up with last season?

Instead we just wanted him to block most of the time. That would be like telling Damion James to just rebound, play defense, and not take shots.

The A&M game full of dropped passes probably doesn't happen if he consistently gets the ball in previous games.

He's going to be a beast in the NFL.

by goingforthecorner on Feb 21, 2008 10:29 PM CST 0 recs

underutilized, maybe!

But he is a me-only-guy-that-I-dont-like for saying those things. He has the third highest receiving yards for a TE in Big 12. Martellus Bennett had only 8 yard more. 575 yards is not low for a TE.

The A&M game full of dropped passes probably doesn't happen if he consistently gets the ball in previous games.

I would say 'probably' he would have dropped all the passes in the previous games also!

Get your ass going! You ain't hurt!

by Cyrus on Feb 22, 2008 12:08 AM CST up 0 recs

This does not make sense

The A&M game full of dropped passes probably doesn't happen if he consistently gets the ball in previous games.

How is that exactly? Is it because the extra 4 or 5 attempts per game would have put him over the edge on catching ability compared to the 100s of attempts he probably got every practice?

by Wells on Feb 22, 2008 9:44 AM CST up 0 recs

I don't know

but it still doesn't change the fact that he was underutilized. I could simply say it was a bad game for him. Everyone has had a bad game.

He was a valuable weapon that wasn't used enough.

by goingforthecorner on Feb 22, 2008 11:47 AM CST up 0 recs

His value to the team

would have been outweighed by his attitude if that quote is an indication of how he really feels. Do not wants.

Growing up, I only fed Jared Norton paper. That's why he eats plays.

by Horn Brain on Feb 22, 2008 7:01 PM CST up 0 recs

Ironic

Check these comments by Blaine Irby on why he chose Texas:

"Texas has had such great tight ends recently," Irby said. "They had (current New England Patriot) David Thomas two years ago and now you have Neale Tweedie, Jermichael Finley and Peter Ullman this year.
"I like that they get the tight ends the ball a lot in their offense."

The Jermichael Finley's comments will make the TE recruiting harder!

Get your ass going! You ain't hurt!

by Cyrus on Feb 21, 2008 11:55 PM CST 0 recs

Nah

Kids looking to come to Texas and that know anything will look at David Thomas' career and ignore Finley's insiginficant career. Kids remember Bo Scaife and David Thomas and know that whoever will be playing TE in our offense will benefit greatly, if we ever decide to run what we knows works, and thats the spread. The QB's that we have on our roster and that we want on our roster will depend heavily on TE usage....as TE usage has declined in recent seasons, so has our offense, correct me if im wrong, fellaz.

by texasboi01 on Feb 22, 2008 12:29 AM CST up 0 recs

So...

Finley is already a lock to be the NFL's next Jeremy Shockey.....at least on the sidelines & at press conferences.

by Shake on Feb 22, 2008 8:14 AM CST 0 recs

Or.....

Kellen "I'm a soldier" Winslow.

by sideshow on Feb 22, 2008 8:46 AM CST up 0 recs

J-Mike was.....

...poorly utilized. How many times did we fail to convert with a wide open middle of the field? How many LBers did we face who could run with J-Mike? Our staff has been under-recruiting the O-Line (prior to last season) for quite awhile and it showed. We lacked ability and depth. It was J-Mike that paid the price.

As for David Thomas and Bo Scaife, well David was taken in the 3rd round while Bo was taken in the 6th round. While both are drawing a paycheck, neither of them is making much for their efforts.

B.Scaife - 46 games - 112 rec - 1064 yds - 23 yds/gm

D.Thomas - 17 games - 12 rec - 168 yds - 10 yds/gm

K.Winslow - 34 games - 176 rec - 2031 - 60 yds/gm

Winslow's position in the 1st round (6th overall), has him making more money in 2 months than our two TEs make in the entire season. His utilization and play at Miami earned him a $16.5 signing bonus which will assure him of a solid financial future for life.

If it is true that J-Mike is the third TE in this season's draft, then he can expect to be drafted higher than either of our TEs above. He'll make more cash as well.

--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---

by HornChamps on Feb 22, 2008 10:43 AM CST 0 recs

agree with you

That Jermichael being under utilized was more about the depth and offensive line. I don't know enough about our recruiting classes to say we under recruited, but it did not help that we had two linemen leave last off season.
I think Jermichael would have a great season next year if he had stayed, as we will have a more experienced line with more depth and would not need him to block so much. But a kid to take care makes getting paid ASAP much more important.

by Wells on Feb 22, 2008 10:58 AM CST up 0 recs

i can't blame the man for leaving

but burning bridges isn't going to win you too many fans at your old or new team.

by billyzane on Feb 22, 2008 11:03 AM CST 0 recs

I feel like...

He was our best receiving weapon last season sans Limas Sweed. Unfortunately he was not treated as such. His point is completely valid in that the biggest game of the season (Oklahoma), he dominated one half and was then forgotten about in the second, by his own coaching staff. I disagree with the assertion that he's selfish. He's just being plain honest. I'm sure that game meant a lot to him, and to be taken out of it was absolutely criminal. This isn't the first time that this coaching staff has squandered players either. (See: Chris Simms- refrain from "Simms sucks" comments) I dont get how him being honest about a football situation was bad. Would it be better if he lied about it? This is the NFL combine. He didn't say, "My coaches suck. I should be the star." This is sports. These things happen. Players arent utilized correctly, so they ask for ask for trades, or are released, or they transfer, or they go to the pros. It's called maximizing your worth. It happened with Steve Nash in basketball, and, to a lesser extent, it's happening with Jermichael now. It's why players like Ryan Mallet will have to transfer from schools like Michigan as well.

Before I stop rambling I wanna say one last thing. One completely overlooked issue with this is the QB's in which Jermichael and, say a, David Thomas played with. Thomas had VY, which was more condusive to a TE catching a lot of balls. McCoy is not VY, obviously, and the passing offense that is run now is heavy with lateral passes. I dont see a scheme in which J-Mike would be used in the flats. That was just an observation. And it is all strictly my opinion.

by saveadre on Feb 22, 2008 1:56 PM CST 0 recs

I agree, but....

He was definitely underutilized. No doubt about it. But making a statement like where he does everything except say "Greg Davis sucked" is not doing him or the program any favors. I have to believe that NFL teams are going to try and copy the "team/system first" blueprint of the Pats and comments like that get you skipped come draft day.

by Horndogger on Feb 22, 2008 3:49 PM CST up 0 recs

right...

I'm saying that he didn't say that about GD and Mack. At least in the NFL he can be a millionaire blocking TE if they want him to be. But all that blocking wasnt going to make him more known on the college scene. He just simply was, in my estimation, stating that the schematics here at Texas didnt offer any upside to him staying. It seems as if he just felt he hit his ceiling here at Texas. Can you blame him?

by saveadre on Feb 22, 2008 4:22 PM CST up 0 recs

No, you can't blame him for feeling that way

but you can blame him for making a statement like that to a media outlet. There's nothing for him to gain by saying it. And as Horndogger points out, it's definitely not doing UT any favors.

"That game showed that I needed the ball more," Finley said. "Texas couldn't do it, so I'm coming to the next level. And hopefully at the next level I'll get the ball more. Hopefully I get an offensive coordinator that'll get me the ball, some kind of way."

I'm not sure how you can read that quote and not think that he's saying GD couldn't figure out how to get him the ball.

He very well might be right but that's not the point here.

by gwh65 on Feb 22, 2008 4:36 PM CST up 0 recs

So the point is...

You lie and say great things about your incompetent coach? Or just stay silent in front of all the GM's who are going to invest millions and want to know why you are leaving school after only two seasons? Sounds like he means, they didn't know how to maximize me? Thats a fair assessment. I just don't see how he has done such a mean spirited thing.

by saveadre on Feb 22, 2008 4:42 PM CST 0 recs

different thing

between saying it to coaches and saying it to the media.

by billyzane on Feb 22, 2008 6:44 PM CST up 0 recs

Exactly BZ

He didn't have to lie,but you can't throw your coach under the bus like that for all the world to see. Also, to say he's incompetent (which is, apparently, what dre took from the article) is all a matter of opinion, and is a biased assessment. It's just not professional. What happens when he isn't involved the way he feels he should be at the next level? It sounds to me like he should be a WR, cause he's got receiver's syndrome.

It wasn't exactly "mean spirited," per say, but it may be indicative to his role on the team. If I were a coach or QB, I'd be hesitant to get him the ball as well with his me-first attitude. We know the rapport Colt shared with Quan, which is a big reason he was McCoy's go-to guy in the middle. Maybe Finley didn't share that camaraderie with his QB.

by orangeblood1 on Feb 22, 2008 7:18 PM CST up 0 recs

Well I'll say this...

I will admit that he probably came off a little selfish to some fans. You are probably right in the sense that he will have things to prove on the next level about not being too caught up in himself. But he has got a lot to think about in terms of draft stock and a coach that wouldn't make him more of a focal point. I really want to believe though that he isn't another diva.

Let me ask this, do you guys think that he shouldn't have answered truthfully in front of the media? I mean after all it is the combine. It wasn't like he did this right after the OU game, when he probably had every right to.

by saveadre on Feb 22, 2008 7:54 PM CST up 0 recs

The only problem

I have with that statement is "he has got a lot to think about in terms of draft stock and a coach that wouldn't make him more of a focal point."

He shouldn't have that much to think about. Right now, he should be focused on the draft, not some beef he had with a coach while at Texas. Before, he had the coach to worry about, but the draft should've been the farthest thing from his mind. So it's one or the other.

by orangeblood1 on Feb 22, 2008 10:44 PM CST up 0 recs

Ok

You can't write this off as him just being honest. If he wanted to answer honestly and be respectful when asked why he decided to leave early, he could have just said he felt it was a good time for him to leave, because he needs to think about his family right now, blah blah blah. There are other reasons he decided to leave, surely. It's totally classless to go out and basically call out your coaches to the media when there is nothing to be gained for either party. Vince Young will probably give him a cold slap whenever he sees him on a Sunday.

Growing up, I only fed Jared Norton paper. That's why he eats plays.

by Horn Brain on Feb 22, 2008 11:19 PM CST up 0 recs

When.....

....these young men see David Thomas' 3rd round contract pay him a $670,000 signing bonus, while a 1st round contract paid K.Winslow a signing bonus of $16.5 million, these young men have a deep-seated understanding of the cost of poor utilization. Your perspective as a CFB fan is quite different from that of these young players. Perhaps some feel the need to warn those that follow them.....

--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---

by HornChamps on Feb 22, 2008 7:46 PM CST 0 recs

Are you saying

That David Thomas is on the same level as a athlete as Winslow? David is a smart player, but he is not on the level as a game change that Winslow is.

by Wells on Feb 23, 2008 11:46 AM CST up 0 recs

Didn't say....

...that at all. I'm pointing out the difference in signing bonuses. Someone else brought up Winslow's name.

--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---

by HornChamps on Feb 23, 2008 11:10 PM CST up 0 recs

I don't

know anything about Thomas or Winslow but I think HornChamps makes a very valid point, moneywise for Finley. Had he received more chances his value would have potentially gone up.

Finley has a family to support after all.

Whether or not the media was the outlet for this statement of his is another question.

Finley could have shared this issue of his with Mack and GD and possibly stayed another year with ultimate seniority :}

More than just 10 wins?

by Ultra Horn on Feb 23, 2008 7:02 PM CST 0 recs