Reaction to Finley Injury: "I Would Have to Think This Is It for Him"

Hearing that the Packers tight end suffered a neck injury, people seem to be hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

On Monday morning I joined Bart Winkler on K107 in Fond du Lac to take a look back at Sunday's Packers victory over the Browns, but discussion on the injury to tight end Jermichael Finley dominated. Nothing is official and details are scarce at this point, but after hearing Finley was in the intensive care unit, people are understandably hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Reacting to what has been described as a neck injury, Winkler said, "Putting football aside, I would have to think this is it for him." The Packers tight end suffered a concussion in Week 3 of the season that forced him to leave the game.

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Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and an editor at Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (32)

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Jean's picture

October 21, 2013 at 09:56 am

Brian: What is the name of the Cleveland Brown coach? It keeps sounding like my last name, but never saw it in print. My husband's family is from Ohio.

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Brian Carriveau's picture

October 21, 2013 at 09:59 am

Rob Chudzinski

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Mojo's picture

October 21, 2013 at 10:06 am

This seems eerily like the Nick Collins situation. I think Finley will have full functionality when all's said and done, but probably has some damage to his vertebrae that will create some serious questions as to whether to play football again.

Ironically the injury might have been made worse with Gipson twisting to avoid helmet-to-helmet. Finley then struck Gipson's shoulder and back area where there was very little give.

Hopefully none of my guessing is true and Finley can return to the way it was prior. But if not, lets hope he saved his money in case it ends up going the Collins route.

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Idiot Fan's picture

October 21, 2013 at 11:33 am

You have to wonder, even if he comes out of this totally healthy, if he will even want to keep playing, especially with what his son said to him after the concussion. And I would imagine he would be a little gun-shy crossing the middle if he did play. I know I would be tempted to say, "I've made $16 million in the last two years, I'm going to walk away while I can."

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Evan's picture

October 21, 2013 at 11:58 am

Absolutely. I would not be shocked if he just retired.

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gslumbers's picture

October 21, 2013 at 10:42 am

To say playing again is "inconsequential" is spot on. JMike is a beast. Dealt w/ adversity on/off the field this year like a professional. He displayed immense poise,talent and toughness. Nothing but the highest respect for him. I hope he bounces back fully in short order. Praying for you!

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hayward4president's picture

October 21, 2013 at 10:44 am

So .....NFL Network is saying he will be fine?

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Brian Carriveau's picture

October 21, 2013 at 10:47 am

A source said "he will be fine," but we're talking relative terms here. Obviously the whole story has not been told yet.

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I bleed Green More's picture

October 21, 2013 at 10:44 am

Sad times for all, just hope he is ok. Football is great to watch but life outside of it is more important.

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Point Packer's picture

October 21, 2013 at 10:53 am

I give the sport of football 15 maybe 20 years before it ceases to exist. Call me crazy, but despite all these rule changes meant to protect players and without any objective evidence, seems like these situations are becoming more and more commonplace.

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Longshanks's picture

October 21, 2013 at 11:55 am

I agree Point Packer. These players are getting bigger and stronger by the year. Eventually the blunt force these people can dish out will be too much for a body to handle UNLESSS.... they either change the rules to make it more like touch football, go back to playing with no helmets or little leather helmets, OR and I know people won't like this as it will slow the game down big time, players will be dressed in 100% armour like knights. I would like the knights idea but then again I am Longshanks so I am a little biased.

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K107bart's picture

October 21, 2013 at 11:11 am

I worry too often that Point Packer may be more correct than we like to think...

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Calabasa's picture

October 21, 2013 at 11:17 am

WAY too early to be writing this. I know you're just quoting some guy who speculated, but Brian: please don't quote some guy who speculated, and don't build a whole post out of it. The link on Packernet doesn't have the quotes on it, and all of a sudden I'm reading that somebody thinks he should retire. Fucking internet. I love this site and your writing, but stop with quoting somebody else's unfounded speculation!

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Clay's picture

October 21, 2013 at 11:59 am

+1 @ Calabasa

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Lars's picture

October 22, 2013 at 12:26 pm

Denial is very strong in these last two posts. You may not like it, but many of us are thinking the exact same thing. This very well could be the end for Finley as a football player, but the beginning of new adventures in his life.

There's more to life than wishing and hoping a man who was paralyzed on the field for almost 5 minutes, plays again so your favorite team can squeeze out a few more meaningless regular season victories. Second chance JerMichael. Don't blow it by coming back.

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hayward4president's picture

October 21, 2013 at 12:04 pm

Cushing....gone....Wayne gone....Muscle Hampster..gone.. Bradford gone. This was all just yesterday. We all know the packers injuries cause we are obsessed (at least I am) but wow this is a freakin' brutal season for the NFL as a whole.

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THEMichaelRose's picture

October 21, 2013 at 12:09 pm

The new normal.

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jack in jersey city's picture

October 21, 2013 at 12:07 pm

i just saw a post saying that j-mike was walking around this morning. good news for sure!

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VApackerfan's picture

October 21, 2013 at 12:17 pm

ESPN has just reported his return is uncertain, but he is doing fine. They stated his stay in ICU was more of a precautionary measure than anything else. Here's hoping for the best. Stay strong J Mike!

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Ma Linger's picture

October 21, 2013 at 12:29 pm

Gee maybe I missed it this morning, the Commish outraged at the hits and the injuries. Must of been hidden under the 'gee whiz we really do need an 18 game season' report.

I see a more violent game this year and I think the head hits are deliberate. They lead with the head but pretend they were trying to miss. Replay Findley hit and no way he avoids that helmet coming at him.

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Jesse's picture

October 21, 2013 at 01:07 pm

Except for the fact that the defender was not leading with his head. He even moved it out of the way. This was a difficult situation that is hard to avoid when both players lower their helmets and pad level.

JMike is in my prayers and I hope he heals well with no long term effects.

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wbare's picture

October 21, 2013 at 06:28 pm

If you watch in slowmo you will see jmikes helmet glance off the browns player before the shoulder hits jmike. the defender lowered to match jmike as he came in.

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trvs's picture

October 21, 2013 at 12:37 pm

I think his career as an NFL player is over. Even if there is nothing wrong physically, this has to be the biggest mental scare a player would go through. Much like Collins, he may be able to fully return and be as normal as he could be, but you have to wonder if he would push his body through another potential incident.

Which got me thinking, the whole draft and develop philosophy puts a situation like this into perspective. If your GM is not looking 3-5 years down the road, an injury like this can really set back a franchise. I think the secondary is still suffering from Collins injury and to see this happen to such a young talented player is just terrible. I hope he can return as a father to his family and anything beyond that is certainly a miracle.

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madmanJack's picture

October 21, 2013 at 01:02 pm

when was the last time you saw a football player retire when they were cleared to play. not going to happen...football is all he knows and besides he's a UFA after this season. he'll want to cash in big time next year.

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Jamie's picture

October 21, 2013 at 04:19 pm

I'm left wondering who the hell Bart Winkler is and what sort of insight/experience he has that makes his statement noteworthy.

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Drealyn Williams's picture

October 21, 2013 at 06:09 pm

Same here. But maybe he's thinking since that concussion scare happened so close to this neck injury that the thought of retiring would certainly rise. It's understandable.

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4thand1's picture

October 21, 2013 at 05:37 pm

That jerkwad Meriweather got 2 games finally . Brandon Marshal said he should kicked out of football. JF is a big guy, remember Stingley, spending the rest of his life in a wheel chair. JF is a huge part of this team. Teams will really focus on Lacy now.

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hump's picture

October 21, 2013 at 06:57 pm

like bart winkler has a clue about j mike more than anyone of us??? ridiculous! id trust strohs opinion before that!!

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The TKstinator's picture

October 21, 2013 at 09:22 pm

How about we all wait a bit and see what develops? Wait for a prognosis from some actual medical personnel?

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al's picture

October 22, 2013 at 09:56 am

com-on-man its just a stinger he be fine !!!!!!!!!

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Lars's picture

October 22, 2013 at 12:28 pm

He has a compressed spine. Get real. Look up the names Jeremy Thompson (re stingers) Tim Lewis, Sterling Sharpe, Terrance Murphy, Nick Collins (just to name a few) and then get back to us on your prognosis, doctor.

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Evan's picture

October 22, 2013 at 01:14 pm

Is a bruised spine the same as a compressed spine?

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