The Secret Of Jermichael Finley's Success? AAU Basketball
Jermichael Finley credits his early basketball days as helping him succeed in the NFL.
By maxginsberg
Jermichael Finley didn't take long to make his mark in the NFL. After being drafted by the Packers in the third-round of the 2008 NFL draft, the former Texas Longhorn quickly showed why he belonged.
Starting 10 regular season games and one playoff game in his second NFL season, Finley hauled in 61 catches for 835 yards and 5 touchdowns. Even more impressive than his stats, however, were the mismatches his size and strength created; Finley could out-leap most cornerbacks and outrun almost all safeties and linebackers.
In a recent Dimemag.com article, Jermichael Finley credits his drive, speed, and leaping ability to his high school basketball days in Houston, Texas.
“I really think Houston Hoops helped me get to the next level,” Finley said. “Playing against the top players helped me to be the best tight end in many ways. Hand-eye coordination, speed, jumping ability and mostly just outplaying the other guys is what made me better.”
The dual sport phenom added that his 6-5 frame -- one of his greatest assets in the NFL passing game -- would have been "averaged sized" in the NBA. Despite success in both sports, Packers nation is thrilled that Finley pursued football over basketball.
So the next time you see Ted Thompson attending a high school basketball game, rest assured that he's scouting the next Jermichael Finley.
Comments (10)
May 24, 2011 at 11:56 am
Will Finley be content as just another cog in the GB offense? .... I'm not so sure .... I'd hate to see Jennings become just 'another WR' or Nelson's opportunities reduced or for that matter, Cobb's role minimized in his rookie year because Finley is healthy for all 16 regs ..... Alot of weapons, only one ball.
PackerAaron
May 24, 2011 at 12:14 pm
I've worried about this as well - my one hope on this front is his relationship with Rodgers. They are tight and spend a great deal of time together during the season. I hope that helps when its time to extend his contract.
maxginsberg
May 24, 2011 at 01:50 pm
I want to see Finley have a long, Hall of Fame type career in Green Bay, but if he can't stay healthy next season, Ted Thompson is going to have an interesting decision to make.
At what point does bad injury luck become injury prone?
PackerAaron
May 24, 2011 at 02:01 pm
Agreed to an extent, though everyone thought Aaron Rodgers was Mr. Glass his first few years as well.
maxginsberg
May 24, 2011 at 02:09 pm
Good point. So Finley is on schedule to be Super Bowl MVP, just like Rodgers. I'll take it.
May 24, 2011 at 02:05 pm
Success? At what? Not being available? Posting stupid tweets? Distracting his team from game preparation?
At the rate he's going, he's one step away from hiring Drew Rosenhaus as an agent and having a 'reality' show.
He's not TT/MM material, period. Get used to the idea of him averaging 6 games a year for another team.
May 24, 2011 at 02:55 pm
I wonder what consideration is used when people describe a player as "injury prone"? For example, Finley is now being labeled by many fans as such, although his injury occurred on a play in which just about any player would have been hurt. I'm not talking about the 2010 game against the Redskins where he ending up being lost for the season, but the year before against, I believe, the Browns.
On the play, Rodgers hit Finley who was crossing over the middle. As soon as Finley, who was facing Rodgers, caught the ball he began to turn up field and was immediately submarined by a secondary player who caught him right on the knee. That type of hit probably could have blown-out just about every players knee in the league, but Finley not only came back later in the year, but had a very good season playing through the injury. Because no surgery was done, and his knee remained damaged, it was only a matter of time in my opinion, before the knee would give out altogether. That is what happened in 2010.
Not only is Finley not injury prone, he showed how durable he was playing in 2009 after taking a hit that would have sidelined most players.
And BTW, Jordy Nelson is in the same situation. He hurt his knee a while ago returning kickoffs (he fumbled a KO and was hit directly in the knee after he picked up the loose ball). I believe until he has it corrected, the flare-up to his knee he had after the SB will continually occur.
May 24, 2011 at 08:03 pm
While I love Finley and what he brings to the offense. I will go back to a post someone had a while back, that we won the Superbowl without him in the game. I think TT is building the team so that the term "Next Man Up" will be the philosophy that sustains the Packers as a dynasty of the decade. I truly believe that.
May 25, 2011 at 11:47 pm
The secret of MY success is that I'm livin' 25 hours a day.
PackerAaron
May 26, 2011 at 08:20 am
Oh. My. God.
(I saw them on that TOUR - in Green Bay.)