Tight end suggests he would rather be released than take cut.
Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley has told ESPN that he would not be willing to discuss a pay cut in order to stay at Lambeau Field.
The NFL has been dominated this week by talk of players restructuring their deals in order to free salary cap space for their respective teams.
While the likes of Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger have agreed to such deals, it appears Packers star Finley is not likely to be joining them by agreeing to a pay cut.
“The Packers are barely talking to me right now. I haven’t got a call. I haven’t got a text asking me to take a pay cut or to restructure my deal at this point – not at all,” he told ESPN.
“I’d have to walk for sure, meaning I couldn’t take a pay cut. Taking a pay cut or restructuring doesn’t sound good to me at this time. It’s all business at the end of the day. I just love what I do.”
While Green Bay haven’t appeared to have directly asked Finley to take a pay cut yet, they will undoubtedly be looking at all avenues ahead of the new season.
Finley’s $8.75 million cap next year is second only to Aaron Rodgers at the Packers, and he is also reportedly due a $3 million roster bonus in 2013. However, he is coming off the back of a solid season last year.
Finley had a career-high 61 receptions in 2012, after coming up strong in the second half of the season.
The 25-year-old would perhaps be the No.1 tight end on the market should he be made available, but considering his size, speed and athleticism, it is difficult to see the Packers deciding to eventually part ways with him.
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