Jermichael Finley said he is "slimming down" this offseason.
Finley was listed at 6'5/247 last year, but may have been playing a little heavier than that. "I'm just working a little bit harder. Slimming down," he said Wednesday. "I didn't try to do it; it's just how it worked." Set to hit unrestricted free agency after this season, Finley has plenty of motivation to improve on last year's disappointing 61/667/2 line.

Jermichael Finley announced on his Twitter account Monday that he will return to the Packers in 2013.
Finley thanked his agents in the tweet, indicating there was negotiating that took place with Packers GM Ted Thompson. It's possible he accepted a pay cut or agreed to a reworked deal. Finley was owed a $3 million roster bonus on Wednesday, in addition to a $4.45 million salary, $300,000 workout bonus, and $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses. The total would have come to $8.25 million.

A source tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel the Packers have expressed to Jermichael Finley's agent that they're "uncomfortable" with his $8.25 million salary.
That's hardly a surprise, but it remains unclear if the Pack will squeeze Finley to take a pay-cut at the risk of him calling their bluff and forcing his release. Finley's $3 million roster bonus is due Tuesday, so the sides will come to a resolution in short order. It's hard to see the Pack jettisoning Finley after letting Greg Jennings go to the Vikings.

NFL.com expects the Packers to keep Jermichael Finley, but believes he could still be approached about a pay-cut.
It's not much of an update, but the first we've heard of Finley's status in a week. Finley's $3 million roster bonus is due on Wednesday. It's not outside the realm of possibility the Packers cut Finley loose as they prepare extensions for Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews, but it would leave them threadbare at tight end. It's unlikely to happen.

PFT reports there have been "no recent developments" between the Packers and Jermichael Finley with 10 days to go before his $3 million roster bonus is due.
That is, aside from the Packers losing Greg Jennings and TE Tom Crabtree in free agency. Both moves would suggest the Pack will bite the bullet and exercise Finley's option, but there's still a possibility they'll look to reduce Finley's 2013 cap number as they ready extensions for Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews. Finley's base salary is a hearty $4.45 million. Parting ways with Finley would leave the Packers barren at tight end, but it's not completely out of the question if they've already decided they won't be re-signing him next offseason. We expect Finley back with the Pack.

Speaking at the NFL Owners Meetings Sunday, coach Mike McCarthy praised Jermichael Finley's second-half 2012 improvement and said the Packers plan to simplify Finley's role in 2013.
"Less volume and more creativity," said McCarthy in reference to playcalling. "... I really think the bye week he had an opportunity to step away and change some things. He was a different guy. He was focused and productive in the second half of the season." Following the bye, Finley secured 37-of-49 targets for 441 yards and a touchdown. The catch rate was a rock-solid 75.5 percent.

Jermichael Finley's camp is "sitting on pins and needles" as the Packers continue contract negotiations with free agent Greg Jennings.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel confirms there's a "good chance" the Packers would ask Finley to take a pay cut or release him if they re-signed Jennings. Finley is nervous because NFL cap money is being spent left and right, and his market could be weak if he didn't hit free agency for another week, or maybe more. The Packers don't owe Finley a dime until his March 27 $3 million roster bonus.

The agent for Jermichael Finley said he'd at least listen if the Packers asked his client to take a pay cut.

"Multiple sources connected to the team" tell the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that they would be "surprised" if Jermichael Finley isn't back with the Packers in 2013.
Finley's future in Green Bay has been swirling in the wind all offseason. Once the season ended, coach Mike McCarthy praised his tight end for his play after the bye week, but recently the organization has been "torn" on the matter while Finley has said he's not willing to take a pay cut. We'll know his immediate future by March 27, when a $3 million roster bonus is due.

Jermichael Finley said he is not willing to take a pay cut in order to stay with the Packers.
Finley is entering the second year of a two-year, $14 million deal. As it stands now, his total compensation in 2013 is $8.25 million. "I'd have to walk for sure, meaning I couldn't take a pay cut," he said. "Maybe I'd restructure if it's a deal that I like and it makes sense, but I'm not the guy that's just going to sign anything and let anything pass. I'm not that guy." Finley said he's "barely" talked to the Packers since the season ended and has no idea what their plans are for him. The tight end's $3 million roster bonus isn't due until March 27.

The Chicago Tribune expects the Bears to be "in line" if Jermichael Finley is released by the Packers.
Beat writer Vaughn McClure "hears" the Bears and Finley are viewed as a "great fit." The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Bob McGinn made the same allusion in his Monday article on Finley's future with Green Bay. The Pack would certainly prefer to keep Finley out of the NFC North if they decide to part ways, but won't have any say in where he goes if he's released instead of traded.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports the Packers' organization is "torn" on whether to retain Jermichael Finley for 2013.
The coaching staff and GM Ted Thompson favor keeping Finley, while "members of the personnel department" want him released. If the Packers did cut Finley, they could retain free agent Greg Jennings via the franchise tag. Meanwhile, extensions for Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews loom. Finley's 2013 cap number ($8.75 million) is slated to rank second to only Rodgers ($9.75 million) on the team.

After listening to coach Mike McCarthy's Combine presser, ESPN Milwaukee's Jason Wilde believes it's "almost impossible" to imagine the Packers parting ways with Jermichael Finley this offseason.
Finley underachieved (again) in 2012 and is owed a $3.5 million roster bonus next month, but it sounds like the Packers plan to pay it. "In the second half (of the season), I thought things started clicking and he looked like his old self," said McCarthy of Finley. "I was very pleased with the way he finished the year. ... When you look at Jermichael and you ... talk to any of the defensive guys that played against him, he's a matchup challenge for defenses."

Jermichael Finley puts his chances of remaining in Green Bay at "50/50."
"I would love to stay there," Finley said. "There's no doubt that I want to be there for life. But it's a business and the business will tell you otherwise." CBS' Jason La Canfora has reported Finley is not expected back with the Pack, but a league source tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel it's a "coin flip." The Green Bay Press-Gazette guessed in January that Finley would "almost certainly" be back. Finley is due a steep $8.25 million between salary and bonuses, but "50/50" seems an appropriate guess.

League sources tell CBS' Jason La Canfora that Jermichael Finley is not expected to be with the Packers next season.
Finley is owed a $3.5 million roster bonus in March in addition to his $4.45 million in 2013 base salary. Coming off a season in which he caught just 61 passes and two touchdowns in 16 games, we could certainly see the Pack moving on. However, some local reports have Finley sticking thanks to a mini-resurgence late in the season. Expect the Packers to hold off as long as possible on a decision here, in part so they can evaluate the health of potential replacement Andrew Quarless (torn ACL).

The Green Bay Press-Gazette believes Packers coach Mike McCarthy's Tuesday praise of Jermichael Finley means he'll "almost certainly" be back in 2013.
McCarthy said he felt "very good about way (Finley) finished the year," and that he was a "different man from the bye week on." Packers TEs coach Jerry Fontenot agreed. "As the season wore on you could see a more confident guy on the field," Fontenot said. "You could see a guy that once he got his hands on the ball he was running like a maniac. ... I see him definitely in an ascending mode." It's doubtful Fontenot would describe a player as "ascending" if he didn't expect him to be back. Finley is signed for $4.45 million in 2013, though he's due a hefty $3.5 million roster bonus in March

Coach Mike McCarthy expressed optimism about Jermichael Finley, emphasizing that his tight end was "different man from the bye week on."
"I feel very good about way he finished year," added McCarthy. "There was a change in that young man." McCarthy's comments suggest Finley has a good shot to retain his roster spot despite a mid-December report that he would not return to Green Bay "barring a shocking turn of events." Finley is due a $3.5 million roster bonus in March.

Despite at least one report to the contrary, Jermichael Finley believes he will be back in Green Bay for the final year of his contract in 2013.
"Hopefully, I'm here forever," Finley said. "I'm good for next year as far as I know." The Packers don't have a tight end ready to step in for Finley, but his $3.5 million roster bonus in March will be tough to swallow after another drop-prone inconsistent season. Finley is due a $4.45 million base salary on top of the roster bonus.

Jermichael Finley caught four balls for 35 yards in Green Bay's Divisional Round playof loss to San Francisco.
Finley's big play occurred late in the second quarter in Patrick Willis' coverage as Aaron Rodgers rocketed a 20-yard pass deep down the middle into Finley's big, waiting hands. The rest of his catches were made underneath. Although Finley picked up his production down the season's stretch, the Packers seem unlikely to exercise his $3.5 million offseason roster bonus. If not, he'd immediately become the most talented free agent available on a tight end market that will also include Jared Cook, Fred Davis, Dustin Keller, and Martellus Bennett.

Fox Sports Southwest confirms the Cowboys are "close" to hiring Monte Kiffin as defensive coordinator.

Jermichael Finley (hamstring) returned to practice on Tuesday.

Jermichael Finley sustained a hamstring injury in Saturday's playoff win over the Vikings, though coach Mike McCarthy doesn't believe it's serious.

Jermichael Finley caught one pass for ten yards in the Packers' first-round playoff win over the Vikings.
Finley dropped a would-be touchdown pass late in the first half after getting behind Vikings SS Harrison Smith's coverage. He was rarely heard from thereafter. Generally speaking, Finley has played solid football over the past six weeks, but he also seems to be a mental case capable of going in the tank at any moment.

Jermichael Finley (quadriceps) was upgraded to full participation in Thursday's practice.
Finley's swollen eye was a bigger issue than the quad early in the week, but he will be fine for Saturday's game. While quietly setting the single-season franchise record for receptions by a tight end, Finley has cleared 50 yards in five of the past six games.

Jermichael Finley (quadriceps) was limited in Wednesday's practice.
Finley, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, and James Starks were all limited in the session. Coming off his best game of the season in Week 17 versus the same Vikings team he'll face on Saturday, Finley is going to be out there. He's Rotoworld's No. 5 tight end for the playoffs.