One of the most popular features on The Sports Bank this week, was a preview and description of the Jermichael Finley story on ESPN. It got a few thousand page views over the weekend. Jermichael Finley talked about his injuries and life outside of football. And his future.
Following reporter Josina Anderson’s feature on Green Bay Packer Jermichael Finley, who is rehabbing from a severe neck injury and plans to return to football against the wishes of his five-year old son, the ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown panel discussed the pressures of football vs. family.
Tom Jackson: “I think he will take his family’s wishes into consideration, but you are the guy taking the risk – when you go out on the field. That’s why none of us can tell another person when they are to leave the game of football or if they need to go on. There are all kinds of considerations that Jermichael Finley has in his mind. Some of them, you heard at the end, financial. He’s prepared to do this. This is the thing that he’s best at. Is he willing to give it up while he is in his prime? He said he doesn’t want to do that … Jermichael’s risk has become greater. That’s under consideration for him.”
Keyshawn Johnson: “It is different for everybody. Jermichael Finley has already won a Super Bowl, although he didn’t play in the game. He wasn’t a first round pick. He hasn’t really gotten to the big money. He has a five-year-old son that he loves dearly. But how much does a five-year-old really understand that your dad is really working trying to secure the family for the rest of his life?”
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and RSS Catch him Tuesdays talking Illini and Northwestern for KOZN 1620 The Zone, Fridays talking Chicago Bears for WAOR 95.7 The Fan