Jermichael Finley caught two passes for 28 yards in Friday night's third preseason game against Seattle.

He had a bad drop on a back-shoulder throw by Graham Harrell down the seam, and also couldn't handle a would-be touchdown on the front line of the end zone. Finley remains prone to drops, but all in all has had a strong August. Through three preseason games, he's at seven grabs for 113 yards, and Aaron Rodgers has shown increased trust in Finley. With virtually all of fantasy land fed up with Finley, he has a chance to be a value pick in a contract year.

Coach Mike McCarthy said it's "clear-cut" that Jermichael Finley is having "his finest training camp."

Jermichael Finley says he and Aaron Rodgers have developed good chemistry this summer.

"It's starting off pretty good here," Finley said. It showed in Saturday night's preseason win over the Rams. Finley secured four of his five targets and tallied 78 yards, displaying good run-after-the-catch skills. The 26-year-old has reportedly been dominating in training camp practices, finishing "multiple drives with touchdowns in traffic." Both Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy have openly praised Finely this summer, and he's a real bounce-back candidate.

Jermichael Finley caught four passes for 78 yards in the Packers' second preseason game Saturday night.

He was targeted five times. Ever a tantalizing fantasy commodity, Finley showed his big-play ability on downfield catches and capitalized on the absences of Jordy Nelson (knee) and Randall Cobb (biceps). Through two preseason games, Finley has five catches for 85 yards. Ex-Rotoworld superstar Chris Wesseling is predicting a career-best year for Finley in 2013.

Aaron Rodgers praised Jermichael Finley's improved route running and "unbelievable" fitness in training camp.

It's a contract year for 26-year-old Finley, and early signs suggest he's aiming to take full advantage. "He's been running his routes really well," Rodgers said. "Something clicked last year midseason ... and it's carried over this spring. He's got himself in unbelievable shape, and he's come in and been dominating out there. I'm really proud of him." We're always in wait-and-see mode with Finley, but he's never lacked talent to be a top-five fantasy tight end.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, receptions have been "few and far between" for Jermichael Finley at Packers camp.

"He just hasn't seen the ball much," per the paper. No explanation was provided. Coach Mike McCarthy recently told the media Finley is "having a heck of a camp," a month after TEs coach Jerry Fontenot called him "really dialed in." Finley finished the 2012 season as the No. 19 overall fantasy tight end.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Jermichael Finley is "having a heck of a camp."

The Packers are thrilled that Finley has toned down his off-field bravado and is focusing solely on football. He's added about 10 pounds of muscle and says he's "feeling great" as he heads into a contract year. Drops, mental mistakes and inconsistency have plagued Finley throughout his five-year career, but he's still a very talented pass-catcher slated to play every down with Aaron Rodgers. He has upside as a back-end TE1.

Tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot said Jermichael Finley seems "really dialed in."

Finley's weight is where the coaches want it to be, he's not mouthing off in the media and head coach Mike McCarthy said his starting tight end was "excellent" during spring practices. Finley is also entering a contract year and Greg Jennings is in Minnesota. If he's ever going to realize his massive potential, the time is now. Finley is our No. 9 tight end in the Draft Guide.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Jermichael Finley looks "excellent" so far this offseason.

After an extremely slow start last year, Finley satisfied coaches in the second half and produced 33 catches for 402 yards and one touchdown over the final eight games. He's building on that momentum as he heads into a contract year. "He's stronger. He's playing with more confidence," McCarthy said. "I really like the offseason that Jermichael has put together so far." At a very thin tight end position, Finley projects as a borderline fantasy starter.

Jermichael Finley could see more looks from the slot and out wide with Greg Jennings no longer in the fold for the Packers.

Finley has been "slimming down" this season, and this could be a reason why. The 26-year-old is entering a contract year, and the Packers need him to improve on his 61/667/10.9/2 line from last season. According to Pro Football Focus, Finely lined up in the slot just 29.5 percent of the time in 2012.

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.