Pelissero: Injuries to Finley, others bringing Green Bay back to the pack
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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Jermichael Finley had dubbed this the Year of the Takeover.
It was a personal message for the Green Bay Packers' dynamic tight end, who racked up 21 catches for 301 yards and a touchdown in the season's first four games.
But Finley just as easily could have been sending a message about a Packers team many insiders and observers pegged as one of the NFC's teams to beat in 2010.
Then starting running back Ryan Grant (ankle) landed on injured reserve. And so did strong safety Morgan Burnett (knee). And so did special-teams ace Derrick Martin (knee), inside linebacker Nick Barnett (wrist) and Finley, who underwent surgery to repair the lateral meniscus he tore on Oct. 10 at Washington and was told his right knee was showing signs of arthritis, too.
"It was a freaky thing," Finley said by phone on Thursday night. "When I woke up, (team doctor Patrick McKenzie) just said, 'It's going to be a longer process than we thought.'"
That process was expected to last eight to 10 weeks, which could have had Finley back in time for the playoffs in January. After consecutive overtime losses to Washington and Miami, though, the Packers decided to play it safe with their 23-year-old playmaker's future -- and free up a spot on a roster that's as beat up as any in the NFL.
Seven players are on injured reserve. Veteran defensive backs Al Harris (knee) and Atari Bigby (ankle) only began practicing this week after six weeks on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.
And that's without mentioning the list of starters and key contributors who have missed practice time this week: cornerback Charles Woodson (toe); linebackers Clay Matthews (hamstring), A.J. Hawk (groin), Brandon Chillar (shoulder) and Brady Poppinga (knee); safety Nick Collins (knee); receiver Donald Driver (quadriceps); defensive linemen Cullen Jenkins (hand) and Ryan Pickett (ankle); and left tackle Chad Clifton (knee).
"That's the bad thing, man," Finley said. "At the same time, they've still got to go out there and play ball and get some wins, regardless who in."
Any discussion of the Packers' indispensible players would put Finley and Grant near the top, along with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Woodson, Matthews and receiver Greg Jennings.
Without them -- especially Finley, who had emerged as the No. 1 weapon and draws a ton of extra attention from defenses -- it's worth wondering whether the Packers (3-3) even should be considered the favorites in the NFC North Division.
"That's big, there's no doubt," a high-ranking NFC executive said of Finley's injury. "That's a huge weapon, and I think that levels the playing field."
Still, there remains a strong feeling the division-leading Chicago Bears (4-2) will end up nothing more than a .500 team, and the Minnesota Vikings (2-3) remain a question mark -- albeit a highly talented one -- as they prepare to take on the reeling Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday night.
The NFC executive said he'd pin the Philadelphia Eagles as the favorite to win the conference, with Green Bay, New Orleans and perhaps the New York Giants in the conversation.
"I think this game this weekend in Green Bay will kind of dictate which direction Minnesota's season goes," the executive said.
The Vikings are healthier, even after cornerback Cedric Griffin's season-ending knee injury, and they made a bold move to fill one of their holes this month by trading for Pro Bowl receiver Randy Moss.
Perhaps the greatest unknown is whether 41-year-old quarterback Brett Favre can play through his various issues -- and play much better than he has so far in his 20th NFL season.
"I don't think it necessarily tilts the power," an AFC executive said of the Moss trade. "I just think it might even the playing field a little bit more. But if the quarterback performance can continue to improve in Minnesota -- that's ultimately what's going to, I think, dictate the outcome of the season."
In the end, this may not be the Year of the Takeover, for anyone in the division. But someone -- most likely one of the teams that will take the field on Sunday in Green Bay -- eventually will rise to take the North.
For the Packers, the process of becoming that team begins with figuring out how Brandon Jackson, Donald Driver, Jennings, James Jones, Donald Lee and others can make up for the loss of two key offensive cogs.
Three losses in four games and consecutive underwhelming offensive performances suggest it hasn't happened yet.
"If we get our running game clicking, our system is made to get the ball out to the perimeter, to the playmakers," Finley said. "I think we get the running game consistently, we're going to be a pretty hard team to beat."
