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Jim Finn is OUT for THE SEASON! Shoulder tear (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ministry of Pain
- Start date
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Here is a story by one of the NY Giants beat writers...really shows and tells a lot about Finn. He has been the primary FB blocking the past 3-4 seasons for Tiki which of course have been the best 3-4 seasons Tiki ever had.
Finn a Study in Being Thick Skinned
Giants fullback stays the course, despite team's attempt to bring in competition.
By Michael Eisen, Giants.com
April 9, 2007
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Since 2003, Jim Finn has been the Giants’ unsung fullback. His primary duty is blocking, which he performs so well, Tiki Barber rushed for 6,256 yards and made three Pro Bowls in four seasons with Finn as his backfield escort.
FB Jim Finn helped RB Tiki Barber make his last four seasons in the NFL his best.
But last month the Giants signed Finn’s potential replacement, restricted free agent Vonta Leach of the Houston Texans, to an offer sheet. A week later, the Texans matched the offer and Leach stayed in Houston. Finn was uncertain of his job security with the Giants during the week Leach was in limbo. But he continues to participate in the team’s offseason conditioning program and said today he holds no hard feelings about the Giants’ intentions.
“Hey, this is the NFL,” Finn said. “Every day they’re trying to replace you. I’ve been trying to get shown the door since the day I got in the NFL. That’s just the nature of the game. You’ve just got to handle it the best you can.
“You basically have to reassess what’s going on. The way I look at it, I just have to focus on myself and handle what I can control. I’ve got to handle what Jim Finn can handle and all I can worry about is that. Whoever they bring in, I’ve got to deal with it, battle, and do whatever I can. I don’t know what decisions would be made if he was brought in. All I can handle is what I can control and that’s to come in here and work and do my job.”
Many assumed that if Leach had joined the Giants, it’s doubtful he would have split time with Finn. But the incumbent said he was never told that adding Leach would result in subtracting Finn from the roster.
“Basically, I was told it was all about competition,” Finn said. “Competition is a good thing in the NFL and that’s what I was told. If they draft a guy in the first round, basically I won’t be here too much longer after that. They tried to get a guy, it didn’t work, so I’m still here.
“Every team is looking everywhere at every position. Head coach, general manager, down to the ball boy. You’ve just got to understand that it’s part of the game and then deal with it.”
A few moments later, as reporters continued to question him, Finn admitted his self-esteem, if not exactly wounded, had been scratched.
“Anytime money’s thrown out at a guy in your position it’s a little hard to swallow for a minute,” Finn said. “That’s just your own pride. Of course, that’s going to have an effect on you. Once the smoke clears and everything settles - here I am. I’m still here and he’s not. That’s all I can basically control.”
Some players in that situation might find motivation in the fact that his team had signed a potential replacement for the position he manned for four years. But Finn is not walking around angry or impatiently waiting to prove to the coaches how good he, simply because Leach signed an offer sheet.
“I’m driven from within,” he said. “I don’t really need somebody else to do something like that to motivate me. Maybe on the surface it looks like that, but I’m driven from within.”
He’s always had to be. Finn is a blue-collar player who rarely, if ever, has had anything handed to him on a football field. At Bergen Catholic High School, which is located 20 minutes from Giants Stadium, Finn worked his way up from third string to the starting lineup and was named a team captain. After rushing for 2,277 yards at the University of Pennsylvania, Finn was the 253rd and last player chosen in the 1999 NFL Draft. He never did play a regular season game for the Chicago Bears, the team that drafted him. The Indianapolis Colts signed him has a free agent in 2000. Finn beat out incumbent Paul Shields and played three seasons for the Colts before signing with the Giants.
In four years with the Giants, he has carried the ball five times (twice in 2006) and caught 50 passes. His primary function is to create space for other ballhandlers.
“I’m not the pretty pick. I’ve never been the pretty pick," said Finn. "So I’ve just got to go out and do my job and make believers out of non-believers.”
At the same time, Finn said, “I’ve never been beat out. Maybe financially, that could have something to do with me being beat out. If it’s truly a competition, I don’t feel like I have to worry.”
One theory forwarded as to why the Giants tried to secure Leach was that Finn’s blocking was well-suited to Barber’s style of running. But with Barber now retired, the Giants might want a bigger fullback to clear holes for Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns, who are power runners.
Finn disputes the hypothesis.
“I don’t buy it,” he said. “I’ve been a good fullback for Edgerrin James in a slashing-type offense. Then we come here and we’re talking about being a power team in the NFC East and Tiki Barber was supposed to be a small back. But I think we did pretty well with a power style offense in the NFC East for so many years. That’s all just talk - what people want to perceive it to be.
“I’m a fullback. Each week when we’ve got to play a fast linebacker or a big linebacker, I’ve still got to do the same job. I’ve got to hit the guy and pave the way for the running back. Whether it was LaVar Arrington, Levon Kirkland or Zack Thomas, my job doesn’t change. So as far as the style of offense and what they’re trying to do, it doesn’t really matter to me. I’m going to do my job. I’ve been here with Brandon. Reuben’s here now. D (Derrick) Ward. I don’t see any difference in what I’m going to be asked to do. I’ve got to block for the tailback.”
So Finn diligently prepares himself for the 2007 season, working on the assumption that he will spend a fifth season in a Giants uniform. But Finn, who turned 30 in December, knows nothing is guaranteed.
“Of course, I would love to know that my name is carved in stone,” he said. “But as we’ve seen in the NFL, nobody’s name is in stone. It’s just a matter of timing that your time’s come and someone else comes in. Like I said, I’ve been told it’s about competition. If it’s about competition, then I’ll be alright.”
Finn a Study in Being Thick Skinned
Giants fullback stays the course, despite team's attempt to bring in competition.
By Michael Eisen, Giants.com
April 9, 2007
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Since 2003, Jim Finn has been the Giants’ unsung fullback. His primary duty is blocking, which he performs so well, Tiki Barber rushed for 6,256 yards and made three Pro Bowls in four seasons with Finn as his backfield escort.
FB Jim Finn helped RB Tiki Barber make his last four seasons in the NFL his best.
But last month the Giants signed Finn’s potential replacement, restricted free agent Vonta Leach of the Houston Texans, to an offer sheet. A week later, the Texans matched the offer and Leach stayed in Houston. Finn was uncertain of his job security with the Giants during the week Leach was in limbo. But he continues to participate in the team’s offseason conditioning program and said today he holds no hard feelings about the Giants’ intentions.
“Hey, this is the NFL,” Finn said. “Every day they’re trying to replace you. I’ve been trying to get shown the door since the day I got in the NFL. That’s just the nature of the game. You’ve just got to handle it the best you can.
“You basically have to reassess what’s going on. The way I look at it, I just have to focus on myself and handle what I can control. I’ve got to handle what Jim Finn can handle and all I can worry about is that. Whoever they bring in, I’ve got to deal with it, battle, and do whatever I can. I don’t know what decisions would be made if he was brought in. All I can handle is what I can control and that’s to come in here and work and do my job.”
Many assumed that if Leach had joined the Giants, it’s doubtful he would have split time with Finn. But the incumbent said he was never told that adding Leach would result in subtracting Finn from the roster.
“Basically, I was told it was all about competition,” Finn said. “Competition is a good thing in the NFL and that’s what I was told. If they draft a guy in the first round, basically I won’t be here too much longer after that. They tried to get a guy, it didn’t work, so I’m still here.
“Every team is looking everywhere at every position. Head coach, general manager, down to the ball boy. You’ve just got to understand that it’s part of the game and then deal with it.”
A few moments later, as reporters continued to question him, Finn admitted his self-esteem, if not exactly wounded, had been scratched.
“Anytime money’s thrown out at a guy in your position it’s a little hard to swallow for a minute,” Finn said. “That’s just your own pride. Of course, that’s going to have an effect on you. Once the smoke clears and everything settles - here I am. I’m still here and he’s not. That’s all I can basically control.”
Some players in that situation might find motivation in the fact that his team had signed a potential replacement for the position he manned for four years. But Finn is not walking around angry or impatiently waiting to prove to the coaches how good he, simply because Leach signed an offer sheet.
“I’m driven from within,” he said. “I don’t really need somebody else to do something like that to motivate me. Maybe on the surface it looks like that, but I’m driven from within.”
He’s always had to be. Finn is a blue-collar player who rarely, if ever, has had anything handed to him on a football field. At Bergen Catholic High School, which is located 20 minutes from Giants Stadium, Finn worked his way up from third string to the starting lineup and was named a team captain. After rushing for 2,277 yards at the University of Pennsylvania, Finn was the 253rd and last player chosen in the 1999 NFL Draft. He never did play a regular season game for the Chicago Bears, the team that drafted him. The Indianapolis Colts signed him has a free agent in 2000. Finn beat out incumbent Paul Shields and played three seasons for the Colts before signing with the Giants.
In four years with the Giants, he has carried the ball five times (twice in 2006) and caught 50 passes. His primary function is to create space for other ballhandlers.
“I’m not the pretty pick. I’ve never been the pretty pick," said Finn. "So I’ve just got to go out and do my job and make believers out of non-believers.”
At the same time, Finn said, “I’ve never been beat out. Maybe financially, that could have something to do with me being beat out. If it’s truly a competition, I don’t feel like I have to worry.”
One theory forwarded as to why the Giants tried to secure Leach was that Finn’s blocking was well-suited to Barber’s style of running. But with Barber now retired, the Giants might want a bigger fullback to clear holes for Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns, who are power runners.
Finn disputes the hypothesis.
“I don’t buy it,” he said. “I’ve been a good fullback for Edgerrin James in a slashing-type offense. Then we come here and we’re talking about being a power team in the NFC East and Tiki Barber was supposed to be a small back. But I think we did pretty well with a power style offense in the NFC East for so many years. That’s all just talk - what people want to perceive it to be.
“I’m a fullback. Each week when we’ve got to play a fast linebacker or a big linebacker, I’ve still got to do the same job. I’ve got to hit the guy and pave the way for the running back. Whether it was LaVar Arrington, Levon Kirkland or Zack Thomas, my job doesn’t change. So as far as the style of offense and what they’re trying to do, it doesn’t really matter to me. I’m going to do my job. I’ve been here with Brandon. Reuben’s here now. D (Derrick) Ward. I don’t see any difference in what I’m going to be asked to do. I’ve got to block for the tailback.”
So Finn diligently prepares himself for the 2007 season, working on the assumption that he will spend a fifth season in a Giants uniform. But Finn, who turned 30 in December, knows nothing is guaranteed.
“Of course, I would love to know that my name is carved in stone,” he said. “But as we’ve seen in the NFL, nobody’s name is in stone. It’s just a matter of timing that your time’s come and someone else comes in. Like I said, I’ve been told it’s about competition. If it’s about competition, then I’ll be alright.”
I would think it would be the other way around, since Droughns has the experience at FB not Jacobs.Makes the Giants look like geniuses with the Droughns signing. Now they can slide Jacobs to FB like they've wanted to all along and get a 260 LB beast clearing the way for a proven 1200 yard rusher. Worked out perfectly.
Nah, Jacobs is the man in NY. He's the RB. If not just "in a pinch" then it would certainly be Droughns and not him moving to FB.Makes the Giants look like geniuses with the Droughns signing. Now they can slide Jacobs to FB like they've wanted to all along and get a 260 LB beast clearing the way for a proven 1200 yard rusher. Worked out perfectly.
H.K.
Footballguy
I would think it would be the other way around, since Droughns has the experience at FB not Jacobs.Makes the Giants look like geniuses with the Droughns signing. Now they can slide Jacobs to FB like they've wanted to all along and get a 260 LB beast clearing the way for a proven 1200 yard rusher. Worked out perfectly.
While Droughns had experience early in his career at FB, his experience that was coveted by NYG was that he is a true every down feature RB (for obvious reasons because Jacobs hasn't been able to even handle 100 carries in a season). This will pave the way for the Giants to do what they intended to all along: Make Droughns the primary, move Jacobs to the FB role and keep him in GL.
Last edited by a moderator:
Righetti
Footballguy
Yenrub
Footballguy
H.K. I have noticed that you are not a big Jacobs supporter and that is cool.I do have ask about the statement in bold.I would think it would be the other way around, since Droughns has the experience at FB not Jacobs.Makes the Giants look like geniuses with the Droughns signing. Now they can slide Jacobs to FB like they've wanted to all along and get a 260 LB beast clearing the way for a proven 1200 yard rusher. Worked out perfectly.
I understand that Jacobs has yet to carry the ball more than 100 times in a season (he did have 107 touches last year) but what makes you say he hasn’t been able to handle 100 touches?
He didn’t get the touches because he was behind a stud named Tiki Barber.
The Giants? Or you? I've seen nothing out of the Giants camp that come anything close to this. Droughns isn't a true every down feature RB. Which is why he was fired. He's bad. You don't feature a bad RB. Regardless, I'd like to see where you're getting this information. Maybe swap "the giants" with "in my opinion".I would think it would be the other way around, since Droughns has the experience at FB not Jacobs.Makes the Giants look like geniuses with the Droughns signing. Now they can slide Jacobs to FB like they've wanted to all along and get a 260 LB beast clearing the way for a proven 1200 yard rusher. Worked out perfectly.
Dirty Weasel
Footballguy
This from Rotoworld....
Giants placed FB Jim Finn on injured reserve with a torn labrum, ending his season.
That quite possibly ends Finn's Giants career. The Giants only have one fullback on the roster now - Robert Douglas. They may simply phase the position out of the offense.
Giants placed FB Jim Finn on injured reserve with a torn labrum, ending his season.
That quite possibly ends Finn's Giants career. The Giants only have one fullback on the roster now - Robert Douglas. They may simply phase the position out of the offense.
nygiants56
Footballguy
Makes the Giants look like geniuses with the Droughns signing. Now they can slide Jacobs to FB like they've wanted to all along and get a 260 LB beast clearing the way for a proven 1200 yard rusher. Worked out perfectly.
:X um, no.this isn't what they wanted at all. they don't look like geniuses..this team was going to struggle to run the ball this season,without Tiki.now this.things go from bad to worse.
Bossman
Footballguy
How in the world do you tear your labrum on a practice field.... during "no contact" drills.Maybe he came in "contact" with the ground?
Eli2Shockey
Footballguy
As a fellow Bergen Catholic Alum and New York Giants Fan, this was terrible news
Weapon of Mass Instruction
Watch my feet!
Stop the presses.
Royal Hawaiian Opihi
Footballguy
Wasn't Finn "Mr. Irrelevant" the year he was drafted? I seem to recall that.
duaneok66
Footballguy
come on now, draft Amani Toomer - while supplies last . . .
I used to live near there too
lions327
Footballguy
Who on the Giants said they want Jacobs to play fullback? I have not seen that said anywhere, so please provide a recent link to this.Makes the Giants look like geniuses with the Droughns signing. Now they can slide Jacobs to FB like they've wanted to all along and get a 260 LB beast clearing the way for a proven 1200 yard rusher. Worked out perfectly.
:highfive: I grew up a few houses down the street from BC. Also, in addition to my old house, the former homes of Bill Parcells, Tom Landry and Vince Lombardi all can be seen from the BC football field. It's like a Bermuda Triangle of HOF coaches.I used to live near there too
