Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley underwent successful spinal fusion surgery on Thursday in Pittsburgh. Andrea Kremer of the NFL network reported that Finley was up and walking around on Thursday afternoon and plans to return to Green Bay this week. He is also hoping to start working out again in a few weeks and is aiming for a recovery period of about three to four months.
Finley suffered a serious injury when he was hit in the head during a game against the Cleveland Browns earlier this season. He later insisted that he will play football again despite the spinal injury, but former Packers tight end Mark Chmura has expressed skepticism. Earlier this week, Chmura said he would bet his “bottom dollar” that Finley’s NFL career is over. Finley tweeted and deleted a response to Chmura on Thursday, and ESPNWisconsin.com’s Jeff Wilde was able to capture it.
RT @JermichaelF88 For All Craziness That's Going Around "I'm Not Done With The Game Of FootBall".Thanks To "Dr. Mark Chumra" For False Story
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) November 15, 2013
Hopefully Finley’s optimism pays off. We don’t blame him for taking issue with Chmura’s comments. Chmura’s not a doctor, and he shouldn’t be going around guaranteeing that Finley never plays again. What does that accomplish? Is he just hoping to be able to say, “I told ya so?” Here’s hoping Finley has a full and speedy recovery.
