Jermichael Finley Receives Medical Clearance from Personal Doctor

Jermichael Finley speculation never quite goes away.

During an appearance on PFT Live, Finley's agent Blake Baratz announced that his client had received full medical clearance on his surgically fused neck by the doctor who performed the procedure. A hit to the head endured during the Packers' week 7 matchup with the Browns ended Finley's 2013 season and required a fusion for the tight end's C3 and C4 vertebrates.

While such certainly constitutes good news for Finley and his family, it shouldn't be mistaken for medical clearance from the Packers or any other NFL team. Finley's personal doctor is Joseph Maroon, a surgeon not employed by or affiliated with the Green Bay Packers. Dr. Maroon is team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that association does not represent the type of medical green flag Finley needs to resume his NFL career.

Then there's also the elephant in the room; Finley is entitled to tax-exempt $10 million payment via his injury insurance policy if he does not return to the field. The exact terms of the policy aren't publically available, but Baratz discussed the matter as though Finley could still receive payment if he walks away. Finley would need to make well over that $10 million figure in future NFL contracts to come out even as athletes are taxed at among the highest rates in the federal and majority of state tax codes.

As though you needed a reminder, resolution on the Finley saga is still likely some time away.