NFL

McCarthy said he felt "very good about way (Finley) finished the year," and that he was a "different man from the bye week on." Packers TEs coach Jerry Fontenot agreed. "As the season wore on you could see a more confident guy on the field," Fontenot said. "You could see a guy that once he got his hands on the ball he was running like a maniac. ... I see him definitely in an ascending mode." It's doubtful Fontenot would describe a player as "ascending" if he didn't expect him to be back. Finley is signed for $4.45 million in 2013, though he's due a hefty $3.5 million roster bonus in March.