MKRob Sports

Jermichael Finley’s future with the Green Bay Packers couldn’t be filled with more promise.

Donald Lee’s future will include a heavy dose of special teams.

Coach Mike McCarthy made that clear Sunday when he officially made Finley the starter at tight end, a status Lee had held for the past three seasons.

“Yes, he (Finley) is (the starter),” McCarthy said during the National Football League scouting combine. “He played very well. What’s exciting about him, he gets better every week.”

Set to turn 23 in late March, Finley has Pro Bowl ability. The Texas product proved that last season when he had 835 receiving yards in 13 regular-season and one playoff game.

During the regular season, Finley played 511 snaps, or 39.3 per game. Lee played 727 snaps, an average of 45.4.

After solid seasons in 2007 and ’08, Lee slipped in ’09. He dropped eight of 55 targeted passes, a drop percentage of 14.6% that was the worst of his career and on the team.

Lee, who will be 30 before next season, remains relatively affordable with a $2 million base salary even though his days as a starter are past. Spencer Havner is No. 3.

“I like Donald,” said McCarthy. “Jermichael has a chance to be a special player, but you tend to forget Donald Lee is a hell of a special-teams player. In the number of reps he played he played very well.”

Lee participated in 94 plays on special teams, 25 more than Finley.

“We made Donald such an exclusive starter that we took him off a lot of special teams,” McCarthy said. “I’d like to get him back on special teams.”

As a former starter, Lee probably won’t be delighted to learn of the Packers’ plans for him. But with McCarthy determined to improve his 31st-ranked special teams he might not be the only veteran asked to help more in that area.