Once an un-heralded selection out of Samford University (the first drafted from Samford in 37 years), Cortland Finnegan had a productive off-season. His contract was extended by Titans management, netting him an additional $6 million in guaranteed money, and he was lauded by ESPN (Paul Kuharsky) as one of four AFC players to keep an eye on.
As of Week 1, he's carried that productive off-season with him onto the field, winning his first AFC Defensive Player of the Week Award. Finnegan intercepted Jaguars' quarterback David Garrard twice (#2 and 3 of his young career) and showed the kind of ball skills on his first that I wish Titans' receivers would show on a consistent basis.
Having faced questions about his size (listed at 5'10) and his 7th round draft status, Finnegan emerged from special teams player in his first season to full-time starter in his second season, and if his first game is any indication, he could be heading towards the Pro Bowl in his third season, thanks in large part to his feisty demeanor and tremendous work ethic. More importantly, Finnegan is as active off-the-field in the Nashville community as he is on-the-field, lending a hand with the Special Olympics of Middle Tennessee and the Leukemia & Lymphoma societies.
Extra Reading about Cortland Finnegan
Paul Kuharsky - Titans' Finnegan evolving from afterthought to cornerstone.
Cortland Finnegan - www.titansonline.com
Titansonline - Chuck Cecil is optimistic about the Titans' secondary.
Keywords: Cortland Finnegan, ESPN, Tennessee, Tennessee Titans, Titans
