Cortland Finnegan retires

[Prime Time]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/02/dolphins-cut-veteran-cornerback-cortland-finnegan/

Dolphins cut veteran cornerback Cortland Finnegan
Posted by Darin Gantt on March 2, 2015

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If you’re an NFL veteran on the wrong side of 30 with a big cap number but without a clean bill of health, you might not want to answer your phone this week.

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins have
released cornerback Cortland Finnegan.

Finnegan played just 12 games last year because of injuries, and was due $5.475 million this season, making it an easy call for the Dolphins.

The 31-year-old Finnegan may not be quite ready for the wake, but his big-earning days are certainly behind him.

The Dolphins have cleared out a number of veteran contracts lately for cap purposes. Wide receivers Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson got it last week, and more moves could be on the way.

 

[Rmfnlt]

I'd say this was Fisher's biggest mistake.

We got maybe a half season out of this guy.

 

[Irish]

Man, I loved Cortland Finnegan when he signed here. I even got a Rams player T Shirt made with his name on it.

Then he put on a Rams jersey.

Guess what my wife wears to bed, now?

 

[TheDYVKX]

I'd say this was Fisher's biggest mistake.

We got maybe a half season out of this guy.

No one could have predicted he would drop off that hard though. I sure didn't expect it.

 

[Rmfnlt]

Man, I loved Cortland Finnegan when he signed here. I even got a Rams player T Shirt made with his name on it.

Then he put on a Rams jersey.

Guess what my wife wears to bed, now?

Hope your wife wearing it gets you more excited than Cortland wearing it did for me! LOL

 

[TheDYVKX]

Speaking of Finnegan...here's him and Chris Long trying to see who can drink their beer the fastest..

Turns out Cortland is a little "dirty" in every game he plays

https://instagram.com/p/zocBweKerb/

 

[junkman]

He was awesome for a 1/2 year, and then just dropped off a cliff performance wise. The Rams might have been better off if he just stayed off the field, rather than playing hurt, or playing with whatever was wrong with him.

 

[HometownBoy]

Won't forget him gift wrapping that win for us in Washington. Wish we had more times like that with him than him doing his best Justin King impersonation.

 

[Ky Ram]

Injuries are the downfall of many a promising career. I loved his attitude and leadership, just wish he could have brought his skills along with him.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Finnegan Beginagain!

 

[Ramrasta]

I'm not surprised we signed him for what we did but the Dolphins were stupid to sign him after he left. He does bring a personality to your team but that's all as of late.

 

[Legatron4]

Before anyone suggests we resign him...

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bocJAqjttoU

 

[BonifayRam]

Just another fine example of the usual failures in buying high priced free agents to try to elevate your NFL team.

 

[-X-]

He was awesome for a 1/2 year, and then just dropped off a cliff performance wise. The Rams might have been better off if he just stayed off the field, rather than playing hurt, or playing with whatever was wrong with him.

Orbital fracture.

I don't see any reason for anyone to hate on the guy (not insinuating that you are). He was instrumental in helping the DBs gain an edge, and he was a 100% team guy. But yeah, they could have moved Trumaine over to his spot sooner considering what was going on with his vision/depth perception, and the pain he was playing through.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Dude was a very good player when we signed him. He was in his prime.

Who would have guessed the rapid drop off? Not me. I thought he was an excellent signing.

 

[junkman]

Orbital fracture.

I don't see any reason for anyone to hate on the guy (not insinuating that you are). He was instrumental in helping the DBs gain an edge, and he was a 100% team guy. But yeah, they could have moved Trumaine over to his spot sooner considering what was going on with his vision/depth perception, and the pain he was playing through.

There was more than an orbital fracture going on with Finnegan. Jim Thomas talked about him having nagging soft tissue stuff, all the way through the off-season, but that he should be raring to go in the following season... except he wasn't. One of the first times I noticed it was the Adrian Peterson 82 yard run, which I watched and re-watched over and over trying to figure out how AP ran 82 yards while barely going outside the hash marks. Finnegan is the left CB and should have had a great angle on AP, but got passed like he was standing still; and while there is no shame in getting out-raced by Peterson, watching Finnegan ALSO get outraced by Quinn puts some perspective on how he'd slowed.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hpqlu3FmqQ

 

[-X-]

There was more than an orbital fracture going on with Finnegan. Jim Thomas talked about him having nagging soft tissue stuff, all the way through the off-season, but that he should be raring to go in the following season... except he wasn't. One of the first times I noticed it was the Adrian Peterson 82 yard run, which I watched and re-watched over and over trying to figure out how AP ran 82 yards while barely going outside the hash marks. Finnegan is the left CB and should have had a great angle on AP, but got passed like he was standing still; and while there is no shame in getting out-raced by Peterson, watching Finnegan ALSO get outraced by Quinn puts some perspective on how he'd slowed.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hpqlu3FmqQ

Yeah, coulda been more going on. Who knows. Players of that experience and skill don't typically drop off a cliff for no reason. Especially when they were pretty proficient a year prior.

 

[LesBaker]

This is the reason the players union will strike when the current CBA is finished. They will want to redo vet minimums I would guess.

If you’re an NFL veteran on the wrong side of 30 with a big cap number but without a clean bill of health, you might not want to answer your phone this week.

They thought the new rookie cap would help vets make more money because less would go to draft picks. Oooops, wrong. Teams would still rather invest on new younger players. And DSmith should be fired for structuring this deal LOL.

But as usual the players union won't be touched by the media.

A lot of people, me included, said this was not going to help veterans. I thought they should have used some of the things the NBA does. Oh well.

Now after the last of the big contract players who got huge deals as rookies are out of the system maybe that'll change, but I doubt if it changes all that much.

Good thing the CBA runs until 2021 or something like that.

 

[jrry32]

There was more than an orbital fracture going on with Finnegan. Jim Thomas talked about him having nagging soft tissue stuff, all the way through the off-season, but that he should be raring to go in the following season... except he wasn't. One of the first times I noticed it was the Adrian Peterson 82 yard run, which I watched and re-watched over and over trying to figure out how AP ran 82 yards while barely going outside the hash marks. Finnegan is the left CB and should have had a great angle on AP, but got passed like he was standing still; and while there is no shame in getting out-raced by Peterson, watching Finnegan ALSO get outraced by Quinn puts some perspective on how he'd slowed.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hpqlu3FmqQ

Yea, he looks to be running like he's hurt. Although, you have to keep in mind that Quinn was already in a full sprint when Finnegan was turning to chase Peterson.

Just another fine example of the usual failures in buying high priced free agents to try to elevate your NFL team.

This. 100% this. That's why I think the Rams should avoid throwing big money around to a player this off-season. Go bargain shopping with the mid tier guys. Would rather get a solid starter for $2 to $4 million a year than a guy who has been a good starter for $7 to $10 million a year. Because I can get two or three solid starters for that price and there's less risk if they fall off a cliff.

 

[jrry32]

This is the reason the players union will strike when the current CBA is finished. They will want to redo vet minimums I would guess.

If you’re an NFL veteran on the wrong side of 30 with a big cap number but without a clean bill of health, you might not want to answer your phone this week.

They thought the new rookie cap would help vets make more money because less would go to draft picks. Oooops, wrong. Teams would still rather invest on new younger players. And DSmith should be fired for structuring this deal LOL.

But as usual the players union won't be touched by the media.

A lot of people, me included, said this was not going to help veterans. I thought they should have used some of the things the NBA does. Oh well.

Now after the last of the big contract players who got huge deals as rookies are out of the system maybe that'll change, but I doubt if it changes all that much.

Good thing the CBA runs until 2021 or something like that.

I gotta disagree. The money has to go somewhere. They just needed to do a better job of setting the floor so that teams couldn't drastically under spend like some have the past few years.