2012 St. Louis Rams Free Agent Options: Cortland Finnegan

by Brick Top on Feb 14, 2012 3:00 PM CST in NFL Free Agents 2012

Over the last few weeks there has been one name that has been constantly linked to the Rams: Cortland Finnegan. He is one of the top ten cornerbacks in football. F innegan thinks that the Titans won't resign him and he sounds like he is ready to move on.

The Rams may have an edge in signing him. Finnegan expressed on 101 ESPN an openness to coming to play for his old coach, Jeff Fisher in St. Louis. Additionally, the signing of ex-Titan's defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil by the Rams today as defensive back coach adds another connection.

Needless to say the Rams won't be the only suitors for Finnegan, since he's arguably the top corner on the market. The Lions also have multiple Tennessee connections with ex-Titans defensive coordinator Jim Swartz at the helm and they also just hired the Titans defensive backs coach, Marcus Robinson, as a defensive assistant. The Cowboys are also a team in desperate need of corner help and would certainly be interested in Finnegan.

He can play both outside and in the slot with great efficiency. The main issue with Cortland is he is a hothead. He hasn't gained many fans throughout the NFL with his dirty antics, the biggest of which was a fight with Andre Johnson.

Videos and more after the jump!

And here's a decent highlight video of Finnegan.

As for the contract it would take, he would be priced around the same range that Jonathan Joseph was last season. Joseph received a 5 year, $48.75 million dollar deal from the Texans and he proved to be well worth it. He became a huge part of the league leading defense.

This would be expensive for any team but particularly so for one that currently only has $10 million in cap space; but that number will go up after releasing some players or restructuring expensive contracts.

A way that has been proposed to free up cap space is for the Rams to release Ron Bartell. He has been great for the Rams, a bright spot on a very bad defense, but he had a severe, season ending neck injury in 2011. There is uncertainty about whether or not he can come back and play at the same level. Bartell is due to make $6.5 million in 2012 and that's a huge price to pay for a injury prone 30 year old player.

Poll

What say you Rams fans? Finnegan to the Rams?

Yes

483 votes

No, because he's a dirty player

25 votes

No, because he'll cost too much

59 votes

567 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 1 recs |

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Comments

This

would be a good pick-up for the Rams. Last year our splashy pick-up was Quentin Mikell, a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season. I think Cort would plug a major hole in a defense that is only missing a few pieces. JL55, QMikell, and Cort patrolling. I like it.

They will notice and they will giggle.

by papapegasus on Feb 14, 2012 3:09 PM CST reply actions

Excellent Post Brick Top! Rec'd

Si hoc signum legere potes, operis boni in rebus Latinus alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes!
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by Douglas M on Feb 14, 2012 3:09 PM CST reply actions

Bring your fiesty ass on board cortland! Ram tuff!

by kevio3000 on Feb 14, 2012 3:17 PM CST via Android app reply actions

I don't particularly like him as a person, and I think he's a very dirty player.

But, i’ll take him in a heartbeat over what we have. I’d rather go over the line on the dirty side then watch this season over again. I’ll take a little too much attitude over not near enough any day.

by RamFan284 on Feb 14, 2012 3:32 PM CST reply actions

out of topic but

Does anyone think Quinn will be better than Long? It was a random thought which i can not really figure out

@JBarznas

by RamTX on Feb 14, 2012 3:35 PM CST reply actions

yes. he will

WE SUCK. THAT IS ALL.

by RAMSALLTHEWAY on Feb 14, 2012 3:39 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

I would say no

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

by Brick Top on Feb 14, 2012 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

I'm shocked that more people say "No" due to his cost than his behavior.

I think he’s well worth the price tag, but the Terrell Owens in him makes me worry. Even so, for me, the answer is unequivocally “Yes.” Let’s make this defense a force.

Been losing sleep over Rams football since 1999.
Steven Jackson is a beast, a legend, a HoFer and should be treated as such.

by Joe Mazzi on Feb 14, 2012 3:46 PM CST reply actions

I think this seventh rounder of Fishers

will be just fine with the Rams. HE CRAZY! I like CRAZY defenders.

RAMS RULE!

by fearsomefoursum on Feb 14, 2012 5:48 PM CST up reply actions

i say pass

hes too old, but if we have no other options the hell then why not

@JBarznas

by RamTX on Feb 14, 2012 3:49 PM CST reply actions

he was 27 two weeks ago.....

too old?

by DCRamFan on Feb 14, 2012 4:28 PM CST up reply actions

Seems pretty young to me.

2 men enter 1 man leaves. THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THUNDER DOME!
"I learned that Madonna will be singing at the Super Bowl. I thought this was football not the soundtrack to your menopause." ~ RAMpage28

by RAMpage28 on Feb 14, 2012 4:39 PM CST up reply actions

If he's old

than I’m………well………..one year older than him

So what are you saying, TX? That I’m too old to start playing professional football?

by DCRamFan on Feb 14, 2012 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

This is a tough one

If he will indeed cost in the $10 million/season neighborhood, that will eat up the entire cap, as it currently stands. I realize that some more cap space will be cleared up soon, but how much? Will Finnegan have more impact than, say, Jason Jones, Ben Grubbs, and Manny Lawson put together? That is the question I can’t warm up to.

by mcihaelT on Feb 14, 2012 4:07 PM CST reply actions

Agree

if He come with that cost I think team should spent money on another bigger holes like WR OLB DT first and find lower cost FA in that position

Sorry for Bad grammar my English is not good

by Luckyz on Feb 14, 2012 5:05 PM CST up reply actions

Nine people don't want em cause he IS a dirty player??????

Well Dunk his head in HOLY water and call him a sinner.

I WANT THE IRISH PLAYER …they call……FINNEGAN!!!!

RAMS RULE!

by fearsomefoursum on Feb 14, 2012 5:45 PM CST reply actions

Get him

And then Brent Grimes from ATL. Now that’s a 1-2 punch (in the mouth!)

by StarzNBarz on Feb 14, 2012 8:21 PM CST reply actions

10 million in cap space?

Wasn’t just a couple of weeks ago when it was reported that we had $45 million in cap space? What the heck? Where did the money go? Hopefully Stan took it to buy the Dodgers!

Go Rams!!!

by Ron Winkler on Feb 17, 2012 2:51 AM CST reply actions