The St. Louis Rams' wealthy new cornerback, Cortland Finnegan, says that the five-year, $50 million contract he just signed will not have a negative impact on his play. Good news, though not particularly surprising. Finnegan was signed because of his intensity on the football field.
In an interview with 101 ESPN in St. Louis, Finnegan was asked about the deal he just signed.
"It hasn't sunk in and it won't sink in," Finnegan said. "When something as much is given or acquired, now it's a chance to go out there and re-prove myself and continue to get better. I look forward to that. I look forward to the huge challenge that awaits me. I'm super excited about it, so it hasn't sank in and I don't think it ever will."
Finnegan credits his mother for his well-grounded approach to fame and fortune. Of course, the football player he grew up idolizing may have had something to do with that as well.
"I play, first of all, for the love of the game," Finnegan said. :But my single-parent, Irish mom, with a military background, she won't allow me settle for anything but the best. She'll always push me. I want somebody to say, ‘Man, this guy's still hungry.' I want that to be said every game."
And what about the guy he modeled his game after?
"Honestly I was more of a Baltimore Ravens fan," Finnegan said. "I loved Ray Lewis. I just loved what he brought to the game and what he stood for and just how he played the game. I just thought I was a mini Ray Lewis, always, growing up."
A mini Ray Lewis, Rams fans should love to hear that.