Even as they're getting beaten out at wide receiver, with Vincent Jackson (Bucs), Pierre Garcon (Redskins) and Marcus Colston (re-signed with Saints) coming off the free agent board already today, after Finnegan and Carlos Rogers, the market at corner drops pretty far off, so this is a good signing.
RamView would rather have signed Rogers given a choice. Finnegan is known best for committing personal fouls and for being a dirty player. By all means, let's continue to foster this kind of reputation in St. Louis with the Gregg Williams fiasco buzzing. Finnegan's also far from the size of defensive back I prefer at 5'9" 177.
However, and much more importantly, Cortland Finnegan is everything Ron Bartell is not. He's durable. He actually catches interceptable balls - 14 career INTs. He makes big plays - three career pick-sixes. He forces turnovers besides those - 3 forced fumbles. Ron Bartell did none of that. He's also a solid tackler and run defender, and a physical force jamming receivers at the line. He's also a blitzing weapon from just about anywhere on the field. Bartell didn't blow a lot of tackles, and was all right against the run, but he still doesn't give a team a lot of what Finnegan does. Cortland Finnegan should be a major upgrade to the Ram defense. He's been to a Pro Bowl (2008). Bartell sure didn't do that.
I have a fair concern that Finnegan is going to be one of those guys who'll play to get the big contract and then let up and suck after he gets it. He's considered a me-first player. He loses his temper and commits stupid penalties. Hopefully with Jeff Fisher and secondary coach Chuck Cecil already being familiar with him, they can continue to get a high level of play out of him.
Cortland Finnegan's already the best corner to play for the Rams since Aeneas Williams. Let's see him aspire to those kind of heights here in St. Louis.
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