The Tennessee Titans talked contract with cornerback Cortland Finnegan on Friday, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. It was the first time the two sides have talked since before the 2011 season started. However, it might be too little, too late for Tennessee to keep their top corner from hitting the free agent market where the St. Louis Rams are expected to woo him.
Wyatt adds that Finnegan and the Titans are still far apart on a deal. He also believes that the Titans are unwilling to pay him the $10.6 million salary he would receive if they used the franchise tag to keep Finnegan.
That should be good news for Jeff Fisher and the Rams who have already been linked to Finnegan once he hits the open market. A year ago, cornerback would have been a much lower priority for the Rams, but that was before one starting corner, Bradley Fletcher, tore his ACL again and the other starter, Ron Bartell, broke the vertebrae in his neck.
Bartell has one year left on his contract at more than $6 million. It could make him a cap casualty with a new regime in town. That might depend on the status of Fletcher and third cornerback Jerome Murphy, who also spent the season on injured reserve.
Monday, Feb. 20, is the first day teams can apply the franchise tag to their free agent players.
0 recs | 27 comments
Would love this guy as a Ram
I would love this guy as a Ram. Bring him in and Still invest a top Three Pick on a Talented CB in the Draft. The Guys we have are good but they are not great. We need an upgrade in today’s NFL.
Charlie Pankey - February 20, 2012
Book 'em Dan-o!
Da Rams! - February 20, 2012
I'd love to have him, but
He’s wanting 5 years @ 10 mil a year. He’s probably worth it and will get it somewhere, but we just don’t have the cap room with all our other needs.
Scato - February 20, 2012
How about we forget the offense
Sign Finnegan, trade back, draft Claiborne, Cox and Zach Brown? Any takers? Buehler?
Joe Mazzi - February 20, 2012 via mobile
honestly would be stoked if that happened
we aren’t going to win a superbowl next year…
why not gear up for the future?
navybluenachos33 - February 20, 2012
We don't have the cap for a WR and a CB in FA.
WR is the bigger need though I really like Cort.
jmo53 - February 20, 2012 via Android app
Happy
President’sFranchise Tag Day everyone!sergey606 - February 20, 2012
Wonder how long everybody will play possum before stuff starts to happen.
Be nice to finally see the front office in action. Can’t take many more press conferences where everybody says as little as possible to keep from tipping their hand (But I’m proud of their effort – where did I hear that?).
ramdude - February 20, 2012
yeah the press conferences will be definitely better
“Let me start off by mentioning the injuries……….(3 hours later)…………it was a good effort, we’ll get back to it”
sergey606 - February 20, 2012
Bartell sucks he cant cover and hes always getting hurt we need a good shut down CB as bad as we need a #1WR
Rammon105 - February 20, 2012
PLUS ONE!
RadicalRamsFan - February 20, 2012
he was our best corner
the thing that kills me is that he’s 30 now. took him awhile to come around, perhaps too late.
sergey606 - February 20, 2012
Let's agree to disagree on this one :)
RadicalRamsFan - February 20, 2012
screw this!
Bartell was awesome when he was able to contribute. its too bad he got hurt.
navybluenachos33 - February 20, 2012
Slightly off topic
But Lloyd ha said the inevitable….that he’d be interested in re-uniting with McDaniels. Per PFT
DCRamFan - February 20, 2012
he's said that before though
nothing really changed then?
sergey606 - February 20, 2012
Pats hate Lloyds agent
they (Pats FO) haven’t done a deal with Condon since 2003. Hate him!
fearsomefoursum - February 20, 2012
except condon, the agent, came out and said that he's willing to talk to the Pats if Lloyd wanted him to.
However he won’t enjoy it, wanting Lloyd to go where the money is.
sergey606 - February 20, 2012
Get this guy at CB. Odds are we're gonna need another couple anyway.
Bartell and Fletcher are done due to severe and recurrent injuries. Murphy was no good before his injury. He’s another BD/Spags wasted pick. It will be sheer luck IF he contributes at all. Grab Finnegan and draft a CB high. Then dump King and let Gordy hang around as depth.
JHaier - February 20, 2012
Bartell is a good cover corner
Fitzgerald has been quoted saying he’s the toughest guy he’s had to go up against. Plus the guy has been cleared to play. I think the guy could bounce back but I would restructure his contract to clear up some cap space.
EddieP - February 20, 2012
DITTO + + + +
VETT - February 22, 2012
Trades??
To really lock up our secondary why not sign cortland…and trade our 3rd round pick and next years 2nd rounder for Asante Samuels? idk i feel like if we had both of them our defensve will be majorly upgraded for the next 4-6 years. Get rid of bartell get some cap space back or restructure his contract.
con d - February 20, 2012
Cut smith, sign cortland and stevie. Draft, oline and defense
Bam
Ram_Redemption - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Cut smith, sign cortland and stevie. Draft, oline and defense
Bam
Ram_Redemption - February 20, 2012 via mobile
It doesn't look like we will have the cap space for both though.
jmo53 - February 20, 2012 via Android app
KEEP BARTELL!!!!
Cmoney243 - February 20, 2012
DITTO !!!!!
VETT - February 22, 2012
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