The New Orleans Saints have signed CB Cortland Finnegan and waived offensive lineman Jordan Walsh, it was announced by Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.
Finnegan, 5 feet 10, 190 pounds,* *is a 10-year NFL veteran who has played in 133 career regular-season games with 111 starts for the Tennessee Titans, who originally selected him in the seventh round (215th overall) of the 2006 NFL draft out of Samford, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers. The Milton, Fla., native has recorded career totals of 650 tackles (535 solo), seven sacks, 18 interceptions, including four returned for touchdowns, 89 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 17 special teams stops and a recovered blocked punt. Finnegan has also appeared in five postseason games with two starts for the Titans and the Panthers and has recorded 22 tackles (13 solo), one sack, two interceptions, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one special teams stop. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2008.
In 2015, Finnegan joined Carolina for their stretch run, joining the club prior to a Week 12 contest at New Orleans. He appeared in the final five regular-season games and posted 20 tackles (19 solo), two passes defensed and one special teams stops. He also played in all three of Carolina's postseason games and made 12 tackles (10 solo), one interception, one pass defensed and one special teams stop.
NFL CAREER – Originally selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round (215th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Samford, Finnegan joins the Saints to compete for a roster spot in training camp. The Milton, Fla. native has played in 133 career regular season games with 111 starts and has recorded career totals of 650 tackles (535 solo), seven sacks, 18 interceptions, including four returned for touchdowns, 89 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 17 special teams stops and a recovered blocked punt. Finnegan has also appeared in five postseason games with two starts for the Titans and the Panthers and has recorded 22 tackles (13 solo), one sack, two interceptions, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one special teams stop. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2008. He will bring additional veteran presence and leadership to the New Orleans secondary.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed with the Saints (UFA-CAR), 8/13/16; Signed by the Carolina Panthers to a one-year contract, 11/30/15; Released by the Miami Dolphins, 3/2/15; Signed by the Dolphins, 3/18/14; Released by St. Louis, 3/6/14; Placed on Injured Reserve with St. Louis, 11,23/13; Signed by the St. Louis Rams (UFA-TEN), 3/13/12; Drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round (215th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.
HONORS –2008 – All-Pro (AP, Dallas Morning News, NBCSports.com, Pro Football Weekly/PFWA, The Sporting News *and *Sports Illustrated), Pro Bowl (Starter), AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week One).
2015– In 2015, Finnegan joined Carolina for their stretch run, joining the club prior to a Week 12 contest at New Orleans. He appeared in the final five regular season games and posted 20 tackles (19 solo), two passes defensed and one special teams stops. He also played in all three of Carolina's postseason games and made 12 tackles (10 solo), one interception, one pass defensed and one special teams stop. 2014– Recorded 44 tackles (33 solo), nine passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 2014 for the Miami Dolphins, starting all 12 games he appeared in. 2013 – Played in seven games with five starts for the St. Louis Rams. Recorded 27 tackles (23 solo) and one interception...Notched eight tackles vs. Arizona (9/8)...Tallied eight tackles at Dallas (9/22)…Left the game in the first quarter vs. San Francisco (9/26) with a thigh injury and did not return...Inactive for next three games with a thigh injury…Intercepted Titans QB Jake Locker and added seven tackles vs. Tennessee (11/3)...Registered eight tackles at Indianapolis (11/10)...Placed on Injured Reserve on November 23 and missed the remainder of the season. 2012 –Played in16 games with 15 starts in first season in St. Louis...Recorded 101 tackles (83 solo), three interceptions, one sack and a forced fumble...Registered an interception in each of first three games with the Rams, returning one for a touchdown...Made Rams' debut with 10 tackles and picked off Lions QB Matt Stafford and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown at Detroit (9/9)...Intercepted Redskins QB Robert Griffin in second quarter, and added five solo tackles vs. Washington (9/16)...Intercepted Bears QB Jay Cutler and returned it 32 yards at Chicago (9/23)...It marked his third consecutive game with an interception and was the second time that he has collected interceptions in three consecutive games...Last time he accomplished the feat was in 2008 as a member of Titans...Led team with 12 tackles vs. Arizona (10/4) and sacked Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb on fourth-and-1 with 1:41 left...Logged six tackles vs. Green Bay (10/21)...Registered season-best 13 tackles at Arizona (11/25). 2011 – Started all 16 games in his final season for the Tennessee Titans...Recorded 75 tackles (58 solo), 11 passes defensed, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery...Registered a season-high 15 tackles at Cleveland (10/2)...Led squad with three passes defensed vs. Baltimore (9/18)...Matched a season-high 15 tackles at Cleveland (10/2)...Registered four tackles and one interception and scooped up the loose ball after Tim Shaw blocked a punt in fourth quarter at Pittsburgh (10/9)...Tallied six tackles, a sack and one pass defensed at Carolina (11/13)...Finished with 10 tackles at Buffalo (12/4) ... Recorded 10 tackles and a pass defensed vs. New Orleans (12/11). 2010 – Started all 16 games for the Tennessee Titans...Recorded 90 tackles (82 solo), nine passes defensed, two interceptions, one sack and one forced fumble...Collected six tackles, one pass defensed and one quarterback pressure and deflected a pass intended for WR Hakeem Nicks that was intercepted by Sen'Derrick Marks at the New York Giants (9/26)...Notched five tackles and one sack vs. Denver (10/3)...Tallied 10 tackles and an interception return for a 41-yard touchdown vs. Philadelphia (10/24)...Collected five tackles, one interception and a career-high four passes defensed at Miami (11/14)...Recorded six tackles and two passes defensed at Kansas City (12/26). 2009 – Started all 13 games he played in...Recorded 63 tackles (56 solo), 11 passes defensed and a fumble recovery...Led team with five interceptions, tying for fifth in the AFC (12th in the NFL)...Recorded 10 tackles and an interception which he returned 80 yards at Pittsburgh (9/10)...Tallied four tackles and a pass defensed before leaving game (hamstring) at N.Y. Jets (9/27)...Returned from injury to tally four tackles, one interception and two passes defensed vs. Jacksonville (11/1)...Tied for team lead with 11 tackles and delivered what proved to be game-winning touchdown when he intercepted a pass and ran 39 yards for the score in third quarter at San Francisco (11/8)...Registered four tackles, two interceptions and three passes defensed vs. St. Louis (12/13). 2008 – Started all 16 regular season games...Also started one playoff game...Recorded 69 tackles (57 solo), 17 passes defensed and a sack and was selected a Pro Bowl starter and as a consensus All-Pro selection...Tied for sixth in NFL (tied for fourth in AFC) with a five interceptions...Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after collecting two interceptions, seven tackles and three passes defensed vs. Jacksonville (9/7)...Tallied five tackles and an interception at Cincinnati (9/14)...Set franchise record with a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown vs. Houston (9/21). Marked third consecutive game with pick...Recorded a sack, team-high three passes defensed and six tackles at Chicago (11/9)...Posted six tackles, an interception and two passes defensed vs. N.Y. Jets (11/23)...Recorded two tackles and a pass defensed in Divisional Playoff Game vs. Baltimore (1/10/09). 2007 – Started all 16 regular season games...Also started a playoff game...Recorded 93 tackles (78 solo), 13 passes defensed, a sack a forced fumble and an interception...Registered first career interception vs. Indianapolis (9/16)...Posted nine tackles, one interception, a sack and one forced fumble in playoff debut during the AFC Wild Card Playoff Game at San Diego (1/6/08). 2006 –Played in all 16 games with two starts...Recorded 58 tackles (46 solo), seven passes defensed, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble...Added 15 special teams tackles...Made first NFL start at nickel back at Washington (10/15)...Tied team-high with 11 tackles and two passes defensed in starting assignment at Philadelphia (11/19)...Scored first career TD when he recovered a David Garrard fumble (caused by David Thornton) and returned it 92 yards for a score, vs. Jacksonville (12/17).
COLLEGE– Four-year letterman (2002-05) at Samford...Three-time first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference three times at S...Career totals of 338 tackles, seven tackles for loss, nine interceptions, 26 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and three recoveries...Also returned
70 kickoffs for 1,980 yards (28.3 average) with three touchdowns...Returned 14 punts for 212 yards (15.1 avg.) and one touchdown...Set NCAA Division 1-AA career record with 28.3 kickoff return average...Started every game at free safety as a senior in 2002...Led team with 98 tackles and added two tackles for loss, one interception, seven passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery...Ranked first in OVC with a 15.1 punt return average 14 returns for
212 yards and one TD, and second in the conference with a 25.1 kickoff return average on 15 returns for 376 yards....Became first Samford University player drafted into NFL since
1969, when Gary Fleming was selected in the seventh round by Baltimore...Majored in education and minored in family studies.
PERSONAL– Attended Milton (Fla.) HS...Earned first-team All-State, All-Northwest Florida and 3A District Player of the Year as a senior...Named team captain and MVP...Posted 22 receptions for 403 yards with 11 rushing touchdowns on offense...Recorded 115 tackles with five interceptions as a senior in 2001...Also was starting point guard for all four years on high school basketball team...Raised in a single-family home by his mother, Linda Finnegan, who retired from the United States Army after 20 years, including three years in Korea when Cortland was a young child...Born Cortland Temujin Finnegan on Feb. 2, 1984, in Fayetteville, N.C.
