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Samford University
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December 19, 2008
Former Football Standout Finnegan Named Starter For 2009 Pro Bowl
Former Samford football standout Cortland Finnegan has been named as a starter for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl, which will be played Feb. 8, 2009, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Finnegan, currently in his third season with the Tennessee Titans and his second as a starter, is tied for second in the NFL with five interceptions and leads the team with 19 passes defended.
Finnegan was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after collecting seven tackles (six solo), a career-high two interceptions and three passes defended in the Titans’ 17-10 victory on opening day against Jacksonville.
Finnegan also set a franchise record with a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown against Houston on Sept. 21. The Pro Bowl honor is the first of Finnegan’s career.
Finnegan played at Samford from 2002 to 2005. He was a three-time All-America selection, three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference honoree and he was named the OVC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2003.
For his Samford career, Finnegan had 338 tackles, including 176 solo stops. He also had nine interceptions in his Samford career. He led Samford in tackles in each of his last three seasons, and he was the OVC’s leading tackler in 2003 with 108 tackles.
Finnegan is one of six Titans’ players to be named to the Pro Bowl, and he is one of three players on the team to be named a starter for the game. Finnegan, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, safety Chris Hope, running back Chris Johnson, center Kevin Mawae and tackle Michael Roos, were selected for the Pro Bowl. Finnegan, Haynesworth and Mawae were named as starters.
