Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan has developed a reputation for playing at, and beyond, the limits of the rules. He has been called many things, few of which would constitute flattery. A much-publicized fight with Texans receiver Andre Johnson only enhanced Finnegan’s not-so-fine reputation.
So it’s refreshing to see the other side of the player. Thanks to the folks at NewsChannel5.com, we now can.
Finnegan developed in 2010 a relationship with Kelsey Towns, a Father Ryan High School student and volleyball player who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer after finding a lump on her leg. Finnegan and teammate Ryan Mouton visited her during the recovery process.
“I thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world -- besides my wife,” Finnegan said. “She lit my day up with her smile. And the rest is history.”
History includes Finnegan giving Kelsey an autographed jersey and tickets to every 2010 home game. “I got out of chemo on Friday morning, and I knew I had until Sunday morning to get better,” Kelsey said. Finnegan and his wife also named a newborn daughter after Kelsey.
The best news is that Kelsey has been in remission for six months, and she’ll start college in the fall. The fact that Finnegan helped her through the process, and that he didn’t take steps to make the media aware of his efforts when he was being harshly criticized for his fight with Andre Johnson (one G.M. privately said Finnegan is an “absolute scumbag”), easily overcomes (as far as we’re concerned) anything he’s done between the lines that someone may describe as dirty, despite the fact that he has said he wants to be known as the dirtiest player in the league.