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Miami Dolphins waive cornerback Cortland Finnegan

By DJoumbarey A. Moreau

Oct 19, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Cortland Finnegan (24) before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Cortland Finnegan (24) before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami Dolphins have decided to go in a different direction by letting their cornerback Cortland Finnegan go. The Dolphins not only are going to create cap space from his release, they can also upgrade their secondary with bigger players.

They say that the NFL is a very cruel business and that couldn’t be more true.

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The Miami Dolphins are starting to do house cleaning with their organization and it looks like no one is safe. After the Dolphins got rid of wide receivers Brandon Gibson, and Brian Hartline, the organization also wanted to address the secondary.

Because the Dolphins are starting to clean house they also cut their starting cornerback, Cortland Finnegan.

Last season Finnegan was brought in to help the awful secondary of the Dolphins as he signed a two-year, $11 million dollar contract. However, after starting 12 games last season for the Dolphins and finishing with 44 tackles and no interceptions, the Dolphins decided to move in a different direction.

The move to release Finnegan before the beginning of his second year of his $11 million dollar contract will save the Dolphins more than $5 million dollars of cap space. This season Finnegan was going to cash out as he was due $5.475 million dollars in salary for the upcoming season.

Sep 7, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) fights thru the tackle of Miami Dolphins cornerback Cortland Finnegan (24) in the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) fights thru the tackle of Miami Dolphins cornerback Cortland Finnegan (24) in the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /

With all of the roster cuts the Dolphins have made this offseason they have freed up more than $18 million dollars of cap space for their franchise.

Outside of the financial gain the Dolphins get by releasing Finnegan, it also helps their secondary on the football field.

The Dolphins cornerbacks last season were too small and they needed bigger cornerbacks to compete with elite receivers throughout the league. Finnegan who stands at 5’10 190 pounds, was playing on the opposite side of the field with cornerback Brent Grimes who also has the same measurables. Having two cornerbacks who aren’t over six feet is a bit of a disadvantage.

The Dolphins organization is going to have to find another cornerback who can step up in Finnegan’s absence. Finnegan was well appreciated down in South Florida, so the organization will have to find someone in free agency or in the NFL Draft that can step in from day one and make an impact.

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