Breaking News: Rams Release Cornerback Cortland Finnegan

Sep 26, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) avoids a tackle by St. Louis Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan (31) and avoids stepping out of bounds on the way to a 20 yard touchdown reception during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

For the most part of this week, the Rams have remained pretty quiet when it comes to releasing players and restructuring contracts. That is no longer the case however as the St. Louis Rams have released cornerback Cortland Finnegan according to sources.

The Rams signed Finnegan to a five-year deal worth roughly $50 million on March 13, 2012. Finnegan never really played like the top cornerback that the Rams expected him to be recording only four interceptions in the two years combined.

Finnegan’s play dropped significantly last season and really became the Rams’ weak spot in the secondary. The change  was noticed in training camp when Finnegan reportedly looked “slow”. The star cornerback had been dealing with injuries all season and the Rams finally put him on season-ending IR after week ten after the win against the Indianapolis Colts.

Rams head coach Jeff Fisher stated at the combine during his press conference that he expected Finnegan to be back and ready for offseason workouts, but that just shows how much you can take away from what coaches and general managers say.

This release should come to no surprise however, as the Rams would be paying Finnegan an astounding $10 million to be their third cornerback at best. The Rams save $4 million by releasing Finnegan.

The Rams will still have to pay $6 in dead money, but they will be saving $4 million to help re-sign offensive lineman Rodger Saffold or go after a guy like Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner in free agency.

The Rams could also still bring Finnegan back to a cheaper deal, but that scenario is unlikely. Finnegan took to Twitter after his release and here’s what he had to say: