A month ago Cortland Finnegan was living in Nashville, semi-retired but working out five times a week to stay in shape.
Now the 10-year veteran cornerback is on a playoff-bound Carolina Panthers team and – because of an injury to nickel back Bené Benwikere – will have a big say in how far the Panthers advance in the postseason.
While Finnegan had a coverage breakdown against the Giants two weeks ago, Panthers coach Ron Rivera thought he bounced back nicely in a 20-13 loss at Atlanta last weekend.
Equally impressive to Rivera is that Finnegan – a player who arrived in Charlotte last month with a reputation as a dirty player – has fit in well in the locker room.