Bottom line, Finnegan is a bitch, and the entire league knows it. He's been needling at Angry Dre for 3 years now. This is the 7th game that he's had to deal with a mediocre corner that can't hold him trying to get into his head. Constantly. You can only take so much, and it's about time somebody punched the dude in the head. Finnegan said he wants to be the dirtiest player in the NFL because he knows that's the only way he's ever gonna leave a mark on this league. Rodney Freaking Harrison calls the Titans "dirty" and "cheap" for christ's sake! Really, I see Finnegan as the lucky one here, given his history of fines and his warning letter that spoke specifically to instigating.
As for the reasons for no suspension beyond the obvious, "He's the best receiver in the league, and he doesn't even much dance after touchdowns, much less run his mouth ever or get in trouble," I think they're twofold. Immediately, the NFL needs marquee players in their Thursday night games (which Dre obviously is), Vick's eagle's score points, and everyone loves a shootout. It makes sense that they'd want Dre on the field.
Also, and I may be the only one that gets this sense, but over the past few years, it really feels like the NFL wants as many cinderella stories as possible, based on how they've marketed playoff games the past few years with the cardinals and the saints. After our near playoff run last year (and who knows what kind of noise we could've made had we gotten there, we were on a ROLL), and our losing streak this year, I think a run through the gauntlet we still have left makes a playoff team the league can sell. We've got the best WR in football, the league's leading rusher, and a quarterback capable of putting up numbers that you don't wanna punch in the head every time you look at him (like eli, brady, or mr. mittens). Couple that with a couple big-hitters on defense, sharp uniforms, and a cool logo, and you've got a team that casual fans and women can get behind. I think the league would be really happy if we were able to steal the division going forward. I know Peyton's still the man, but he's pushing 35, Reggie Wayne just turned 32, and Dallas Clark is 31. Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub are the oldest guys that matter from a marketing standpoint, and they're both 29 at positions you can still be damn good into your mid thirties in. I would not be surprised in the least if we keep popping up in the national media after we take care of the Eagles this week. I think we're gonna start getting love in a big way.
As much as I've had this game already marked as a blowout loss for weeks now, something in my gut tells me we're gonna steal this one, and then with a Monday night game with me in the building, we could start to steamroll.
I wanna take off the battle red glasses, but I can't!
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