Cortland Finnegan

I know a lot of people don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions but I do. I made a list of things I want to change over the next year and decade. I think I did a really good job, so it follows that I’d make some resolutions for other people. To help out people in and around the NFL, I made a list of resolutions that I personally think others should make.

Roger Goodell - Begin to apply fines equitably across the league.

Donovan McNabb - Learn the difference between being professional and being a pushover.

James Harrison - Relearn the fundamentals of tackling.

Braylon Edwards - Utilize cabs.

Troy Polamalu - Put some bass in your voice.

Ryan Clark - Ignore the heckling on twitter.

Darren Sharper - Come to terms with being 35.

Brett Favre - Fall back in love with your wife Deanna.

Andy Reid - Resign.

Michael Vick - Spend money more wisely.

DeSean Jackson - Balance having fun with being professional.

Roddy White - Get media training.

Coy Wire, Cortland Finnegan - Hold a press conference announcing whether you’re black or white.

Rex Ryan - Put your face in the videos so that your wife isn’t the only one exposed.

Terrell Owens - Begin to take responsibility for your shortcomings.

Shawne Merriman - Sleep in a hyperbaric chamber and stretch before practice.

Maurice Jones-Drew, LaGarrette Blount, Michael Turner - Do side bends or situps, but please don’t lose that butt.

Eli Manning - Stand in the mirror and repeat “I am somebody” before leaving the house each day.

Jerry Jones - Consider the opinions of others.

Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, and Washington Redskins - Improve your  awful offensive lines.

Announcers, analysts, and media outlets — Stop mentioning dogfighting every time you mention Michael Vick.

Gus Johnson - Call more games of all kinds.

Bob Costas - Tone the dramatics down a notch.

Jon Gruden - Lobby for the HC gig in Cincy.

Collinsworth - Think before you speak and get some black friends.

Bob Papa - Point to Theisman and Millen and inform your bosses that you simply cannot work under these conditions.

NFLPA - Continue to make the NFLPA truly friendly toward the players and improve the information contained on the lockout site.

This is my quick list, but use the comments to tell other players, announcers, and NFL management and ownership what you think they should work on in 2011.

I was surprised that this article wasn’t passed around more. I live for lists, so I couldn’t wait to crack open Bleacher Report’s 25 dirtiest player list. Apparently Sports Illustrated has such a list as well, but its based solely on voting? Correct me if I’m wrong.

The bulk of the list was no surprise, but there were a few that made me raise my eyebrow and one glaring omission that bothered me.

The first thing you’ll notice about the list is that there are multiple Pittsburgh Steelers on it. No wonder no one wants to play these guys. Polamalu, Harrison, Ryan Clark (??????), and Hines Ward made the list.

Brian Dawkins being on the list (admittedly low on it) was a tad surprising. I think he, like Roy Williams, have calmed down a lot. I think the last time Williams was called for a horse collar tackle or even grabbing someone by the hair was 2008. Maybe 2 years isn’t long enough to get a clean slate.

Also is Shawne Merriman, who also made the list, still considered dirty? He’s barely on the field enough to cause any trouble. There needs to be a statute of limitations on how long you can ride players about certain behaviors.

Darnell Dockett is also on the list along with Joey Porter and I don’t know if I agree. What do yall think? I think Dockett and Porter made the list because they’re annoying. I’d love to interview them both for this blog, but I can’t deny they can work a nerve. But annoying doesn’t mean dirty, if it did, every man in the NFL would be on here. hahahaa ha ha…anyhoo….Let’s not confuse “dirty” with “problem child.”

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