Jim Finn

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Jim Finn (born December 9, 1976 in Fair Lawn, New Jersey) is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pennsylvania.

[edit] High school career

Finn grew up in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, and attended both Fair Lawn High Shcool as a Freshmen and Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey where he starred in both football and wrestling. An All-State pick in both sports, he was the 189-pound class state champion and posted a 33-2 record as a senior.^[1]

[edit] Collegiate career

Finn was a four-year letterman while playing college football at the University of Pennsylvania, where he accumulated 2,277 rushing yards, which ranks as the 4th-highest total in school history. Finn also scored 180 points for 5th on the all-time list. Finn was an All-Ivy player as a senior and junior. In his senior season, Finn set school records for yards, rushing attempts, and rushing touchdowns.

In addition to being named an All-Ivy Team member, Finn was named Player of the Year. He also holds school records for most rushing attempts, rushing yards, and touchdowns in a game. Before being converted permanently into a fullback, Finn briefly played as a safety, even starting a few games as a sophomore. While at Pennsylvania, Finn became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

[edit] NFL career

Jim Finn was drafted with the final pick (nicknamed Mr. Irrelevant) of the 7th round in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, but was waived, and spent time on their practice squad. Finn signed with the Indianapolis Colts in early 2000, where he accumulated 9 yards in 6 rushing attempts over three seasons. In the spring of 2003, Finn signed with the New York Giants. In his Giants career, Finn has 7 rushing yards from 3 attempts. He has seen more action as a receiver out of the backfield, with 325 receiving yards and 42 receptions in his tenure with New York.

2005: Played in all 16 regular season games with 13 starts including the NFC Wild Card Game against the Carolina Panthers. His blocks for Tiki Barber helped him rush for a franchise-record 1,860 yards.

Finn led the way for Tiki's 203 yards performance against the Oakland Raiders. Also in 2005, in Washington D.C. he once again opened holes for Tiki in the star back's second 200+ yard performance. Finn's consistency and work ethic led directly to the career-high, Giants-record, and third 200 yard rushing game that year when Barber notched 220 yards vs. Kansas City. Finn's season ended with 13 receptions for 98 yards with no touches, including the NFC Wild Card Game.

Finn missed the entire 2007 NFL season after being placed on injured reserve. Finn was cut due to nagging injuries and the emergence of Madison Hedgecock who the Giants locked up for a multi year extension. ^[2][3]

[edit] Fan favorite

Finn, having grown up a mere 15 minutes away from Giants Stadium, has a status among Giants fans as somewhat of a cult hero^{[citation needed]}. He represents the "little guy" who can still do well, even if he's undersized^{[original research?]}. Finn is able to block much larger defensive players fairly well, and even with his modest professional statistics, is one of the most successful football players to have been a Mr. Irrelevant.

He is also one of the few Ivy League athletes in the world of modern major professional sports.

[edit] Family

He is the son of James and Jane Finn. Jim Finn married actress Rosa Blasi on February 14, 2004 in Maui. Rosa and Jim welcomed their first child, Kaia Jane Finn, on September 20, 2004. Kaia Jane, who weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz, and was 20 inches long at the time of birth, was born two weeks premature. Finn is a resident of Hackensack, New Jersey.^[1]

[edit] References