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Third Chance: Ee-Northern Illinois QB Chris Finlen Signs Second Time With New Orleans Saints
February
8, 2005
Third Chance: Ee-Northern Illinois QB Chris Finlen Signs Second Time With New Orleans Saints DeKALB, IL --- For former Northern Illinois University quarterback Chris Finlen, his National Football League opportunity rings thrice. Maybe three times will finally be the charm. By recently signing a two-year non-guaranteed contract with the New Orleans Saints, Finlen gets his third NFL chance in as many years. The three-time Huskie captain will head to Tampa, FL, on February 25 for a month-long training camp and will be allocated to the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europe in March. “It’s
a good opportunity,” said Finlen who was working out Tuesday
(February 8) in the Chicago suburbs with ex-Northern Illinois teammate
and fellow quarterback Josh Haldi---his direct successor for Huskie
head coach Joe Novak and a 2005 NFL Combine participant later this
month. Best of all, Finlen believes he is a known quality to both the coaching staffs in the NFL and NFL Europe. The new Saints’ offensive coordinator---Mike Sheppard---was the quarterbacks coach at New Orleans in 2003 during Finlen’s first tryout. In the Berlin camp, current Thunder head coach Rick Lantz served as the defensive coordinator with the Barcelona Dragons when Finlen made that NFL Europe roster. On the 2005 preseason charts, Finlen stands third behind current New Orleans starting quarterback Aaron Brooks and back-up Todd Bouman. A year ago, he signed as a free agent with the New York Jets, but never moved up to the official practice squad from the No. 4 spot on the QB depth chart last summer. “Last year going to New York, I felt good with the situation I was in, but I feel a lot better with this (situation),” Finlen told the Rockford Register Star. “Two years ago, I got along great with the quarterbacks coach (Sheppard), and he just got promoted to offensive coordinator on Friday. He runs a West Coast offense, and that’s a system I’m real familiar and comfortable with. New York ran the exact same offense, which gave me a good grasp of the playbook.” In 2003, Finlen completed 25-of-45 passes for 197 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception with the Barcelona NFL Europe franchise prior to a season-ending left shoulder dislocation and surgery. “That certainly is another tremendous opportunity for Chris,” Novak said. “No one deserves another shot like Chris. This is his dream, playing in the NFL. Nobody has worked harder. I hope he gets the break he needs. Chris is more experienced now, bigger, stronger. His chances are better.” At Northern Illinois, Finlen became the first three-time football captain in school history and the first Huskie quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards in four seasons (1,107 yards in 1997, 1,551 in 1999, 1,857 in 2000, and 2,036 in 2001). During his career, No. 19 threw for 6,551 yards on 502-of-910 passes and 41 TDs (1997, 1999-2001). Finlen (Roscoe / Rockton Hononegah) won 17 of his last 31 Northern Illinois starts and led Novak’s Huskies to a share of the Mid-American Conference West Division title as a senior. In 2001, he was nominated for the MAC’s Vern Smith Award, symbolic of the league’s MVP. As a junior, Finlen quarterbacked the nation’s No. 12 major-college rushing attack (228.1 yards-per-game avrage), No. 12 scoring offense (37.2 ppg.), and No. 19 total offense (427.8 ypg.). Back in 1996, Finlen did not receive a single Division 1-A scholarship offer, walked on at NIU, and eventually earned a full scholarship at Northern Illinois. Now he faces another NFL opportunity. Maybe the third time is the charm. (For further
information, please contact Mike Korcek) -NIU-
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