After 10 seasons, Atlanta Falcons' Brian Finneran is taking nothing for granted

Brian Finneran, AP Photo/John Bazemore

It was the first practice of the 2009 season and Brian Finneran wasn't wasting any time. 

The 33-year-old receiver was taking extra reps on the field following practice, making sure the knee he's had surgically repaired twice in the last three seasons is as sure as his hands have become. 

He also wanted the coaches to know that even though he's entering his 11th season in the NFL, he's willing to do whatever is necessary to make the final roster.

"Personally, my number one goal is to make the team," he said with a chuckle, acknowledging that he may be one of those players on the bubble. "I'm going on my 11th season. You really can't take anything for granted."

A player on the north side of 30 in the NFL can never assume he's got a position locked down. Finneran's case is even trickier because he's got a substantial injury history, created by two back-to-back seasons missed with knee injuries (2006 and 2007), to overcome.

But he's already shown he's capable of putting things behind him.

As a rookie in 1999 with Philadelphia, the former Villanova star dropped a pass late in the first game of the season, leading to an interception and ultimately the game-winning field goal for the Arizona Cardinals. A month later he was no longer with the team.

The struggles with drops followed Finneran to Atlanta before he emerged as the team's top receiving option in 2002. That season he set career highs in receptions (56), yards (838), and touchdowns (6).

Heading into the 2005 season he had remained a consistent option in the team's passing game and had put the issues with drops behind him. He was the team's second-leading receiver in receptions (50) and yards (611), behind Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler.

2005 seems so distant now for Finneran. Following surgeries in '06 and '07, 2008 turned out to be one of the most successful seasons as a team since he's been with Atlanta, yet one of his least productive ones.

The emergence of Pro Bowl receiver Roddy White and the steady play from veteran Michael Jenkins and rookie Harry Douglas dropped Finneran to fourth on the depth chart last season, finishing with 21 receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown.

As he's always had to do, he'll try to make an impact on special teams and fill any other role the team asks of him.

In 2008, Finneran was a member of the punt return team. During the '05 season he contributed with four special teams tackles. His height has always made him an effective third-down and red zone target. Entering the 2008 season, in his career with the Falcons 132 of his 194 receptions were for a first down or touchdown. Those are all ways the 6'5" receiver believes he can contribute in 2009.

"[I'll] just play the same role I did last year as far as trying to make plays on third down," Finneran said. "And when they ask me to do things on special teams, in the red zone, first or second down, whatever [is needed]. "

With the emphasis placed on getting younger, he believes there's still a valuable place on the team for veterans.

"We have a relatively young squad right now," he said. "To have guys like myself, Todd McClure, and Tony Gonzalez in the locker room means a lot and definitely plays a role in whether or not I'm here."

They could pick worse players' examples to follow. One's a future Hall of Famer (Gonzalez). Another's an 11-year veteran of the trenches (McClure).

And then there's Finneran, who'll do whatever it takes to stick around.

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