Dec. 10, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Former Samford football standout and current Tennessee Titan Cortland Finnegan was named to the USA Football and NFL Players Association's inaugural All-Fundamentals Team, the organization announced on Thursday.

This honor recognizes players at each offensive and defensive position, as well as four special teams positions, as examples for youth players to emulate due to their sound technique. In addition to their fundamentally-strong play, each member on the team does exemplary work in their communities.

The USA Football/NFLPA "All-Fundamentals" Team was selected by a six-person selection committee:

Jason Belser, NFLPA senior regional director, USA Football board member, and former NFL player
Tom Carter, NFLPA regional director and former NFL player
Herman Edwards, former NFL head coach and player, ESPN NFL analyst
Scottie Graham, NFLPA regional director and former NFL player
Larry Kennan, NFL Coaches Association executive director and former NFL assistant coach
Carl Peterson, USA Football chairman, former NFL team executive and assistant coach

As part of this honor, each selected player will designate a youth or high school football program to receive a $1,500 equipment grant from USA Football. USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFLPA, the NFL, and each of the NFL's 32 teams. Each player also receives a pewter-dipped "All-Fundamentals" Team helmet trophy produced by Riddell, USA Football's official helmet and equipment partner.

A video clip of each of the 26 players, spotlighting their sound football technique for young players to emulate, resides at AllFundamentalsTeam.com. These exciting game-action clips offer visual instruction for youth players and coaches alike.

The USA Football/NFLPA "All-Fundamentals" Team consists of:
All 11 offensive positions
All 11 defensive positions
Four (4) special teams positions (LS, K, P, KR/PR)

USA Football teaches the game's fundamentals and inherent values through more than 80 annual training events and innovative football training resources employed by its members who reside in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

About USA Football
USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, hosts more than 80 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent non-profit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL Players Association, the NFL, and its 32 teams. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competition and provides $1 million annually in equipment grants and subsidizes youth league volunteer background checks. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.

2009 USA Football/NFLPA "All-Fundamentals" Team: