Cortland Finnegan praises the replacement refs for letting players play. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The NFL replacement refs have been catching a lot of flack as of late.

In the past week, one sideline ref was notified hours before a Carolina Panthers-New Orleans Saints game that he could not report to the game that he had been scheduled to officiate: pictures of him donning Saints gear while tailgating at a preseason Saints game had been found on Facebook.

Then there was the ref who supposedly told the Eagles’ LeSean McCoy in the middle of a game that he needs him to play well for his fantasy team.

But one player who is actually singing the praise of the highly criticized replacement refs is the St. Louis Rams’ Cortland Finnegan. His compliments may not come as much of a surprise given that it was Finnegan who seemed to escape from a penalty after bumping the Washington Redskins receiver Josh Morgan, who responded by throwing the football at Finnegan. Morgan got flagged with a penalty and Finnegan walked away without repercussion. The Rams ended up winning 31-28 in their Week 2 matchup.

According to The St. Louis Dispatch, Finnegan said he appreciates that the replacement referees let the players play:

“They just let you play football,” Finnegan said. “They let you play football out there, and that’s one of those things you enjoy.”

He went on to take a jab at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, saying that it is because of the him that the league’s style of play has taken a turn for the worse:

“I admire the old-school players. The [Jack] Tatums, you know, the Mean Joe Greenes. Those guys played football. . . . That was football. It’s been watered down since, with the commissioner and the rules.”

The big NFL free-agent signings just keep coming tonight — ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that cornerback Cortland Finnegan is the next recipient of a blockbuster new deal.

Rams and free-agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan reached agreement on a five-year deal worth about $50 million.

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Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2012

Finnegan had previously spent his entire six-year career with the Tennessee Titans, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft. He recorded 389 tackles and made 14 interceptions for the Titans and was an All-Pro selection in 2008.

Finnegan joins a Rams team that went 2-14 last season and hasn’t reached the NFC playoffs since 2004. The Rams also made waves on the trade market last week, dealing the No. 2 overall pick to Washington for an attractive package of four future picks.

The Tennessee Titans will not place a franchise tag on cornerback Cortland Finnegan, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. As a result, Finnegan will become an unrestricted free-agent.

Titans will not place their franchise tag on cornerback Cortland Finnegan, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

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Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 02, 2012

Finnegan, 28, had 58 total tackles, one sack, and one interception last season for the Titans. In 2010 he had 82 total tackles, two interceptions, and one sack.

If Finnegan signs elsewhere, it will end a six year career in Tennessee. The Titans originally drafted him in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft out of Samford. In total he has tallied 388 tackles, 14 interceptions, and 68 pass deflections in six seasons.