Kyle Orton and Cortland Finne- gan will reprise their starring roles in Sunday’s stirring “The Clash of the Titans and the Broncos, The Sequel.”
After the first installment, the Broncos quarterback, in a rare smack- mouth moment, called out the Titans’ one-time Pro Bowl cornerback. “If that’s the type of player Cortland Finnegan wants to be, well, then, he’s a cheap player, not a good player.”
In his nah-nah-nah response, Cortland said of Orton: “He is a quarterback. Who cares? If he wants to show up in Nashville to see me, that’s cool too. But I doubt (he will).”
Finnegan didn’t know then that Orton would show up again in Nashville so soon. Because both teams finished last in their divisions, they play again this year.
In Denver this week, Orton soft- shoed the rematch against Finnegan, who punched helmetless guard Chris Kuper.
“He’s a good player,” Orton said. “They like to play a physical style of football, and so do we.”
On a conference call to Nashville media, Orton was a little more forthcoming: “I don’t regret what I said. It was a physical football game, and a few plays and some stuff got out of hand. . . . I don’t take anything back.”
Finnegan’s rejoinder to The Tennessean was subdued: “I respect (Orton). He is a really good quarterback. There’s no bad blood, man. . . . I know before the game I’ll shake his hand.”
And come out fighting.
Finnegan was fined $10,000 for “unnecessary roughness” against Kuper. He already had been fined $5,000 after the Giants game, and he would be fined $25,000 for a skirmish in a Texans game.
Now a Titans captain, Finnegan is a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty waiting to happen.
Since moving to Nashville from Houston, the Titans are 0-3 vs. the Broncos. In the last game, the Titans committed 10 penalties for 110 yards — and their defensive coordinator flashed an obscene sign at officials. One violation was for roughing Orton. The Broncos quarterback constantly complained about the Titans’ tactics, earning from them the tag of “whiner.”
But that game was Orton’s zenith in the nadir of 2010.
He revealed an extroverted leadership his coach had been demanding. Orton not only was vocal, but prolific — with 341 yards passing (35-of-50) and two touchdowns, and produced his only fourth-quarter comeback and road victory of the season.
The Broncos won on two plays — an interference call in the end zone, and a miscue muff on the following kickoff that prevented Tennessee from tying or winning.
Orton led the Broncos in rushing with 11 yards.
Laurence “Baloney” Maroney rushed for 5 yards, Correll Buckhalter 3. Both are gone. Knowshon Moreno was inactive with an injury.
The Broncos limited Chris Johnson to 53 yards on 19 carries — and will have to repeat the solid defensive achievement. After his holdout and new contract, Johnson has been appalling in two games (79 yards) — and was booed by the home crowd. Broncos fans would never do anything so unsophisticated.
Johnson is bothered by sore ribs and angry folks, but, according to The Tennessean, believes he’s “getting closer to breaking free.”
Could it be because the Broncos are coming to town?
Forgotten in the Orton-Finnegan turmoil are the Titans quarterback, a Broncos cornerback and a utility infielder.
Matt Hasselbeck, late of the Seahawks, has thrown accurately (67.1 percent) and for 621 yards and three touchdowns. Champ Bailey (hamstring) probably will not play, leaving the Broncos’ secondary vulnerable to Hasselbeck, especially if Johnson runs.
And there’s the Tebow Thing. He did not play against the Titans last year, and he won’t appear this year unless there are multiple injuries at quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, running back or long snapper. The last time Tim Tebow played in Nashville was 2008, when he completed 71 percent of his passes (he can pass?) and averaged 8.0 yards a carry and threw and ran for five touchdowns in a 42-14 victory — for Florida.
Finnegan has no interceptions or fines this season. In the ESPN total quarterback rating, Hasselbeck ranks third (83.3), Orton 26th (35.1). In the NFL passer rating, Hasselbeck is 12th (94.2), Orton 18th (85.4).
Acrimoniously, the Titans and the Broncos will smash, bash, dash, lash (out at), mash, gnash (teeth) and clash Sunday.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
