Few want to play for the Titans

By Marc Hudgens  |   Tuesday, March 18, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Tennessee Titans
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The Titans epitomize the old expression, "you get what you pay for."

It all started with the Titans' unwillingness to toss some big salad toward available top receivers, and now the club is in the red in the free agency.

The team blew it on Jerry Porter, Donté Stallworth, Bernard Berrian and Bryant Johnson, who have signed with new teams. Now Tennessee is losing its depth at running back and at a time when the Titans are breaking in a new running backs coach in Earnest Byner, after longtime assistant Sherman Smith left for the Redskins. Not to mention a new offensive coordinator in Mike Heimerdinger.

The recent news of backup running back Chris Brown leaving for the Texans via two-year contract is a nasty cherry on top of how general manager Mike Reinfeldt and coach Jeff Fisher have blown opportunity after opportunity this offseason.

Before the news of Brown's departure, defensive tackle Randy Starks (Miami), defensive ends Antwan Odom (Cincy) and Travis LaBoy (Arizona), guard Jacob Bell (St. Louis) and tight ends Ben Troupe (Tampa Bay) and Ben Hartsock (Atlanta) have all bolted at the first good offer, and good offers are not what Tennessee is putting on anyone's table. The team has only retained two players, receiver Justin Gage and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

You can bet the bank that if Tennessee didn't stick the franchise tag on Haynesworth, who has been outspoken on his team's situation, he would be gone as well.

Given the four new pickups (Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler, Eagles defensive end and ex-Titan Jevon Kearse, Jets receiver and ex-Titan Justin McCareins, and Colts guard Jake Scott), there doesn't appear to be anything that makes one do more than yawn. The best pickup appears to be Scott, who replaced Jacob Bell.

The Titans brass' complete lack of urgency to improve last year's average team smacks of complacency. This isn't college football; talent is far more important than coaching, and the team is about to find that out the hard way.

The Titans are about to experience another old expression, "you can pay now, or pay later."
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He ...
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