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Finnegan and the Titans Not Close on Contract Talks

February 21st, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in 2012 Free Agency, News

When it comes to getting the Titans and cornerback Cortland Finnegan on the same page, it’s for sure easier said than done. Reports are the two side are far apart in talks towards an extension to keep him with the team.

The two sides spoke on Friday, but no numbers were exchanged. Finnegan’s agent, Terry Watson, is seeking a contract similar to the five-year, $48.75 million contract that Johnathan Joseph received from the Houston Texans last off-season.

“It is more of a wait-and-see situation, depending on how the conversation goes when we do meet at the combine,” Watson said. “It is up to the Titans to be able to show Cortland what their mindset is, where things are. And the only way that can be done is through the use of numbers composed in a contract of some sort. That, in essence, is where things are at this moment.”

A Pro Bowler in 2008, Finnegan has 473 tackles, six quarterback sacks and 14 interceptions in his 93-game career with the Titans, who selected Finnegan in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft and signed him to a three-year, $15.4 million extension after his first full season as a starter.

To franchise Finnegan is projected to cost the Titans around $10.5 million in 2012.

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O-Line Could Be the Titans Target for Their First Pick in April’s NFL Draft

February 18th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in 2012 NFL Draft, News

The Titans are considering using an early-round pick in April’s draft to address the offensive line, John Glennon of The Tennessean reports.

Four of the eight largest camp numbers on the Titans belong to offensive linemen. Including tackles Michael Roos ($7.25 million), David Stewart ($6 million) and center Eugene Amano ($5.25 million) ranking in the Top 5, guard Leroy Harris has the eighth-highest cap number ($3.95 million). The Titans re-signed offensive lineman Michael Otto to a two-year, $3.2 million contract earlier this month.

Over the last four seasons, the Titans have ranked in the Top 10 in Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Sack Rate, but were 31st and 32nd in Adjusted Line Yards the last two seasons. Titans head coach Mike Munchak, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman and a longtime offensive line coach, says the team is unlikely to use their first-round pick on an offensive lineman because those picks are generally used on tackles.

“I don’t think we’d ever take an offensive lineman with the first-rounder this year because usually it’s a tackle if you (do) — unless you have a really special center or guard,” Munchak said.

There are two “really special” interior linemen in this year’s draft. Stanford guard David DeCastro is projected to go in the middle (11-20) of the first round, while Wisconsin center Peter Konz is generally projected to go in the 21-32 range.

The Titans have the 20th pick in the draft.

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Video: Should Jake Locker start at QB for the Tennessee Titans over Matt Hasselbeck?

February 18th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in Opinions, Video

Mike Munchak has a decision to make at QB: Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker? While Hasselbeck will likely earn the job for week one, one this is clear — Munchak can’t go wrong with either one.

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Rob Bironas Doesn’t See Things Changing in Kickoff Rules

February 17th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in News

With the Chicago Tribune reporting a 50 percent reduction in concussions on kickoffs in the NFL last season, Titans kicker Rob Bironas doesn’t see the league moving kickoffs back to the 30-yard line, John Glennon of The Tennessean reports.

“The way the league brought up the safety issues and brought all the information forward about concussions and kickoff tackles, I think you can’t really backtrack there (on the rule), Bironas said Thursday. “They don’t want to see the injuries. With the medical information we have now and the different stats they’ve put together over the years, I don’t think there’s any backtracking because the reasoning is to reduce those big hits and concussions.

“It’s not just about (playing) careers, but about life after it.”

In his first six seasons in the NFL, Bironas had a total of 83 touchbacks on 458 kickoffs, an 18.1 percentage. In the first season under the new kickoff rules, Bironas had 44-of-78 kickoffs (56.4 percent).

“I personally like the rule because it gives more touchbacks and that will hopefully increase the longevity of my kicking career for a few more years,” Bironas said. “Coaches don’t really care (what yard line) you’re kicking from. They just want you to put it out of the back of the end zone.”

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Munchak Would Like DT Jones Back, and Playing at Two Spots Again

February 16th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in 2012 Free Agency, News

Titan coach Mike Munchak would like to have DT Jason Jones back, and said on Wednesday that he can see him splitting time at both at defensive tackle and defensive end, much like he did in 2011.

“We’re going to use him whatever way we think is best to win football games,” Munchak said. “Obviously, if we felt leaving him at defensive tackle for every snap was the way to go, we would have done that. We didn’t do that. So now it’s just a matter of us having the right mix and having him feel good about it.

“We want to use him where he’s most productive. I don’t know that he would not come here over (which position) we were going to play him. The player has to make that decision based on what is best for his career, where he thinks he really is going to have a chance to be most productive, and where can he stay healthy the best.”

In 14 games last season, the 6-foot-5, 276-pound Jones posted 27 tackles and three quarterback sacks, the latter of which was a career-low total.

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Titans Come to Terms with Free Agent DT Lamar Divens

February 15th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in News

The Titans have announced that they have reached agreement on a one-year contract with free agent defensive tackle Lamar Divens.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Divens, 26, went undrafted out of Tennessee State and has had stints with the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 6-foot-3, 338-pound Divens appeared in five games for the Ravens between the 2008 and 2010 seasons.

Divens worked out for the Titans on September 13 and reportedly visited the club last week. Divens also had workouts with the Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Cincinnati Bengals during the 2011 season and met with the Green Bay Packers on February 1.

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Titans to Talk to Free Agent CB Stanford Routt

February 10th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in 2012 Free Agency, News

Free agent cornerback Stanford Routt has visits lined up with the Bills and Titans, but the Cowboys, Vikings and Chiefs have reached out to express interest in the veteran cornerback.

As of now, no official visits have been scheduled with those three clubs.

A native of Austin, Texas who played his college ball at the University of Houston, the 28-year-old Routt spent much of his first five seasons in a reserve role before starting 30 of 32 games over the last two seasons, totaling 104 tackles, six interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, with 28 passes defensed.

The Raiders signed Routt to a three-year, $31 million contract prior to last year’s lockout that included $20 million in guarantees.

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WR Kenny Britt Working Hard to Get Ready for 2012

February 10th, 2012

Matt Loede

Posted in Injuries, News

CBS Sports reports that WR Kenny Britt, who was hurt early in the year after he was leaving the AFC in receiving, has been working very hard in rehab, and should be back and ready for training camp.

The Sports Xchange reports that new Titans GM Ruston Webster said WR Kenny Britt, who suffered a torn ACL in September and had surgery in early October, should return in time for training camp in 2012. He said Britt appears to be a fast healer and is ahead of schedule in his recovery. “Kenny has been working hard and he’s coming fast, probably even a little faster than I thought he would. So I’m real happy about that,” he said. “We expect to have him out there for training camp. The good thing about his injury, is there is a good thing, is it happened early, and he’s a very strong young and bounces back very quickly. We’re hoping and planning to have him back for training camp.” Britt is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of the 2012 season, and hopefully he can come into training camp in shape.

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