The Titans were a bit quarterback-less after releasing Vince Young and Kerry Collins retirement during the off-season.

Tennessee drafted Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Locker in the 1st round of this year’s NFL Draft.

It’s a good move for Hasselbeck and the Titans. The two really wanted each other and Matt will be a great mentor for Jack Locker as he is groomed to eventually become the starting quarterback for Tennessee.

Well, she’s probably not his girlfriend anymore.  But sometimes that’s just what happens when you hold your man up for 5 grand.  After an alleged domestic incident, Shelley Anne David decided she wouldn’t press charges against Tennessee Titans receiver Damian Williams in exchange for $5,000.  Now pay attention ladies.  This is what is warmly referred to in the judicial system as extortion.  And the law does not look kindly upon it.  David was arrested on one count of extortion against the 2010 second round draft pick and is currently being held on bond.  According to NFL.com:

The arrest came when Williams met David in an area parking lot, where she was to receive a $5,000 cashier’s check from the receiver. After the handoff was made, David was taken into custody by undercover officers. She’s currently being held on bond.

“Damian Williams, in the presence of detectives, placed a phone call to Shelley David this morning and arranged for a meeting,” Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron told The Tennessean. “David received a $5,000 cashier’s check from Williams and gave him a signed note saying she would not appear in any court proceedings against him. At that point, she was taken into custody.”

Unfortunately for David, if the domestic assault really did occur, she now has no real recourse after she decided to commit extortion, which is a felony in most states.  There’s no word on David’s potential sentence if she’s convicted.  However, it looks like Williams was simply not as dumb a target as she made him out to be.  That, or David herself just did a really poor job thinking this whole thing through.

[PhotoSource: Sporting Life]

“Y did police just walk in my condo saying they think it’s drug activity because it’s alot of traffic but it was the MTV camera crew.”

“Hard being young, black and rich”

It’s bad enough that Titans wide receiver, Kenny Britt still owes thousands of dollars to bail bondsmen.  Now, it looks like he’ll need those services again.   Tuesday afternoon, Britt not only tried to outrun police, but also lied about owning the car he was driving.

Police in Bayonne, NJ tell TMZ they attempted to pull over Kenny — a former 1st round pick and Rutgers star — for speeding around 4:30PM on Tuesday, but he allegedly hit the gas and kicked off the chase.

Bayonne PD says after a few miles, Kenny just stopped and he and his passenger attempted to walk away from the car. During questioning, officers say the passenger tried to bolt on foot — FAIL. Officers arrested him for alleged possession of marijuana and resisting arrest.

Kenny was arrested and booked for 2nd degree eluding and obstruction — cops say he lied about owning and driving the car … a 2010 navy blue Porsche Panamera S which was impounded.

Britt was arrested in January 2010 — also in NJ — for outstanding traffic warrants.

I would say, “Somebody end this lockout before one of these guys kills themself”, but Britt was busy bumping up against the law well before the NFL/NFLPA negotiations broke down.

Randy Moss and a possibly incarcerated Kenny Britt.  Hmm, looks like the Tennessee Titans have a serious concern at wide receiver this year.

[PhotoSource: TMZ.com]

Let this be a lesson to anyone who loans money to, or vouches for, anyone for any reason ever.  When someone, even a well known multi-millionaire, tells you they’re “good for it”, they probably aren’t.  Such is the case of Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt and the bail bonds company that claims he still owes them over twelve grand.  Twelve grand they loaned out ‘on the finger’ – i.e. without collateral – to spring his friend from the pokey.  According to NJ.com:

Bails Bails Bails and Boss Bail Bonds have filed a criminal complaint against the former Bayonne High and Rutgers University star, claiming that he vowed in open court to pay the $12,500 bail for Albert Robinson of Jersey City, who had been charged with hindering apprehension and weapons offenses.

James Lisa, the Jersey City attorney representing Bails Bails Bails, said that Britt told them he didn’t have the money with him but convinced them that he was good for it when they posted the $12,500 bail in January 2010.

Months later, the bail bond companies said, Britt told them he never said he would pay for Robinson’s bail.

Britt is scheduled to appear in Central Judicial Processing Thursday on a claim of theft-by-deception, according to the criminal complaint.

In June Robinson was charged in the Jersey City waterfront murder of Jermaine Williams.

In January 2010 Britt was pulled over and arrested at a traffic stop in Glen Ridge after police said that he had outstanding warrants out of Elizabeth and Jacobstown for for unpaid traffic tickets.

Again, kids, this is not a good business model.  I don’t care who walks in your door, at least get a down payment or a simple signed voucher or something.  Assuming this story is true, it’s good to remember that NFL players that are still hanging around with accused murderers and don’t know how to pay their traffic tickets probably have significant issues.  And sooner or later those issues will undoubtedly hamper your ability to collect.

The sooner Britt separates himself from people like Robinson and begins establishing much more healthy relationships in his life, the better off he and his creditors will be.  Of course, it might be a little to late for Bails Bails Bails by then.

[Source: Deadspin]

Okay, this makes a lot more sense.  As we reported earlier this month, it was odd that Jeff Fisher – after 17 seasons as head coach – would be returning to the Tennessee Titans given their losing season and his tensions with former starting quarterback Vince Young and owner Bud Adams.  Now Sports Illustrated reports that Fisher and the Titans are “parting ways”.  Lets imagine for a moment the conversation that likely transpired between Fisher and Adams.

Bud: “Jeff, you’re fired.  I liked that headcase we had at quarterback but you cut him.  Also, our record sucks.  Why the hell did we pick up that Moss kid, anyway?  I thought he was supposed to be good.  Anyway, sorry about the timing.  I meant to do this earlier but nobody else wanted your job.”

Jeff: “Screw that!  You can’t fire me, you crusty old bastard.  I QUIT!”

Bud: “Eh…Okay, fine.”

Jeff: “Oh…okay.  Well, bye”

Okay, so the above exchange was a bit of a dramitization, but one has to wonder why this is happening now and not 3 weeks ago.  The SI article sheds some light on the subject:

Though information about Fisher’s situation was scarce Thursday, it was confirmed by a league source that he will not return to coach the team in 2011, contrary to what was previously expected. Fisher was said to be in the process of negotiating the terms of his departure with Titans owner Bud Adams.

According to a league source, only Adams, Fisher, Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt and team general counsel Steve Underwood were aware of Fisher’s imminent departure early Thursday evening.

Fisher has been on the job with the Houston/Tennessee organization since being named interim head coach late in the 1994 season, and he was expected to return for a 17th season full season this year. But Fisher’s future with the team was considered somewhat tenuous given that he was entering the final year of his contract, and Adams did not decide to retain him until Jan. 7, five days after Tennessee closed out a disappointing 6-10 season — the Titans’ worst since 2005.

While it’s not known what prompted the change regarding Fisher’s status in Tennessee, league sources say Fisher was not happy to lose a pair of his longtime defensive coaches last week. Fisher fired defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil, one of his closest friends, and saw well-respected Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn accept a similar position on Andy Reid’s staff in Philadelphia. Given that he just one year of security to offer any potential coaching replacements, it was thought that Fisher’s task of filling those roles would be difficult.

The fact of the matter is that Jeff Fisher can probably write his own ticket.  He might not be quite as marketable as Bill Cowher, but half the league would probably fire their current coach to grab Fisher…if they could get away with it.  What we do know is that the NFL’s longest tenured head coach is doing what most of us expected him to do.  Leaving a bad situation in Tennessee and looking for a new start.

[Source: Zimbio.com]

ESPN is reporting that former Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn has just been hired by the Philadelphia Eagles to coach the same position.  Either Washburn sees the Eagles as more of an ‘up-and-coming’ opportunity or he just can’t stand the losing that’s been going on with the Titans lately.

The hiring has been seen as a bit of a coup by sports writers and fans across the Twitter-verse.  It appears few, if any, Titans fans are happy about this.

[Source: Bleacher Report]

He hasn’t been fired and there’s been no contract extension.  So, it looks like Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans will be staying on as head coach, at least for the moment.  What, exactly, is this man thinking?

Titans owner Bud Adams said Fisher will return as head coach for the 2011 season.  According to the report on ESPN NFL:

“I appreciate all of our fans’ patience over the last week while I deliberated on the immediate future of the football team,” Adams said in a statement. “I have informed our senior management that Jeff Fisher will be our head coach next season.

“Jeff has meant a great deal to this franchise and we have reached some incredible heights under his leadership. Obviously, I have very high expectations for our football team and want to deliver a championship to our fans. Jeff understands this and shares my expectations. The results of his leadership have been some very good football teams and I believe he will get us back to an elite level.”

The Titans issued the following statement from Fisher: “Mr. Adams and I had a good talk about where we are as a football team. Clearly I am pleased with the news today. Presenting Mr. Adams with his first Lombardi Trophy is still the objective and I will continue to work for that goal.”

The decision comes two days after Adams agreed the Titans needed to part with Vince Young five seasons after he ordered the quarterback drafted.

So there’s the hook.  Fisher, who could probably have had any of the open head coaching positions in the NFL, has decided to stay on for an 18th season with a team that just went 6-10.  It seems, from the outside looking in, an excellent opportunity to move on to something new.  But now that Vince Young is finally gone, maybe Fisher foresees the Titans becoming the team he was hoping they’d be the past five years.  This just might be the fresh start Fisher is probably looking for.

[Source: TennesseeTitanfootball]

It’s that time of year again, kids!  No, not the NFL Playoffs.  It’s the yearly coaching “carousel” that begins spinning at the end of every football season.  Underachievers are sacked – and often hired someplace else – and coordinators have an opportunity to step into the limelight has head coaches.  So let’s look at who’s likely fired and who might be hired.

John Fox of the Carolina Panthers is gone, but that’s not really news.  Everyone knew he was leaving months ago.  There will be no ‘in-house’ hirings as the entire staff has been let go.  There are no high-profile names being tossed around, but Perry Fewell – defensive coordinator for the New York Giants – is currently in the running.

The San Francisco 49ers are looking to hire Jim Harbaugh away from Stanford, but there are other candidates in the mix in case the Harbaugh deal falls through.  According to Niners’ Nation, Jason Garret of the Cowboys, Jeff Fisher of the Titans and Leslie Frazier of the Vikings are all being considered.  But although these coaches would all be big improvements over recently fired Mike Singletary, Harbaugh is far and away owner Jed York’s first choice.

Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns has been fired according to Dawgpound Daily.  Mangini doesn’t seem to have what it takes to be a successful head coach but he could be an effective coordinator for another team.  He could take over as d-coordinator for the Giants or the Texans, especially since Houston has just fired Frank Bush.  Along with the Panthers opening, Perry Fewel of the Giants is also in the running for the Browns job.

To say that Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals is on the hot seat is like saying Terrell Owens doesn’t mind a little media attention.  The ‘Bungles’ simply fell apart this season after making it to the playoffs in 2009.  Lewis no longer seems to be the answer in Cincinnati.  It’s difficult to say who would be willing to take over there, but Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden are – technically – still available.

Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano still has his job, but could be fired in the next couple of days.  Sparano was expected to lead Miami back to the playoffs with a stingy defense and a much improved offense, but quarterback Chad Henne has not quite been the saviour they were hoping for.  There were rumours that Bill Cowher might take the job, but if those rumours were true, Sparano would have been fired a week ago.

There are a slew of coordinator openings, some of which we’ve touched on earlier.  A couple of notables are o-coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs and d-coordinator for the New York Giants.  We’ll let you know when anything new happens on those fronts.  Until then, enjoy the playoffs and good luck snagging that head coach you’ve been dreaming of ever since your team was eliminated from the post season.

[Source: Who Dat Dish]

The race for the playoffs in the AFC cleared considerably on Sunday as several teams clinched spots.  The New York Jets – who lost to the Chicago Bears 38-34, foot fetishes and all – fell in backwards by virtue of a loss by the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Washington Redskins 20-17.  The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up a spot by beating the Cleveland Browns 20-10.  And the Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC West Division title by beating the Tennessee Titans 34-14 and getting some help from Cincinnati.  The Bengals upset the San Diego Chargers 34-20, eliminating the Chiefs’ remaining divisional competition.

The remaining spot is the 4th seed, currently being contested by the Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.  If the Colts win, they’re in.  If they stumble against the Titans at home and the Jaguars beat the Houston Texans on the road, Jacksonville wins the division.  But today’s loss to the Redskins likely blew the Jaguars’ last, best chance.  It looks like the Colts will again own that division just as it has for what seems like the last quarter century or so.

The New England Patriots, who clinched a playoff berth a couple of weeks ago, have secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a 34-3 win over the Buffalo Bills.  That’s right, the road to the Superbowl goes through Foxboro…again.  Is anyone else really tired of the Patriots, or is it just me?

[Source: The Bleacher Report]