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.

In a strategic move that will probably pay off in the end, Blaine Gabbert will ‘run’ at the NFL Combine this weekend, but won’t throw.  Gabbert is already a hot prospect, projected to go the the Tennessee Titans at #8.  But Gabbert and agent Tom Condon want to make sure his stock remains high.  According to CBS Sports:

“Gabbert will run. He’s just not going to throw,” Gabbert’s agent Tom Condon said per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “We haven’t had any of our guys throw (at the Combine).”

Then again, maybe Condon knows what he’s doing. After all, he’s had success with a few quarterbacks in the NFL Draft — Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, and Sam Bradford leap to mind as guys who did okay on draft day.

…it’s a logical move by Condon and Gabbert to avoid too much scrutiny on his role as a “system quarterback” at Missouri. If he struggles with certain throws at the Combine, people will wonder if he can easily make the jump to the next level.

It should be noted that Tom Condon is the ‘Yoda’ of sports agents.  If Gabbert knows what’s good for him and his soon-to-be fat wallet, he’ll continue to do whatever ‘Master’ Condon says.  He didn’t get filthy rich making a lot of big mistakes.  *GEEK ALERT* The Force is indeed strong with that one.

[PhotoSource: Mass Appeal News]

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]

USA Today reports that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward and linebacker James Harrison are listed as #28 and #31 respectively on the Complex magazine list of “50 Dirtiest Players in Sports History”.  The list includes six other active and retired pro-football players including Cortland Finnegan of the Tennessee Titans at #44 and Rodney Harrison at #34.

Being named to a list that includes Bill Lambeer and Ty Cobb would normally be considered quite impressive.  But aside from a nod to the legendary Ty Cobb, the list seems to ignore athletes who didn’t play in the decade of the 80’s or later.  And some names seemed to make the list just because of a single – yet unforgettable – dirty move.  Tonya Harding and her goon patrol attack on Nancy Kerrigan for one.

Harrison made the list, in part, because of this season and the $125, 000 in fines he’s received from the NFL for what have recently been deemed illegal hits.  It’s debatable whether he would have even made the list before his much publicized actions this season.  However, the list goes a long way to redeem itself by listing Bill Romanowski at #3.  If there’s ever a “Hall of Fame” list for dirtbag players, he’ll surely be inducted on the first ballot.

[Source: Monroe Anderson]

Houston Texans’ Andre Johnson is perhaps the best WR in the NFL. He is respected by all, and unlike Terrell Owens or Chad Ochocinco, he goes about his business and doesn’t whine or complain.

Titans DB Cortland Finnegan is very good at what he does as well. He is even better at getting under opponent’s skin, playing dirty, and irritating not just the opposition but even his own teammates and Titans fans from time to time.

So almost every NFL fan enjoyed watching Johnson rip Finnegan’s helmet off and throwing several punches to the noggin of Finnegan during the Texans blowout win against the Titans on Sunday.

Finnegan is probably lucky there was officials and teammates to break that up before Johnson broke him. Finally, someone stood up to Cortland. Will that cause Finnegan to back down the way he plays? Probably not!