Titans News

"Despite their inability to reach a contract compromise earlier this offseason, the Titans and Albert Haynesworth's agent had talked about the positive nature of negotiations. The good vibes could be in jeopardy if the All-Pro defensive tackle doesn't sign his one-year tender before the Titans start training camp on Friday afternoon and begins an extended holdout. Chad Speck, Haynesworth's agent, said Wednesday he's been in contact with the Titans on a daily basis, but "nothing has been worked out %u2026 nothing is in place yet." A Titans official confirmed the talks have continued but declined to comment further. Haynesworth didn't get the long-term contract he wanted by last week's ..."

"Since joining the Titans in April, arguably no draft pick has impressed the coaching staff more than defensive lineman Jason Jones, a second-round pick. Getting extended work at tackle thanks to the absence of franchise-tagged Albert Haynesworth, the second-round pick showed that he might be able to help early this season. Another draft pick, defensive end William Hayes, also made a favorable impression this offseason. The development of both players led to the team%u2019s decision to part ways with veteran defensive end Bryce Fisher on Wednesday, the same day the Titans reached a four-year deal with Jones. Fisher, acquired in September from the Seattle Seahawks for a sixth-round pick, ..."

"The Titans agreed to terms on Wednesday on a four-year deal with defensive lineman Jason Jones, a second-round pick in April’s NFL Draft. Just two days before training camp, the club has now reached deals with all of their draft picks except its first round pick, running back Chris Johnson.

Jones was the 54th overall selection in the draft after starting 36 games for Eastern Michigan. He was especially impressive in offseason workouts while working at tackle in place of an absent Albert Haynesworth. His four year deal includes $1.505 in guaranteed money and rookie minimum salaries of $295,000 in 2008, $360,000 (in ’09), $440,000 (in 2010) and $550,000 (in 2011)."

"The Titans will find something new when they report to training camp later this week %u2014 lights on one of their three practice fields at Baptist Sports Park. The lights, located on the field closest to the fans' entrance, were installed Monday. They will give the Titans another way to beat the heat in training camp, as well as the option of practicing outdoors at night during the season. The Titans start training camp Friday with the first practice scheduled for 3:30 p.m. In previous training camps the team held some night practices at LP Field. With the new lights the camp schedule has already been adjusted with one practice moved to night. It's expected to be ..."

"The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with tight end Craig Stevens. The Titans selected Stevens with their third-round selection (85th overall) out of the University of California. The San Pedro, Calif., native was a mainstay on the Bears' offense, appearing in 50 games with 33 starts in four seasons, one game shy of the school record."

"The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with defensive end William Hayes. Hayes, the first of three Titans fourth round selections (103rd overall), started 22 of 30 games at Winston-Salem State and recorded 150 tackles (80 solo) with 15 sacks, 37 stops for losses and 15 quarterback pressures. According to a league source, Hayes' signing bonus is just under $500,000."

"The Titans agreed to terms with fourth-round pick William Hayes Monday, making the former Winston-Salem State defensive end the team’s fourth 2008 pick to conclude contract negotiations before training camp, which starts Friday. To make room on the roster, the Titans waived safety Rocky Schwartz, an undrafted free agent."

"They say life takes some interesting turns. Well, a coach's life takes some weird U-turns. Consider Norm Chow. When he was offensive coordinator of the Titans in March 2006, he was the featured speaker at a coaching clinic at the University of Tennessee. Six weeks from today, he coaches against the Vols. "It's funny how things work out, isn't it?" he said. Nobody saw this coming, least of all Chow. For three years, he ran the Titans' offense. Then he was fired eight days after the playoff loss. A week later, he was hired by new UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel as offensive coordinator. On Labor Day night, Chow will coach against UT in a game at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. "We've ..."

"It's not a great year to be a Titans fan and fantasy football team owner. Most fantasy drafts are expected to complete their first five rounds without mentioning the names of any of your favorite Titans heroes. That's because winning your league is about scoring a lot of points, a.k.a. touchdowns, something the Titans didn't do well last season. Draft boards are taking a prove-us-wrong approach in 2008. This also means several Titans will be available later in drafts, and for cheap. Following are the Titans most likely to figure into fantasy football leagues."

"Everybody has questions. How soon can quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco start in Atlanta and Baltimore? Where does Brett Favre play in 2008, if he plays at all? Is there another team such as the New York Giants that will come out of the shadows at playoff time to seize the Super Bowl? There are no ready answers in July and August. Training camp is a time to grind, but it's also a time for optimism. Let's set the stage for the NFL's 89th season."

"Five days before the start of training camp for the 2008 season, the Titans — like all NFL teams — have crucial questions they need to address if they hope to improve and move beyond last year's wild-card playoff loss.Here are some of the issues the Titans had going into last season and the question marks that remain as they head into this year. 2007 QUESTIONS After dazzling as a rookie, would Vince Young avoid the sophomore jinx and mature into a full-fledged polished NFL passer and game manager?"

"It's five days and counting until the Titans open training camp, and nobody wants to utter the H-word. Holdout. But just because the word has not been spoken by either of two parties, that doesn't mean its implications have not been considered. This has become a point of heavy speculation in the aftermath of failed contract negotiations between Titans management and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. There are indications that the two sides never really got close to hammering out a long-term deal. And after the deadline passed Tuesday, there was a public exchange of rhetoric that suggested neither side was pleased."

"Yes, the Bears have some issues as they head into training camp this week. But they are not alone. Each of the 32 teams in the NFL will be trying to answer deep questions, tie together loose ends and bury ghosts of the past. Here is a look at the other 31:"

"Vince Young’s No. 10 jersey is among nine jerseys being retired by the University of Texas athletics department during the 2008-09 athletics calendar."

"The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with cornerback Cary Williams on a four-year contract Friday that includes a signing bonus of $47,700.Williams, the Titans’ seventh-round pick from Division II Washburn, has the capability of making $1.2 million by the final year of the deal, thanks to an escalator clause regarding playing time.Williams’ signing leaves the Titans with four draft picks unsigned."

"Once again, the NFL front office is checking the tape. These guys edit more film than Spielberg. Now that Spygate has been put to rest, the league is reviewing video of past games in search of what has been described as "suspicious" hand gestures by players. Specifically, the NFL is on the lookout for gang signals that may or may not have been flashed during games. On first glance, this seems like prudent action by Commissioner Roger Goodell. The last thing the NFL wants is to be perceived as gang-friendly. But where do you draw the line? One man's gang sign might be another man's shout-out to his pals back home."

"The Tennessee Titans waived two players Thursday in order to officially make room for two signed draft picks on the roster.The Titans let go of cornerback Shirdonya Mitchell and tight end Leonard Stephens to make room for a pair of fourth-round picks, linebacker Stanford Keglar and wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, whose contracts became official on Thursday.Both Keglar and Hawkins signed four-year deals, with Keglar getting a signing bonus of $385,100. Hawkins’ signing bonus total is not known, but is likely in the $400,000 range, given the slotting system used for rookie contracts in the NFL."

"The Titans say All-Pro Albert Haynesworth will be the highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL in 2008, once he signs a one-year tender offer. His agent, Chad Speck begs to differ. Both parties might be right. It all depends on how a one-year contract with no frills is compared to a multi-year deal with a signing bonus. The Titans are averaging the amount of base salary and bonuses that other defensive tackles will make over the life of longer-term contracts, while Speck is looking at how much players will be paid this season. Haynesworth, tagged the franchise player for the Titans in 2008, will make $7.25 million this season."

"The rookie contract of seventh-round cornerback Cary Williams should be complete by the end of the week, according to his agent Harold Lewis.“It’s not a big deal. We’ve got plenty of time, but it should be done by the end of the week,” Lewis said."

"The Titans say Albert Haynesworth will be the highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL this season. Haynesworth's agent disputes that, rattling off at least four players who he says will earn more. The disagreement is only one point of contention in a roughly six months-long negotiation that ended in failure Tuesday. By failing to reach a long-term deal by a 3 p.m. deadline, Haynesworth, tagged as the team's franchise player, and the Titans are prohibited by league rules from negotiating again until after the Titans' regular-season finale. Instead, Haynesworth will play under a one-year contract that pays him $7.25 million in 2008."

"The Tennessee Titans announced they have agreed to terms on multi-year contracts today with two members of their seven-player 2008 draft class, wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins and linebacker Stanford Keglar. Hawkins and Keglar are the first two of the Titans seven draft choices to agree to terms. The Titans open training camp on July 25th."

"The Tennessee Titans and Albert Haynesworth worked toward getting a new long-term deal completed, but could not beat Tuesday’s 3 p.m. CDT deadline.It means that Haynesworth will instead play for the $7.25 million franchise tender offer, which will make him the highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL this season.“I think both sides are a little disappointed that we couldn’t get something done,” Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt said. “We’ve held discussions for a number of months, and the talks had ebbed and flowed. But at the same time, the franchise tag is still there, and we can pick up our discussions after the 2008 season.”"

"I have only one piece of advice for Brett Favre. Make up you cotton-pick-in', catfish-catchin' Mississippi mind. Get in, or get out. You know the story. The Green Bay Packers bid a fond farewell to a weepy Favre in early March. He was hanging up his cleats and going back home to Kiln, Miss. The NFL Hall of Fame would be his first stop after his retirement hit the five-year mark. Recently, Favre had a presidential candidate's moment. He changed his mind. Favre claimed he had an itch to play again. There must not be a dermatologist in Kiln."

"Unless the Titans and All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth agree to a long-term contract by 3 p.m. today, the two parties will be limited to signing a one-year tender and will have to wait until after the 2008 regular-season finale to start future negotiations. That scenario, though, would allow both parties to discover, or prove, what they believe they know: whether Haynesworth's health is a concern, and whether he is worthy of a lucrative contract and the risk that comes with such deals."

"It's D-Day for the Tennessee Titans and Albert Haynesworth, as talks between the two sides continued on Monday. That's D as in deadline, as the club and the franchised defensive tackle face a deadline of 3 p.m. CDT Tuesday to negotiate a new long-term contract extension or Haynesworth will be forced to play for the $7.25 million franchise tender offer that was placed on him in February. Negotiations between Haynesworth and the Titans could potentially continue behind the scenes, but he cannot officially sign an extension until after the 2008 season if he misses Tuesday's deadline. Efforts to reach Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt were unsuccessful on Monday. However, ..."

"The New England Patriots didn't do much this off-season, which is why not much has changed in the American Football Conference. New England did lose All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel, but otherwise looks like the same team that went 16-0 last season. The Patriots have won 20 regular-season games in a row, dating to a 21-0 loss at Miami on Dec. 10, 2006. They have broken their own NFL record of 18 consecutive victories set in 2003-04. The Indianapolis Colts, the San Diego Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't change much in the off-season, either, which is why they are given the best shots to challenge the Patriots for AFC supremacy this season."

"Seth Chapman paused, then predicted the Titans' 2008 record. "It could be 4-12," Chapman said Saturday morning as he waited for the LP Field ticket office to open. "Or we could be 12-4." Way to take a stand. "I'm expecting playoffs," he added. "It doesn't matter if we're 9-7 and get in, or 11-5 and get in." Anything less than that, I'll consider a failure." Chapman joined a smaller-than-usual group of fans gathered at LP Field to buy single-game tickets to 10 home games. The eight regular season games sold out in 32 minutes, according to Titans officials."

"A Tennessee Titans official said today that a game-day shuttle should be available to football fans by the time the team's preseason starts in four weeks. The Titans are working with private bus companies to try to come up with service to replace the Metro Transit Authority's End-Zone Express Shuttle, which has been shut down after a federal ruling that public transportation agencies can no longer provide shuttles to special or sporting events. The NFL franchise has asked the bus lines to make proposals by July 18 as the preseason opener against the St. Louis Rams looms on Aug. 9."

"The Tennessee Titans signed the first of their 2008 draft picks, agreeing with linebacker Stanford Keglar on a four-year deal on Friday.Keglar, a fourth-round pick from Purdue, agreed to a four-year contract. He is expected to help out on special teams this season and serve as a backup linebacker outside behind starters David Thornton and Keith Bulluck.???Stanford was eager to become part of the Nashville community and therefore we decided to agree to terms early,??? agent Jeffrey Chilcoat said.Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed."

"Rookie linebacker Stanford Keglar agree to a four-year deal with the Titans on Friday morning, becoming the first Titans draft pick of 2008 to sign. His agent, Jeff Chilcoat, declined to provide financial terms, but said Keglar, a former Purdue standout, wanted to sign early."

"Pacman is no more. In the 80 days since the Titans traded away their oft-troubled cornerback to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick, Adam Jones has orchestrated a dramatic transformation. He has sworn off strip clubs. He has kept his name out of the police blotter. Jones has even dumped the notorious nickname that became synonymous with a pattern of criminal behavior that led to six arrests in the last three years and a one-year suspension from the NFL. By all accounts, he has become a hardworking football player and model citizen."

"Tom Ballman, a brazen Tennessee Titans tailgater, once offered sage advice to those less-fortunate fans forced to park miles away from LP Field. Find a cheap parking lot, he said, and like thousands of others take the Metro Transit Authority's End-Zone Express Shuttle service to the game. "That's what I recommended to people who don't have parking passes, because it takes you right there," he said. Not a bad suggestion from a man known to dress as a beer keg during football games. But this fall, he'll need to offer different advice, because a new federal regulation is shutting down the shuttle."

"Kickoff for the Titans' preaseason finale Aug. 28 against the Packers at Lambeau Field has moved up one hour, to 6 p.m., officials for both teams announced Wednesday. Both teams' television partners expressed interest in joining network coverage of the Democratic National Convention."

"Albert Haynesworth has seen all the silly money other NFL teams have been dishing out to defensive tackles. You can't blame him for wanting what he believes he has earned. He saw Oakland give Tommy Kelly a seven-year contract worth $50.5 million, more than $25 million of it over the first three years. He saw the Browns hand veteran Shaun Rogers $42 million over six years, $23 million in the first three years. He saw the Jets give Kris Jenkins a five-year deal for $30.25 million. The Bears just signed Tommie Harris to a $40 million, four-year contract extension, $18 million of it guaranteed. Harris is coming off three consecutive Pro Bowl years. Now, Big Al wants his share of ..."

"Long before the NFL Draft, the Titans knew Chris Johnson had quick feet. Now they know he's a quick study. Before, during and after minicamp practice sessions, Johnson has looked the part of a first-round draft choice. He accelerates through traffic. He cuts on a dime. He catches passes effortlessly. Just as important, he has grasped the nuances of Mike Heimerdinger's offense. "Everything they're throwing at me, I've got down," he said. "If I execute everything they've given me, that will let them go ahead and start adding more ways to get the football in my hands." This is encouraging on several fronts. Rookies usually face a serious learning curve. Johnson has digested everything ..."

"Over the years, Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck has heard the digs from national media. Other times, he felt slighted because no one outside Nashville was talking about his team at all. On Wednesday, Bulluck has a chance to speak up and be heard. The loquacious linebacker will embark on his own public relations mission today when he makes the rounds at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn. Bulluck is scheduled to make multiple appearances on television and radio for ESPN programs, part of what should be an 8-hour, whirlwind of a day."

"Tennessee Titans players and coaches have a little more than two weeks before training camp opens and the daily grind of the 2008 season commences.But those in the Titans' ticket office are just days away from their kickoff, as single-game tickets go on sale Saturday morning at 10."It's kind of the kickoff to Titans football," director of ticket operations Marty Collins said. "The tickets go on sale Saturday, and training camp is right around the corner. We're thankful to our fans and especially our season ticket holders and fan base. That allows only a few for single-game tickets.""

"A month later, Titans linebacker Ryan Fowler remains in limbo, his immediate future still uncertain because of his alleged involvement in steroids. Fowler's attorney said Monday he has reached out to the NFL with hopes of getting some answers, but remains in the dark. The NFL notified Fowler in a letter last month he could face a four-game suspension under the league's policy against performance-enhancing drugs. "But we've heard nothing of any substance (from the league) since," attorney Peter Ginsberg said. "I'm hoping the NFL will see the errors of their ways and realize there is no merit for any of this.""

"The Tennessee Titans don’t have any of their seven rookie draft picks signed yet, but talks are under way to try and remedy that situation soon. Many teams find it easier to get lower draft picks out of the way first, so it is not surprising that the Titans are in talks with their final three picks from the draft — fourth-rounders Lavelle Hawkins of California and linebacker Stanford Keglar of Purdue, as well as seventh-round cornerback Cary Williams."

"The official name for it is the "dead period", where teams and players are doing very little other than relaxing and trying to stay in shape before camp officially kicks into gear in less than three weeks.But there are still several items of business the Tennessee Titans must be finalized before they head into camp on July 25.Chief among those, of course, is the Albert Haynesworth situation, where the franchised defensive tackle has missed all of the team's offseason work after being given the tag in February.July 15, just eight days away, is the magic date for the Titans and Haynesworth as far as negotiations go. If they cannot greatly accelerate the contract talks and there has ..."

"Mike Williams lost the weight and regained his swagger in the process. He's faster, happier and once again optimistic about a career that went nowhere in his first three NFL seasons. But for his sake, to keep him motivated, the Titans receiver is going to pretend he's stuck in a rut. "I'm not a fool to live by anything I've done in the past few months,'' Williams said. "The coaching staff has seen what I've done, and hopefully they like it. But I'm going to pretend I haven't done anything just to make me work harder. And I definitely plan to keep working.''"

"Titans Coach Jeff Fisher left the final Titans minicamp last week. His next stop was La Costa Resort"

"The Titans have worn their light blue jerseys well over the years, and in 2008 they'll wear them a lot more. They have switched their primary jersey to light blue after wearing navy since 1999. The organization recently notified the NFL of the decision. The team plans to wear light blue for all of its home games except the preseason opener Aug. 9 against the St. Louis Rams, and the Nov. 23 regular-season game at LP Field against the Jets, when they'll wear navy. The team's primary road jersey will remain white."

"Three weeks before the start of training camp, the Titans haven't signed any of their draft picks. But there's no reason to panic just yet. A year ago, the Titans didn't sign a draft pick until July 10, and they had 10 picks to get under contract before camp. Agents for the seven players the Titans selected in the 2008 draft said they expect things to heat up next week. Training camp begins July 25. "Once we get going, it shouldn't take that long. We sort of talked a little bit and said we'd get rolling after the Fourth of July weekend,'' said agent Kenny Zuckerman, who represents tight end Craig Stevens, a third-round pick."

"The Tennessee Titans announced Monday they have signed starting right tackle David Stewart to a multi-year contract extension. Terms were not disclosed.Stewart signed a one-year tender earlier this offseason as a restricted free agent. The new contract provides the Titans with lasting stability at key positions the offensive line. Left tackle Michael Roos agreed to a multi-year deal in April."

"Vince Young's footwork is closer to Michael Jackson's than Herman Munster's. Wide receiver Justin McCareins fit back into offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger's system just fine and should be a starter on opening day. Rookie defensive lineman Jason Jones is extremely talented and benefited from the absence of Albert Haynesworth, who's still seeking a long-term contract. Several Titans made strides during the three months of organized team activities, easing concerns of the coaching staff heading into an extended break until training camp begins July 25. Yet many questions remain for a team looking to make the playoffs for the second year in a row ? and to play past the first ..."

"The Titans' final minicamp session was complete and Mike Williams was working the locker room, seeking out rookie draft picks and offering unsolicited advice. His message: "You're going home and you're going to find friends and relatives you never knew you had. They're going to ask for money. When you go out, everybody's going to expect you to pick up the tab. Be careful." His is the voice of experience. In 2005, Williams was the 10th player picked in the draft. He pocketed $10.73 million in guaranteed salary before setting a cleat on the field. Life was good. I don't pretend to know Williams' current financial status. I trust he took better care of his money than another member ..."

"Titans quarterback Vince Young went out with a bang Friday, the final day of organized team activities. The Titans aren't on the field again until July 25 when training camp begins. "Today really tells the whole story - his eyes downfield, picking up the deep receiver, his accuracy in the plus territory," Coach Jeff Fisher said. "His footwork was excellent." Young invited a group of receivers to Houston next week for more work. Justin Gage and Biren Ealy are among those who committed to make the trip. Others were checking their schedules after the late invitation. "We'll do a couple of things and maybe let my mom cook for them, too," Young said."

"When it comes to Jeff Fisher's charity softball game, there is no salary cap and nothing to keep one team from being overloaded with talent. Fisher chooses the teams - putting most of the best players on his - and sometimes adjusts the rules on the fly. The not-so-talented softball players, well, they're encouraged to get a head start on summer vacation. "We've had some guys over the years in their year of playing who couldn't throw, couldn't catch and couldn't bat, and they haven't been invited back,'' the Titans coach said with a smile. "But it's a lot of fun; the guys enjoy it.''"

"The Titans and right tackle David Stewart agreed to terms on a six-year deal Friday, giving the team and quarterback Vince Young more offensive line security. The Titans now have Stewart and left tackle Michael Roos under long-term contracts. Roos signed a six-year, $43 million extension in April. Stewart's deal is worth $38.9 million and averages just over $6 million per season. It has $10 million in guarantees, including a $6 million signing bonus. The deal includes a roster bonus of $2 million this year along with a base salary of roughly $1 million."