NASHVILLE, Tenn. – All is well between the Titans and Kevin Byard, per Byard after the conclusion of the team’s minicamp on Thursday afternoon.

That’s great news -- if we believe it -- as any bitter feelings from the star safety toward the team as a result of an early offseason request that he take a pay cut could have an ill effect on the Titans that extends beyond the player and his relationship with the franchise.

If we don’t believe it, it’s a good public relations job. 

Either way, I’m puzzled by why a veteran player who’s a quality communicator was so willing to let what he says was incorrect thinking have such life among his fans, fans of the team and beyond for so long.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans have done good work to get DeAndre Hopkins to Nashville for his first free-agent visit. NFL Network reported it’ll be Sunday, Mike Vrabel stumblingly said it’ll be early next week/ late this week.

It’s a win for Tennessee to get easily the best receiver on the market here, but it’s way early for cartwheels and parades.

National reports say the market is clearly down for the three-time First-Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler. He’d be the best receiver on the team if it signed him provided he was healthy, on the field and in synch with Ryan Tannehill.

But he’d hardly arrive danger free. [Unlocked]

By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

NASHVILLE. Tenn. -- It feels like we’ve spent 99.9 percent of the offseason discussing the Titans’ offense, and rightfully so.

After all, that’s the side of the ball that has seen its line completely overhauled, experienced near-constant debate about whether Ryan Tannehill and/or Derrick Henry should be traded, and had a young quarterback drafted for a second straight offseason. Not to mention a change in coordinator, large shake-up to the rest of the offensive staff, and the endless discussion about its lack of reinforcement at wide receiver.

There is a lot to talk about on offense.

By comparison, the Tennessee defense has had a rather boring offseason. The Titans extended Jeffery Simmons with very little drama and figure to have at least seven returning starters beginning the 2023 season in the same spot that they started the 2022 season.

That’s not to say that there have been no changes though.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Roughly 20 minutes after the first practice of Titans’ minicamp finished, when several players had talked with media coming off the field and Derrick Henry’s more formal session at the podium was already underway, Tyjae Spears was still catching machine-thrown passes.

The rookie running back, a third-round pick out of Tulane, arrived highly touted for his versatility and ability to add a different dimension to the Titans’ backfield.

Through the team’s offseason offensive installation, Mike Vrabel said the run game has been more exotic and expansive. in a way where all it’s been doing won’t ultimately be part of what its does in games after the Titans get a look at things and pull back to what they like and think fits and works best.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Kevin Byard and Denico Autry have not been at OTAs and both are virtually certain to be with the Titans Tuesday morning when minicamp starts.

Missing mandatory minicamp results in fines of $15,515 for the first day, $31,030 for the second day and $46,540 for the third day for a total of $93,085.

Autry’s regularly not been at OTAs during his time with the Titans and while Byard has missed some, this time around seems to be a reaction to the way the team asked him to take a pay cut early in the offseason.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- That short week just flew by and I am not complaining.

I'm off to Memphis for the first time in a long time, and while some of the 13U baseball I will watch is technically at a Memphis address I won't be in the city proper. Maybe I should take a drive to update my perspective on a place I don't rate highly. I don't know, we'll have to see if I have the time.

I hope you've listened to the podcast or lined it up. Here are handy links for you: Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and iHeart as well as YouTube.

Onto the best of your questions from this week. Next week is minicamp, so we will see three practices and hear from a lot of guys and the coordinators again.

What percentage of snaps should we expect to see Treylon Burks on the field for in Year 2?

— Colton Gunn (@TheHeadWeasel) June 1, 2023

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Charles London believes in going full speed with his quarterbacks and he's teaching at a 300-level.

What's that mean for the group he's working with right now?

That's where I begin the new episode of the podcast, which awaits you on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and iHeart as well as YouTube, which is below.

Other subjects I dive into:

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There were stretches of time during his 13 years and 197 games with the Titans during which there was a legitimate debate as to whether Brett Kern was the best player on the team.

Yes, sometimes it was because of the franchise’s weak roster, but it was also because of the punter’s excellence.

Brett Kern on the idea there were times he was the best player on the #Titans. pic.twitter.com/uM3LCpU1TA

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) June 1, 2023

And that’s why, following Kern’s official retirement press conference on Thursday afternoon, the Titans should eventually give serious consideration to adding him to their Ring of Honor. [Unlocked]