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Why Vegas is down on the Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- When it comes to analysts, or  “analysts,” not thinking much of the Titans, I consistently tell you to pay them no heed.

TitansChipI have a hard time understanding why so many Titans' fans get so worked up when a no-name fantasy analyst they’ve never heard of before who’s a league employee says the Titans will win three games. (I mentioned in my recent mailbag.)

Even if you’re an overly optimistic homer, you know more about the team than he does, unless you consider having a great degree of fantasy-ranking knowledge counting as in-depth knowledge of a team.

But I do wonder why Vegas, which typically knows what is what, is down on the Titans.

According to Sascha Paruk from SBD, oddsmakers consider the AFC South one of the most wide-open divisions in the NFL.

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Mailbag: Derrick Henry's contract future

Mailbag: Derrick Henry's contract future

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Happy Fourth of July weekend.

Please, may we set aside this thing where we've got to be red or blue and we can't even think about liking someone on the other side and instead all be red, white and blue while we enjoy our barbeques, fireworks and beers.

TitansLogoGlass

Onward to some mail!

Kenny Gore Do you agree Henry is in much the same contract situation as Marcus?? Team should consider the Franchise Tag if Henry has a good season. Many fans already love him, but I think he has not been consistent enough to extend; even if he has a good season this yr. He hasn't been consistent in any season. He always comes on strong to end the yr; while

[Unlocked]

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Prediction week: This one's about tight ends

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As we move on with prediction week, we shift to tight end.

The Titans seemed more satisfied with Luke Stocker in that blocking tight end role than most of us on the outside were in 2018, and then he got a free agent deal to catch up to the coach who brought him to Tennessee.SmithWattHouston

Stocker is with Mike Mularkey and the Atlanta Falcons now.

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Please join me for an occasional trip Elsewhere

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- I'd like to introduce you to the newest element of my work, a 104.5 The Zone-produced podcast called "Elsewhere."elsewhere logo square

In it, I'll head places I don't have the time or the room to go here, where The Paul Kuharsky Podcast continues, or on The Midday 180.

Episode 1 is about how recent discoveries about two guys I absolutely love, Howard Stern and Bruce Springsteen, left me wondering if I know them as well as I think and contemplating my general default setting as a fierce loyalist. [Unlocked]

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Post No. 1,000 at PaulKuharsky.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- There have been deleted posts and duplicates by mistake and some news stories I had lined up that didn’t pan out that never went live.IMG 4136

So this post does not technically mark 1,000 pieces at paulkuharsky.com.

But inside the tool where I compose and construct and design the work that appears here, this is post No. 1,000.

And I can’t see that number and not mark the occasion.

We started this deal on July 31, 2017 with Greetings and welcome to PaulKuharsky.com.

And there have been guest posts by Blake Beddingfield and John Glennon and Steve Cavendish, so I’ve not written them all. [Unlocked.]

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Prediction week: This one's about Austin Johnson

Prediction week: This one's about Austin Johnson

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Prediction week rolls on, with my second one turning to the defensive side of the ball.

The Titans’ comments regarding Austin Johnson have been odd. Sure there are defensive linemen all over the league who do dirty work without posting stats and deserve credit for that role which creates opportunity for others.

Even non-experts can get a sense of that. And even non-experts can get a sense that Austin Johnson wasn’t giving the Titans a lot of that.AustinJohnson

Dean Pees knows way, way more football than I do, but I was stunned when he listed some very good football players he’s worked with who had dirty-work roles while talking about the low-impact Johnson.

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Prediction week: This one's about Corey Davis

Prediction week: This one's about Corey Davis

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – You want to know what I think the Titans’ record will be and how Marcus Mariota’s stat line will read.

There are things I don’t have a great read on and you know I am not a big predictor. I am no Madame Marie.

But as during the team’s pause between its offseason work and training camp, there are some things I have a strong sense of based on what I’ve seen and heard. So welcome to Prediction Week where I will share some of those.

The first pertains to Corey Davis.DavisPatriots

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Pickers mailbag: Retiring numbers, partial Marcus Mariota and 'Western Stars'

Pickers mailbag: Retiring numbers, partial Marcus Mariota and 'Western Stars'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. --  Greetings on what is officially the first day of summer.

That's funny for someone who covers football because we've got about five weeks of summer left as training camp is our busiest time of the year. It's glorious five weeks and I shall milk them for all they are worthy.

I enjoyed your questions this week and my good mood prompts me to unlock this edition of the mailbag.

PK: Here we go again comparing things that are not comparable.

First off, I never said you have to be a Hall of Famer to get your number retired. There are levels of honors. Number retirements are clearly below Hall of Fame.TRac

In the initial ZBo debate, I'd said the Titans weren't retiring numbers and shouldn't be. So I contradicted myself by not reacting negatively when the team decided to retire Steve McNair's 9 and Eddie George's 27. Part of that is that they've pretty much been retire, unworn since those guys took them off for the last time.

But we're not going to pretend the basketball impact of Randolph on Memphis where he was 20 percent of the team when he played and the football impact of McNair and George on Tennessee where they were 9 percent when they played were comparable. They did more with less.

The Griz with Zach Randolph: .582 winning percentage and made it to one conference final.

Titans with McNair/ George: .625 winning percentage and made it to a Super Bowl and another AFC championship game. McNair won an MVP. [Unlocked.]

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