NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Rookie camp, OTAs, minicamp, training camp and preseason games and more important for rookies than for anyone.

Much of that is likely to be erased and other elements condensed due to the coronavirus pandemic. This leads me to expect that whatever brand of 2020 NFL season we see – if we see one at all – will have as little overall impact rookie impact as any season in memory.

I texted with a scout Tuesday about the idea, and specifically about the rookie learning curve at the positions where the Titans seem destined to be counting on rookies.

Read More...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Some successful players' careers don't neatly break down into a decade, with a good part coming in one and a good part coming in the next.

As far as NFL All-Decade Teams go for them, they made not fit.

But plenty do, with enough of their great body of work fitting. Monday the All-Decade Team for the 2010s was announced. It was voted on by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee. 

Here it is:

Read More...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Greetings all, from my homes to what I imagine is yours.

I hope things are going well for you and that a big weekend is underway. Over here I am contemplating cleaning up my office yet again, but the smart bet is always against it.

Here's this week's pod which you should not have missed, with my guest Buck Reising.

Onto the best questions you've thrown my way. 

Is there a guys contract to restructure to free up more money if need be?

— Blake Flesher (@Blake_Flesher) April 3, 2020

There are some. But it’s dangerous. You have to see an absolute certainty in a guy to do it. And it’s not really how the Titans

Read More...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jeffery Simmons played in nine of 10 regular-season games after coming off the Titans' non-football injury list in his rookie season and was also part of their three playoff games.

But the ACL tear he suffered in Feb. of 2019 as he prepared for the combine left him with enough of an issue after his rookie year that he qualifies as a rehabilitation player for Tennessee right now.

Mike Vrabel said in a Wednesday media conference call that Simmons is working with the team's director of sports medicine Todd Torischelli and strength coach Frank Piraino. [Unlocked]

Read more ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – From the start of his tenure as Titans coach in 2018, Mike Vrabel has never once griped about the rules.

He generally won’t even open up on how he thinks something should work or how a rule should be written.

He consistently talks about taking what he’s given, desiring the most clear understanding he can get of the level playing field in front of him and working to do better than the competition on it.

It’s no surprise then, that Vrabel is taking the same approach to the NFL landscape with regard to the shutdown and limitations set forth by the coronavirus. [Unlocked]

Read more ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After the Titans put the franchise tag on him, Derrick Henry told the team he wanted to iron out a long-term deal and the team told him the feeling was mutual, Jon Robinson said Wednesday.

Thursday the running back signed the $10.2 million tag.

Ends holdout possibility. New CBA penalties for holding out are significant. #Titans and @KingHenry_2 clearly on great terms. https://t.co/2ZUH96p6wn

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) April 2, 2020

Still, as the Titans work to fill other areas of their roster, the timeline Robinson gave Wednesday for further conversations didn’t make it sound like any talks are coming soon.

“I’ve spoken to his representatives after we used the tag,” Robinson said in a conference call with the Titans’ press corps Wednesday afternoon. “We want to continue to have those conversations and those back-and-forths in hopes of reaching some type of long term agreement. [Unlocked]

Read more ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The NFL hopes to play a full 2020 schedule even if it has to push back

According to a high-level source this morning: The NFL right now is planning on having a full 16-game season. It has not discussed contingency plans with the teams. One possibility that could emerge is delaying the start but still getting in 16 games. Real football in March?

— Gary Myers (@GaryMyersNY) March 31, 2020

The league, I think most of us would agree, should push back the final formulation and release of the schedule from April so if there is a pushback they won’t have to re-release an adjusted version.

Peter King has written about the idea that division games be relatively backloaded in order to better ensure they are all played if the front end of the schedule gets chipped off, so true division champs can be crowned.

I hate that idea.

Read More...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Welcome to the massive mailbag where I try to answer questions and allay concerns in one big weekend read.

I hope it helps fill some time you'd have spent watching some Sweet 16 and other games on the tube and I hope, beyond a lot of reading, you're filling your days beyond work, with board games and H-O-R-S-E and family walks and talks and maybe naps.

Let's dive into what is on your mind...

You just posted on the website an article about the depth. How would you assess the quality of the starting 22? Does a higher quality starting 22 lead to having less quality depth sometimes?

— David Jackson (@vandyfan05) March 27, 2020

Here is the piece you are referring to, David. I'd say we need to evaluate the 24, actually. We need to consider both three wides and two tight ends on offense and a front seven plus a nickel set on defense.

Read More...