Locker's gain, Titans pain?

The Tennessee Titans new era kicks off Saturday night when the Green Bay Packers pay a visit to the Music City. Fans will be eager to get a glimpse of all the new faces, but there is a returning face that every Titans eyeball will be glued to...at least for the first 15 offensive plays or so.

Jake Locker.

Heading into the final year of his contract, starting qb Jake Locker states that he is healthy and ready to go. As with most teams, the Titans go as Locker goes. When he was playing error free football to start the season, Tennessee flourished. But injuries once again derailed Locker's season, and Tennessee's along with it.

But what happens if..in his final year...Locker pulls it all together, stays healthy for a full season, and leads his team to a playoff birth?

Well...two things would happen.

1. You'd have a rejuvenated fan base.
2. You'd have a very uneasy front office.

Since being drafted 8th in the 2011 draft, Locker has only played in 23 games. And those 23 performances were...well....pretty average. But what happens if coach Whisenhunt can work his magic on Locker? What if it was just as simple as coaching...and Locker has a break out year in 2014?

What do you do with him then?

Locker's body of work does not warrant a lucrative long term extension, at least not to date. He can't even stay on the field. And it's not a recurring injury either, it's always something different...and serious. But let's be honest, making the playoffs for the first time since 2008 could cloud some things. Especially if Locker becomes coach Whiz's guy.

From a front office perspective, it would be much less of a headache if Locker fails. He plays out his contract, he's gone at the end of the season, and you can find you a new one in the draft or free agency.

A comeback player of the year type of campaign would be a nightmare.

The media (me included) would jump all over Locker's contract status, and the weekly "has he done enough to earn an extension" debates would dominate Titans headquarters. Players will be asked, the coach, the GM, and so on.

A complete soap opera.

And the Andy Dalton contract did Tennessee no favors either. The market has been set for second tier qb's with no playoff success. Tennessee and Locker's agent will duke it out, and franchising him at the average top 5 qb salaries would be a strenuous option as well.

From a front office perspective, I would give serious pause to another long term deal with a player that has that kind of injury history...regardless of the outcome this year. Then again, making the playoffs could cloud some things, especially if it's because of Locker's play.

The coach wants to win..and if he's winning...we's gonna want his qb that got him there.

In other words....a potential headache could be looming for the organization.

But if the end result is a playoff birth this year, I'm sure that all parties involved will be willing to cross that bridge when they come to it.

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