Fitzgerald deal could spell doom for Titans

The 25 day standoff between all pro running back Chris Johnson and the Tennessee Titans took another strange twist yesterday, and it had nothing to do with Johnson visiting Nashville over the weekend. All pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald just inked an eight year deal worth up to 120 million dollars, 50 million guaranteed. The deal will average just over 15 million a year, which makes Fitzgerald's per year salary fifth highest in the league. What does that spell for Titans fans? Trouble.

Johnson recently scoffed at the notion of becoming the highest paid running back in the league. Johnson insists that he is a play maker (which he is) and deserves to be paid like one of the elite players in the league. Last week we laughed when Johnson demanded 13 (guaranteed) million dollars over the first three years. But 13 mill from the Titans? Should someone remind Johnson this is the same team that literally locked Steve McNair out of the training room as they plotted to trade him to Baltimore. He was owed a salary similar to Johnson's request. Franchise leading rusher Eddie George was sent packing for pennies by comparison. And who could forget Randall Godfrey, the linebacker who gave the Titans back a million dollars in a restructured deal. This was mutually agreed upon to re-sign key players for the up coming season. Godfrey was to receive the money on the back end of the deal. Two weeks later they cut him and kept the money. History tells us the Titans can and will play hard ball. It's a foregone conclusion that Johnson will use Fitzgerald's contract as a bargaining tool. We as Titans fans desperately want Johnson on the field week one, but neither side is willing to budge. Thanks Larry Fitzgerald, Thanks for nothing.

Rookie qb class impressed

I know I know it's just the pre season, but did you get a chance to check out any of the rookie qb's in action last week? Very impressive I must say. This goes beyond x's and o's (although all five qb's combined for zero interceptions), they all seemed to pass the eyeball test. They looked like they belonged in an nfl huddle. Newton looked like a number one pick, firing accurate nfl caliber passes. Jake Locker lead two Titan scoring drives, and showed great poise while turning a busted play into a 45 yard td. Ryan Mallett was groomed to be an nfl qb from his freshman year at Michigan. With his talent and Belichick's guidance, the Patriots could be in good hands beyond Brady.

The class overall benefited from a wacky 2010 season, pairing Locker and Ponder with the best running backs in the business. Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson are in their prime and can carry a team. Look what Big Ben did with a running game. And it's not like DeAngelo Williams (Newton) and Maurice Jones-Drew (Gabbert) are slouches either. Every qb will be afforded the luxury of a productive running game. With the exception of Newton maybe, every qb will have a veteran ahead of them on the depth chart to start the season. That should also be beneficial to their development. If their week one pre season performance was a glimpse into the future, then this qb oriented league will be left in good hands.

New look Titans make good impression

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and the new look Tennessee Titans made a good one in front of their hometown fans last night. Kudos to owner Bud Adams for parting ways with Jeff Fisher and Vince Young. Their drama was bigger than the entire franchise and I believe they loved every minute of it. It was draining to watch as a fan so I can imagine the kind of toll it took on the team. Matt Hasselbeck is old, but he is a winner and a leader. And say what you want, it was good to see a Titan qb stand in the pocket and go through his reads. Jake Locker had a near flawless debut, showing some athleticism and confidence while leading two touchdown drives.

The Titans vowed to beef up the defensive line and it's paying early returns. It was a couple of freshly added 300 pounders who stuffed Minnesota on third and one. Their pressure also lead to two turnovers. And tight end Jared Cook, who was stuck in Fisher's dog his first two years, showed what he can do when given the chance to compete. Cook made several nice catches, and was wide open on several other plays. It was an all around good performance and much needed positive viewing experience for the fans. I know it was just a pre season game but a bad first impression would have been hard to overcome. Especially for this franchise.

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No more drama for Titans

The one word that would consistently describe the Tennessee Titans over the past few years is drama. Drama drama drama! If it's not Pac Man Jones then it's Albert Haynesworth. If it's not Haynesworth then it's Vince Young. Then you have Kenny Britt and well, you get the idea. There has been plenty of drama for the "new look" Titans already, and we're just a couple of weeks into the season. Courtland Finnegan's disappearance over the weekend was just another weird episode for the team that attracts weird episodes.

Something different happened this time. Someone actually stepped up and took accountability for their actions. Props to Courtland Finnegan for admitting to lying about leaving the team because of his contract. It's the first time in forever that someone said "I messed up". Hopefully the team and the media will take Finnegan's apology on it's merit (with a fine of course) so they can get back to football. The front office should follow suit and do the right thing by CJ. Everyone knows what he means to the team and he is one of only a few stars who literally outplayed their contract. The season opener is around the corner, time is of the essence. Get your schemes installed, get CJ his paper, and get back to just football. No more time for drama.

Remember the Titans?

Remember the Tennessee Titans? You know... the franchise known for their blue collar work ethic, likable players, and great home field advantage? Those Titans consistently beat teams with better players because they removed the "I" from team. Those Titans were fun to watch because you knew we had a chance with the ball in number 9's hands. Steve McNair, Eddie George, Frank Wycheck, and Bruce Matthews were all great. They also smiled. The Titans had a humbleness about them that made them easy to root for. That was then. Next up was Pac Man Jones, Albert Haynesworth, Vince Young, and Kenny Britt. Not only do the Titans of today bear no resemblance to the team that won us over, this franchise is now unrecognizable.

If you moved to Nashville or followed the Titans post Steve McNair, you see a far different picture. You see a picture of a team that stomps on the head of a helmet-less player. You see night club beatings, high speed chases, and strip club shootings. You see quarterbacks feuding with coaches and players feuding with management. Most of all, you see dysfunction running rampant. You see a team that has become a shell of it's former self. Case in point, only The Titans could find a way to not use a healthy Randy Moss on a team with no receivers.

Rookie head coach Mike Munchak has his work cut out for him. His two best players are holding out for new contracts and their foolish hard line stance with Chris Johnson is putting the team further in the hole. Just another sign of a lack of leadership on all levels. Hopefully the Johnson holdout will be resolved and Jake Locker can hit the field sooner than later. Titans fans are ready for new memories.

Was Lebron defending Tebow or himself?

Wow. Someone really ticked LeBron James off yesterday, to the point that he had to come to the defense of an innocent and persecuted man. ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hodge voiced his opinion on Tim Tebow's ability to be a championship caliber NFL quarterback. Although the criticism aimed at Tebow was harsh it was just that, an opinion. It appeared the mild mannered golden boy from Florida took it all in stride with a simple tweet to let Mr. Hodge know that word had gotten back. So why did James seem to take the criticism of Tebow so personal? It sounded to me like LeBron was not defending Tebow at all. He was defending himself.

Remove Tim Tebow from this direct quote "He's a hard worker, a student of the game, a natural born leader and most of all a WINNER!! It takes time and he'll be nice." LeBron is talking about himself, to remind us of all the things that made us crown him "King James". A reminder that winning championships take time. Another direct quote from James "Guys get on that tv and act like they was all WORLD when they played. How bout encouraging him and wishing him the best instead of hating!!" This is LeBron's advise to everyone who criticized his epic meltdown in the Finals. Face it LeBron, you choked and got criticized for it. Tim Tebow has weaknesses that are being criticized. It's sports. It's life.

Are the Eagles the new Heat?

The Philadelphia Eagles have steamrolled through free agency, adding marquee acquisition after marquee acquisition. Not one, but two pro bowl corners. Throw in a pro bowl defensive end and back up qb that's been a pro bowler himself, and you have the making of the nfl's version of the Miami Heat. Mark my words, the Eagles will be hated this season.

It is only human to root for David. If we're just watching a game that we have no rooting interest in, we generally root for the underdog. So you can imagine how we feel when you tell us that you're going to win it all. The Eagles have all but said "Hey...y'all know we bout to win it all right?" Yes I know that Rex Ryan put people off with his bold predictions last year but this will be worse, much worse. Every hated team needs a lightning rod, a controversial figure if you will. The Heat had LeBron James. The Eagles have that in Michael Vick. Desean Jackson and newly acquired Vince Young have been no stranger to negative press either. The Eagles have put themselves in the super bowl or bust category, and there will be millions of fans outside of Pennsylvania that hope they bust.