http://www.gotitans.com/artman2/publish/ News from the internet's top Tennessee Titans fan site Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:22:02 PST en-us Titans Report As expected, the Tennessee Titans have tendered a number of key restricted free agents including Bo Scaife, Tony Brown, LenDale White, Stephen Tulloch, Kevin Vickerson and Dave Ball. Scaife's first-round tender will cost the team $4.9 million in 2010 due to the TE being franchised last season. Brown's first-round tender will be $2.621 million this year though the Titans continue to negotiate for a long-term contract. Tulloch has been given the first-round tender as well and is scheduled to make $2.521 million in 2010. White, Vickerson and Ball were tendered at the second-round level, meaning they will earn $1.809 million next season. Other teams can sign restricted players to offer sheets, but the Titans will have an opportunity to match those contact offers to retain the players or get compensation in return. Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:14:05 PST Titans Report After 17 years in the league, P Craig Hentrich made it official today in announcing his retirement. "Seventeen years is plenty,'' Hentrich said. "My body has been telling me for two or three years that it's time. I'm going to listen to it this time." Hentrich was the last Titan who was part of the Super Bowl XXXIV team. He ranks seventh in NFL history with 1,150 punts and was named to two Pro Bowls twice in his career. Before his injury in '09, he averaged 46.9 yards per punt. Brett Kern will step in and handle the punting duties as he did the second half of last season after Hentrich suffered a season-ending calf injury. "I think I&#8217;ll miss the guys in the locker room," Hentrich said. "I don&#8217;t know that I&#8217;ll miss the offseason conditioning program or the 2-a-day practices, but I know I&#8217;ll miss the guys in the locker room. It was a lot of fun." Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:31:18 PST Special Report As the March deadline quickly approaches, it doesn't appear as if a new Collective Bargaining Agreement will be in place and 2010 will be the NFL's first uncapped year in 16 years. If 2010 is an "uncapped" season, every player from the '05 draft who signed a five-year deal or, if drafted in '06 with a four-year deal, will remain with the team who drafted them as a restricted free agent. This will reduce the number of unrestricted free agents available this year by 212 players which is significant as you'll see in the positional breakdowns. Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:08:14 PST Titans Report Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams has no intentions of firing Jeff Fisher but is expecting more from his team in 2010. "Jeff has two more years on his contract, and the way things are going, we are going to be pleased to have him here for the next two years and more years than that down the road," Adams said. By winning eight of the final 10 games, the Titans ended up becoming the first team in NFL history to start 0-6 and finish 8-8. And that, in Adams' mind, overshadowed the fact the Titans haven't won a playoff game since the 2003 season. "Fisher is going to get it going for us because he has been a good coach for us all of these years," Adams said. "I don't see any changes coming up. We ended up with a good year when all was said and done, and I am pleased with what happened." Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:55:39 PST Titans Report Tennessee RB Chris Johnson became only the sixth player to rush for over 2,000 yard as the Titans ended their season with a 17-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Johnson ended the game 134 rushing yards on 36 carries and two TDs. He joins Eric Dickerson, Jamal Lewis, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis and O.J. Simpson as the only NFL runners to reach 2,000 yards in a season. He needed 128 yards for that mark entering the game. Johnson also set the NFL single-season record for yards from scrimmage with 2,433 and broke the franchise's single-season rushing record held by Earl Campbell of 1,934 yards rushing set in 1980. The Titans are also the only franchise in NFL history to begin a season 0-6 and finishing 8-8. Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:23:22 PST Titans Report The NFL announced Tuesday evening that Chris Johnson will be the starting running back for the AFC in the Pro Bowl. Johnson, a second-year pro, is within reach of the 2,000-yard rushing plateau and is 234 yards away from Eric Dickerson's single- season record of 2,105 yards. He is also within reach of Marshall Faulk&#8217;s NFL record of 2,429 scrimmage yards. Johnson has 322 carries this season for 1,872 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has also caught 47 passes for 483 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a league-high 2,355 total yards from scrimmage. He will be the Titans' lone Pro Bowl representative. Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:06:06 PST Titans Report Titans fans ended Christmas with a lump of coal in their stockings as Tennessee was crushed by the San Diego Chargers 42-17. It was a total meltdown as the Titans played horribly in all phases of the game including three turnovers by Vince Young on his way to a career-low 11.9 passer rating. The Titans defense also struggled as the Chargers racked up 425 yards of offense. The Titans will try to end their disappointing season at 8-8 as they take on the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday. Chris Johnson needs 234 yards in that game to break Eric Dickerson's NFL single-season rushing mark of 2,105. Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:58:21 PST Titans Report The Tennessee Titans kept their playoffs hopes alive despite blowing an 18-point second half lead in a 27-24 defeat of the Miami Dolphins. It took a 46-yard FG by Rob Bironas in overtime to give the once 0-6 Titans, a .500 record this season for the first time. They're 7-7 with two games remaining and must win both, along with getting help from many others, to possibly secure the final AFC playoff position. QB Vince Young threw a career-best three TD passes and improved to 7-1 since taking over as the starter Nov. 1. RB Chris Johnson gained more than 100 yards (104 on 29 carries) for the ninth straight game but is off the pace for a 2,000 yard rushing season. "We didn't quit, and that's the way this whole season has gone for us," DE Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "Regardless of our record, the guys in this locker room will stand up for each other. We got a win, and it was a win against a good team." Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:40:05 PST Titans Report The Tennessee Titans kept their playoff hopes alive with a 47-7 blowout of the St. Louis Rams. The game was highlighted by another solid performance by Chris Johnson and five interceptions by the Titans defense. Johnson ran for 117 yards and two TDs while also taking a reception 66 yards in for a score. He now has 1,626 rushing yards which places him only 79 yards behind Eric Dickerson, who has the NFL's all-time record of 2,105. Vincent Fuller returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. Cortland Finnegan and Keith Bulluck had two interceptions apiece. The Titans limited Rams running back Steven Jackson to a season-low 47 yards on 19 carries. "We have been on the receiving end of a tail-kicking before," Bulluck said, "so it was about time we got this one." The Titans face the Dolphins next Sunday who defeated the Jaguars yesterday. Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:15:56 PST Titans Report The Tennessee Titans looked more like the team which started 0-6 than the one with a five-game winning streak with costly penalties, turnovers, blown opportunities and an inability to score TDs in the redzone. Though the Titans statistically had more yards, first downs and won time of possession, a fumble by Ahmard Hall and an interception by Vince Young killed productive drives. Nate Washington dropped a beautiful deep pass by Young in the first half and penalties by Eugene Amano and Tony Brown, among others, kept the Titans from generating the momentum they needed to be competitive against the undefeated Colts. The Titans blew two first-and-goal opportunities which resulted in 0 points. Chris Johnson had 113 rushing yards but was held in check most of the day. Young finished the game 24-for-43 for 241 yards and two TDs. Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:24:41 PST Titans Report Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson, who has 1,396 yards through 11 games and is on pace to finish with 2,030, is aiming for Eric Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105 yards. "All the guys who've done it before me, everybody knows them," said Johnson. "So of course I want it. I want 2,000 but I also want the record. I'm gunning for it. But I can't have that be first in my mind. I feel like if I go out there every game and press and say 'I need this many yards or that many yards,' I don't feel it will happen. I just have to stay with my game plan. But I feel like I can get it." Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:58:38 PST Titans Report Vince Young had a career-high 387 passing yards, including 94 on the final drive for the winning touchdown with no time remaining as the Titans defeated the Cardinals 20-17. Young's final TD was to rookie WR Kenny Britt in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. It came on fourth down, just when it appeared the magic was about to run out on an improbable 99-yard drive in the final 2:37. "We fought to the finish," Young said. "It was hard. It takes a lot of confidence and patience. It was a team effort. Everybody is stepping up." Young converted on three fourth-downs on the final drive. Chris Johnson had another solid day with 154 yard rushing including an 85-yard run for a TD. Britt led the Titans receivers with 128 yards. Rob Bironas, for the second consecutive week, hit a 50+ field goal when he put the first points on the board with a 53-yarder. The Titans offense totaled 532 yards on the day which led to the Cardinal's first road loss of the season. The Titans now face the 11-0 Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday. Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:31:51 PST Titans Report The Tennessee Titans gave Vince Young another homecoming highlight with a 20-17 win over the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. Rob Bironas kicked a 53-yard field goal on the same field he set the single-game FG record for the winning score. Young finished the game 12-for-22 passing for 116 yards and a TD. He also ran for 73 yards, many of which extended drives. Chris Johnson became just the third RB in franchise history to have five straight games of 100+ yards rushing with a 151 yard effort. After starting the season 0-6, the Titans have gone undefeated the month of November but remain a long-shot to secure a playoff spot. But since no team has started their season 0-6 and won four consecutive games, this Tennessee team is beginning to feel anything is possible. "In weeks 1-6, we don't come away with this win. You know that," LB Keith Bulluck said. "But now we are finding ways to win and that is what we did all last year. And it is great to see.'' Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:09:43 PST Postgame Review The Tennessee Titans put their third game in the win column in as many weeks with a 41-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Like their previous two wins, the Titans got a huge game from Chris Johnson, a solid effort by Vince Young, won the turnover battle and the defense took advantage of their opportunities. "...when you can run the football and not turn it over and get your turnovers and make plays when the opportunities present themselves, you have a good chance to win a football game," said Coach Fisher.<br/> <br/> As obvious as that statement is, it's something Tennessee could rarely do in their first six games. Oh, and having a player who can run and catch for over 200 yards doesn't hurt.<br/> <br/> Let's look at the Titans 41-17 win over the Bills and grade the team by position. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:01:36 PST Titans Report <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(70, 130, 180);">Coach Jeff Fisher</span><br>"I think it is the case of what I have been saying the last couple of weeks that when you can run the football and not turn it over and get your turnovers and make plays when the opportunities present themselves, you have a good chance to win a football game. So there again, that&#8217;s what we did." Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:46:04 PST Titans Report The Tennessee Titans won it's third game in as many weeks with a 41-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Chris Johnson had another record-breaking game rushing for 132 yards and receiving for another 100. It's the first time a player had surpassed the 100-yard mark in both rushing and receiving since Billy Cannon did it in 1961. Besides Johnson's 232 all-purpose yards, Vince Young continued to play well going 17-for-25 for 210 yards and a passing TD. Despite throwing his first interception, his passer rating was 90.4 for the game. "Defenses, they have to choose," Johnson said. "Do you want to stop 10 (Young)? Or do you want to stop (28)? That's what me and Vince say every day. Whichever one you choose to stop, the other one is going to have a good day." Though the Titans had only a three-point lead at the half, the they pulled away late due to two interceptions returned for a score by Vincent Fuller and Rod Hood. The schedule for the Titans gets tougher next week as they face the 5-4 Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:23:32 PST Postgame Review The Tennessee Titans made it two in-a-row Sunday with a strong showing in San Francisco. The defense, which was close to being dead last in the league in a number of statistics, regained a bit of their lost swagger and Chris Johnson had another amazing game. Confidence and intensity looks to be back to where it was a season ago and Lady Luck is beginning to smile upon the men in two-toned blue. "I don't know what the difference is. I really can't explain it other than now we are finding ways to win," C Kevin Mawae said. "We are not doing anything different game-plan wise, we are just making plays when we have to."<br/> <br/> Let's look at the Titans 34-27 win over the 49ers and grade the team by position. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:37:24 PST Postgame Review <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(70, 130, 180);">Coach Jeff Fisher</span><br>"I think for the second week in a row now we showed what happens when you can go get the football, protect it and run it a little bit. That&#8217;s what got us the first win last week and of course, that&#8217;s what I think was the difference today was the turnovers and gaining points off the turnovers. And then of course, staying in the ball game and being able to run the football. That&#8217;s a good football team we played today. Very disciplined, well coached&#8212;a talented team. The difference in the game was capitalizing off turnovers." Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:27:20 PST Titans Report The Tennessee Titans won their second straight game with a 34-27 victory against the San Francisco 49ers. Highlighted by Chris Johnson's 135 rushing yards and the Titans defense getting four sacks to go with four turnovers, the Titans recorded their first road win since defeating the Lions last Thanksgiving. Vince Young had another solid outing going 12-for-19 for 172 yards and rushing for a TD. The Titans defense held Niners' RB Frank Gore to 83 yards as Rod Hood, Chris Hope and Cortland Finnegan each had interceptions. Finnegan returned his for a touchdown and the Titans final score. Justin Gage led the Titans receivers with 97 yards including a 49-yard reception early in the game. The Titans will look to make it three-in-a-row when they take on the Buffalo Bills next Sunday at noon. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:14:23 PST Postgame Review The Titans finally played a game like most of us thought they could.<br><br>With Tennessee not winning a game since last December and the monkey on their back growing weekly, the Titans finally pulled together their best effort of the season which was enough to post their first notch in the victory column. "We played smarter football today," said LB David Thornton. "We got turnovers on the defensive side of the ball and the offense did a great job of protecting the ball. Those were the differences."<br><br>Let's look at the Titans 30-13 win over the Jaguars and grade the team by position. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:59:47 PST