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Tennessee Titans News

Titans "optimistic" about Chris Johnson
May 27
Pro Football Talk
 
"One of the bigger questions coming into the 2012 season has to do with whether Titans running back Chris Johnson will rebound from his disappointing 2011 season. Johnson's holdout last summer helped contribute to a very slow start to the season that got better, but Johnson never really turned in a performance equal to the ones we'd grown accustomed to seeing over the previous two years. His 1,047 yards and 4.0 yards per carry were the lowest totals of his four-year career and caused many people to question the wisdom of the big deal the Titans handed Johnson. Thanks to a clause in that contract, Johnson is working out with the Titans this offseason for the first time and that change is"
Alterraun Verner wants to play slot corner
May 26
Tennessean
 
"Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner watched teammate Cortland Finnegan do the secondary's dirty work in the slot last season. Finnegan jostled with receivers, blitzed after quarterbacks. His reaction time had to be much faster than the cornerbacks lined up on the outside. Verner wants a piece of that action. So far this offseason, the third-year pro has worked mostly in the slot position held down last season by Finnegan, who signed with the Rams in March. "I want to play inside," Verner said. "I like being inside, being with the linebackers, getting to blitz and guard some of the slot guys because that is where the ball goes most the time with the Wes Welkers and the great tight ends —"
Titans can't X-cuse sitting Kenny Britt or Kendall Wright
May 25
Tennessean
 
""X" marks the spot. "X" is the wide receiver position Kenny Britt plays for the Titans. "X" is the wide receiver position Kendall Wright is learning to play for the Titans. Uh-oh. Unless the Titans have reinvented the alphabet, it sounds like the offensive system is not big enough for both Britt and Wright. With both playing the "X" position, there is no formation that would allow the two to be on the field at the same time. If it seems like we've been down this road before, it's because we have. Two years ago, the Titans acquired Randy Moss and immediately installed him in the offense. But when Britt came back from an injury, he and Moss were never on the field at the same time. Asked why"
HGH testing in NFL no closer to starting because of search for new candidate to lead study
May 25
Washington Post
 
"The NFL and the players' union are looking for a new candidate to oversee a population study that would be a precursor to players being blood-tested for human growth hormone, union executive director DeMaurice Smith said Thursday. That search must recommence after a mutually agreeable candidate withdrew from conducting the study, Smith said at an afternoon news conference outside the union's offices in downtown Washington. "We just recently found out .?.?. the league's choice to run the population study that we had consented to recently withdrew and said that he wasn't the right person to get this done," Smith said. "I'm thrilled that the league has made a decision to move forward with the"
Tennessee Titans' Jason McCourty looks forward to being a leader
May 24
Tennessean
 
"He's been in the NFL for three seasons and been a full-time starter for only one. But as matters stand now, Jason McCourty is the grizzled veteran of the Tennessee Titans cornerback corps. Gone is former team captain Cortland Finnegan, who served as the motor and the mouth of the group for the past half decade, averaging more than 90 tackles per season. Now, aside from McCourty, not a single returning Titans cornerback has been on an NFL 53-man roster for more than two seasons. So ready or not, it looks like it's time for the 24-year-old McCourty to take on more of a leadership role, much as he during his senior season at Rutgers in 2008. "It feels natural for me," McCourty said following"
NFLPA files collusion claim against NFL, says it had secret $123M salary cap in 2010
May 23
CBSSports.com
 
"The NFLPA has filed a collusion claim against the league, only a day after an appeal was denied made by the Cowboys and Redskins to protest the NFL's punishment for front-loading contracts of players during the 2010 uncapped season. According to the union, the complaint details a conspiracy in which the NFL imposed "a secret $123 million per-Club salary cap for that uncapped 2010 season." The claim was filed with the U.S. District Court in Minnesota, which means Judge David Doty – certainly not a favorite of the NFL -- likely would oversee the claim. "When the rules are broken in a way that hurts the game, we have an obligation to act. We cannot standby when we now know that the owners"
Tennessee Titans agree to terms with Scott Solomon, Taylor Thompson
May 23
Tennessean
 
"The Titans agreed to terms on four-year deals with two more draft picks — fifth-round tight end Taylor Thompson and seventh-round defensive end Scott Solomon. The only remaining 2012 draft pick without a deal is wide receiver Kendall Wright, the team's first-round selection."
Titans host two more veteran safeties
May 22
Tennessean
 
"The Titans continued to look at veteran safeties on Monday, as Abram Elam and Gibril Wilson visited Baptist Sports Park. A week ago the Titans hosted Chris Crocker and Yeremiah Bell. Bell since went on to sign with the New York Jets. Elam, 30, spent last season with current Titans secondary coach Brett Maxie in Dallas, where he started 16 games and made 68 tackles. A six-year veteran, Elam has started in 47 of 48 games over the past three years in Cleveland and Dallas."
Titans agree to terms with Zach Brown
May 22
Tennessean
 
"The Titans have agreed to terms on a four-year deal with linebacker Zach Brown, the team's second-round pick last month. The contract is worth $3.858 million, according to agent Brian Overstreet. It includes a $1.246 million bonus. Brown's $565,377 second-year salary is guaranteed. The Titans hope the speed and athleticism of the 6-foot-1, 242-pound Brown will bring new elements to the linebacking corps. In his senior season at North Carolina, Brown led the Tar Heels with 105 tackles, a total that included 5.5 sacks and 13.5 stops for loss."
Tennessee Titans' DaJohn Harris determined to make roster
May 22
Tennessean
 
"DaJohn Harris arrived at the NFL Combine as a likely middle- to late-round draft pick, but it took just one medical evaluation to change his future. A doctor diagnosed the defensive tackle from USC with a small hole in his heart because of a condition known as patent foramen ovale. That meant no Combine workout for Harris, no chance to prove his worth on the NFL's big stage and — eventually — no call from a single team during the draft. Three months later, however, Harris is back on the football field, an undrafted free agent for the Titans seeking to buck the odds by making an NFL roster. Given medical clearance to pursue his dream, Harris hopes to prove that his heart condition won't"
Titans look to utilize (gasp!) the pass
May 20
Tennessean
 columnist David Climer
"Last season, Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker combined to throw 584 passes, the most by the Titans in six years. Sounds like they were just getting warmed up. Based on reports coming out of minicamp workouts last week, the Titans are preparing to spread the field with more receivers and — I can't believe I'm writing this — use the pass to set up the run. In other words, these aren't your grandfather's Titans. They really have matriculated into the 21st Century. Veteran wide receiver Nate Washington, who is coming off a career-best 74-catch season, joked that offensive coordinator Chris Palmer "has been in the lab all offseason," formulating a system that will attack defenses in new and"
Titans rookies downplay risk of concussions
May 20
Tennessean
 
"In one sense, the group of Titans rookies who hit the field last week was just like any other, a hungry crop of players eager to land roster spots. But this batch of rookies is also entering the NFL during an unprecedented time of concern over concussions. Consider: • The suicide deaths of former NFL players Andre Waters, Dave Duerson, Ray Easterling and Junior Seau are being attributed by many to head trauma and brain damage suffered during their years in the league. • More than 1,000 former NFL players have sued the league, asserting it concealed information about the long-term effects of concussions. • Many of those players, such as former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, have"
Titans want to build stage at LP Field
May 19
Tennessean
 
"The Titans are seeking approval for construction of a concert stage at LP Field. The request, which was not formally announced by Titans officials, appears on the agenda for the Metropolitan Sports Authority meeting on Thursday. The agenda notes the stage construction would be undertaken at the expense of Cumberland Stadium, a Titans business entity. No further details were available about the stage design, costs or related plans. Sports Authority Executive Director Emmett Edwards referred calls to Titans Vice President Don MacLachlan, who could not be reached."
Titans have big plans for Kamerion Wimbley
May 19
Tennessean
 
"He's the only significant upgrade the Tennessee Titans have made to a defensive line that produced just 22 sacks last season, so much will be expected of defensive end Kamerion Wimbley. The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder, signed as a free agent earlier this offseason, collected 22.5 sacks over the past three seasons in Cleveland and Oakland. He compiled 16 of those sacks while playing both defensive end and linebacker during his two seasons with the Raiders. On Thursday, Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, who spent one season as an assistant in Seattle, compared Wimbley to Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons. That could be good news for Titans fans given that Clemons registered 11 sacks in"
Nate Washington: It's the year of the pass
May 18
Tennessean
 
"The way wide receiver Nate Washington was talking on Thursday, longtime Titans fans might not recognize their team's offense this fall. The Titans have had the reputation as a run-first offense for many years, and they certainly won't be forgetting about Chris Johnson in the game plans for 2012. But Washington sounded excited about an air attack that will feature Kenny Britt, Kendall Wright, Damian Williams, Jared Cook and Washington. "When I first got here, the fullback was on the field all day, every day. It was a power offense. We were going to run the ball down your throat," Washington said. "This year you have so many different types of weapons. With C.J.'s speed in the backfield, I"
Titans want Akeem Ayers to improve pass rush
May 18
Tennessean
 
"Just like all the members of the 2011 rookie class, Titans linebacker Akeem Ayers was deprived of his initial offseason with the team because of the NFL lockout. So he had his hands full simply learning the basics of the defense during training camp, let alone refining his techniques and skill-set. But now that Ayers has a full offseason ahead of him, he and defensive coordinator Jerry Gray believe improving one skill-set in particular — pressuring the quarterback — should be a top priority. Gray even termed it "real crucial." Ayers had two sacks and seven quarterback pressures during his rookie season, numbers the Titans want to see improve as they looks to better their paltry overall"
Tennessee Titans consider multiple center options
May 17
Tennessean
 
"While most eyes will be on Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker as they battle to win the starting quarterback job, the Titans also will be looking closely at the players snapping them the football. And after thoroughly examining other options at center, it looks like the Titans will go with one of their own this fall. Eugene Amano, the regular starter the past two seasons, will be given a chance to hold onto his job, General Manager Ruston Webster said on Wednesday. He will have to hold off Kevin Matthews, Fernando Velasco and rookie William Vlachos. "Eugene is the leader in the clubhouse," Webster said during the Comcast Spotlight Sports Speakers Series at Millennium Maxwell House Hotel. "But"
NFL rookies signing contracts rapidly under new salary system
May 17
Washington Post
 
"The primary aim of the NFL's year-old rookie pay system was to limit the amount of guaranteed money in the contracts of players selected early in the draft. It immediately became clear when the new system went into effect last summer that it was accomplishing that goal. Top draft picks signed deals worth much less than the contracts of prized rookies in previous years. But the system also was designed to streamline contract talks between NFL teams and their rookies, making those deals much less complex and negotiations simpler. It has taken longer to find out whether that would happen, but the quick pace of signings that followed last month's draft strongly suggests that rookie contract"
Kenny Britt has minor procedure on right knee
May 17
Tennessean
 
"Titans receiver Kenny Britt had minor arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Wednesday, a procedure General Manager Ruston Webster said should accelerate his rehabilitation process. Britt, who suffered a torn ACL and MCL last September, had been experiencing swelling in his knee in recent weeks, so doctors decided to go ahead and "clean it up." Webster said the procedure would likely set Britt back a week or two. "It almost becomes commonplace,'' Webster said of the procedure. "It is not one of those things, "Wow, oh no, he is having surgery. It is very common and if it helps his rehab process and all that, it is well worth doing. And our goal is to have him play this year. "It will be"
Titans will host veteran safeties on Tuesday
May 15
Tennessean
 
"The Titans are scheduled to host veteran safeties Yeremiah Bell and Chris Crocker on Tuesday. Bell has played all eight NFL seasons with the Dolphins, racking up 433 tackles and eight interceptions. Crocker is a 10-year veteran who has played with the Bengals, Dolphins, Falcons and Browns. He has 476 tackles and 10 interceptions."
Tennessee Titans' Rob Bironas keeps his leg fresh during offseason
May 15
Tennessean
 
"Rob Bironas made 90.6 percent of his field goals last year, including 15 in a row to end the season. He made all 34 of his extra-point attempts and tied for second in the AFC with 44 touchbacks. It was undoubtedly one of the best seasons of his career. So did he kick his feet up and relax a bit? Well, yeah. It's part of an annual offseason routine for the Titans kicker, who is just now starting to gear up for the 2012 season, his eighth in the NFL. "My body feels good, it feels younger," Bironas, 34, said during a Titans Caravan stop in Cookeville last week. "I guess it's all that rest over the years. I've taken more time off before getting started. And I guess it's working.""
Titans' Munchak says Kenny Britt might need second procedure
May 14
NFL.com
 
"The Tennessee Titans were hoping Kenny Britt could move past his 2011 season in which he tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee in the third game of the season. But Titans coach Mike Munchak acknowledged on Sunday that Britt might require a second procedure on his knee, comparing the wide receiver's predicament to that of defensive end Derrick Morgan. After missing all but four games in 2010 because of a torn ACL, Morgan had arthoscopic surgery in training camp last year."
Titans rookie Mike Martin has strong game, well-rounded life
May 13
Tennessean
 columnist David Climer
"The transition from college football to the NFL is not for the faint of heart or the weak of will. The game is basically the same but the competition, intensity and pressure is ramped up tenfold. Mike Martin seems to be uniquely equipped for the challenge. He arrived with the Titans from the University of Michigan with a reputation for high-motor play on the defensive line and a lengthy résumé of off-the-field interests not often found in football players. Think of him as a renaissance Titan. He plays the saxophone. He shows dogs. He's an Eagle Scout. He produced a video series chronicling his senior season at Michigan. "Playing ball right now takes precedence," he says, "but that's stuff"
Taylor Thompson changes position to help NFL chances
May 13
Tennessean
 
"Plenty of college football players switch positions as a last gasp to further their careers, desperately hoping it catches the eye of the NFL. Taylor Thompson, the Titans' fifth-round pick, is just the opposite. Thompson was by all accounts well on his way to becoming a middle-round draft pick as a defensive end, after a senior season at SMU in which he recorded 9.5 tackles for loss and a team-high eight sacks. Scouting services almost universally ranked him among the top 20 draft-eligible defensive ends, with Athlon rating him 14th-best and tabbing him as a player to keep your eye on. So what in the world was Thompson thinking when he told NFL teams only months before the draft that he"
Titans rookies, especially Kendall Wright, start on Page 1
May 12
Tennessean
 
"As the Titans kicked off their two-day rookie orientation on Friday at Baptist Sports Park, receiver Kendall Wright started from scratch. The team's first-round pick looked the part on Day One. He caught the ball with ease, and when he got into the open field, he showed off his speed. Wright's biggest challenge, however, might be learning the playbook — especially because he's never had one. Not in high school, and not in college at Baylor, either. "It is a big book with a lot of plays in it," Wright, with a smile, said of his new playbook with the Titans. "I am just soaking it all in." A total of 23 rookies — drafted and undrafted players — practiced for the first time at Baptist Sports"
Kenny Britt enjoys trouble-free offseason
May 11
Tennessean
 
"With a Coke in his hand, and a smile on his face, Titans receiver Kenny Britt bounced around Monteagle Elementary School like a big kid on Thursday. When he wasn't shadow boxing in the parking lot, or holding both thumbs up to pose for pictures, Britt was trying on the head of Ramble, the Tennessee State Parks mascot, a raccoon. Inside the school's gym, he ran around giving high-fives to little kids. Until one thing stopped him in his tracks: Sunny, the bald eagle who was also on the premises as part of the Titans caravan stop. "There's no way I'm taking a picture with that eagle," Britt said in all seriousness. "I'm not getting near it. No way!" And who could blame him? This particularly"
Tennessee Titans give Army's Collin Mooney chance at NFL career
May 10
Tennessean
 
"Collin Mooney pulled out of Fort Sill in Oklahoma on Tuesday and had plenty of time to think during the 12-hour drive to Nashville. The former Army fullback reflected on his past and all those who encouraged him to keep his NFL dream alive when things didn't look so good. He thought about all the hard work it took to give himself a chance. There was the bittersweet feeling of leaving one love — the Army — for the opportunity to pursue another. His journey to the NFL took years, not just the hours of driving to join the Tennessee Titans. "There have been some serious ups and downs and some soul-searching about where I am supposed to be and what God has planned for me and where He wants me"
NFL plans for replacement officials
May 10
Foxsports.com
 
"The NFL used replacement players in the past because of labor strife. The same may be happening with its current cast of officials. According to a letter obtained by FOXSports.com, the NFL has asked its officiating-scouting department to begin assisting the league in identifying potential replacements for the 2012 season. The move comes as the league and the NFL Referees Association have reached an impasse in labor negotiations. The agreement between the two sides expired at the end of the 2011 season. "Negotiations are ongoing, and should the two sides reach an agreement in the near future, there will be no need to hire additional officials," wrote Ron Baynes, who is the NFL's director of"
Tennessee Titans' Jake Locker knows deeds trump words
May 9
Tennessean
 
"Decked out in a camouflage hat and cowboy boots, and with a pocketknife clipped to his pants, Jake Locker looked at ease during a Titans Caravan stop on Tuesday. With a smile, the quarterback signed one autograph after another. Heading into his second NFL season, however, Locker's approach is far from laid back. He wants to be the starter, but he knows his actions are more important than his words. "My goal is to earn the respect of the guys around me," Locker said. "Not to ask for it, but how you go out and work and how you prepare yourself, they can tell it means something to you. "Whatever the outcome is, you are not going to regret what you have done because you went about it the right"
NFL: Study says former players live longer
May 9
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The NFL is telling retirees about a medical study that says former players live longer than men in the general population. While player safety issues related to brain trauma and other football-related injuries dominate the headlines, the study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found 334 deceased men in a sampling of 3,439 former NFL players. Estimates for the general population anticipated 625 deaths. Players in the study participated in the NFL for at least five seasons from 1959 through 1988, and were observed by NIOSH through 2007."
Tennessee Titans' Matt Hasselbeck, Michael Roos become close friends
May 7
Tennessean
 
"As a student at Eastern Washington University, Michael Roos saw the NFL up close each year when the Seattle Seahawks came to town for training camp. It was on the Cheney, Wash., campus where Roos saw quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for the first time, although the two never met back then. Neither had any way of knowing they'd eventually hit it off as teammates years later with the Tennessee Titans. Hasselbeck, set to begin his second year in Tennessee after 10 years in Seattle, and Roos, the Titans' left tackle, have made up for lost time in the past nine months. They've become fast friends. Hasselbeck and Roos sit together on the plane during road trips. They've spent countless hours talking"
Matt Hasselbeck, Michael Roos become close friends
May 6
Tennessean
 
"As a student at Eastern Washington University, Michael Roos saw the NFL up close each year when the Seattle Seahawks came to town for training camp. It was on the Cheney, Wash., campus where Roos saw quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for the first time, although the two never met back then. Neither had any way of knowing they'd eventually hit it off as teammates years later with the Tennessee Titans. Hasselbeck, set to begin his second year in Tennessee after 10 years in Seattle, and Roos, the Titans' left tackle, have made up for lost time in the past nine months. They've become fast friends. Hasselbeck and Roos sit together on the plane during road trips. They've spent countless hours talking"
Brandon Barden eager to show Tennessee Titans his 'hidden' talents
May 5
Tennessean
 
"Former Vanderbilt tight end Brandon Barden knew the Titans had an interest in him. One of the scouts told him so after his pro day. Later he was invited to Baptist Sports Park. When the Titans drafted SMU tight end Taylor Thompson, however, Barden couldn't help but wonder. "I didn't know if they'd be calling or not," he said Friday. The Titans called — shortly after the draft — and offered Barden a contract. He accepted, although the Ravens, Chiefs and Jaguars had also expressed interest. Now the 6-foot-5, 246-pounder will try to beat out several players to win a spot on the 53-man roster behind veterans Jared Cook and Craig Stevens. "I am not going to back down from anybody," Barden said."
Tennessee Titans' Marc Mariani wants more catches
May 3
Tennessean
 
"Marc Mariani's mindset before the NFL Draft last week was clear-cut. He planned to get bigger, faster, and stronger in his first offseason program with the Titans. And at the same time, he hoped to convince coaches he was worthy of more opportunities at wide receiver in addition to his duties in the return game. After the Titans drafted Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright in the first round last week, only one thing has changed for Mariani — he's a year older after turning 25 on Wednesday. "I knew whether we drafted a receiver in the first, third, fifth round or whatever, there would be some new faces in the room, so it doesn't change much for me," Mariani said. "(Wright's) an explosive"
Tennessee Titans get deeper at linebacker, fullback
May 2
Tennessean
 
"The Tennessee Titans added more depth to their linebacking corps with the signing of free agent Zac Diles on Tuesday. The sixth-year pro split last season between the Buccaneers and Colts, playing in 11 games. He spent his first four seasons with the Texans, playing in 50 games with 30 starts. Diles will join the competition at outside linebacker with Will Witherspoon and Gerald McRath. Rookie Zach Brown, a second-round pick, will also be in the mix."
Tennessee Titans' Matt Hasselbeck says Kendall Wright adds threat to offense
May 1
Tennessean
 
"Standing aboard a luxury bus previously used by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was trying to be politically correct. Just a few days earlier, the team used its first-round pick to draft speedy Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright, but Hasselbeck made it clear he was more than happy with the group he had so much success with in 2011. As he looked down at the new Titans NFL Draft booklet during a stop with the Titans Caravan, however, he managed a smile. On the front was a recent picture of Wright, standing in between Coach Mike Munchak and General Manager Ruston Webster. "This is our guy, huh?" Hasselbeck said. "OK, all right. I admit I don't know a whole lot"
Tennessee Titans sign former Tennessee Vol Nick Stephens
April 30
Tennessean
 
"Nick Stephens experienced all the hoopla that goes with playing quarterback for a major college program when he was at the University of Tennessee. To reach his goal of making it to the NFL, however, he had to step back, out of the spotlight. The long and difficult road led him to the Titans, who added him as an undrafted free agent. But UT's former starting quarterback, who finished his career at Division II Tarleton State, knows the hardest part will be staying on the roster. "Everything I've gone through, it's all worked out so far, so I feel pretty blessed," Stephens said on Sunday. "But I'd be lying to you if I said doubt doesn't creep in when so many things … come up that you are not"
Titans show rare creativity on draft day
April 29
Tennessean
 
"When the Titans drafted Taylor Thompson in the fifth round, he was first identified as a defensive end. A few minutes later, his position was listed as tight end. So, which is he? Both. Thompson was a three-year starter at defensive end for SMU. But he comes to Nashville as a tight end. That tells you all you need to know about the Titans' draft class. A franchise that for so long played it by the numbers instead rolled the dice, thinking outside the box and drafting outside of convention. Despite a glaring need for a pass rusher, they picked a pass catcher in the first round. Their second-round choice, No. 52 overall, is a linebacker whose college coaches suggested he was allergic to"
Titans increase defensive speed with 2012 NFL Draft class
April 29
Tennessean
 
"NFL coaches and executives can't worry about hurt feelings or ruffled feathers. Teams tinker and retool each and every offseason, and many times it means the end of the road for some veterans. At the least, the new arrivals force the older players to step up their game if they want to stay on the roster. The Titans added seven new players during the 2012 NFL Draft, which ended on Saturday. After selecting Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright in the first round, the Titans took five defensive players in their final six picks. Coach Mike Munchak said his team just got faster and more athletic, and if the draft class caught the attention of some veterans, that's a good thing. "When you play in"
Titans make trade to draft player who swapped positions
April 29
Nashville City Paper
 
"Studying philosophy does not often have a direct impact on the career of a football player. For Taylor Thompson, though, it made a difference. He thinks he is a tight end, therefore he is. The Tennessee Titans traded away their seventh-round pick in order to move up 10 spots and draft Thompson in the fifth round Saturday, the final day of the 2012 NFL Draft. An all-conference – not to mention draft-worthy – defensive end at SMU, he declared as a tight end, a position he last played in high school. "I started the draft [process] as a defensive end and then I had a lot of teams that wanted to draft me as a tight end," Thompson said. "So I went that way. … Since I played defensive end for the"
Run defense targeted in 3rd round
April 28
Tennessean
 
"As part of their ongoing campaign to become better against the run, the Titans added a powerful defensive lineman in the third round of Friday's draft. The Titans used the 82nd overall pick to select nose guard/defensive tackle Mike Martin, a physical, high-effort player who says his specialty is stopping the run. That's music to the ears of the Titans, who finished 24th against the run last season. "That is something that's always been something I pride myself on and something we pride ourselves on at Michigan," said Martin, who will join Jurrell Casey, Karl Klug, Sen'Derrick Marks and Shaun Smith as regulars battling for playing time on the Titans' defensive line. "That was our mission"
Titans add speedy linebacker Zach Brown in NFL Draft
April 28
Tennessean
 
"The Titans got younger, and a lot faster, at the linebacker position on Friday night with the selection of North Carolina's Zach Brown in the second round of the NFL Draft. Immediately after the selection was made, however, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock questioned whether they got tougher. "He's somewhat allergic to contact," Mayock said right after the Titans picked Brown. "We are just going to have to see now," said Brown, the 52nd overall pick in the draft. "Everybody that said that's the knock (on me), they are going to find out when the season comes." After racking up 230 career tackles in four seasons at North Carolina — and running a 4.37 in the 40 at his Pro Day — no one is"
Kendall Wright picked for depth, called 'Day 1 starter'
April 28
Tennessean
 
"Two people who know Kendall Wright well predicted immediate NFL success for the wide receiver drafted by the Titans on Thursday. "He'll do great," said Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III, who was Wright's teammate at Baylor. "I was real excited to hear his name called. He will instantly make the (Titans) better because he is a dynamic playmaker." Wright was selected 20th overall and was the third receiver drafted in the first round, behind Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon (fifth, to the Jaguars) and Notre Dame's Michael Floyd (13th, to the Cardinals). Baylor Coach Art Briles admitted he's biased, but he said the Titans got the best of the bunch. "Kendall was the most"
Titans turn to defense with pair of picks on second day of draft
April 28
Nashville City Paper
 
"Zach Brown lined up a lot of different places during his four-year career at the University of North Carolina. Through it all, he never stayed in one spot very long. Simply put, the 6-foot-1, 242-pound is fast. The Tennessee Titans, who selected him in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2012 NFL draft, plan to make the most of that speed by putting him at one position and turning him loose. "He has the speed. Now let's focus him in on what his job is," defensive coordinator Jerry Gray said. "I think he'll become a lot better football player when he doesn't have to do everything." Brown was the first of two defensive players the Titans took on the draft's second day. They added"
Titans expect today's draft picks to help defense
April 27
Tennessean
 
"Having surprised many with the selection of Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, the Titans may well give more consideration to bolstering their defense in the second and third rounds on Friday. As matters stand right now, the Titans have the 20th selection in the second round (52nd overall) and 19th selection in the third round (82nd overall). "We'll definitely look at some defensive players," General Manager Ruston Webster said. "Again, we'll probably stick to our boards. We're trying to fill needs and do all those things, so we'll see how it goes. "The thing about picking 20th is that you're at a lot of team's mercies if you stay there, so"
Titans find playmaker in Kendall Wright
April 27
Tennessean
 
"It's official: The Titans have moved into the 21st Century. This is outside-the-box thinking, at least by Titans standards. They entered the draft needing help on defense. A quick-fix interior offensive lineman also was on the wish list. The last thing they needed in this draft was a wide receiver, right? Wrong. In the NFL of 2012, you can never have enough receivers. The name of the game is outscoring the opponent, not shutting him down. So quibble about the identity of the Titans' first-round pick if you want. But don't criticize the position they prioritized. I for one applaud that the Titans have switched gears and gotten with the program. Maybe you think the Titans already were loaded"
Titans pick Baylor's Kendall Wright
April 27
Tennessean
 
"The "Help Wanted" sign over the defensive roster is still flashing at Baptist Sports Park. That's because on the first day of the NFL Draft, the Titans opted to add more flash to their offense by selecting Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright with their first round pick. It didn't matter to General Manager Ruston Webster that his team already appeared to be in good shape at wide receiver, even with Kenny Britt still recovering from a knee injury that cut his 2011 season drastically short. "We have a good group, but it is really more about Kendall," Webster said. "He has the speed and the big-play ability, the ability to catch a short ball and turn it into a long run. And he can create some"
Titans make 'easy decision' to add offense, draft Kendall Wright
April 27
Nashville City Paper
 
"With all due respect to Tom Petty, the waiting was the hardest part. Once the time finally arrived for the Tennessee Titans to make their first-round selection Thursday, the decision was easy. With the 20th overall selection they took Kendall Wright, a wide receiver out of Baylor who started more than 80 percent of the games over a four-year career and averaged nearly 128 yards per game receiving as a senior. "It was an easy decision, yeah," general manager Ruston Webster said. "… Kendall was at the top of the list when it came time to pick. So it was an easy decision. … He is an exciting playmaker who can help us in a lot of ways and will be fun to watch." The 5-foot-10, 196-pound Texas"
Tennessee Titans look for right fit with top NFL draft pick
April 26
Tennessean
 
"First-round picks are the building blocks for almost every NFL team. Hit on a first-rounder and the foundation is usually a strong one; miss on a few and the project can face costly setbacks. The Titans know all too well that the draft is an inexact science. Their first-round picks over the past decade have been a mixed bag. Perhaps that's why General Manager Ruston Webster and Coach Mike Munchak used the words "fit" and "feel" a lot when addressing the team's strategy going into the first round of the draft. The Titans are scheduled to select 20th overall today and make six more picks in rounds 2-7 on Friday and Saturday. "At 20, you can definitely get somebody that makes an impact. It's"