No, this isn't the first time Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt has been in trouble with the law. Or specifically, the New Jersey law. He was arrested in January of 2010 for outstanding traffic warrants.
That however pales in comparison to what he allegedly did this time. According to TMZ (yes, we're holding our nose reporting one of their stories), Mr. Britt tried to outrun the law in Bayonne, New Jersey. He wasn't successful.
After leading the po-po on a chase, Britt stopped his car, got out and tried to walk away. Britt was arrested and charged with 2nd degree eluding and obstruction. The passenger in Britt's car, was charged with possessing marijuana and resisting arrest.
Our first question would be "Did they give Britt a sobriety test?"
Ultimately, Britt's charges are essentially misdemeanors and he will probably get a slap on the wrist, a fine and maybe probation. What should be more of a concern is the fact he was in the car and took off with a passenger who had an illegal substance on him.
The question there of course "Were you two partaking?"
However, since the players are not allowed to have any contact with the teams or the league, we may never know.
Enough that there will probably be an entirely new coaching staff come next season (or whatever season they next play--strike).
Included in those being told their services are no longer needed, offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. You'll recall Heimerdinger was diagnosed with cancer this past November, he kept coaching through chemotherapy treatments.
One coach who may be heading to Nashville, Texans offensive line coach Bruce Matthews, a former teammate of Munchak's. By coincidence, the Titans just happen to be in the market for an offensive line coach.
Enjoy your NFL tidbits here as we go, because as the clock ticks closer to March 4th, the likelihood of an NFL strike is sitting there like the elephant in the room.
We think Munchak is a good hire for the Titans and the house-cleaning, though painful, is necessary. They have a major rebuilding job ahead of them and you gotta start somewhere.
Because we couldn't find any embeddable video of Munchak or Heimerdinger, take a look back at one of the greatest plays in Titans history:
No, it really wasn't much of a surprise, he's been the frontrunner all along. The Tennessee Titans, according to published reports are hiring Mike Munchak, the now former offensive line coach, to be the teams next head coach, replacing Jeff Fisher.
Like we said, this wasn't a surprise. Munchak, who has been either a player or coach for the Franchise since back when they were in Houston as the Oilers, has been with owner Bud Adams since 1982. He's a very smart guy who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
We didn't expect the Titans to bring someone else in unless Munchak completely tanked his interview. Adams is known for sticking with people familiar to him, heck Fisher was the coac for 16-years.
We'll update this story as a Press Conference is more than likely going to happen later on Monday.
Here's fan reaction, thanks again to the Tennessean... Obviously, reactions can range from "it's about time" to "how can you DO something like this...?"
“I think I'm tired,” former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said at his 40-minute exit presser Friday. “I need to rest.”
“It’s a very tough day for this franchise. Jeff meant a great deal to this team and I appreciate all that he has done for us,"owner Bud Adams said through a speaker-phone in his Houston office.“Unfortunately, organizations and coaches almost always reach a point where it is time for a change and this is where we are."
General Manager Mike Reinfeldt and Executive Vice President Steve Underwood said that they're looking for the next head coach- effective immediately. The HQ is leaning toward current assistant Mike Munchak as the new BMOC.
Sports Illustrated's Don Banks is reporting that the Titans and Jeff Fisher will part ways. Fisher is, according to FoxSports, getting $8-million to head off into the sunset- $6.5-million in his 2011 salary plus a bonus.
OSG attempted to get some kind of alternate confirmation in this, and we just got it...
From Wyatt: Titans owner Bud Adams had no comment and seemed surprised by the report.
“Where did you hear that? I better check on that. I can’t talk about it now. I have to talk to my people there,’’ Adams said. “I haven’t talked to them today. I really can’t talk about it now because I don’t know what’s been said. I want to see what is going on.’’
More when we know more...
Until then, here's an interview Fisher did with Steve Mariucci about his future plans from this past season... ((HT: NFLNetwork/Youtube))
Wyatt continues, through his Twitter feed, that the Titans front office was frustrated over his lack of plans for next season and was tired of what they thought was him dragging his feet after firing two coaches last week- one of them being one of his best friends, Chuck Cecil.
Fisher wasn't a fan of coaching with one year left on a contract without a long-term renewal and saw, what he thought was, the writing on that proverbial wall we all talk about in situations like this...
Thus, the divorce...
Here's coverage from our friends at WTVF-TV/Newschannel5 in Nashville... FOSG Hope Hines stands in front of a big monitor...
"As you are aware, we have been engaged in a series of internal discussions over the last month about the future of our football team. We have two critical decisions to make – the direction of the coaching staff and the future at the quarterback position. They are separate issues to me and will be dealt with separately.
"Today, I informed our general manager Mike Reinfeldt to move forward with plans to begin the process of identifying the next quarterback for our franchise. He will inform Vince Young's agent that Vince will not be on our roster next season. I want to offer my personal thanks to Vince for all of his positive contributions to the club. These kinds of decisions are never easy and this is especially true for this particular player. I certainly wish that things would have worked out better, but I think it is best for the franchise that we move on at this point.
"I also informed Jeff (Fisher) today that I was continuing the evaluation of the coaching staff and I am hoping to make a decision soon."
Here's part of what went down in Nashvegas... ((HT: NBC/Youtube))
"I talked with Vince's agent Tom Condon today and informed him that Vince will not figure into the club's plans for next season. Under league rules, Vince's contract cannot be terminated until February 7 when waivers begin for the new season. Similarly, he cannot be traded to another club until trading begins on the first day of the league year. Until then, Vince is welcome to rehab his injury either here at our facility or elsewhere.
"I let Mr. Adams know that we will explore all of the options that are available to us to solidify the quarterback position for the upcoming season."
And here's a E:60 piece that ESPN did on Vince Young that goes into a little background on the troubled QB... ((HT: ESPN))
Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson was having a decent day by fantasy standards, but somehow Tennessee Titans corner Cortland Finnegan got into his head in some severe way.
Both players were tossed, and the HQ expects that the league office will be putting envelopes in both their lockers demanding some of their financials- perhaps granting both a suspension for a game.
Kinda reminds us of the Andre Rison-Deion Sanders fight in Atlanta... A little... but theirs was more slap-fight than swinging... Evidence below... ((HT: Youtube/ESPN))
Mike Heimerdinger and Randy Moss/Courtesy: George Walker IV-tennessean.com
Believe it or not. If you are looking for a way to get a football team inspired. This probably would be a good way to do it.
Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger was diagnosed with cancer earlier this week. He and the Titans declined to be more specific than that. Heimerdinger will begin chemotherapy treatment on Monday. But not before he travels to Houston and coaches his offense against the Texans.
Read the original story on Heimerdinger when his diagnosis was announced, from The Nashville Tennssean RIGHT HERE
Heimerdinger didn't want to talk about his decision, but here is the follow up story from today RIGHT HERE
Thankfully, he consulted with his doctors before making this decision. Heimerdinger, who is in his second stint with the Titans is widely respected by his players and in coaching circles. In fact, he is very close with Texans coach Gary Kubiak, who he'll be going up against on Sunday.
Hopefully, the chemo won't keep him down long. The Titans are still in the playoff hunt and need him to be there and coaching. But the most important thing is his health. He knows that and the team knows that. We wish him well.
Young on sidelines/Courtesy: robert smith-gannett tennessee
Wow...we knew that the team was less than thrilled with their mercurial quarterback's latest temper tantrum...but this is a bit of a surprise.
Apparently, according to multiple reports, the Titans asked Young to leave after he showed up at the teams practice facility to attend meetings. He was apparently told "He wouldn't be needed".
While this is somewhat of a bold statement on coach Jeff Fisher's part, we see a big problem on the near horizon. Sure, the team is putting him on injured reserve and despite what Young says about wanting to go back in the game this past Sunday, his injury would've prevented it. This sounds a bit like some lines being drawn in the sand.
Titans owner Bud Adams has already made it pretty clear that he wants Fisher and Young to just get along, but it may no longer be possible. The question is "Who does he choose?". Do you pick your long-time head coach who has led the team to tons of success? Or do you go with your $12 million a year QB who keeps having hissy fits when things don't go his way?
We know what we'd choose, but we aren't a multi-gazillionaire owner either. In our opinion Mr. Young needs some serious maturity lessons and believe that is what Fisher is trying to do. If for some reason Adams decides to side with Young and get rid of Fisher, you can bet on two things: One, Fisher will be snapped up by another team...immediately, he's that good a coach and Two, it will be tough finding a "Top Level" coach who wants to baby-sit the owners high-priced, prima donna, not nearly as good as he or the owner thinks quarterback.
Update: Just after we posted this, word came the Titans released a statement about today's events. From the Titans website:
Tennessean reports indicating that Vince Young is not welcome at Baptist Sports Park are incorrect. Yesterday, he was informed by a coach at the facility not to attend Monday’s team meeting and was free to leave. The intention was to be able to talk to the team about Young’s situation and how the team would move forward. Players that are on injured reserve are not required to attend team meetings. As of today, he has been placed on injured reserve and all the same rules apply to him as to any other player in that category.”
This whole scenario, reminds me a little bit of this:
Vince Young is confused/Courtesy: TCSportsreport.com
And the Tennessee Titans...or at least head coach Jeff Fisher are growing tired of it. The Titans lost in overtime yesterday to the Washington Redskins on a field goal, 19-13.
And Young, played alright during the game, until he got hurt, damaging a ligament in the thumb on his throwing hand. Stuff like that happens. But it was what happened afterwards that has Fisher and a lot of Tennessee fans shaking their Titanic heads.
According to reports, Young threw at least part of his jersey at people in the stands, then went into the locker room where he got into a shouting match with his coach and then stormed out of the locker room.
Tennessean columnist David Climer says Young's days in Nashville may be over RIGHT HERE
Our friends at NewsChannel 5 speak to the people about it:
Here is a breakdown from Football Night in America last night :
Sunday was a somewhat surreal and strange day for an NFL game in Miami, and yet the Dolphins somehow still won.
It began when the team dedicated and named the pressbox at what is now SunLife Stadium after longtime Miami Herald columnist Edwin Pope. Pope has written for the Herald pretty much since the beginning of time, he's reported on the Dolphins for all 45 of their years in the league.
Read about the dedication...and Mr. Pope RIGHT HERE, it will be worth your time.
As for the game. Somehow, 3 different Quarterbacks got injured. 2 for Miami, 1 for Tennessee.
The Dolphins started Chad Pennington, it was to be Pennington's 1st significant game action in well over a year. He got hurt on the 4th play of the game. The man he replaced, Chad Henne, he lasted a couple of quarters before he got injured. The guy who finished up, but not before the Fins went to the Wildcat for a half dozen or so plays....emergency QB Tyler Thigpen.
As for the Titans, Kerry Collins was the starter for an injured Vince Young, Collins got hurt and Young came back in, he wasn't very effective, the Dolphins beat the Titans 29-17.
Until they get pulled, here are some game highlights.
The guy who is now on his third NFL team is still getting the royal treatment. Sure, it's great that the folks in Nashville consider the arrival of Randy Moss a big deal. And yeah, we'll probably hear from our friends in NashVegas about laughing about this, but it is funny. Really.
Moss said in his rambling, bizarre, final media availability as a Minnesota Viking that he would talk to the media anymore. And he stayed true to his word now that he's a Tennessee Titan.
Early Sunday evening, he arrived in Nashville, via a private charter plane. And yes, the local media was there, hoping to catch Moss's arrival and getting his thoughts about coming to the Music city. They are still waiting.
Moss had a car that met him at the plane, he got off the plane, got in the car and was whisked away. No doubt leaving friend of OSG Bob Kusek and other Nashville Sports Photographers scratching their collective heads.
Here's the dramatic...dark...and somewhat funny arrival. Thanks to FOSG Hope Hines and Newschannel 5:
Multiple sources are reporting that the Tennesseee Titans have claimed wide receiver Randy Moss off of waivers from the Minnesota Vikings. The claim comes less than a month after Minnesota acquired Moss from the New England Patriots.
Here's how the reaction has been in the Twin Cities on the waiving... Heidi Collins sends it to Jim Rich, who is in the newsroom... ((HT: MyFoxTwinCities))
Other folks are reporting that the Buffalo Bills have claimed linebacker Shawne Merriman, formerly of the San Diego Chargers, off waivers. The Bills are at the top of the NFL's waiver priority list, meaning that Merriman is theirs regardless of any other claims. Merriman now has five days to report to the Bills, which he is expected to do.
Chcuk Cecil was known during his playing days as one of the nastiest hitters in any secondary in the NFL. He led with his head ((a lot)), and got fined ((a lot)).
Nowadays, he's the Defensive Coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, and some say he's still a little dirty- with his finger anyway.
He didn't like a call in today's game with the Denver Broncos and told the officiating crew exactly what he thought- not a surprise...
And we picked this version since it would, probably, get pulled last from The Shield.
Well played, Kevin Harlan... The HQ would feel that way too if Kyle Orton carved you up the way he did...
UPDATE: Cecil was fined $40-thousand for his gesture... just think how much he'd have been fined if he used all ten fingers...
LeGarrette Blount decided to channel his old college self at Tennessee Titans practice the other night... he tried to go all Dory Funk, Junior to the helmet of defensive end Eric Bakhtiari after having his helmet ripped off.
He was carrying the ball in a drill near the goal line when his helmet came off, and he kept his feet moving toward the end zone.
The play ended with some pushing and shoving, and then Blount threw a right into Bakhtiari's facemask.
Here's the video with FOSG Hope Hines and his VO... ((HT: thawardasa))
Anyone know what Byron Hout is up to these days...???
Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher said he wasn't worried about those kinds of outbursts. The HQ differs and disagrees...
Titans running back, and ex-USC'er, Stafon Johnson was hit high and spun around by Seattle's Kam Chancellor following a short reception on the final play of the third quarter. He then landed hard on his right leg, just around the right fibula.
Then, the ankle went a direction it wasn't supposed to go...
The Titans came out onto the field and prayed on one knee nearby as head coach Jeff Fisher held Johnson’s head and talked to him briefly. The running back was driven off the field while seated on the back of a cart. An air cast was on his lower right leg.
The Titans’ Twitter feed said the initial diagnosis is a dislocated right ankle
"I was just so sorry to see Stafon get hurt," Pete Carroll said after the game. "This was a guy that had to undergo so much physical pressure and mental pressure. It looked bad, and he was very broken up by it. I know that (Tennessee coach) Jeff (Fisher) thinks the world of Stafon and if anybody can get back, he can.
"He's an absolute warrior. He will do it. He's done it before under worse circumstances, and this will be a challenge for him."
“It’s very, very difficult for Stafon,” Coach Fisher said. “With what he’s been able to overcome, you could see by the reaction of his teammates that he’s a special young man. He’ll overcome this as well.”
The Tennessee Titans are suing USC and their football head coach, Lane Kiffin, for "maliciously" luring away assistant running backs coach Kennedy Pola a week before training camp opens.
Jim Wyatt's article in the Tenessean, says that Tennessee Football Inc., the company that owns the Titans, filed the lawsuit in something called "Davidson County Chancery Court."
Pola is accused of breach, after only being hired February 1st, and that "as a result of USC and Kiffin’s tortuous conduct, Tennessee football has been damaged in an amount proven at trial."
The Titans have not commented publicly Monday, but back on Saturday Titans head coach (and USC alum himself) Jeff Fisher was less than pleased...
Here's how mad he was back on the weekend... Jim Hill reads a bunch of full screens for your enjoyment... ((HT: KCBS-TV/CBS2))
The HQ's favorite line of the whole thing...??? Kiffykin's response...
"I have spoken with Coach Fisher and he now has an accurate understanding of the timeline of events."
No, the home stadium of the Tennessee Titans is probably not falling into the Tennessee River, but it is an interesting thought.
However, it appears that there are some sinkhole issues in the area. Mostly as a result of the flooding rains of May. As the water receded, it left quite a few reminders that it was there.
A sinkhole, maybe 20-30 feet wide and 4 feet deep is now sitting just outside the stadium between the building and the river. For those who've never been there, the stadium would be considered a riverfront stadium.
Check out more on this story from Nashville's Tennessean.com RIGHT HERE
((Photo of Sinkhole//Courtesy: George Walker IV/The Tennessean))
Having lived in Nashville when this stadium was built, the story is not a surprise. It was built over an old shipyard and when they say it is along the river, it literally is. It is a very nice stadium with a lot of parking and more than likely this is just an isolated incident.
The bigger question is what is under the ground the place was built on. There was always some rumors out there that it never completely cleaned out, but then again, maybe I'm just being cynical.
Tennessee Titans Running Back Chris Johnson has proven in the past two seasons that he is one of the best running backs in the NFL.
Now he wants to be paid like it.
Johnson, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year and a player entering his third season, signed a 5-year, $12 million contract upon being drafted in 2008. And according to the Nashville Tennessean, Johnson says "I can't play for $550,000 a year". He wants a new contract. And he wants it now.
