Oct 7, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tennessee Titans offensive guard Steve Hutchinson (73) against the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Titans 30-7. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
There’s been plenty of talk about Tennessee Titans OG Steve Hutchinson retiring after suffering another injury and being 35 years old. From the look of things, that’s not what he’s planning on.
According to an interview of QB Matt Hasselbeck by The Tennessean, Hutchinson sure is working out hard for nothing if he is planning on retiring:
"So, Hasselbeck was asked, it looks like Huthcinson plans on returning?“He’s working out really hard for nothing otherwise,” he said. “He looks really good to me.”Hutchinson’s base salary is scheduled to jump from $2 million in 2012 to $4.75 million in 2013. Including bonus money, he would count $6.75 toward the team’s salary cap."
Ruston Webster has come out and said the Titans see the O-line as their biggest need heading into the offseason. Obviously, it’d be handy to know whether Hutchinson will be back or not. Leroy Harris will not be brought back, most likely, and the Titans need to try and re-sign Fernando Velasco, who proved his value this year.
After that, they’ll need to figure out how they’ll approach revamping the line. They could bring in a couple of different free agents to fill the hole(s), or they
“RE-SIGN ME!” Mandatory Credit: Fernando Medina-USA TODAY Sports
could hope for OG Chance Warmack in the draft, if they felt like breaking the mold and drafting an O-lineman in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.
It all depends on what happens with Velasco and Hutchinson. If both are back, the Titans will likely only look to fill one spot in the line, the spot left vacant by Leroy Harris. Even then, they’ll still need to address depth, but should they not be able to bring back Velasco and Hutchinson, they’ll obviously have a little more work to do.
There’s plenty to watch this offseason as Munchak and company scramble to assemble a team that can break into the playoffs. It should make for a fun show.
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