Tennessee Titans’ QB Matt Hasselbeck Open to Different Numbers

Dec 23, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker (10) and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) warm up before game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Locker is the Tennessee Titans starting quarterback. There’s nothing that will change that, save for injury. With that in mind, the Titans have a pricy backup QB in Matt Hasselbeck who is to make $5.5 million as a base salary in 2013. Obviously, that’s a bit much for a guy that you’re hoping will be sitting on the bench all season.

The number is concerning even more so when you consider that his bonus will kick him up to $7.5 million.

Not to disrespect Hasselbeck or anything he has done for the Titans, but they are shooting for the playoffs this season and having as much free space in their cap as they can to make the moves they deem necessary is important. Let’s not forget the fact that they’d like to re-sign TE Jared Cook, OG Fernando Velasco, and probably K Rob Bironas.

When Hasselbeck was asked about taking a pay cut earlier this week, he seemed to be all for it:

"I would definitely be up for that, for sure,” Hasselbeck said Wednesday about the possibility of renegotiating his deal. “I’m not in those conversations, but I’m aware of them. That topic came up maybe in September, October, November, somewhere in there.“I would be excited about the opportunity because it would be basically having the opportunity to stay. But again, there’s so much that goes into those things. But from my perspective, yeah, absolutely."

I know that some players have been down on the team, but when you hear things like that, you’ve got to be somewhat optimistic. Obviously Hasselbeck may not get a chance somewhere else if he got cut, so that counts into the equation, but it’s still good to hear.

I’m sure we’ll be hearing more positive things from the players after the draft when camp comes together, especially considering the fact that the Titans now have Gregg Williams on the staff and that offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains will be able to implement whatever he has envisioned for this offense.

Don’t be surprised to see the Titans knocking on Hasselbeck’s door asking for some of that green back. Like I stated above, they’ve got some re-signing to do and some free agent signing to do as well.

You can find me on Twitter @JustinLStewart