Why Jake Locker Will Win the Hearts of Tennessee Titans Fans
By Trey Frisbey
Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Final roster decisions are coming to a close and it’s time to get ready for the 2013 NFL kickoff. With many variables and questions going into the Tennessee Titans 2013-14 season, one man will define how the history books are written. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Jake Locker.
The 2011 first-round pick begins his third season as the quarterback for a franchise that has been in limbo since 2009. All eyes are on him; he doesn’t mind. Unlike some of the recent Titans quarterbacks, Locker has a presence about him that hasn’t been felt by this team and its fans in a long time. He simply doesn’t care what people think. He knows what to do and does it.
Locker, unlike many NFL superstars and divas, doesn’t have a Twitter or any other social media account. He owns a chicken coop and lives a very low-key lifestyle. The NFL warns its players about Twitter and the dangers that can occur with it, but I have a hard time thinking Locker will get into trouble if he had an account. He simply doesn’t care what people think. Titans fans are going to see this year. He cares about winning and losing of course, but he doesn’t care what you, me, or any other fan or media member thinks about him and his talent level.
This will be a refreshing change-up as fans had to go through years with Vince Young, who was recently cut by the Green Bay Packers. During the Young era, Titans fans had to worry about him continuously on and off the field. Locker gives fans no reason to worry at all. He’s had a great preseason and lives a peaceful life outside the lines.
Locker’s lifestyle has eerie similarities to the late Steve McNair. The comparisons between the two are endless: quarterback style, determination, relentlessness, and enjoying the country lifestyle. It’s tough to compare Locker to a legend such as McNair, but 2013 will jump-start Jake’s career. With time, the two could have very similar careers.
Titans fans are anxious to see how Locker will compete this season. He hasn’t played a full 16-game schedule since coming into the league. Hearing him talk and watching him play should give fans comfort. He’s going to lay it all out on the field every Sunday.He doesn’t care about the hype nor criticism. He just plays football and loves it. Don’t disregard the heart of a champion. It comes out on top more times than not.
With all of that said, there is one quick way for Locker to become a popular quarterback. In the words of the late great Al Davis, “Just win baby!”