Tennessee Titans: Final Thoughts Before Free Agency Begins

©JustinLStewart

The free agency madness will commence at 3:00 PM CT on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. The Tennessee Titans, however, seem to be staying pretty quiet as we approach the free for all. 

I try to remain in the middle of the road when I observe the team’s actions, or lack thereof, but I find it very hard to bite my lip when it “appears” that the Titans are going to let CB Alterraun Verner flat out walk away.

The Titans had a chance to get a deal done with Verner long before the deals for fellow cornerbacks Sam Shields (Green Bay Packers) and Brent Grimes (Miami Dolphins) got completed.  Those players are now on the receiving end of very lucrative contracts – $8 million per year for Grimes and $9.75 million per year for Shields.

The Titans could’ve avoided this type of mess.  They could’ve offered Verner $6 to $7 million per year with a good chance of locking him down long term, but now we know that’s not going to happen.  Verner has to be sitting back on his couch with a tub of popcorn with his family smiling from ear to ear.

There aren’t too many players that the Titans could get to make me “forget” about this decision.  Speculation points to the Titans pursuing former Arizona Cardinals LB Karlos Dansby.  Recent reports also indicate that recently released Pittsburgh Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley could also be in the mix.  While I completely agree our linebacker corps could use an upgraded overhaul, this won’t even put a band aid on letting Verner walk.

Aside from last year, the Titans have never really made a big splash in free agency.  Our former, late, beloved owner Bud Adams opened up the check book and nearly spent $100 million last spring/summer.  Inherited owner and CEO Tommy Smith made a vow in a press conference that he would spend willingly on players the team wanted to target.

At this point, I guess all we can do is wait and see. I am still not on board with the fact that RB Chris Johnson will inevitably be released (because NO team is going to trade for a player who is going to be a free agent in the coming days/weeks).  It’s something I have to accept, even though I still don’t agree with it – at all.

I just never understood how a franchise can truthfully feel it is getting better when it’s letting it’s best player(s) go.