Tennessee Titans: Locker room cancers
By P. L. Colter
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker is the vocal leader of the team. He is also the team’s most outspoken player, and has been since he arrived via free agency in 2013. If you want an honest assessment of what’s going on behind the scenes, then he’s your go-to guy.
After his first season, Walker went on the Midday 180 radio show in Nashville. When asked by ESPN staff writer Paul Kuharsky why the Titans were struggling, he decided to forgo the politically correct rout…and offered up this gem of a bombshell.
“When we started losing more games, we got to see it more and more, it was just like it was falling apart,” he said. “And the players that were the cancer were dragging other players into that box with them, and the box was getting bigger and bigger.”
But Walker wasn’t done….
“Everybody [saw] it. So I feel like these coaches [Coach Whisenhunt and his new staff] are going to come in. They’re going to see what type of players that want to be here and don’t want to be here, and he’s going to get rid of them.”
Cancers…in the locker room.
Walker would not name names, but it’s reasonable to suggest that he had a sit down with soon to be head coach Ken Whisenhunt. And if Tennessee’s offseason moves since that comment are any indication, then we may have our answer.
The first, and most obvious cancer culprit was Chris Johnson, who was released shortly after Whisenhunt’s arrival last year. Titans fans know all too well how much of a malcontent Johnson became after his record setting 2009 campaign. No one was shocked at the move, and by and large, no one disapproved.
In February 2015, Tennessee released offensive tackle Michael Oher, after signing him to a lucrative five year deal the previous year. Not only was Oher injured and otherwise ineffective last season, he was also known to be aloof and surly with his teammates.
While the current offensive line won’t call him out publicly, they universally agree that the team chemistry within the unit is much better now.
Safety Bernard Pollard was released a month later after missing most of last season with an Achilles injury, and neither party seems to be losing any sleep over it.
Pollard fell out of favor when he made public disparaging remarks about the team’s decision to fire a staff member. He obviously wanted out at the end of last season. An injured, frustrated malcontent…gone.
Nov 23, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Shonn Greene (23) celebrates his 2-yard touchdown run during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Running back Shonn Greene was let go earlier this week. No, I have no knowledge of him being a locker room cancer, but I do know that he has rushed for only 687 yards his two years in Tennessee…and that he was scheduled to make 3.25 million this year.
That made him a salary cap cancer.
And most recently, tight end Taylor Thompson abruptly left voluntary camp for personal reasons. That’s fine. But reporting late to mandatory camp with a “mysterious” knee injury was a whole’nother matter.
After not knowing why Thompson missed his physical, and why he is now injured, coach Whisenhunt said this to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
“When he left here, however many weeks ago, he was healthy. We communicated, he said he was fine, no issues, other than some personal matters. He shows up, says there’s something wrong with his knee, and I have no idea what he is talking about.”
Translation…
“You sound like you don’t wanna play, so we’re going to let you go Taylor. Hope you and your knee catch on somewhere.”
Delanie Walker is calling them out, and the Titans are moving them out.
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