Tennessee Titans: Kevin Byard talks contract extension at camp presser
Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard has made his first comments since receiving a contract extension during the team’s first press conference of training camp on Thursday.
Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard made his first comments about his record-setting contract extension since it was announced on Wednesday night when he spoke at the team’s first press conference of training camp.
Byard, who received a five-year, $70.5 million contract, is now the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
His average annual salary is now $14.1 million, which is slightly higher than the $14 million per year salaries of Kansas City Chiefs’ Tyrann Mathieu and Washington Redskins’ Landon Collins.
After reporting to camp on Thursday, Byard spoke to the media at the team’s presser and gave his thoughts on the new deal.
Byard made it clear that despite the new deal, nothing will be different other than the size of his bank account. He also spoke about his family and joked that he might have to change his phone number.
.@KB31_Era on his approach after getting a new contract: "Nothing has changed but the change."
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) July 25, 2019
He's now got a lot of change... @Titans
.@KB31_Era said "family comes first" when asked about his new contract, and bump in financial status. He kidded about changing his phone number @Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) July 25, 2019
Byard is now focused on helping the Titans win not just one Super Bowl, but multiple. We like his thinking.
.@KB31_Era said he wants to help the @Titans win "multiple championships"
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) July 25, 2019
Byard wasn’t really interested in talking about his past feud with Deion Sanders, who didn’t know Byard was a safety in the NFL and not a fan back in 2018.
#Titans' Byard: Hasn't heard from Deion Sanders. Doesn't care. Tired of hearing about him.
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) July 25, 2019
When asked about left tackle Taylor Lewan and his impending suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, Byard had this to say.
.@KB31_Era said he told @TaylorLewan77 he loves him and supports him.
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) July 25, 2019
"I have his back, and I love him."@Titans
After Byard wrapped up his portion of the press conference, fellow safety Kenny Vaccaro gave him an enthusiastic showing of support. There’s no doubt these two are very close.
.@KennyVaccaro4 came out and clapped for @KB31_Era when he wrapped up his presser @Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) July 25, 2019
These quotes are exactly what you’d expect from a top-notch player and standup guy like Byard. He could have also went off on Sanders, but that simply isn’t his style and he took the high road instead.
Every time you hear Byard speak, it’s impossible not to like him more and more.
Now that the contract situation is behind him, Byard can focus on taking the Titans to that next level and getting them to the playoffs in 2019.