The Titans signal-caller continues to silence the doubters.
If this Rodgers versus Tannehill song and dance seems familiar to you, it’s because it is.
Just last season, another decorated NFL starter with an unquestioned Hall of Fame legacy was set to part ways with their longtime franchise. Leaving the New England Patriots, Tom Brady took his three MVPs and six Super Bowl trophies with him to Tampa Bay but not before Titans Twitter and the football universe took their cue to discuss how they wanted to get their hands on him.
This, just months removed from Tannehill’s career year in 2019, one that included a run to the AFC Championship Game.
Even before the Tom Brady offseason rumors, Tannehill has been held under the microscope. Despite his growth as a player, despite league-leading numbers in passing efficiency, and despite a healthy 2020 season so good that he even earned some MVP buzz, if only for a few weeks, the Titans quarterback can’t seem to shed the curse of the dreaded first impression.
After an injury-plagued six seasons with the Miami Dolphins, where even when healthy, Tannehill underachieved relative to his eighth overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, Tannehill was shipped to the Titans for two day-three draft picks to serve the role of Marcus Mariota’s backup. Nothing more than a low-cost insurance policy.
And now, on the heels of even more offseason buzz about Tennessee bringing in an aged gunslinger to relieve Tannehill of his starting duties, that notion that Tannehill is just a stop-gap until a better option comes along seems to be gaining some steam once again.