This week the Tennessee Titans decided to extend the general manager contract for Mike Reinfeldt to 2014. The current contract is expected to expire sometime in 2011 but with the recent extension it prolongs the general manager position for another three years. Mike Reinfeldt joined the Tennessee Titans in 2007 after being a general manager for the Seattle Seahawks.

His stay as general manager certificate and has not been an easy one. In the past two years the Titans have failed to make any playoffs and have struggled with both coaching staff and players. However, the decision to keep Mike Reinfeldt is one that the Tennessee Titans sticking to because of the respect and knowledge that he could bring to the game.

Other changes that have come up with the Tennessee Titans is the coaching staff change. Jeff Fisher is no longer the coach but being replaced by Mike Munchak. Another big change for the team is the change in quarterback. Vince Young will be traded as soon as the lockout is unlocked and the team will look for a seasoned veteran from another team or could pull it’s resources and choose a younger quarterback from the April NFL draft that is coming up.

There are big changes on the horizon for the Tennessee Titans. Who knows what 2011 will have in store for this team.

Technorati Tags: Mike Munchak, Mike Reinfeldt, Tennessee Titans

This past Thursday, the New Jersey prosecutor announced that it would be reviewing all charges are brought against the wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans. The charges stem from an arrest that with me last week in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Kenny Britt, who was in his New Jersey hometown, was caught going over 70 miles an hour in a 55 mile lower speed zone. When police tried to stop the wide receiver he lead them on a police chase that had reported speeds of 75 miles an hour and up. Once caught the police booked him for alluding an officer, hindering apprehension and obstructing the function of the government.

Kenny Britt appeared before a New Jersey courtroom and entered no plea to the charges that were brought against him. Both him and his attorney have failed to comment on the incident.

The New Jersey prosecutor will review the charges and decide if there’s legal standing to pursue a court case against Kenny Britt. Should the prosecutor decide to go forward the wide receiver Tennessee Titans could face a maximum of five years per charge, or a minimum of no jail time and probation or suspension of license.

Kenny Britt has been known for his wild driving in the past. He has taken police on several high-speed chases and even been arrested for outstanding traffic tickets. This new charge is no surprise for the fast running wide receiver.

Technorati Tags: Kenny Britt, NFL player, Tennessee Titans

The fine itself was met with a lot of ire when put into the context of the fines that the NFL had already set forth this season. The NFL had begun to draw a hard line on the punishment laid out for helmet to helmet contact and was throwing out fines of over $50,000. Now, when there was a real fight the NFL had determined each player would get the NFL equivalent to a slap on the wrist.

Two weeks prior to the altercation in the Texans game was an incident where Raiders defensive lineman Richard Seymour punched Ben Roethlisberger in the face during a Raiders loss. Seymour was ejected for the game, but received a similar fine. This brings up the question of what the NFL feels about fighting in the game.

In Hockey, the major sport where fighting occurs the most, the NHL will penalize for fighting in game but rarely doles out any fines or suspensions after the fact. In truth, it appears that the NFL has accepted the same sort of philosophy. Perhaps they believe that allowing players to fight will keep them from being too aggressive between the whistles.

This is speculation of course as the NFL has not commented publicly on how they view fighting in games. However, one thing is true: these penalties are not much of a deterrent to fighting as the total fine dispensed to Andre Johnson was 0.2% of his annual salary. That’s equivalent to a 50 dollar fine for a person who makes $30,000 a year. It’s not much of a punishment for a millionaire. Let the fighting begin.

So what if Eric Dickerson couldn’t do it. Neither could O.J. Simpson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis nor Jamal Lewis.

That doesn’t bother the Tennessee Titans running back.

Johnson missed out on Dickerson’s all-time NFL rushing mark in 2009 and fell short of being named the league’s MVP.

However, Johnson did become the sixth man to run for at least 2,000 yards, and he’s back wanting even more history still looking for Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards rushing, MVP and to become the first man ever to run for 2,000 yards more than once.

Missing out last year has simply made the man who says he’s the NFL’s best running back want more.

“I’m shooting for 2,500, but I’ll be happy with anything over the record,” Johnson said.

Johnson wasn’t very happy back in January when he didn’t even receive a vote for MVP. Every All vote was split among four quarterbacks. He was voted The Associated Press’ 2009 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, but Johnson believes he can force the vote by running his way past Dickerson.

“A player never did it twice, back-to-back,” Johnson said of topping 2,000 yards rushing. “I don’t think they would have a choice.”

Not only has a running back never run for 2,000 twice in a career, the other five to top that mark never even came close the next season. Sanders came closest in 1998, running for 1,491 yards on eight more carries than in 1997. Dickerson played two fewer games in 1985 than he did in 1984 in setting the rushing record. Davis’ season ended in 1999 after four games.

The Titans have designed a few plays to take advantage of having Johnson in the same backfield with Vince Young, something that only happened in the final 10 games last season. But aren’t defences going to be more prepared for Johnson?

“It’s hard to get faster,” coach Jeff Fisher said.

Johnson is working with a new position coach after Kennedy Pola left July 24 for Southern California, leaving Fisher to promote Craig Johnson from quarterbacks coach to assistant head coach and running backs assistant.

The assistant coach compares Johnson’s situation to the late Steve McNairtrying to improve after leading the Titans to the AFC championship game after the 2002 season. McNair wound up sharing the MVP award withPeyton Manning in 2003. The coach sees room for improvement from the five-foot-11, 191-pound Johnson because film study showed he missed more big runs in 2009.

“Maybe if he made a quicker cut here or a slower cut there. Again, we’re being critical. When you get to the level he is at, you’re talking about the small things, but the small things make a big difference. That is my charge for him … to find those small things, and even if it’s two per cent better, that will make a difference,” Craig Johnson said.

Johnson stayed away from the Titans this off-season wanting a long-term deal bringing him at least US$30 million in guaranteed money. With the NFL in the final year of the current labour deal, the Titans wouldn’t do that. They did shuffle some money due in 2012 that Johnson already had earned with his play into his paycheque for 2010.

That made him happy enough to report on time for camp.

Receiver Nate Washington, who stayed in contact with Johnson during the off-season, said the running back expects perfection from himself.

“He’s not complacent with his season last year or any success he’s had in the past. He wants to continue building off it. His personal success is what it is, but he’s looking forward to a Super Bowl just like everybody else in this locker-room is,” Washington said.

Some credit for Johnson dreaming big goes to an unusual person: Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson. He insists he’s the better running back, but he shared his thoughts with Johnson.

“I view myself as the best running back and the best player that’s going to play this game. I told him to be able to accomplish those things you have to envision (and believe) in yourself, or it’s not going to happen,” Peterson said.

Johnson watched Peterson in the playoffs and calls himself a fan who’s glued to the TV whenever the Vikings running back plays. But the man who fumbled only three times on a combined 408 carries or catches calls himself the NFL’s top rusher and is determined to cut back even on those mistakes to avoid hurting his team more than he helps.

Fisher noted people scoffed a bit a year ago when Johnson first announced he wanted to run for 2,000 yards and win the MVP award. Not that Fisher is worried about getting Johnson to 2,000 again this year.

“Help us win more games would be very realistic,” Fisher said.

A playoff berth would be a good substitute for that CJ2k again goal.

“I come up short and we make the playoffs, it’s no problem.”

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/story/?id=329339

• The New England Patriots receive the first compensatory pick (the 33rd in the 3rd round) for losing cornerback Asante Samuel to the Philadelphia Eagles.
• The New York Giants received the 36th pick in the third round for losing safety Gibril Wilson, linebacker Kawika Mitchell and linebacker/defensive lineman Reggie Torbor.
• The Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans each received four picks (the maximum allowed) after losing six players each.

The full list of compensatory picks can be found on the NFL’s website here.

Technorati Tags: Asante Samuel, Gibril Wilson, Kawika Mitchell, Reggie Torbor

The Redskins landed the big fish in this year’s free agency pond signing DT Albert Haynesworth to a seven year, $100 million dollar deal with $41 guaranteed. Many are speculating that this deal will not last past year four, but regardless the move instantly makes the Redskins defensive line one of the best in the NFC.

Next came the re-signing of Deangelo Hall to a six year $55 million deal. Hall signed with the Redskins midway through last season after being cut by the Raiders. The Redskins may live to regret this signing.

Lastly, the Skins signed offensive Guard Derrick Dockery, who was recently released by the Bills, to a five year $26 million deal. Dockery, who left the Redskins two years ago to sign with Buffalo, returns to his former team and should fit right in with Joe Bugel’s system that hasn’t changed much since he left.

Technorati Tags: Albert Haynesworth, Deangelo Hall, Derrick Dockery

Starting quarterback Kerry Collins re-signs with the Tennessee Titans. A good move for both Collins and the team. Unless a desperate team needed to break the bank, a 2 year 15 million deal for the aging veteran is a good haul for Collins.

Steelers guard Chris Kemoeatu spurned an offer from the the New York Jets and signed a $20 million, five year deal to remain with the Super Bowl champions.

The Denver Broncos filled their running back need by signing signed Correll Buckhalter and JJ Arrington to presumably split time next season. Just when fantasy owners thought the Denver running back situation may clear up.

Technorati Tags: Chris Kemoeatu, Correll Buckhalter, JJ Arrington, Kerry Collins