Whisenhunt wants Vince Young in Arizona

Word spread quickly throughout NFL channels subsequent to Mike Reinfeldt's revelation that the The Titans have been receiving inquiries in regard to securing a deal for soon to be (or not? - Coach Munchak has expressed his desire to retain #10) ex-Titans starting quarterback Vince Young.

Only The Titans Insider has all the coveted details.

Three teams have contacted The Titans about Vince Young .

Arizona - Head coach Ken Whisenhunt who saw first hand how Young can lead a team to victory in 2009 when The Cardinals were upended at the last minute by an amazing Young-led drive. Coach Whisenhunt spoke specifically about giving Vince a chance to compete for a starting job as the current Cardinal QB roster is in thorough disarray.

Houston - It's no surprise that hometown hero Vince Young already owns many hearts in the state of Texas. The Texans are only interested in Young as a backup to Matt Schaub. Working from home may also be Young's preference though Titans management may see this move as a potential mistake considering the division rivalry between The Titans and Texans.

Baltimore - The Ravens expect to move on from backup Marc Bulger this offseason and as usual have an interest in all departing Titans. Young may be considered a change-up to Flacco's fastball opening up some interesting options as The Ravens try to finally topple Pittsburgh in the heavyweight division that is the AFC North.

Other teams I suspect to contact Tennessee roster management in the coming days: Minnesota, San Francisco and Miami.

I will pass along details as I have them.

Vin

Sources say Munchak wants VY

Sources say Munchak wants VY

In my last article, I wrote that Titans coach Mike Munchak believed that new offensive coordinator Chris Palmer could have made a difference in the development of Vince Young.

Munchak has declined to say if he was trying to persuade owner Bud Adams to reverse his previous decision and keep Young on the roster, but sources have told me Munchak is doing exactly that.

These sources have also informed me that Adams is now leaning that way and there is a better than 50-50 chance that Adams will go along with Munchak's request.

Stay tuned to The Titans Insider for further developments.

Vin

Palmer Hired to Develop Quarterbacks

Palmer Hired to Develop Quarterbacks

After a week's vacation (pardon my absence), I caught up today with Titans head coach Mike Munchak at the NFL Combine.

New offensive coordinator Chris Palmer has an outstanding knack for developing young quarterbacks, Munchak toldTitans Insider.

"A lot of people know that Chris coached Eli Manning to a Super Bowl," said Munchak. "What many people don't know about is all of the other young quarterbacks that Chris has developed.

"Chris was responsible for gettng Mark Brunell's career off to such a great start," Munchak said. "Brunell passed for what, over 30,000 yards? He also did a great job with Tim Couch, before he got hurt, and performed wonders with David Carr too.

"Carr did some really good things for Houston, despite their problems with the line. We can only speculate how much better he might have been with a good line and a running game."

Munchak will be depending on Palmer to develop the quarterback the Titans are expected to select in the draft. It's one reason why Munchak hired Palmer, he said.

"Chris will do an outstanding job with our quarterbacks, and that includes Rusty [Smith]," said Munchak.

Asked if Palmer would have made a difference if he had coached Vince Young, Munchak replied, "Yes, absolutely."

Tennessee Titans delay talks with Justin Babin until new CBA

WTF is Justin Babin Jim??

There is no substance to this headline in the Tennessean other than the Jim Wyatt having nothing of note to write about and Babin's agent trying to spin doctor his client into a new contract.

A player who's such a hot topic that Wyatt can't even remember his first name.

'Agent Rich Rosa, who represents Babin, said he understands why the Titans would wait. The NFL and NFL Players Association have been negotiating, but there's little optimism they will agree on a new CBA in the near future.

"The Titans have not closed the door on Jason Babin at all,'' Rosa said. "We are in very uncertain waters right now with regard to the collective bargaining agreement, and once those issues are cleared up we are going to address it. That's what the Titans told me. … We don't know the rules we are going to be playing under.'' '

Jim Wyatt Tennessean

As Snoop would say, 'Bitch please.......'

Munchak has pulled no punches over cleaning house so far with his staff but we've yet to see what he's going to do with his free Agent players .

The CBA SNAFU is delaying that but do we really want Babin back?

Babin earned another year and a token gesture pay rise but nothing more.

12.5 sacks looks great on his resume but talk of tagging him is hilarious, maybe I misread and t he's going to get tagged with an ankle monitor that will go off every time he lines up in the neutral zone.

Sacks are over rated unless the Defense is consistently getting off the field and making plays.

Our pass defense was a pitiful in 2011 because the line couldn't do it's job to put our secondary in the positions to make plays. Opposing QB's had all the time in the world.

In the big picture Babins 12.5 sacks look like a cherry stuck on top of a turd.

Babin was a nice pickup but he's a JAG player and what we really need is a stud defensive tackle.

Expect Munchak to see right through Babin's hopes of a longterm deal. He isn't worth a longterm deal and 12.5sacks or not he isn't going to get one in with the Titans.

Babin's career other than 2010 has been just like his first name......forgettable.

Colts tag Manning

As I foretold via my Titans insider connections before the old blog folded, Manning is tagged. Nothing surprising here..

Vin

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110215/SPORTS01/110215100/2080

Written by

Michael Marot
ASSOCIATED PRESS

• FILED UNDER
• Sports
• Sports Tennessee Titans

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts are keeping Peyton Manning — no matter what it costs.

Manning, the only four-time MVP in league history, has been given the exclusive franchise tag, a move that could cost the Colts $23 million next season. Team owner Jim Irsay announced the decision Tuesday night on Twitter.

“We have placed the franchise tag on Peyton while we continue to negotiate a long term deal,” Irsay wrote.

The move is hardly a surprise.

Last year, Irsay promised to make Manning the NFL’s highest-paid player. He has reiterated that position many times since then with one caveat — if the Colts couldn’t reach a new deal with Manning before free agency started they would use the franchise tag.

The Colts did the same thing in 2004 before eventually agreeing to a seven-year, $98 million deal. The Colts then pulled the tag.

Irsay hasn’t backed down on either promise, and Manning, as he usually does, has remained silent about the contract.

Three weeks ago, the Colts put their first formal proposal on the table. It was an offer Irsay and team president Bill Polian wanted to make last October, but Manning informed the team then, through his agent, that he did not want to start negotiating until after the season.

The current offer is believed to be richer than the four-year, $72 million contract that New England quarterback Tom Brady signed in September. Brady’s contract also included $48.5 million in guaranteed money, and Irsay has called that deal the standard.

“It’s not a normal negotiation, his legacy and our relationship, it’s very unusual,” Irsay said last month.

On Tuesday, Indy decided not to wait any longer to make its decision.
By “tagging” Manning, no other team can negotiate with the Colts’ franchise quarterback.

How critical is Manning to the Colts’ success?

In 13 seasons, he has broken all the franchise’s career records for quarterbacks and has never missed a start. He’s taken Indy to the playoffs 11 times, captured seven AFC South titles in eight years, won two AFC championships, one Super Bowl title and a Super Bowl MVP Award.

Titans Hire OC Palmer

Interesting. I recall Palmer from his days as a old AFCN divisional opponent with The Browns.
My insider sources tell me Mike Munchak is very pleased with this hire and sans the availability of Callahan this is the guy Mike wanted all along.

Vin

Titans Hire Ex-Browns Head Coach Palmer

Written by

John Glennon

• FILED UNDER
• Sports
• Sports Tennessee Titans

Just more than a year after announcing his retirement from the NFL, Chris Palmer returned to accept quite a challenge.

He was named offensive coordinator of the Titans on Tuesday and will face the daunting task of improving an offense that ranked 27th in the league last season overall — 29th in first downs per game and last in time of possession.

Just for good measure, the Titans don't know who will start at quarterback. They are preparing to part ways with Vince Young, and backup Kerry Collins is not under contract.

Still, the 61-year-old Palmer, who has 20 years of NFL coaching experience, sounded optimistic after watching film of the season-ending loss at Indianapolis.

"Any time you start out the season 5-2, there is some talent," said Palmer, who last year was head coach of the United Football League's Hartford Colonials. "I was impressed with the offensive line. I think there is some speed at the wide receiver spots. And I thought there were some tight ends to work with. I was encouraged by what I saw … I don't think we're that far off."

Titans Coach Mike Munchak certainly hopes Palmer is correct, after choosing the New York native over what he said were a number of other candidates. Munchak said he brought a couple of interested individuals to Nashville for interviews, and the Titans also were denied permission to interview at least a couple of other candidates — Jets offensive line coach/assistant head coach Bill Callahan and Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice.

Munchak said Palmer represented a near-perfect fit, particularly because the offensive staff has so little experience. Munchak is a rookie head coach; Dowell Loggains has just one year under his belt as quarterbacks coach; and Bruce Matthews is entering his first season as offensive line coach.

Palmer has had stints with the Giants, Cowboys, Texans, Browns, Patriots, Jaguars and Oilers. He was head coach of the expansion version of the Browns, posting a 5-27 record in 1999 and 2000. Palmer served as offensive coordinator for the Jaguars in 1997-98 and Texans from 2001-05.

"We needed experience as much as anything," Munchak said. "We needed some veteran leadership. … The fact he's been a head coach is helpful to me."

Palmer has worked with a number of young quarterbacks, including Eli Manning, Tony Romo and David Carr among others.

His most recent NFL work was with the Giants as quarterbacks coach from 2007-09, earning a Super Bowl ring when the Giants defeated the Patriots.

"I really wanted to have someone strong in that (quarterback development) area because that's been a problem here a little bit," Munchak said. "I knew it might come down to really developing a young quarterback. I felt he's been around a lot of quarterbacks in this league, and when he's been there with them, they've played very well."

Palmer said he's uncertain who will start at quarterback for the Titans, but he did say he thought Collins did a nice job in the lone game film he's watched so far, that loss to the Colts.

Palmer has been a part of plenty of different offensive styles over the years, even working with the run-and-shoot two decades ago as Oilers wide receivers coach.

He also helped quarterback Mark Brunell earn a Pro Bowl berth in 1997, when the Jaguar threw for nearly 3,300 yards and 18 touchdowns while posting a career-best passer rating of 91.2.

But based on the quarterback uncertainties for the Titans, as well as their current personnel, it's probably not fair to expect them to throw the ball all over the field next season.

"It's our job as coaches to identify what talent is available and to give them the chance to perform," Palmer said. "Our running back is a good player, and our offensive line blocked the run game very well … They're one of the better groups as far as the league is concerned.

"Basically we're going to run the ball and get into the play-action type thing, and we're going to be as physical as we possibly can."

The new defensive coordinator, Jerry Gray, said Palmer's offenses impressed him whenever the two coaches found themselves on opposite sides of the field.

"He's going to keep you off base," Gray said.

"He makes you play the whole field. If they play eight-in-the-box, he's going to hit you with the wideouts. Put seven in the box, and they're going to run the ball down your throat."