MVN - Most Valuable Network

Referee Gerry Austin (34) and crew. Image: Fox Sports / wikipedia.org

Is the Officiating Really as Good as We Think It Is?

The officiating in the NFL must be worse than I thought it was. To be honest, until yesterday I thought the officials had done a pretty good job during the 2006 season.

Sunday morning I read in the Buffalo News that the highest reversal rate on challenges was by Gerry Austin’s crew, which was reversed on 10 of 16 challenged calls, the highest reversal rate in the league this season.

Imagine my surprise then, when Austin’s crew officiated the Bears-Seahawks game Sunday afternoon. According to the NFL’s website, crews are graded every week and only the best ones get to work in the postseason: Read the rest of this entry »

Should Titans Fans Root for Colts or Ravens?

As the Colts-Ravens game is about to begin, I reflect on issues Titans fans have with both teams.

The Colts are now a divisional rival; before that the Ratbirds were.

There have been questions about which team Titans fans should root for. Horse hockey! Read the rest of this entry »

Good News, Bad News Loom for 2007

The Titans are out of salary cap jail with $36 million to spare and will have eleven ten selections in the upcoming draft. But things are not all that rosy. As is often the case after facts are put into perspective, it’s a good news/bad news scenario.

Good news: According to Pat Yasinskas of the Charlotte Observer, the Titans currently enjoy the fourth-best status in the league with $36 million in available cap room for 2007. That sounds good.

Bad news: Thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement, nineteen teams will have at least $20M to spend and 25 will have 10M available. That puts the good news in perspective. Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit - Pat Sullivan : AP

Matthews Should Be a Shoo-in

Bruce Matthews ought to be a shoo-in for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After deliberations, the selection committee will announce the Class of 2007 on February 3, one day before the Super Bowl.

If selected, Matthews would probably be the last Houston Oiler selected and would be the first Tennessee Titan enshrined.

Matthews never missed a game due to injury in his nineteen-year career, while starting at all five positions on the offensive line. He played in 296 games, then a record for positional players, starting 292 of them. He was a Pro Bowler 14 consecutive years, nine at guard and five at center.

Matthews made the following comments Wednesday afternoon to the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain. Read the rest of this entry »

Bruce Matthews Named Hall of Fame Finalist

In his first year of eligibility, Bruce Matthews has become one of seventeen finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007. If selected, as expected, Matthews would be the first player to enter the HOF as a Tennessee Titan.

In his nineteen year career, all with the Titans/Oilers organization, Matthews played in an incredible 296 games, setting the NFL record (later surpassed by Jerry Rice, 303) among non-kickers. Also among his honors are the league record (tied with Merlin Olsen) for the most Pro Bowl appearances, with fourteen. Matthews was named a first-team All-Pro nine times.

In the span of his career, Matthews played every position on the offensive line, and was a Pro Bowl selection nine times at guard and five at center. He started 99 games at left guard, 87 at center, 67 at right guard, 22 at right tackle, and 17 at left tackle. That’s versatility. How many linemen can make that claim? None. Read the rest of this entry »

Seven Titans Interested in BCS Championship Game

The Titans have seven players who have more than just a passing interest in tonight’s Tostidos National Championship game.

Titans who played at Ohio State include safety Donnie Nickey, tight end Ben Hartsock, and linebacker Rob Reynolds.

Florida is represented by guard Zach Piller, tight ends Erron Kinney and Ben Troupe, and cornerback Reynaldo Hill.

I don’t know if this is an omen or not, but Reynolds, the former Buckeye, finished the season on Injured Reserve. Piller, Kinney, and Troupe all were placed on IR as well, leaving Hill as the lone former Gator who finished the season out.

I’m sure some wagers were placed on the outcome of the game, but no word on what they were. At the least, one group will have bragging rights and be able to talk some smack to the losers next season.

In Defense of Reese

Here’s one thing that upsets me a little. For several years, I’ve heard unknowledgeable fans blame Floyd Reese for the Titans’ 2005-06 salary cap problems. Such claims are unfair and untrue. The decision to go into salary cap hell was a joint one by Bud Adams, former president Jeff Diamond, Reese, Jeff Fisher, and Steve Underwood.

They understood there was a window of opportunity to try to win a Super Bowl with the outstanding talent they had. To keep that talent together for a few more years meant mortgaging future years, and that was the decision they jointly made.

To fans who blamed Reese for the cap problems, I’d ask, “Would you rather he disbanded those great teams player by player, forgoing the best chances for a Super Bowl?” Read the rest of this entry »

How Does Fisher Fit in After Reese Resignation?

Jeff Fisher is mindful of the fact Floyd Reese was the man who recommended him to Bud Adams to be the head coach of the then-Houston Oilers in 1994.

There has been a lot of speculation about a supposed power play by Fisher to nudge Reese aside and take more control of personnel issues himself. Unless Fisher went behind the back of COO Steve Underwood to talk to owner Bud Adams, that didn’t happen, according to Underwood.

And it doesn’t sound like something Fisher would do, either. Fisher has recently supported Reese publicly, despite their conflicts over the years. Read the rest of this entry »

Statements on Reese Resignation

The Titans released the following statements following the resignation of Floyd Reese as General Manager.

Chief Operating Officer Steve Underwood:

Floyd has been an important part of the success that this franchise has enjoyed for over 20 years and we are thankful for his years of service to this franchise. This morning, Floyd offered his resignation; and after considering the limited options available to him, Mr. Adams accepted his resignation. We wish Floyd the best in whatever he chooses to pursue next. Our job now is to move forward and find someone that can help lead this organization to our goals. Read the rest of this entry »

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By Andrew Strickert | Permalink | No Comments »

Tennessee GM Floyd Reese Resigns

Floyd Reese, the General Manager of the Titans resigned Friday morning, according to reports.

A 31-year veteran of the NFL, Reese’s contract was due to expire in February. He was not given a vote of confidence by owner Bud Adams last October, when Adams held a press conference to announce the promotion of Steve Underwood. Adams has given Reese lukewarm support at best since then.

Reese joined the organization (then the Oilers) as a linebackers coach in 1986 after coaching stints with the Lions, 49ers, and Vikings. He moved to the front office in 1990 as assistant general manager and became the GM in 1994. His latest title was Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations. Read the rest of this entry »