Time to buckle your chinstraps NFL fans, after 132 days the NFL lockout is officially over. The NFL Players Executive Committee voted this morning unanimously to accept the proposal previously voted on last Thursday by NFL owners, beginning what will be the greatest flood of player transactions and club business in sport’s history.
Imagine this, it is the night before you have five finals the next morning, and you have not been able to study the entire semester. For NFL teams, it’s cram time. Over the next two weeks, NFL general managers must do five months of NFL business including: signing rookies, signing undrafted free agents, signing restricted free agents, trading players and cutting players.
As part of the new 10-year deal, free-agency begins tomorrow (Tuesday), teams will begin reporting to training camp Wednesday, and the regular season will begin as scheduled Aug. 11.
For the Tennessee Titans, this means making some very quick decisions, that could easily determine whether this team is playoff bound or on track for another sub .500 season.
Over the next several days, the Titans must make some difficult decisions on several key players. Here they are:
Vince Young– The Titans have until 4:00 p.m. ET July 29 to decide whether to cut or trade the troubled Titans’ quarterback. If not, the Titans will owe him a $4.5 million bonus they have already said they will not pay.
Stephen Tulloch/Jason Babin– Both players are unrestricted free agents, and the Titans will have roughly 24 hours from today to decide whether the Titans should retain these players or allow them to hit the open-market where they will fetch significant contracts from other teams.
Chris Johnson– The Titans’ franchise running back and leading rusher from the last three season wants a new contract. The Titans must decide whether to offer the running back a new contract or risk a holdout from training camp, beginning for the Titans on Saturday.
Check back throughout the week, as I will be providing multiple updates as news comes in.
[UPDATE: Wednesday 1:00 p.m.] The Tennessee Titans have made their first big move in free-agency, reportedly signing former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to a $21 million three-year deal.
Hasselbeck, who turns 36 in September, is a 13-year veteran of the NFL, previously playing for the Packers and Seahawks. During his 11 year career with Seattle, Hasselbeck led the Seahawks to six playoff appearances, including the 2006 Super Bowl.
Hasselbeck’s production has dipped in Seattle over the last three seasons, due to a poor offensive line and lack of running game. In Tennessee, Hasselbeck will be teamed up with Pro Bowl running back Chris Johnson, as well as a Titans’ offensive line anchored by Pro Bowl tackles Michael Roos and David Stewart.
With talented receiver Kenny Britt and Jared Cook set for breakout seasons, the Titans have the potential for a very potent offense this season.
Known as a very patient and strong leader, Hasselbeck will serve as a mentor to quarterback Jake Locker, the Titans’ first-round pick from the April NFL Draft. Ironically, during Hasselbeck’s first two seasons in the NFL, he was tutored by quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers, a player to whom many compare Locker.
For his career, Hasselbeck has thrown for 29,579 yards, 176 touchdowns, 87 interceptions and has a career completion percentage of 60.1.
In other news, the Tennessee Titans will release quarterback Vince Young on Thursday, check back for a story on Young’s troubled career with the Titans tomorrow.