Michael Griffin Addresses His Poor Play (Hint: It Has Nothing To Do With Kitschy Towels Or Albert Haynesworth)

by August West on Oct 30, 2009 4:05 PM CDT in News Comment 13 comments

There isn't a nationally carried writer who knows the Tennessee Titans locker room better than Paul Kuharsky. He covered the team for The Tennessean for years, and developed a reputation for brutal honesty. He's still in the locker room on a regular basis, a resident of Nashville and discusses the Titans several mornings a week on the major local sports talk station.

Because of that, it's not a huge surprise that he would be the one to get Michael Griffin to open-up about his terrible play this season. Griff didn't go into great detail, but he definitely let be known that something off the field has been in his head, and he's working on getting it straight:

"If you watch tape from last year and this year, it’s not the same body language, it’s not the same attitude. It’s just not the same person out there on the field. There are other things that have been going on, things that I took care of this bye weekend. This was a good opportunity for me to go take care of a lot of things and go from there …"

"It’s like having a bad day on the job. Some people go to work and may not be having a good day, may have other things going on. It’s not an excuse. It’s like I am letting my team down by letting other things bother me. This is the Tennessee Titans’ facility, things that are bothering me outside this facility shouldn’t be bothering me inside the facility."This is a great place to be with a lot of fun guys to be around. Think about it, this game right here takes care of a lot of your problems. If you’re frustrated, if you’re upset about something -- or if you’re happy about something -- this is a great place to be."

Griffin has blogged for the Tennessean about how hard it is that his child is in Texas while he's living in Nashville, and maybe that's related to what's going on. As much as we like to think these guys can check it all at the door, anyone with a career, not just a job, knows it doesn't work like that. I really hope Griff can get back to form, because we need the dominant Pro Bowler we saw last year, not the distracted liability we've watched get burned over and over again.

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I know it is hard to separate work from personal life when something big

is going on in the personal area. However, hopefully he has that behind him now. Whatever the drama was I don’t want to know about it at all. We all let that happen at times, and it happens in reverse where you bring your work into your family life. It just proves that he is a human being. But, if he doesn’t get his act together, he may find himself cut and then he can spend more time with his kid or whatever it was. I hope that doesn’t happen, he is very valuable and he hasn’t been playing the way I am used to seeing him.

by Joy kat on Oct 30, 2009 4:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Griffin will fly again

Griff is the type of player who needs all his focus to pull off those plays he does, some players can go into a blur on the field where the outside stuff fades away. Hope he can get over this. For vinny youngs sake, for the Tennessee Titans sake.

""The truth can be tuffer den the times, my reminda my peaple to shoulder" give thanks and praise!"

by Titan4Jah on Oct 30, 2009 4:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I meant to comment about that earlier but forgot.

I heard Paul K talk about that a bit this morning on 104.5 on my way to work.

I hope he does manage to put it behind him, hope whatever it was worked out for the best, and also, while I do not like his play so far this year, I do like that he was man enough to come out and admit it to the fans like this.

Now, go out there and make it better, Griff!

by hartley on Oct 30, 2009 5:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nothing comes before home.

As much as I’ve cursed the team this season, I feel awful about it when I hear news like this that tough things are happening at home. I still hold Michael accountable for his play because anyone of us would get fired from our jobs for poor performance regardless of what’s happening at home. But I do sympathize with him on a more human level.

by B-Rizzle on Oct 30, 2009 5:57 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

exactly...

I don’t know if he was man enough or finding an excuse.

by earlers on Oct 30, 2009 7:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I have a feeling it's related to his child and if it is, then all is forgiven

Problems with your children is a reason, not an excuse. Big difference.

T-Rac's Posse - T-Rac is one boss raccoon.
My personal Tribute to Air McNair

by T--Rac's Posse on Oct 30, 2009 7:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good post

Thanks

You ain't hurt.

by Peter Bean on Oct 31, 2009 12:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Griff was great last year

I would happily tolerate a whole season of suckiness if he gets whatever personal issue resolved in such a way that he’s able to focus in subsequent seasons. I dunno is he’s going through custody or visitation stuff, but I’ve seen folks going through that in the office world whose performance drops off drastically while the battles over that kind of stuff are going on.

by numbertenox on Oct 31, 2009 1:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What are the odds?

that all the secondary is having personal problems…cause it’s not just Griffin that seems to be distracted right now (heck…it’s not even the secondary for that matter…it seems to be the whole defense)

by titansfan4ever on Oct 31, 2009 2:17 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

I’m calling BS on this one, too. Of all 1,900 current NFL players, how many of them do you think are personal problem free? NONE. I would venture to guess that there are a few players out there having pro bowl seasons that have more/worse personal problems than MG’s.

I mean, are you kidding me? Have we sunk to this? We are now blaming the worst start of a supposedly Super Bowl contender in NFL history on personal problems?

B*** S***

This one's for you, #9.

by Drubaru on Nov 1, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i hope....

nobody in the organization think like the some of the fans to cut griff b/c of his recent play. yes it has been poor and its a total reversal from what we all saw last year, but last year didnt just happen by accident, thats the player he is. all the best with his personal situation, i dont think it will be too long before we see the griff of old. hes too smart of a player, he knows this game very well, he just needs to remember that.

"Waiting for the return of the Mac"
"Let VY loose, give him the chance to play his heart out. for himself, for the titans...and for mcnair"
"Titans & Texans fan, dont bug me w/your petty b.s., life's confusing enough."

by kg_2005 on Nov 1, 2009 6:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

personal problems?

I’ll tell you what will give you personal problems…going 0-6….cause when I do it…my kids start looking at me funny…and my wife starts crying…and my boss will ask me weird questions, like…“Do you like working here?”

by titansfan4ever on Nov 1, 2009 9:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs