Tennessee Titans Morning Links: On Behalf Of Titans Fans, Please Reroute All Gimmies To Keith Bulluck Edition
by August West on May 8, 2009 8:22 AM CDT
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There are a mountain of contracts that the Titans will need to renew or rework at the end of the season, and I'd expect some of them to be taken care of over the summer (much like last year where we saw Roos, Stewart and Cortland locked-up to long term deals). Here, Jim Wyatt talks about the situation with the player we probably all want to see stay around the most: Keith Bulluck (and his agent).
Vince Young doesn't want any 'gimmies', and you can damned sure bet he isn't going to get any. A more interesting question is does he even have a fair shot anymore?
Nate Washington is surprised at how difficult to grasp the Titans' system is for wide receivers. That's not to say there's any problem, but his duties just aren't as simplistic as they were in Pittsburgh.
Washington might be the only person more pumped than Gramsey for the season opener in Pittsburgh.
This is just hilarious, though it also means that the bogus wikipedia report wasn't a complete fabrication:
• TE Bo Scaife(notes) said he got a bit of a scare from the inaccurate Wikipedia post on the Internet that had him traded by the Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles.
"I heard something like that, and my phone was going off the hook. I knew that wasn’t true. I had to sign my deal first before anything like that could go down," Scaife said.
A league source told the Nashville City Paper that a deal that could have sent Scaife to the Eagles during draft weekend was certainly a possibility, but nothing came of it.
Also covered in that Yahoo! team report, LenDale is angling to change his number back to 21, which he wore at USC but had been worn by Reynaldo Hill on the Titans.
Nebraska and Arizona State QB Sam Keller is suing EA Sports for using college players' likeness without compensation, and he's an almost guarantee to win because that stuff is way illegal. Expect a suit on behalf of retired players to follow promptly if the Madden game continues it's long tradition of legendary/throwback teams.
Now that the slower period of the off-season is upon us your help in finding out of the way Titans stories is more important than ever. If you have a link you'd like to submit for tomorrow's Morning Links email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com! (Be sure to include your commenting handle so I can give you glowing, semi-anonymous credit.)
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VY
I hate to bring him up, but that article makes it sound like he’s really got his mind right. Best case senario: The Titans restructure his contract so that we don’t have to pay him so much next year and he wins the starting job from KC in the 2010 offseason.
by theologic on May 8, 2009 8:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If he is as committed as he sounds.
It’ll be sooner than 2010.
by SuperHorn on May 8, 2009 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not if Collins plays like he did last season
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
by Jimmy on May 8, 2009 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
I think, unfortunately for Collins, it’s going to have a LOT more to do with the defense. Collins can’t carry a team with his performance last year. In the absence of a good defense, we could lose a lot more games, at which point it doesn’t make sense to start the veteran.
We’ve added some playmakers on offense, so I think the defense can afford to slip a little, but not much.
by SuperHorn on May 8, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"in the absence of a good defense" ?....
excuse me… in know your not talking about us
"read dozens of books about heroes and crooks and i've learned much from both of their styles" - Jimmy Buffett
by titansfan615 on May 8, 2009 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ummm have you looked at our offense lately?
why would kerry’s job be getting anything but easier? way more weapons, washington, britt, cook may be the 3 most dangerous guys in our pass offense and none of them were around last year. plus CJ’s not a rookie, and gage improved over last season. we have the same fortress of an o-line. please explain what i’m missing here. our offense should be at least twice as effective as last year.
the defense won’t be the same w/o albert, but nothing says it can’t be just as strong with different pieces.
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
by hal41605 on May 8, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
thank you well said.
I have no man crush on VY, I see the obvious…hooray!
"read dozens of books about heroes and crooks and i've learned much from both of their styles" - Jimmy Buffett
by titansfan615 on May 8, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're misunderstanding me
I think our offense will be better. But, I mean, what do you really expect from a rookie receiver and TE? Rookie wideouts hardly ever perform. And, Nate Washington will make us more dangerous, but I think it’s unreasonable to expect big things from him…he was a #3 receiver in Pittsburgh. To anticipate that our offense will be “twice as effective” is a bit optomistic. I think we get better, but only marginally offensively.
Most importantly, I have concerns about the defense with the absence of Albert Haynesworth. IMO, he made the team great last year. I hope the team reacts well with him gone, but I just don’t see it turning out well.
Hopefully I’m wrong. Bottom line, though, if we start losing games, I see Vince coming off the bench.
by SuperHorn on May 8, 2009 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
we had the worst group of pass catchers in the league last year
so from that perspective, there is no way the guys we have picked up don’t constitute a massive upgrade from last year. even if they all turn out to be simply decent it’s a huge upgrade from the utter garbage we trotted out there last year.
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
by hal41605 on May 8, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Until I see otherwise from this coaching staff
I am still of the firm belief they are done with Vince unless Kerry gets hurt.
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
by Jimmy on May 8, 2009 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe not done
I wouldn’t be surprised if they asked him to restructure his contract. If he does then they’ll give him a shot after Collins is done. If not, then they’ll draft a QB.
VY still draws press. There was an article about him in the Sporting News this morning and he doesn’t even start. I believe if he gets his stuff together, and we can afford him they would love for him to be the starter. That’s a lot of ifs, but the Titans are historically loyal and generally willing to give guys a chance.
All the being said, the same goes for Collins. If he plays badly the Titans will be loyal and patient with him as well.
by theologic on May 8, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This whole Sam Keller thing is really pissin me off
Does this guy just want to be hated by every American male age 12-36ish? Really?
Official MCM Hater!
by gramsey712 on May 8, 2009 8:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dude, they are using his image without even asking.
Speaking as a guy who’s had that happen to him, it is extremely infuriating. We had a house flood a few years ago, and the Connecticut Post came by. They took pictures of my then 6-month-old daughter in a fireman’s boat in front of my house and ran them on the front page. They DID NOT ask us for permission, and they didn’t pay us. That image—the one of the worst day of my daughter’s young life—won an award for the paper… who didn’t do anything for it but show up. It was maddening! And we really needed money at the time, believe me. A few bucks as compensation for the image, on which they made plenty, would have really helped us.
Anywho, I threatened to sue, but my wife asked me to drop it. So I did. That, however, did not make it right.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
by DannoE on May 8, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, so you are telling me exactly what I thought
He is looking for a quick buck. By challenging something that has been approved by the NCAA for 20 years.
And I don’t really care if it is right or wrong, I enjoy playing the game, and he is trying to take it away from me. This is just selfishness speaking here.
And I didn’t mean to compare that to your situation with the “quick buck” thing—obivously a grown man upset about a video game and your 6 year old daughter in an emotionally fragile state are two completely different animals here—even if their situations would be similar in the courts.
Official MCM Hater!
by gramsey712 on May 8, 2009 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
EA has been skirting the law and they knew it
if they had half a brain they would have offered the NCAA a nominal amount of money, and in return the scholarships players sign would include giving away their licensing rights in video games. you might have seen a class action suit on the legality of that arrangement since players wouldn’t really have a fair choice, but EA Sports wouldn’t be potentially liable for about 15 years of back fees.
Keller is a douche, but this was really just a matter of time.
Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.
by August West on May 8, 2009 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But isn't the NCAA the culprit here? They are the ones who allowed EA to put the little silver sticker on the box.
Official MCM Hater!
by gramsey712 on May 8, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The NCAA isn't legally obligated because they're not the ones using the rights
and that’s the beat-up catch 22: the players are the sole owners of these rights, but engaging in an agreement with EA Sports, for example, would nullify their eligibility under NCAA rules. So the NCAA can only speak for the team rights (logos, uniforms, etc.), but it’s own rules prohibit players from handling the issue on their own.
Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.
by August West on May 8, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am just afraid this is going to open Pandora's box
And it all comes back to these guys not getting paid while the Universities rake in millions on game days.
Maybe Arian Foster could sue UT for selling hal the #27 jersey he wears!
…..if he didn’t fumble the papers on the way to court…I will save you some keystrokes August.
Official MCM Hater!
by gramsey712 on May 8, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Funny stuff right there
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
by Jimmy on May 8, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I meant "guys" as in
not Antonio Langham. He made plenty.
Official MCM Hater!
by gramsey712 on May 8, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah he did
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
by Jimmy on May 8, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So basically this buster
can just push EA Sports into bankruptcy from all the back payments they are going to owe when he gets up there and gives the court the “woe-is-me” crap.
He sucked as a quarterback—and he sucks in the game. Maybe that is what he is really worried about!
Official MCM Hater!
by gramsey712 on May 8, 2009 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I doubt he will be able to push them to bankruptcy.
He may be able to get a share of profits they made on his image, but I doubt he’ll be allowed to materially destroy the company.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
by DannoE on May 8, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and what if he does?
EA is a shite chop-shop of a video game publisher anyway. If paying for what they stole bankrupts them, then they go down. boo hoo! Obama will probably step in and bail them out anyway.
It doesn’t matter if he sucks or not, it’s HIS image they’re selling.
And the NCAA (and its member institutions) and IOC are fat cats making tons of cash off of unpaid labor. I don’t think college players should be paid to play, but if you sell something that is theirs, you are certainly subject to legal action.
by joshuaboone on May 8, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Again, that's fine
My point is I like the game, and my affinity for the game has nothing to do with Sam Keller or his likeness. If they are forced to change it, or stop making the game altogether, then I will be upset, as I am sure thousands and thousands and thousands of other college football fans will be.
Official MCM Hater!
by gramsey712 on May 8, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not to hate on a fellow hater...
Why would you be upset if they were forced to change it if you don’t like him or his likeness?
Is that argument different than the thousands and thousands of heroin addicts that are upset because H is illegal? I do happen to share your me-first logic though: like Biren Ealy, I’m mad I can’t piss on a wall downtown when the line in the bathroom in the club is too long.
by joshuaboone on May 8, 2009 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am not sure I understand
what you are saying. I am assuming that if he wins and they are forced to change it, then they would have to change everyone’s likeness and also the ability to add players names into the game. If it was just dealing with Keller and Keller only I wouldn’t give a screaming eagle sh1t!.
Here’s a point, what if you were to show someone a photo of Keller’s face from the game, and then put it away and show that person pictures of Keller’s face and 3 other random players, do you think they would be able to pick it out? I know I wouldn’t, unless I knew the other 3 players and could eliminate them. I have no idea what Keller looks like, and I don’t think his “video game face” would help me any.
And I am going with the same me-first logic that Keller is, right?
Official MCM Hater!
by gramsey712 on May 9, 2009 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
my .02 that i posted elsewhere
i understand the legality. i still think he’s a whiny baby. the worst part about the whole thing is definitely the fact that they have a fairly solid legal position. in my mind though, he’s trying to get a piece of something he put zero effort into producing or promoting. amateur status means you don’t get paid, period, and players know this from the day one. sometimes you just need to shut up and appreciate what you have been given and stop worrying about every grubby little cent you can scrounge up.
my real question, though, is what’s the end game? the players can’t themselves be compensated for what they do while they are NCAA athletes unless we are just going to obliterate the "amateur" distinction. so if the petitioners can’t be paid by NCAA regs, what happens?
when you go through the ncaa clearing house for D-1 athletics, you agree to a lot of stipulations regarding what money you can make while preserving the necessary "amateur" status for eligibility, including maximum allowable wages for any outside income from a job. i would love to see the judge rule that the players knew full well that they couldn’t be compensated monetarily for their performance on the playing field when they signed up to play, so as long as the official trademarks are respected (which they are by EA’s arrangement w/the NCAA) EA is in the clear.
essentially i see how EA is wrong, but i don’t think that makes the petitioners right. maybe the best case scenario is where the judge tells the players they have no right to be compensated, but also tells EA they have no right to profit freely off of the image of others and they force EA to pay a certain amount to the NCAA general scholarship fund as de facto royalties to all the players they recreate for profit.
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
by hal41605 on May 9, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think this is an over-complication.
EA should stop using specific likenesses unless they compensate said players. That is easy enough to do. Beyond that, doing more is foolishness.
For example, my issue with the newspaper article hinged on the fact that they published my baby daughter’s picture without permission. She is not and never has been a public figure. She does not seek publicity. And people do wacky things with pictures. So, if it’s all the same to everyone, I’d rather her NOT get photographed and then put on somebody’s front page, especially for THEIR profit. I’d prefer NO coverage, but if coverage must, then the least they could do is compensate us for the use of her image. That said, if they’d merely written the story with no photo, I’d not have had an issue. But then, in that case, they’d not have been using a likeness without permission.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
by DannoE on May 11, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But what is a "specific likeness?"
I can’t believe that someone could pick Sam Keller out of a lineup after only seeing his face on a video game.
Official MCM Hater!
by gramsey712 on May 11, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's not just physical appearance that identifies them on the game
it’s the size, weight, attributes, hometown and jersey number that are all the exact same…
Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.
by August West on May 11, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
with all due respect dannoe,
i don’t think a newspaper capitalizing off of tragedy is in any way related to the EA issue. if you daughter were photographed in triumph, accomplishing something, or receiving any kind of accolades, would you have any complaints?
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
by hal41605 on May 11, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Probably not.
But then again, that would probably run back-page, in HS sports. This ran front-page and was a big seller that they later re-ran as an award-winning Top Photograph.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
by DannoE on May 11, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i totally agree
that was bush league of them. i just think this is another matter entirely.
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
by hal41605 on May 11, 2009 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think were going to be just fine.
Our offense has improved its talent. ..
-lendale actually has a reason to preform this season, and might “wow” some folks.
-another year in the offseason and weight room for CJ ( who said hes shooting for MVP and leading the league in rushing)
-bringing back one of the best O lines in ball.
and yes we lost Big Al, when he did play (45% of our snaps), now we have a young really freaking deep athletic D Line..
Were STRAIGHT.
"read dozens of books about heroes and crooks and i've learned much from both of their styles" - Jimmy Buffett
by titansfan615 on May 8, 2009 8:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
the vince article
wow. see vince? when you say the right things to the local media, you come off as mature, focused and hard working. you actually give me some shred of confidence that you aren’t a complete head case. when you say dumb, childish things, the reverse is how you are perceived. being the starting QB means handling PR well. like it or not, that’s just reality. this is a great example of how to do that, vince. please take note and continue. we can build on this!
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
by hal41605 on May 8, 2009 11:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Bulluck deserves to have,
the entire kitchen thrown at him, the sink, the dish washer, the fridge(is he out of ICU?) everything.
It will be one of the greatest hits to my heart to ever see that man wear another jersey and im sure im not the only one. Lets this happen and im taking Gramsey, August, Jimmy,Smashville, Hal and a few more down to Titan front office for a good ole fashion bat fight with the brass.
It would go down something like this http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/426608ab8c/bat-fight
"the views displayed by Mr.Norhtnashville in no way reflect the views of more mature Titan fans. Viewer discretion is advised. Loser.
by MrNorhtNashville on May 8, 2009 1:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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