John Glennon has a piece on the informal workouts being spearheaded by Chris Hope, Cortland Finnegan and Craig Stevens. The 'less than formal' workouts are aimed at making up for the offseason training program that was scheduled to start yesterday, but is on hold while the players and owners act like douchecanoes. Yesterday's practice consisted of just those three, but they're expecting as many as 15-20 Titans to start practicing with them at Father Ryan High School. It's worth noting that anyone who takes part in those practices is taking a bit of a risk because any injuries sustained won't be covered by the NFL's usual health insurance plan. The workouts are being guided by Franklin, TN-based trainer Scott Reall. Glennon also points out that small groups of other Titans have been working out together in various places.
Auburn alum and current Titans disappointment Sen'Derrick Marks has some words of advice for, and thoughts on, Nick Fairley. Marks shared a little of what he has struggled with since being drafted, and where Fairley might struggle at first:
"A lot of guys are much older," Marks said of the veterans against whom he competes every week. "These guys are very smart. I watched Nick this past season and a lot of the things he did at Auburn probably won't happen next season. In college, it was like nobody knew how to block him.
"Up here, the majority of them are not going to shoot their hands up (and allow defensive linemen to make a move). They let you bull-rush them and then they bury you, because the majority of them are 340, 350 pounds. They're so smart with what they do."
Wes Bunting, who has been so much more insightful and thorough with his draft analysis than anyone not named Mike Mayock it's ridiculous, breaks down the draft's top prospects into tiers. This is a must read, as it probably most accurately mimics the process teams go through as they rank guys on their draft board.
Mike Brown, the ruiner owner of the Bengals, still says he isn't trading Carson Palmer, even though Marvin Lewis has been making statements about the franchise moving on at the QB position.
Sounds like pretty soon the Titans may not be the only professional football team in Tennessee:
... the UFL has had discussions about adding a sixth franchise in Chattanooga, Tenn. Former NFL veteran assistant Jim Bates and his son, Jeremy, who was offensive coordinator in Denver and Seattle in recent years, are candidates to land there, sources said.
Paul K takes a look at how the AFC South's CBs fared in the FO article I linked yesterday and found something I didn't: Alterraun Verner ended up a very solid 20th and 15th in the entire league YPC and YAC respectively.
A study that was published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics draws a connection between NFL upsets (as determined by Vegas odds at kick-off) and temporary spikes in domestic violence. The study noted that the spike can rate from 8% for a regular upset-loss to as high as 20% when the loss is to a rival. Pretty disgusting stuff if the data holds up to peer review.
PFF looks at some common misconceptions created by completion percentage, and includes more evidence that soon to be fomer-Titan Vince Young was one of the worst short-passing QBs in the game. This is why we couldn't have a screen game, folks.
Email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com and be sure to follow me on Twitter @AugustWest_MCM