More photos » by John Russell - AP

5 days ago: Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) grabs the face mask of Jacksonville Jaguars safety Gerald Alexander (42) in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/John Russell)

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Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson earned the recognition of AFC Player of the Week for Week 8. Johnson rushed for a franchise record 228 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson leads the NFL in rushing with 824 yards this season, and is on pace for 1,900+ yards.

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

When he's got his head on straight, Griff is a bad, bad man.

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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.

Alvin Pearman

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The hamstring issue that kept Mark Jones sidelined in practice yesterday has now landed him on IR.  What a strange year it has been with the Titans and Mr. Jones.  Alvin Pearman was signed to take his place.  Pearman is a running back by trade and is also a return man.  I would assume he will take over the return duties immediately.

Alvin Pearman

RB / Tennessee Titans

Height: 5-10

Weight: 204

Born: Aug 10, 1982

College:Virginia

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Where the Titans stand year to date:

The Titans offense is 8-11 (73%) with 6 touchdowns and 2 field goals.

The Titans defense has allowed the opposing team to go 23-26 (88%) in the redzone with 14 touchdowns and 9 field goals.

(Obviously the red zone numbers didn't change with the Titans being off last week)

It would seem like the Titans would get better in the red zone because of Vince Young's duel threat ability, but they were actually pretty bad in 2007 when he was the starter (one of the reasons Alge Crumpler was brought in...that worked well).

I expect the VY to be better this season with the addition of guys like Chris Johnson, Nate Washington and Jared Cook (hear that Dinger?) at his disposal.

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

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The Tennessean is reporting that Vince Young will indeed start at quarterback for the Titans on Sunday.

This should come as a surprise to no one in the wake of Bud Adams's comments about wanting to VY to start.  So here we go.  This site has been pretty divided for months about Vince Young.  He now gets his shot to prove, on the field, what he is or isn't.  For the good of the Titans I hope he plays really well.  I, however, do not think that will happen.

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Punter Brett Kern takes part in drills at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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The Tennessee Titans cut punter Reggie Hodges and claimed punter Brett Kern from waivers according to Adam Schefter. Kern has a 46.1-yard gross average (6th in the NFL), and a league high 6 touchbacks, but he ranks 29th in the league with a 34.5-yard net average. Kern also serves as a holder, a necessity after Craig Hentrich's injury. 

He was dropped by the Denver Broncos yesterday because they were "unhappy with Kern's inconsistency in directional kicking, plus his tendency to boot long, low-trajectory punts that were ideal for returning" according to The Denver Post. 

Brett Kern

P \\ Tennessee Titans

Height: 6-2

Weight: 215

Born: Feb 17, 1986

College: Toledo

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

Rocking the iPod. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

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As August mentioned in the links this morning, Bud Adams called for Vince Young to start this week against Jacksonville.  It appears that the Tennessean got this from the same interview they posted with Bud on the Monday following the Boston Massacre, but they chose to sit on it until now.  The funny thing is that Jeff Fisher, as recently as yesterday, still won't say who the starter is going to be.

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Well then I have great news for you....  Sprint, who is the official sponsor of NFL telecommunications, is now also a sponsor of SB Nation.

The good news for you is that the great content here at MCM is now available under the team section on the NFL Mobile Live application on your Sprint phone.  The NFL Mobile app is pretty cool.  It allows you to follow everything that is going on with the Titans.  You can sign up to get text messages with Titans news. That function allowed me to inform gramsey heading in to the stadium that Jevon Kearse was a healthy scratch against the Colts.

You can also listen to Mike Keith and Frank Wycheck call every game on your phone.  That is pretty cool.

Sprint has also partnered up with the NFL to give out 17 trips to this year's Super Bowl, which will come from Land Shark Stadium, of course, via their new Sprint Can't Miss Plays of the Week.  You simply just click here and vote each week on what was the play of the week.  Every time you vote, you are entered for a chance to win one of those 17 Super Bowl trips.