Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Hero, Husband, Diabetic/Alcoholic Edition

If you're worrying about our secondary (and not paying attention to my declarations about the column of pass attempts we've faced or the the advanced FO stats) here's the one paragraph you need to read today:

In a league full of under-reported stories, the Titans' defense may be the most impressive of all. They currently rank fourth in DVOA, are tremendous against the pass, and are tearing up opposing offensive lines with top rankings in Adjusted Line Yards and Adjusted Sack Rate. Tough sledding for a Jags team with a struggling starter in David Garrard, and it won't help tight end Marcedes Lewis that the Titans have the second-best defense against those who play his position.

FO goes in-depth on something we've discussed a little around here this week: how the intense Titans pressure forced the Cowboys to reduce the number of receivers they sent out on routes so that they could double-team more guys.

For this week's Friday Jam I give you a collision of tow of my favorite things on television: Tracy Morgan on Cash Cab (from last week's 30 Rock episode... last night's live episode was pure genius)... video after the jump!

Jump!

It's officially 'Dispel the Myths About the Titans Day, as Boclair shows us that Vince Young has been throwing to the WRs more than Kerry Collins or Steve McNair did. In a league where developing QBs get hamstrung by a preference for checkdown passes, VY is breaking the trend and everyone on the team is benefiting.

Lots of people are asking Vince if his TD pass to Kenny Britt was really meant for Bo Scaife. Vince addressed those insinuations yesterday, it's Fisher who really closed the book it:

Said Coach Jeff Fisher: "I knew the play call. The design is to go over Bo. It was the same one he threw in New York. The same exact play. Throw over Bo, based on the coverage. Bo holds the coverage and it goes to Kenny in the back of the end zone.

Jacksonville.com recounts the long history of smack talk between Jeff Fisher and the Jaguars franchise.

Cowboy's O-line Marc Columbo got popped for a $5K fine. He must be dirty, because fines = dirty plays!

VY's grandmother sounds... interesting.

In an act of senior on senior violence, Joe Biddle declares it's time for Brett Favre to retire. If I was Biddle, I wouldn't open any text messages from ole' Brett any time soon...

Former Titans DE, and current Bengal, Antwan Odom has lost his appeal and will be suspended for four games for PEDs. UPDATE: Wow, it looks like Odom got completely shafted on this one:

Odom's attorney, David Cornwell, has issued a statement explaining the situation.  Here it is:

"The decision to suspend Antwan Odom for four games highlights the need for the NFL and the NFLPA to fix the NFL's disciplinary programs.

"Antwan did not take a steroid or any other performance enhancing substance.  While driving after midnight from Alabama to Cincinnati to report to training camp, Antwan's wife mistakenly opened her prescription pill bottle instead of Antwan's and gave him one of her prescription weight loss pills instead of Antwan's medicine.  Naturally, Antwan's preseason urine test was positive for his wife's medicine.

"The NFL did not dispute the facts in this case and accepted the Cincinnati Bengals' weight records showing that Antwan's target reporting weight was 275 lbs. and that he actually reported at 255 lbs., confirming that Antwan had no reason to take a weight loss medicine.  The steroid program's administrator, Dr. John Lombardo, testified that no competitive advantage was gained by this mistake and that no physical difference would be apparent to Antwan from taking his wife's medicine as opposed to his own.  Harold Henderson, the hearing officer designated by Commissioner Goodell to hear Antwan's appeal, found [credible and convincing evidence that Mr. Odom inadvertently took medicine prescribed for his wife.'  Yet, Mr. Henderson concluded that as 'sympathetic as this case may be' and though a four game suspension may be 'unfairly harsh,' he lacked the authority to alter the discipline.

"While the NFL and the NFLPA maneuver for upcoming collective bargaining negotiations, Antwan's case is a stark reminder that the issues they will consider impact men's lives.  The strict liability rule in the steroid program enabled the NFL's lawyers to argue that the facts did not matter in Antwan's case.  Tell that to Antwan and his wife, Brooke, the Bengals and their fans, and to any fair-minded person who recognizes that as legitimate as the objectives of the NFL's steroid program may be, none of these objectives is served by Antwan's suspension."

ouch.

Have a great weekend!