The terms of Matt Hasselbeck's deal with the Titans aren't public yet, and likely won't be until free agency really opens on Friday. Wyatt is also reporting that Hasselbeck will most likely be in town before the deal is done on Friday, so the move sounds pretty solid despite not having anything in ink yet. Ever since the Titans made it clear they wanted to bring in a veteran QB to bridge the gap between whatever the hell happened last season and the Locker era, the main debate has been between McNabb and Hasselbeck. Other names got thrown around, but none of them fit the description Thorchak and Palmer had given of their ideal candidate. While there's a big down side to both--McNabb keeps getting more erratic, and Hasselbeck has only played in 35 of the Seahawks' 48 regular season games over the last three season--Hasselbeck is a pretty solid get. Hasselbeck fits what Palmer wants to do, he's had a great reputation as a leader over the years and the day he signs that contract he'll already be the most accurate QB the Titans have had on the roster since they got to Nashville. He doesn't have great arm strength, but he can actually lead a guy to a spot that opens the door for yards after the catch. Can you image a Titans game where a WR isn't just standing still looking at the QB when he makes a catch, or booking it downfield trying to adjust to a floundering deep heave on 3rd and 17? Of course right after I wrote that whole bit, Wyatt tweets the following:
In addition to being a 3-year deal, sources say Hasselbeck's deal is in $21 million range. A big chunk will be in third
year
Michael Roos really wants to re-sign Leroy Harris. Me? Not so much. Of course, Roos kinda has to say this sort of thing because he's a good teammate. Still, we need to improve the interior of the O-line, and Harris is by far the weakest link. I believe Amano can get better at Center with Munchak and Matthews teaching him, but Harris has a lot further to go to be solid at guard Guard. Plus Amano just got a big contract last offseason and Harris is a UFA. Here's a short piece on one of the Titans' undrafted free agents, Mike Preston. The Lions are still pushing hard for Stephen Tulloch, and rumor is they're offering a $10 million signing bonus. I have a hard time burying that the Titans would match that on 4-5 year deal that pays Tully a base salary like a top twenty 4-3 linebacker, but crazier things have happened. Andrew Brandt tabs the winners and losers in the lockout now that the deal is done. I have to say that looking back on everything that happened, I'm really surprised that the it got as nasty as it did, yet didn't result in a single lost game.
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