Jason Babin made the best move in his career by coming to Tennessee last year to play for Jim Washburn, and now he has followed Washburn to Philadelphia. Babin will get around $25 million over five years, with $5 million to $6 million in guarantees. The Titans never made an effort to keep Babin, mostly because Jerry Gray has repeatedly said he's looking for more bulk at the DE position, and Babin agreed that he wasn't a fit in the new philosophy:
The Titans plan on playing a different style of defense under new defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, as the ends will primarily line up closer to the football in a 7-technque. Last season Babin lined up wider, and in more space, in a 9-technique.
"I’m just not a fit for their system," said Babin, who is heading into his eighth season. "I’d be a square peg in a round hole and we all know how that worked out for me in the past. You have to put some logic into it. I am not a 285-pound, 6-foot-6 defensive end. I am not going to be able to do some things. I didn’t fit there.
On the way out the door, Babin made a push to get the Titans to re-sign his counterpart at DE, Dave Ball. Ball had a huge first half of the season and finished second on the team with 7 sacks despite missing 5 games down the stretch. For the right price I could definitely see the Titans keeping Ball, even if it's at a reduced role more focused on obvious passing downs. Ball is just as undersized as Babin is, but he'll cost a fraction of what Babin cost the Eagles.
CJ2K is still looking to holdout, which surprises no one. Last season you could see CJ's whining as a little diva-esque, but there's no way a player with his skills should be playing for around $800,000 like he's scheduled to make this year. I completely agree with Climer here that while he might not be the world's best QB at this point in his career, but Hasselbeck has the experience, habits and temperament you want to rub off on Locker. VY's offseason preparation should involve making some killer iPod playlists and practicing holding a clipboard. With Bo Scaife out the door the Titans are only really carrying Jared Cook and Craig Stevens at the TE spot. To help add depth, they're talking with the Rams about acquiring Daniel Fells, who brings huge size and steady hands. This is why the Bengals will always be the Bengals.
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