Tennessee Titans Daily Links: Decoy Edition

 The Titans are loving what they're seeing from Kenny Britt, and several coaches and players told Terry McCormick that all Britt needs to do now is be more consistent and reliable on and off the field. Given Britt's newly-cemented dedication to staying in Nashville over his native New Jersey, Britt seems to be well on the way to making that wish a reality.

 Jimmy isn't the only person in the Titans' stratosphere whose family grew by one yesterday: Nate Washington also welcomed a child into the world yesterday, his new daughter Niyla Monae Washington.

 Glennon profiles the Titans' big D-line addition, Shaun Smith. Smith is apparently a prolific smack-talker who has kept his teammates in stitches since he landed in Nashville. If he's got gems like this in practice, I can't wait until he's mic'd up for an actual game:

 [Smith] takes relentless comical jabs at offensive and special teams players, reserving some of his most pointed shots for wide receiver Nate Washington and kicker Rob Bironas. He often starts yelling "decoy" when Washington lines up and rides Bironas as a "fat little kicker."

Bironas dumped a handful of Payday candy bars in front of Smith's spot on the line during a recent practice, just before the team was scheduled to work on field goals. 

"I figured if he was chewing on a candy bar, he wouldn't be mouthing off as much..."

 Jerry Gray had some pointed words for the media regarding Michael Griffin, which is refreshing to see after a solid decade of Fisher-speak:

"Griff has great athletic ability, he is a great caliber football player, an All-Pro guy," Gray said. "I want him to act like an All Pro. And I want you to put fear in peoples' heart if they come across the middle of our defense. To me, you make a decision and you live with it. If you blow the guy up, you blow him up. If you go for the pick, you go for the pick. Do one or the other and be the guy you are supposed to be in the middle of the field."

 Yep, I'm really digging Jerry Gray's mentality.

 The injury to Damian Williams doesn't just hurt the WR corps, it hurts the QB spot as well. Williams has been the Titans' emergency option at QB, and since he may not plat this weekend the offensive linemen are lobbying for a shot to be the worst-case-scenario 4th QB. 

 I had no idea that Titans DE/DT Malcolm Sheppard is 80% blind in his left eye thanks to a childhood accident. Apparently a game of bows-and-arrows ended up with a chopstick lodged directly in Sheppard's eye, and doctors almost decided to removed the eyeball. Also interesting, new Titans D-line coach Tracy Rocker has been a fan of Sheppards since he recruited the talented lineman to come to Arkansas

 PFF throws a little cold water on all of the Kenny Britt love swirling around this week:

Tennessee Titans: Their leading receiver Kenny Britt led all receivers in deep targets with five, but he only managed one catch on those targets.

 Chris Hope is looking more and more like a longshot to play on Sunday as he recovers from a shoulder dislocation he suffered in the Jacksonville game.

 The Baltimore Sports Report has 5 things to watch during Sunday's game. 

Any chance the NFLN's new Bill Belichick documentary series acknowledges that he's a Cheater McCheatington?

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