Titans president awkwardly scoffed at puzzling Super Bowl roster question
With No. 1 overall pick quarterback Cam Ward in the fold, the Tennessee Titans might have a bright future. For now, though, they're obviously in the early stages of a rebuild, as anyone closely paying attention can see. In fact, they're not really being all that subtle about their intentions on establishing a quality organizational foundation for a little while before they're prepared to contend again.
Someone did not pass along this memo to a reporter who attended the Titans' opening press conference of training camp on Tuesday.
To close media availability, someone asked Titans president Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi whether the Tennessee team that would hit the practice field in the coming weeks was good enough to ... compete for Super Bowl 60???
Naturally, the Titans are nowhere close to playing for a Lombardi Trophy. Let's not kid ourselves. And to their credit, they're not lying to themselves. They know this fact very well. They're not operating on that sort of timeline. Not in the least.
But that didn't stop Brinker from scoffing at the mere hint of Super Bowl contention any time soon. Judging by Borgonzi's frozen reaction next to him, it's probably safe to assume both gentlemen did not expect to hear a question concerned with such lofty expectations for a still-developing roster that earned last year's top draft selection:
It's not often you see such candidness from NFL front office people. People in Brinker's and Borgonzi's positions usually like to keep things close to the vest for a good reason. That's what makes Brinker's momentary slip here so amusing. Being asked about this Titans roster competing for a Super Bowl was so surprising that Brinker couldn't help but show his full hand for once, even for a few seconds.
In case it wasn't already clear, the Titans are rebuilding. They're trying to develop a young quarterback. Any other 2025 goals are ancillary, a bonus, and likely highly unrealistic.
When was the last time the Titans competed for a Super Bowl?
It wasn't that long ago, now that you ask!
The peak of the Mike Vrabel era saw the Titans make a run all the way to the 2020 AFC title game, where they eventually lost to Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs. At one point in the game, the Titans even held a double-digit lead before the Chiefs stormed back to take full control in a resounding victory. This version of Tennessee would make the playoffs a couple more times in ensuing seasons, but it couldn't get out of the first round on either occasion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
A.J. Brown again admits that Super Bowl glory still feels hollow
A.J. Brown again makes it clear. Super Bowl glory just simply wasn't enough Remember when the Seattle Seahawks outlasted the San Francisco 49ers in the 2013 NFC Championship game? Remember when Erin Andrews put that microphone in Richard Sherman's face a few minutes later and he bellowed something about Michael Crabtree being a "sorry receiver"? Some people didn't know how to take that, Philadelphia Eagles fans included. Can we be honest here? Buckle up because here's some brutal honesty. No one should have been upset at Sherman for what he said. Statements like his are what you will sometimes get when you shove a mic in someone's face for his opinion, especially when you do so a few seconds after he spent three hours playing an emotional game that ended as his did. Is it possible that, had he been allowed to calm down, maybe he would have provided a calmer answer? No, this is Richard Sherman. Maybe he wouldn't have, but you get the point. At least you should have. This is what happens when one clamors for continual insider access. Sometimes, you're going to get something you didn't think you asked for. What does this have to do with A.J. Brown? Thank you for the question. We're glad you asked! A.J. Brown reiterates his lack of fulfillment after Super Bowl glory Access... It's a powerful tool, but you have to use it wisely. If you open a social media account, there will be trolls, especially if you use your handle to express your opinions about subjects people care about deeply. They say drunk men tell no lies. That's true, but the statement needs to be amended. Recently, A.J. Brown was interviewed by NFL Network's Judy Batista and Colleen Wolfe after a training camp practice, and while opening up, he restated something he had mentioned months earlier. It didn't take very long for him to revisit the desire to get on the field and compete again. To Batista's question about how much time he took to celebrate and enjoy Super Bowl glory, he offered the following: "(I turned the page) two or three days afterwards. I was so excited to win and to try to fulfill that fulfillment, and it wasn't fulfilling to be honest. Days like these (training camp practices) are fulfilling. It's the process. It's coming out and going to work with your brothers in 95-degree heat, you know, and just really just playing the game, you know? Obviously, we want to win, and we're doing it to win. But, it's a part of the process and the everyday journey. It's the hunt for me." Honestly, can you find fault in anything he said? Guess what? People did. A.J. Brown shared the same sentiment just days after Super Bowl 59 in a now-viral Instagram post. He was criticized. Frankly, we still can't understand why, but that takes us back to the earlier statement about Richard Sherman's famous outburst. If you thirst for behind-the-scenes access and spend your time following people you find interesting, you're sometimes going to discover more than you bargained for. That doesn't make these athletes bad people. It doesn't make them selfish or self-centered. It makes them human. Philadelphia's star wide receiver is a great guy with a great heart. We've never felt anything to the contrary. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, but again, that doesn't have any bearing on his character. Here is how you should handle that if his emotions are a problem for you. Stop following him on X and Instagram because if his emotions make you that angry, that isn't an A.J. Brown problem. Remember... It's social media. It's supposed to be fun. Write that on the tablet of your hearts, and you won't be so irritated. That's just some free advice. Use it wisely. Let's get back to some football.
USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
Eagles' O-Line coach Jeff Stoutland offers high praise to the ever-improving Tyler Steen
Following a recent practice, Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland praised his ever-improving trainee Tyler Steen, a third-year offensive guard for the Philadelphia Eagles, is poised to finally earn the starting right guard position after falling short the previous two years. As a rookie, Steen sat behind the versatile Cam Jurgens as Jason Kelce played out his final season. Last summer, it was assumed that Steen was the top guy, but a subsequent ankle injury propelled Mekhi Becton into the starting job, and a lucrative free agent deal with the Chargers after winning the Super Bowl. Now Steen is on the cusp of outperforming Kenyon Green, Matt Pryor, and others to take his place among the NFL's best and most efficient offensive line. Following a recent practice, Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland praised his ever-improving trainee. Steen, 24, was a third-round choice (65th overall) out of Alabama back in 2023 and has played in 28 games with three starts. Steen was better when called upon in his second season. He started two games in the regular season and started at left guard in the NFC Championship Game win over the Commanders. Steen (6-6, 321) performed well at times in 2024, but he was one of the worst graded guards according to Pro Football Focus. Among the 77 qualified guards in the NFL last season, Steen ranked 75th. For some point of reference, only his new teammate and competition at right guard, Kenyon Green, was worse. Green was 76th, Matt Pryor was 21st in Chicago, and Becton was 20th.
USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
Jalen Hurts details the ‘Special Element' Saquon Barkley has brought to the Eagles
The Eagles QB said this about Barkley, 'He brings a special element to us, and we obviously saw that last year,' Saquon Barkley is an All-Pro running back, and the biggest reason why the Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions and why they're favored once again to win it all. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year had one of the best seasons ever for a running back after he posted over 2,000 yards last season. The move to sign Barkley away from the rival New York Giants paid dividends as he helped lead the Eagles to their second Super Bowl win in franchise history. Barkley is a dynamic player, and his teammate and quarterback, Jalen Hurts, recently detailed just how valuable the former Penn State star has been. Hurts talked to Esports Insider, D.J. Siddiqi, and highlighted the "special element" Barkley brings to the Eagles' offense. 'He brings a special element to us, and we obviously saw that last year,' says Hurts of Barkley. 'He's a hell of a player, hell of a leader. He's a force on the field.' Barkley led the league with a franchise record of 2,005 rushing yards, making him the ninth player in NFL history to post 2,000+ rushing yards in a season. Overall, Barkley logged the 8th-most rushing yards in league history, trailing only Eric Dickerson in 1984 (2,105), Adrian Peterson in 2012 (2,097), Jamal Lewis in 2003 (2,066), Barry Sanders in 1997 (2,053), Derrick Henry in 2020 (2,027), Terrell Davis in 1998 (2,008) and Chris Johnson in 2009 (2,006). Note: O.J. Simpson, in 1973 (2,003), was the other member of the 2,000+ yard club. Including playoffs, Barkley's 2,329 rushing yards (119 in the NFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Green Bay) are the 3rd-most in NFL single-season history, behind Terrell Davis in 1998 (2,476) and 1997 (2,331). He is just 148 rushing yards shy of breaking Davis' record.
