Random ruminations while wondering whatever happened to Dale Carter. . . .
MAKING MOVES: They are replacing thousands of seats in Nissan Stadium, part of a number of items designed to improve the Titans organization.
Watch for new general manager Jon Robinson to make some moves of his own in the free agent market and in making decisions as to the future of 12 current Titans who will be eligible to become free agents.
Nine year veteran safety Michael Griffin was the first cut that Robinson made, not unexpected. He was classy with his reaction to the move.
Don’t be surprised if cornerback Coty Sensabaugh isn’t with the team next season and will test the free agent waters. Sensabaugh has looked lost on too many deep balls in particular.
Some other probably free agents that the Titans will let go include running backs Antonio Andrews, Bishop Sankey and Dexter McClusker. David Cobb needs to win a running back spot.
A possible replacement could be Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin, whom the Bucs say they want to get a deal with before March 9, when he would become a free agent. Robinson likes Martin from the time they in Tampa.
I’m not sure the underachieving wide receiver Justin Hunter will return. They will mine the free agent list and look into the draft for other weak spots they have to improve.
I see them keeping eligible free agents nose tackle Sammie Hill, tight end Craig Stevens, offensive tackle Byron Bell and inside linebacker Zach Brown.
Robinson will earn his bones in the first year. Known for his ability for evaluating talent, Robinson will be tested out of the gate.
PEYTON PONDERING: Will Denver quarterback Peyton Manning try to make another NFL roster? Or will he be satisfied with the scenario every NFL player would covet, in that he can leave the game with his second Super Bowl ring and a first ballot ticket to the Hall of Fame when eligible?
I was surprised and disappointed to hear Manning say one of the things he was going to do after beating Carolina was “drink a lot of Budweiser beer.’’
He said it again in another post-game interview.
It didn’t bother me that Manning was going to celebrate what will likely be his final NFL game. But it wasn’t something young people needed to hear. It was a bad example for someone in the national spotlight to endorse.
WHAT’S IN A NAME: When the Titans announced former assistant coach Mike Mularkey as their head coach, it’s safe to say Titans fans did not buy into that decision.
They wanted a bigger name and had time to get one, although I didn’t see any other hire that will be a NFL Hall of Famer.
I agree Mularkey isn’t a big name, but it’s much more important that he be a good fit.
BE DEFENSIVE: We saw what Broncos defensive coordinator Wade (son of Bum) Phillips did to throttle the favored Panthers.
I think it was a good move for the Titans to make Dick Lebeau their defensive coordinator after Ray Martin left for a same position.
Lebeau is quite a story, a 78-year-old coach who has been in the NFL for 57 years as a player and coach.
In his first year as co-defensive coordinator, the Titans went from 27th in the league to 12th in total defense. They went from 31 to 18 in run defense and 15 to 7 in pass defense. They were sixth in the NFL in sack per play, but gave up 30 or more points in the last five games.
Lebeau promises now that he has the final say, the Titans defense will change even more this season.
A TRIBUTE: It is fitting they are naming Stratford High School’s basketball gym after legendary coach Charlie Anderson.
Anderson is an icon in Tennessee high school circles, but I think his most impressive season was when he took an Aquinas College team to the national junior college championship, the first team from Tennessee to ever win the title.
SNEDS ON FIRE: Nashville pro Brandt Snedeker came out on fire over the first nine holes at the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Saturday. He birdied five of his first six holes and finished with a 30, six shots under par.
Unfortunately, he double bogeyed No. 10 and jumped on the bogey bus. He had three bogeys, four pars and one birdie for a smooth running 30-40 – 70. That’s golf. He was playing with amateur Toby Wilt, a Nashville businessman and former Vanderbilt quarterback.
Snedeker is second on this year’s money list, winning $2,286,645.80 this season. He has played eight events, made the cut in five and carded three top-10 finishes and won one tournament.
DEATH NOTICE: I received word from my golf stringer Joey Smith that former Nashville resident Fred Scrutchfield died on a Phoenix area golf course Thursday.
Scrutchfield was the original director of The Vinny golf tournament and the Rio Diamond tournament. He was playing golf Thursday with Steve Cropper.
Joe Biddle is a WKRN sports columnist. He is a member of the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Hall of Fame. Contact him at joebiddle11@gmail.com.