Have the Tennessee Titans gotten one step closer to signing Peyton Manning? The Titans have reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with five-time first-team All-Pro offensive guard Steve Hutchinson, according to ESPN's John Clayton. Terms of this deal weren't immediately disclosed.
The Seattle Seahawks drafted Hutchinson with the 17th-overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Hutchinson signed the biggest contract in NFL history for any offensive guard when he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006. Hutchinson has anchored offensive lines which featured Shaun Alexander and Adrian Peterson as running backs.
Hutchinson was still performing at a high level as he turned 34-years-old during the 2011-12 season. However, injuries have become a factor as he has aged. The Vikings were also looking to get younger as they begin a youth movement following a 3-13 season.
This signing could mean two things for the Titans. It's very unlikely that Jake Scott would be re-signed. More importantly, it could be a selling point for Manning to come to Nashville. Manning and Hutchinson have reportedly developed a friendship after all their meetings at past Pro Bowls. Manning is also seeking a tremendous offensive line that can limit the amount of hits that he takes on his surgically-repaired neck.
The Titans already have one of the NFL's best duos at offensive tackles with David Stewart and Michael Roos. The Titans' offensive line has only surrendered 66 sacks combined since 2009. The coaching staff features two Hall-of-Fame offensive linemen with head coach Mike Munchak and offensive line coach Bruce Matthews. Regardless, they're still looking to improve on the interior of an offensive line that featured Jake Scott, Leroy Harris and Eugene Amano in 2011.
As a Packers' fan, I've seen enough of Hutchinson to feel like he'd be a fantastic addition to this offensive line. If the Titans can also add Scott Wells, then the choice will be even simpler for Manning. It could also lead to a resurgence from Chris Johnson, who barely eclipsed the 1000-yard rushing mark after he signed a six-year contract extension in 2011. Personally, I do think that the offensive line was partially (not all) responsible for that disappointing season.
The Titans lost their chance at Mario Williams as he reportedly agreed to a six-year, $100-million contract with the Buffalo Bills. However, improving on the other side of the trenches (and possibly adding Manning) is a worthy backup plan which will hopefully work out for the Titans.
If nothing else, football has gotten much more exciting in Nashville for the next season or two.
Joshua Huffman graduated from Middle Tennessee State University as a marketing major in 2009. He's been a Middle Tennessee resident from 1986-88 and 2001-present. He lived in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin from 1988-01 and for approximately eight months in 2009-10 as he completed a 20-game volunteer position with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers. His favorite sports organizations include the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. He can be found on Twitter HERE.
More from Yahoo! Contributor Network
Could Jake Locker Be Traded If the Tennessee Titans Sign Peyton Manning? Local Fan's Take
Tennessee Titans Owner Bud Adams Wants Peyton Manning, Needs Super Mario: Fan's Take
2012 NFL Free Agency Recap (Day One for the Tennessee Titans): Local Fan's Take
Did the Washington Redskins Trade Too Much for the No. 2 Pick? Previous Potential Overpayments
Calvin Johnson is Proof that Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson is a Guru: Fan's Take
Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.
No comments:
Post a Comment