It easy over the last year to Vincent Fuller had the option of taking aboyt a few weeks while his teammates practiced.
The Titans nickelback wouldn't dream of it. He was going to practice, broken arm and all.
Although Fuller hasn't been cleared to play in games, he's regularly working on the practice field. He began easing his way back into practices barely a week after suffering a fractured forearm on Sept. 27 against the Jets and having surgery the next day.
"That's just Vinny,'' linebacker Keith Bulluck said. "He has been doing those types of things since he's been a rookie. He has always pushed himself, whether it's in the weight room or doing extra stuff after practice on the field. That's the type of player he is and we notice that and appreciate that about him.''
Fuller, a fourth round pick by the Titans in 2005, said it's been killing him not to play.
The problems in the secondary have been well documented during a 0-6 start, and the Titans are last in the NFL in pass defense.
Fuller missed the past three games and so did cornerback Cortland Finnegan (hamstring). Cornerback Nick Harper (forearm) sat out last week.
While Fuller might be able to return for the Nov. 1 game against the Jaguars, he had no chance to play in the past three games. Yet he still participated in individual drills, worked on the scout team and helped out in other ways.
He's jammed receivers at the line of scrimmage using his left arm while doing his best to protect his right arm, which is outfitted in a protective cast.
"When I broke it I was mad, but it's an upper body injury and there is nothing wrong with my legs,'' Fuller said. "So as soon as they said it was OK for me to run around and do football activities I thought it would be good to practice. One reason is because I had a fresh pair of legs and figured I could help out the team. And … it helps keep me in shape for when I am ready to come back.''
Practicing helped keep him involved, but it hasn't been a cure-all.
"It is killing me to be on the sideline and not play,'' he said. "Practicing doesn't ease that pain, but it helps me keep my footwork and even get better — work on things I need to work on.''
Teammates and coaches have noticed his commitment, though the Titans could use Fuller in the lineup. He's one of the team's most underrated players of the past few years.
"That's the kind of guys we need,'' safety Chris Hope said. "Everybody needs to be accountable. Even though he can't play and help on Sunday, he does a great job of coming out and encouraging the guys and coming to practice and doing the little things. … It speaks volumes to how committed he is to the guys in the locker room and how he is trying to get better and healthy and get back out there.''
Fines levied: Titans safety Chris Hope has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for a hit on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in last Sunday's game.
Hope was flagged for roughing the passer in the game, and the NFL ruled he also made helmet-to-helmet contact with Brady.
Hope wasn't the only Titan fined for a hit in the team's 59-0 loss. Defensive tackle Tony Brown was also fined $5,000 for a hit on Brady in the contest.
Fumble woes: Running back LenDale White beat himself up in the days following January's playoff loss to the Ravens. He had a costly fumble, leading to this prediction back in training camp:
"I have my mind conditioned to hold on to the ball this year. I don't want to jinx myself, but my goal is to have zero fumbles this year.''
White made it through five games before he coughed up the ball against the Patriots last Sunday.
"I can't blame the weather conditions,'' White said. "The fact of the matter is I put myself and the team in a bad situation and it can't happen again. I'm not glad about it.''
No quit: Fans and media have questioned the Titans' effort against the Patriots, with some ESPN analysts suggesting the visitors quit.
"There's a lot of things that happened wrong in that game, but it wasn't a lack of effort,'' defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "I don't think it's a lack of preparation, a lack of emotion, a lack of heart. I think this team has plenty of heart.''
"It (ticks) me off,'' White said. "I know all the people on my team work hard. I know everybody was fighting. Nobody quit. We did what we could, we tried very hard.''
Said quarterback Kerry Collins: "I have never seen one guy in here give less than 100 percent effort.''
New mascot: Last year Titans offensive linemen created an enormous ball of athletic tape and called it "Bryan Pride." He became their unofficial mascot.
Now the defensive linemen have created their own mascot, a football player made out of tape. The creation of William Hayes, Dave Ball and Tony Brown is called "Keevan" and is in a three point stance. At times he wears a tiny Titans helmet.
"He's going to be way better than Bryan Pride,'' Hayes said.
Coach-speak: Defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil touched base last week with the man he replaced, Lions Coach Jim Schwartz.
"We had a good conversation,'' Cecil said. "He was very positive. We talked about the situation here and his there. It was a good conversation.''
Cecil, a 2009 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, will be honored tonight at Arizona, his alma mater, during a game against UCLA.
The Titans nickelback wouldn't dream of it. He was going to practice, broken arm and all.
Although Fuller hasn't been cleared to play in games, he's regularly working on the practice field. He began easing his way back into practices barely a week after suffering a fractured forearm on Sept. 27 against the Jets and having surgery the next day.
"That's just Vinny,'' linebacker Keith Bulluck said. "He has been doing those types of things since he's been a rookie. He has always pushed himself, whether it's in the weight room or doing extra stuff after practice on the field. That's the type of player he is and we notice that and appreciate that about him.''
Fuller, a fourth round pick by the Titans in 2005, said it's been killing him not to play.
The problems in the secondary have been well documented during a 0-6 start, and the Titans are last in the NFL in pass defense.
Fuller missed the past three games and so did cornerback Cortland Finnegan (hamstring). Cornerback Nick Harper (forearm) sat out last week.
While Fuller might be able to return for the Nov. 1 game against the Jaguars, he had no chance to play in the past three games. Yet he still participated in individual drills, worked on the scout team and helped out in other ways.
He's jammed receivers at the line of scrimmage using his left arm while doing his best to protect his right arm, which is outfitted in a protective cast.
"When I broke it I was mad, but it's an upper body injury and there is nothing wrong with my legs,'' Fuller said. "So as soon as they said it was OK for me to run around and do football activities I thought it would be good to practice. One reason is because I had a fresh pair of legs and figured I could help out the team. And … it helps keep me in shape for when I am ready to come back.''
Practicing helped keep him involved, but it hasn't been a cure-all.
"It is killing me to be on the sideline and not play,'' he said. "Practicing doesn't ease that pain, but it helps me keep my footwork and even get better — work on things I need to work on.''
Teammates and coaches have noticed his commitment, though the Titans could use Fuller in the lineup. He's one of the team's most underrated players of the past few years.
"That's the kind of guys we need,'' safety Chris Hope said. "Everybody needs to be accountable. Even though he can't play and help on Sunday, he does a great job of coming out and encouraging the guys and coming to practice and doing the little things. … It speaks volumes to how committed he is to the guys in the locker room and how he is trying to get better and healthy and get back out there.''
Fines levied: Titans safety Chris Hope has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for a hit on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in last Sunday's game.
Hope was flagged for roughing the passer in the game, and the NFL ruled he also made helmet-to-helmet contact with Brady.
Hope wasn't the only Titan fined for a hit in the team's 59-0 loss. Defensive tackle Tony Brown was also fined $5,000 for a hit on Brady in the contest.
Fumble woes: Running back LenDale White beat himself up in the days following January's playoff loss to the Ravens. He had a costly fumble, leading to this prediction back in training camp:
"I have my mind conditioned to hold on to the ball this year. I don't want to jinx myself, but my goal is to have zero fumbles this year.''
White made it through five games before he coughed up the ball against the Patriots last Sunday.
"I can't blame the weather conditions,'' White said. "The fact of the matter is I put myself and the team in a bad situation and it can't happen again. I'm not glad about it.''
No quit: Fans and media have questioned the Titans' effort against the Patriots, with some ESPN analysts suggesting the visitors quit.
"There's a lot of things that happened wrong in that game, but it wasn't a lack of effort,'' defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "I don't think it's a lack of preparation, a lack of emotion, a lack of heart. I think this team has plenty of heart.''
"It (ticks) me off,'' White said. "I know all the people on my team work hard. I know everybody was fighting. Nobody quit. We did what we could, we tried very hard.''
Said quarterback Kerry Collins: "I have never seen one guy in here give less than 100 percent effort.''
New mascot: Last year Titans offensive linemen created an enormous ball of athletic tape and called it "Bryan Pride." He became their unofficial mascot.
Now the defensive linemen have created their own mascot, a football player made out of tape. The creation of William Hayes, Dave Ball and Tony Brown is called "Keevan" and is in a three point stance. At times he wears a tiny Titans helmet.
"He's going to be way better than Bryan Pride,'' Hayes said.
Coach-speak: Defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil touched base last week with the man he replaced, Lions Coach Jim Schwartz.
"We had a good conversation,'' Cecil said. "He was very positive. We talked about the situation here and his there. It was a good conversation.''
Cecil, a 2009 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, will be honored tonight at Arizona, his alma mater, during a game against UCLA.
