Ran Carthon's personal experience led to the Titans giving Taylor Lewan a unique decision before his release
Another week has passed which means another outstanding episode of Taylor Lewan and Will Compton's Bussin' With The Boys is out, this time featuring Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon. Among the many intriguing conversations that were had on the bus, Compton asked Carthon to detail how the decision to cut Taylor Lewan played out […]
Another week has passed which means another outstanding episode of Taylor Lewan and Will Compton's Bussin' With The Boys is out, this time featuring Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon.
Among the many intriguing conversations that were had on the bus, Compton asked Carthon to detail how the decision to cut Taylor Lewan played out last offseason.
"We were just sitting there having a conversation and then (Lewan asks), 'Okay, so you're releasing me?'" Carthon knew Lewan saw this decision coming. After all, Lewan would have counted $14.8 million against the Titans' salary cap number which was too expensive for a player coming off of a second ACL tear.
"We all knew the minute I had to get my knee done again – two out of three years – you're getting canned, brother," Lewan recalled. "You're not gonna be making that kind of money and not playing on the field."
Lewan remembers getting a phone call from former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel while he was in Cabo: "So (Vrabel) calls me and he's like, "Hey, we obviously have to release you. You let us know when the best time for you is."
It's a rarity for players to get to choose the timing of their release but, for a nine-year starter at left tackle with three Pro Bowls to his name, it was a final display of appreciation.
"When it's time to cut people you try to do it the most tactful and most professional and humane way just because I've been through it. You try to be honest, you try to be up front," Carthon revealed on his process of informing players of their release.
He adds that it's important to be truthful with players who don't seem cut out for the NFL so that they don't spend multiple years training to reach an unattainable goal.
What some of these players might not know is that Carthon has been in their shoes before. He described one of his nightmarish experiences being cut after hardly playing in a preseason finale near the home of his wife and daughter.
"When I come on the team flight I bring all of my stuff home. And so I go to the team after the game – I barely play, I don't get any practice reps – so I say, 'I know what's coming tomorrow can I just stay? We can do the cut right now I'll sign whatever you need (me) to sign. I'm healthy, there's nothing wrong with me. It's just more convenient for me to leave with my wife and my daughter and go home, I live 15 minutes from here.'"
The team told him they still needed to figure things out and that Carthon needed to stick around the next day to speak with his coaches. But when cut day arrived the following day Carthon was the team's first call.
Carthon knows how delicate this process can be. An undrafted free agent out of Florida, Carthon was well traveled in the league spending three seasons in the NFL with five different teams.
"I said if I got to he point where my number of teams outweighed my years of service then it's time to do something different," Carthon said.
Releasing players, especially veterans of Lewan's capability, is never easy. With that being said, it's a much less stressful process when the player knows his time has come to an end.
It's equally as neat as it is rare for a player and the general manager who cut him to have such a friendly and captivating conversation just over one year removed from their parting of ways. Credit Lewan and Carthon for peeling back the curtains and giving Titans fans a fascinating look behind the scenes at such an impactful decision for the franchise.
