Tennessee Titans send shockwaves in firing of GM Jon Robinson
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans (7-5) controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk does not think her roster is being maximized. That was a clear message sent when the team announced that it would be firing general manager Jon Robinson on Tuesday morning. Perform, or get out. “Since becoming controlling owner in 2015, my goal has been to […]
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans (7-5) controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk does not think her roster is being maximized. That was a clear message sent when the team announced that it would be firing general manager Jon Robinson on Tuesday morning.
Perform, or get out.
“Since becoming controlling owner in 2015, my goal has been to raise the standard for what is expected in all facets of our organization," Adams Strunk said in a statement. "I believe we have made significant progress both on and off the field through investments in leadership, personnel and new ideas. This progress includes the core of our business, the football team itself, which is regularly evaluated both by results (wins and losses) and team construction/roster building. I am proud of what we have accomplished in my eight seasons of ownership, but I believe there is more to be done and higher aspirations to be met.
"I want to thank Jon for his dedicated work to set this organization on an upward trajectory and I wish him and his family the best.”
Firing Robinson was the correct decision
Crazy to write that after six consecutive winning seasons and Tennessee currently in the middle of their seventh.
The reality of the situation is that years of Robinson miscalculations have thrown the 2022 team into a state of stagnation and decay. In the last three offseasons for the Titans, Robinson drafted four players with high draft picks that would be viewed as consensus busts. He traded more assets for wide receiver Julio Jones who had a track record of poor health that cost him the vast majority of his one year in Tennessee. That particular move required a restructuring of quarterback Ryan Tannehill's contract that gives him the highest cap hit in football this year ($38.6 million).
Robinson cut competent offensive linemen without viable replacements and all but lit Adams Strunk's money on fire in free agency signings of Jadeveon Clowney and Vic Beasley.
The domino effect of those flubs, combined with a record rate of player injury, has left the current coaching staff under Mike Vrabel with no viable personnel options at positions of critical need this season. It is indisputable that Robinson pulled the Titans franchise out of the depths of irrelevancy to become one of the most successful organizations in the sport. It is also true that his decisions since then have been the greatest hindrance to Tennessee's Super Bowl aspirations.
Titans fans should have gratitude for the work that Robinson did, and also be completely ready to move on.
What does this mean for Titans coach Mike Vrabel
Vrabel will have far more direct say in what happens with Tennessee's roster moving forward.
Both coach and GM received extensions this February, but Vrabel is a commodity that Adams Strunk and the Titans organization cannot afford to have tempted by better looking opportunities. Whomever Tennessee hires to be its next head of personnel will not have more influence than the current head coach. The job Vrabel and his staff have done to overcome significant challenges posed by the roster in the last three seasons has earned him that right.
Robinson's firing is also an acknowledgement that it is the players, not the coaching staff that is coming up short.
That means that embattled offensive coordinator Todd Downing is far more likely to be given another opportunity to retain his position beyond the 2022 season. Watching former wide receiver A.J. Brown, whom Robinson traded away to Philadelphia this spring, absolutely dominate the Titans in a 35-10 blowout turned out to be the final straw. The public humiliation, internal frustrations, external criticisms and fan outrage drove that point home for Tennessee's controlling owner.
According to multiple league sources, Robinson and Vrabel had several notable disagreements on key player decisions over the last few seasons. Trading Brown, tradiung for Jones and releasing former punter Brett Kern were a few such decisions.
Adams Strunk made it clear on Tuesday whose side she falls on.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
