Titans announced contract extension with Michael Griffin
Safety Michael Griffin has been on the Tennessee defense longer than any other person, and the Titans made sure he’s going to stick around as they rebuild the unit with his leadership. Low juice pro football betting
The Titans announced the 5-year extension right after the end of their 1st session of a three-day minicamp, a deal eased in part by the person silently taking part in the offseason plan notwithstanding being tagged as the team’s franchise player back in March.
The team didn’t disclose terms of the agreement, but a league source said that Griffin agreed to a 5-year contract worth $35 million, including $15 million guaranteed.
“He is a significant part of what we are attempting to do moving forward,” GM Ruston Webster declared.
“We actually need to keep a core of our players together. I believe that’s vital in building a team, and Michael has the talent and the personality we look for in our players. He’s handled himself like a real pro through this complete franchise tag thing, and I couldn’t be happier to sign him to a new contract and have him be a Titan for a long time.”
A 2-time Pro Bowl safety, Griffin didn’t frustrate at being tagged, with $6.2 million in warranted cash if he played the season under that agreement.
Griffin stated that he handled the tag his way, telling his agent, Ben Dogra, he wanted to take part in the offseason program from the start and questioned if he could sign something to guard himself in case of injury to be with his squad.
Griffin’s agent credited the safety and the Titans with being pleased to work together.
“It’s not always easy to work through a franchise tag,” Dogra related.
Griffin was a 1st-round draft pick in 2007 out of Texas, and his 17 interceptions rank 4th among safeties during the last 5 years — tops among safeties in his class.
He has played in all 80 games with 73 starts since being drafted 19th overall. He ranked 3rd with 96 tackles last season with Pro Bowl selections in 2008 and 2010.
With Finnegan gone together with the exit of safety Chris Hope, Griffin is the most tenured player on the defense with Tennessee. The Titans brought back Jordan Babineaux at the other safety spot for a 2nd straight year, a vet going into his 9th NFL season. Linebacker Will Witherspoon is a 10-year NFL vet with the past 2 in Tennessee.
Webster said they like Griffin’s size at 6-foot and 203 pounds along with his athletic capability and ball skills.
“He’s tough. He can play in the box. He can play deep, and he can intercept the ball and make plays,” Webster announced. “And I think we can help him more. The more rush we get, the more balls will be up there for him to get, and we’re going to improve not only on the back-end with him being long term, but also up front. I like the way our defense is heading.”