Jim Wyatt of Tennessean.com says that second-year pro Kenny Britt has not exactly established himself as the No. 1 receiver in Tennessee this offseason. Britt, who led the team in receiving yards as a first-round pick last season, has had trouble with dropped passes.

Wyatt strikes a harsh note against Britt, and Britt basically backs him up:
He's gone backwards, leading to questions about his ability to become the playmaker the Titans envisioned when they picked him in the first round of the draft last year.

"It has been horrible,'' Britt said. “I am disappointed in myself. I know I have to get better. They expect me to get better. And that's what I plan on doing.''

Britt is a well-sculpted athlete (think skinnier Terrell Owens) who improved as a route runner last season. His strength and field-stretching speed (which isn’t top class but certainly effective) makes him a tough one-on-one matchup. But the Titans won’t hesitate to start Nate Washington and Justin Gage if Britt’s problems continue.

--Andy Benoit

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.

It looks like Eagles QB Michael Vick is clear of any legal problems regarding the shooting that occurred during his birthday party last week. Commissioner Roger Goodell is another story.

According to Foxsports.com’s Alex Marvez , Goodell said he’s still gathering facts about the Vick shooting, and although the Virginia Beach police department has told the NFL that Vick is not a focus of the investigation, Goodell said, “Obviously, we’ve got to look and see whether there was any violation of policy.”

Goodell also said he’ll meet in the next couple weeks with Tennessee QB Vince Young, who was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault after he allegedly was involved in a fight at a strip club. According to Marvez, Goodell acknowledged that, for a first-time offender like Young, he’s unlikely to receive an NFL suspension.


--Josh Katzowitz

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.

Tennessee CB Cortland Finnegan wants to be more like Jets CB Darrelle Revis. Now, he’ll get his chance.

Finnegan told the Tennessean that he’ll travel to Phoenix next week to train with Revis and hopes some of that top-two CB talent will rub off on him. Obviously, Finnegan will learn plenty from Revis. But what can Finnegan teach Revis?

“I could probably teach him how to wear Vans, that’s about it,’’ Finnegan told the paper. “We are two totally different players, really. He is asked to shut down a receiver, and our defense is totally different from their defense – what we’re asked to do. But I can learn from him for sure. I wish I could teach him something, but I’ve got nothing for him."

--Josh Katzowitz

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.

Remember when Chris Simms was at Texas and everyone thought he was a surefire NFL starting quarterback? He was the son of a Super Bowl MVP and a good-looking, charismatic leader of one of the nation’s most preeminent programs. He fell to the bottom of the third round of the 2003 Draft but fortuitously landed in Tampa Bay, where he was beloved by quarterback guru Jon Gruden.

Simms spent most of his first two seasons riding the bench but became the starter midway through the ’05 season. Many forget that the Bucs finished 11-5 that year (they were 6-4 in games Simms started). Week 3 of the following season is when Simms suffered the near fatal spleen injury that halted his career.

After a disappointing season as the No. 2 quarterback in Denver last year (Simms played one-and-a-half games and was utterly unprepared), the 29-year-old now finds himself in Tennessee. David Climer of Tennessean.com page/TEN">Titans++rookie+quarterback+embraces+his+long+odds" target="_blank">writes that, with the Titans drafting quarterback Rusty Smith in the sixth round, Simms’s best chance to make the final roster is to beat out Kerry Collins for the No. 2 job. Collins is due $5.5 million in ’10, but given the instability of Vince Young, don’t expect the Titans to cut the 16th-year veteran.

Climer writes:

“As for Simms, the Titans grabbed him once he hit the open market. He was with the team in 2008 and has a good feel for the offense.
Who is the odd man out? After an earlier practice, Simms acknowledged that a red flag went up when the Titans had drafted a quarterback in the sixth round.
‘How could I not pay attention?" Simms said. "What they have planned for him, I don't know. I've got to do the best job I can.’”

--Andy Benoit

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In their quest to replace WR/PR Domenik Hixon – who’s out for the year with a torn ACL – the Giants received WR Chris Davis today off waivers, a day after the Bengals released him.

As the Newark Star Ledger’s Mike Garafolo writes, “Giants general manager Jerry Reese admitted during minicamp he was more concerned about the team's punt returns than kick returns after the loss of Hixon to a torn knee ligament. Davis will join a group of potential punt returners that includes Aaron Ross, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham and rookie Chad Jones.”

During his rookie year with Tennessee in 2007, Davis returned 31 punts for a 9.5 yard average. The Titans released him before the 2009 season, following a preseason injury and a DUI arrest, and the Bengals signed him in March before cutting him Tuesday.

--Josh Katzowitz

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.

Even without his star RB Chris Johnson around because of a contract dispute, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said today the offensive backfield is “in good shape." Still, he didn’t rule out the possibility of adding a veteran running back to round out the unit. 

Though he declined to discuss his recent relationship with Johnson – who told ESPN Monday that he’d like to make $30-40 million in guaranteed money, as opposed to the $550,000 he’ll be paid this season – Fisher said that Javon Ringer has had a “real good offseason” (we detailed Ringer here Monday) while also praising Alvin Pearman and free agent rookies LeGarrette Blount and Stafon Johnson.

When asked if Johnson has fallen behind, Fisher basically said that was true. He hasn’t been conditioning with his teammates, and he hasn’t worked with new RB coach Kennedy Pola either. Not that it would take him much time to catch up and, theoretically, begin dominating the game again. But still, Fisher would like him around.

Told that Johnson wants to be paid at least $30 million, Fisher flashed a smile and said, “So would I.”

--Josh Katzowitz

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.

If anybody is benefitting from Titans RB Chris Johnson’s continued absence from Tennessee’s offseason workouts, it’s got to be second-year RB Javon Ringer, who’s been receiving plenty of work without Johnson around. He seems to be leaving a positive impression.

"I think this has been really good for Javon," offensive coordinator Mike Heimderdinger told John Glennon of the Tennessean . "Javon had like his redshirt year (as a rookie). He carried the ball a lot of times in college. His running ability is really good.

"(But) this has been really good for him to learn the passing game, and if there’s one thing Javon was behind on last year, it was the passing game and protection. That took a little time and he didn’t have much background in that and what they did up there (at Michigan State). So this has been good for him to learn what we want from him and the protections and all that."

Ringer didn’t get much work last season behind Johnson – the two-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. Instead, Ringer played in seven games, rushing the ball eight times for 48 yards and not catching a pass.

Coming out of Michigan State, Ringer was a well-regarded prospect, though he measures a little short (he’s listed at 5-foot-9) and he was seen more as a change-of-pace back that could complement a more bruising teammate. He didn’t have a great Combine, which is probably why he fell into the fifth round of the Draft.

But he’s getting his chance now without Johnson around, and he seems to be impressing the Tennessee coaching staff. And since Lendale White isn't with the team any more, Ringer could slide right into position to be Johnson's backup.


--Josh Katzowitz

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.

In the past few days, we’ve blogged about the no-showing of Stephen Tulloch and the travails and wanderings of Keith Bulluck. Those two posts help make up a larger story about the shape of the Tennessee Titans LB corps.

Basically, it’s not in good shape .

Tulloch, the leading tackler from last season, signed his restricted free agent tender this week, but he hasn’t been seen since. Bulluch, who had the second-most tackles, is a free agent and still not completely recovered from ACL surgery. Gerald McRath, who had 47 tackles last year and was projected to be a starter, has to serve a four-game suspension after a positive test of a banned substance. David Thornton (59 tackles), meanwhile, has been beset by injuries and won’t be ready until training camp. Plus, he’s 31.

What to do, what to do?

"We have plenty of options as far as the position is concerned," head coach Jeff Fisher told reporters. "We have great competition. We have guys that have played, so we have plenty of time to get that thing sorted out."

One option is former Eagles linebacker Will Witherspoon, a solid veteran who signed as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. He’s already helped rookie Rennie Curran.

"It's kind of in a state of flux, but as always, you try to bring stability to the situation,” Witherspoon told the Associated Press. “You make sure you understand what's going on and how you can approach the situation. That's exactly what I want to do. I want to come in here and be on the field playing, making plays and doing what I've always done throughout my career. That's the way I look at it.”

Among the other options at LB for Tennessee, Jamie Winborn, Colin Allred and Stanford Keglar will vie for playing time. Also, the team still could choose to resign Bulluck.

“I’m still watching the Keith Bulluck situation,” Fisher said. “I have not changed on that. We have options and fortunately we have plenty of time to deal with that."


--Josh Katzowitz

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.