Jim Wyatt, Senior Writer/Editor, TitansOnline.com
Titans reach deal with former Atlanta Falcons kick returner Eric Weems.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eric Weems has made a career out of returning punts and kicks, earning Pro Bowl honors and praise from his coaches along the way.
Now, the former Falcons return man is headed to Tennessee.
The Titans and Weems have agreed to a deal, pending a physical. With the Titans, Weems will be reunited with Titans offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie, his former position coach in Atlanta, and Titans head coach Mike Mularkey, his former offensive coordinator.
Weems will handle return duties for the Titans.
“Eric is a tough, physical, veteran player, who has dual return value and has been an effective player on kick coverage units,” said Titans General Manager Jon Robinson. “He has a history with Mike and Terry in Atlanta and they speak highly of him and what he brings to a team.”
A Pro Bowler in 2010, Weems ranked sixth in the NFL in punt returns last season with an 11.4 average. He had a 73-yard punt return in Week 2, and also averaged 23.0 yards on 17 kickoff returns last season, with a long of 42.
In 10 NFL seasons, Weems has caught 38 passes for 353 yards and four touchdowns. Weems entered the NFL in 2007 as an undrafted free agent out of Bethune-Cookman. He’s played eight of his 10 seasons with the Falcons (he played with the Bears in 2012-13).
Weems became the third key special teams performer to reach a deal with the Titans since the start of free agency, joining linebacker Daren Bates and another former Oakland Raider, safety Brynden Trawick.
Titans keep another of their own, agreeing to terms with tight end Phillip Supernaw.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans have agreed to terms with tight end Phillip Supernawon a multi-year deal, pending a physical.
Supernaw, who joined the Titans prior to the 2015 season, has developed into one of the team’s top special teams performers. He’s also seen an expanded role in the offense during his career.
Supernaw’s deal comes a day after former Titans tight end Anthony Fasano signed with the Dolphins.
A 6-foot-5, 248-pounder, Supernaw played in 15 games for the Titans in 2016, with two starts. He played in all 16 games in 2015.
Regarded as a solid blocker, Supernaw caught four passes for 62 yards in 2016.
In his career, which includes stops in Houston, Baltimore and Kansas City, Supernaw has 10 catches for 124 yards in 40 games.
In addition to Supernaw, the Titans currently have Pro Bowler Delanie Walker on the roster, along with tight ends Jace Amaro, Jerome Cunningham and Tim Semisch.
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Titans strengthen special teams with addition former Oakland Raiders linebacker and special teams ace Daren Bates.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans were looking for another fast and physical player on special teams.
They found one in linebacker Daren Bates.
On Friday, the team agreed to terms on a deal with Bates. Bates played in 16 games last season with the Raiders, where he posted 12 tackles and was a key contributor on special teams. Prior to that, Bates played three seasons with the Rams.
Bates, who is from Memphis, played collegiately at Auburn. He was initially signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He became the second key special teams performer to reach a deal with the Titans since the start of free agency, joining another former Oakland Raider, safety Brynden Trawick.
“It was impressive to watch Brynden and Bates on kickoff coverage in Oakland, race to the goalline to see who could get there first,’’ Titans general manager Jon Robinson said. “Bates is another fast, violent player in the kicking game. That is predominantly what he’s played is on special teams.
“I like his intensity, like his instincts and his reckless abandon to throw himself in there to make a play.”
Bates (5-11, 225) has played in 60 games in his NFL career, and totaled 37 tackles. He’s played a big role on special teams during his four seasons.
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The Titans on Friday agreed to terms with veteran safeties Johnathan Cyprien and Brynden Trawick.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans have agreed to terms with veteran safety Johnathan Cyprien, and his addition will add to the physical style of the team’s secondary.
The team has also agreed to a deal with former Raiders safety Brynden Trawick, who should provide a big boost to the team’s special teams units.
Both deals are pending a physical.
Cyprien, 26, is a former second-round pick of the Jaguars back in 2013. He’s played the past four seasons in Jacksonville, where he’s been a productive – and physical – player.
“I am excited to have Johnathan here with us,’’ Titans general manager Jon Robinson said. “Obviously there’s a lot of familiarity with him having played against him twice. I was a big fan of his back when he came out of Florida International. He’s an aggressive hitter, strong in coverage. He really battles at the point of attack, when the ball is in the air vs. those tight ends. He’s an instinctive player, good blitzer, heavy hitter. He’ll really help us in the back end…And he’s a great person, a really good family man. I am looking forward to working with him.”
Last season, Cyprien started all 16 games for the Jaguars and recorded 127 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four passes defensed. Pro Football Focus rated Cyprien the No. 7 safety in 2016.
Cyprien will join a safety group that includes Kevin Byard, a third-round pick in last year’s draft who racked up 63 tackles, a sack, five tackles for a loss and five passes defensed in 2016. Safeties Da’Norris Searcy and Curtis Riley also remain under contract, while Rashad Johnson and Daimion Stafford became free agents on Thursday at the start of the new league year.
Cyprien has a reputation for being sturdy in run support. He’s racked up 453 tackles and two sacks in four NFL seasons, along with a pair of interceptions. Cyprien, who played collegiately at Florida International, has totaled at least 100 tackles in each of his first four NFL seasons.
Trawick is a special teams ace who led the Raiders in special teams tackles last season.
He joined the Raiders last year after spending his first three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
A 6-foot-2, 225 pounder, Trawick has played in 53 games in four years. He played in 15 games for the Raiders last season, and finished the year with 24 tackles (16 solos, 8 assists).
Trawick, who played collegiately at Troy, recorded 10 tackles and an interception in Oakland’s season-finale against the Broncos this past season. He led the Raiders with 14 special teams tackles in 2016.
He originally signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in May 2013.
“He’s really had a good special teams career to this point,” Robinson said. “I took notice of him in a couple of games, particularly on defense that he played in last year. I do see some defensive upside with him. He has some coverage ability.
“He is a big, fast, aggressive style player. So we are excited to add Brynden to the mix. He will help us in the kicking game and will be a good role player for us on defense.”
