sudpung168 Titans coach insists Tannehill is just a backup

sudpung168 Ryan Tannehill (left) has played a role in helping Marcus Mariota (right) become a better player, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel insists.

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel reiterated his intentions that quarterback Ryan Tannehill, 30, will remain Marcus Mariota’s backup after being asked again during a press conference at the American Century Championship golf tournament, NBC Sports reported Saturday.  sudpung168

The Miami Dolphins traded Tannehill and a 2019 sixth-round draft pick for the Titans in exchange for a 2020 fourth-round draft pick and a 2019 seventh-round draft pick. The 30-year-old quarterback signed a one-year, $7 million deal that could rise to $12 million with incentives, and Titans head coach Vrabel has maintained from the start that Tannehill would only be Mariota’s backup.

However, reporters have repeatedly asked the Titans head coach the same question, but Vrabel has maintained that Tannehill is only responsible for making Mariota better.

“His job as a backup, everybody’s job as a backup, is to push the guy in front of him,” Vrabel said of Tannehill’s status. “To compete and try to make yourself better and try to make the team better and see how everybody responds.”

For Mariota, the 25-year-old quarterback, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft, it’s up to him to get back in shape and prove he’s the franchise’s answer to a potential long-term deal after the Titans accepted a $20.9 million option on his fifth-year deal. He’s 27-28 as a starter and has yet to make the Pro Bowl. Tannehill, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2012 draft, spent seven seasons with the Dolphins, going 42-46 and also has never made the Pro Bowl.  ( sudpung168 )