Game preparation or rules violation? Titans reveal team’s mindset after NFL shutdown

By John Glennon

Driving to the Titans' facility on the morning of Sept. 29th, quarterback Ryan Tannehill paused to take a phone call from his wife, Lauren.

Her words came as a shock to him: “Your work just got shut down.”

“Really?” said a surprised Tannehill, who'd missed an earlier team message to the same effect.

The exact details of what transpired over the next several hours – and what directives were handed down from the team, the NFL and the NFL Players' Association – remain murky today.

But after hearing at long last from the Titans on Saturday afternoon, we at least got a glimpse into the mindset of the team when the facility was shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak, one that had already sidelined defensive play-caller Shane Bowen and four players.

Let's remember there had been no mention at that point of postponing the Titans' game against Pittsburgh, a contest that loomed just five days away.

So what went through the mind of a quarterback and team captain -- a player expected to lead his team in times of crisis – when presented with the challenge of preparing the Titans in unprecedented times? Just what one might expect: Find a way to make sure the team, or in his case the offensive skill players, stayed ready.

“Our game was still scheduled to be played on Sunday,” Tannehill said. “So . . .

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Author: John GlennonMulti-media journalist with extensive expertise covering the NFL, NHL, professional soccer and more, including the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators for The Tennessean with articles, videos and podcasts. Strengths include the ability to write quick, concise and thorough analysis, as well as the ability to uncover unique human-interest stories. In working as a reporter, John developed skills that extend beyond the sports journalism world. An efficient and effective communicator, John is confident, calm and productive under deadline pressure and knows the power of the written word. John brings to Broadway Sports a work ethic second to none, an intellectual hunger, and an ability to inform and entertain readers, viewers and listeners. Reach out directly to John at: