Michael82
03-13-2006, 12:32 PM
One of the offseason goals articulated by Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher was to add more speed to his linebacker corps, and the Titans accomplished that goal on Monday morning, as ESPN.com learned that the club has reached a contract agreement with unrestricted free agent David Thornton.
The four-year veteran, who had played his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts, will sign a five-year contract that averages about $4.5 million annually. The deal includes $8 million in bonuses.
Thornton, 27, will team with Keith Bulluck, one of the best if unheralded defenders in the league, to give the Titans a standout tandem of outside linebackers. Tennessee is likely to lose two veteran linebackers, Brad Kassell and Rocky Boiman, in free agency. But even if that weren't the case, the Titans probably would have pursued Thornton, rated by ESPN.com as the No. 22 most attractive free agent.
Over the weekend, Thornton, who had hoped to remain in Indianapolis and will find it difficult to leave Colts coach Tony Dungy, visited with Titans officials. So impressed was Thornton by Fisher, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and linebackers coach Dave McGinnis that he extended his stay and instructed agent Brian Macker to start negotiations.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2366401
The four-year veteran, who had played his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts, will sign a five-year contract that averages about $4.5 million annually. The deal includes $8 million in bonuses.
Thornton, 27, will team with Keith Bulluck, one of the best if unheralded defenders in the league, to give the Titans a standout tandem of outside linebackers. Tennessee is likely to lose two veteran linebackers, Brad Kassell and Rocky Boiman, in free agency. But even if that weren't the case, the Titans probably would have pursued Thornton, rated by ESPN.com as the No. 22 most attractive free agent.
Over the weekend, Thornton, who had hoped to remain in Indianapolis and will find it difficult to leave Colts coach Tony Dungy, visited with Titans officials. So impressed was Thornton by Fisher, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and linebackers coach Dave McGinnis that he extended his stay and instructed agent Brian Macker to start negotiations.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2366401