2002-today. If you haven't figured that out by now, you're either not paying attention, or this is the first one you've read (in which case I'm quite sorry for accusing you).
#3 Randy Starks
2004-2007
Titans Career
131 combined tackles, 10.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 4 deflections
All-Time Career
246 combined tackles, 23.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 10 deflections, 1 interception (8 yards)
I know, I know. He did little to nothing with the franchise. Jason Jones has been much more impressive in his three seasons (but is he a DT or a DE? I can never tell), and will probably claim the coveted bronze medal starting next year.
But Randy Starks gets his honourable mention for his one play of note. One of my favourite clips to watch, and a scenario I found myself on the wrong end of a few times on special teams.
2004. Kickoff coverage. Kellen Winslow of the Browns decides he wants to get physical against the oncoming Titan. Unfortunately for Winslow, that Titan was a defensive tackle, and not really someone you wanted to get physical with. Winslow ASPLODED, Starks won.
And for that, Starks clearly gained my adoration and favouritism for seven years, at least. Poor old Jason Jones gets 3 and a half sacks against the Steelers in one game, and it still doesn't stack up to Kellen Winslow popping like a balloon.
#2 Tony Brown
2006-present
Titans Career
197 combined tackles, 18.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 12 deflections
All-Time Career
219 combined tackles, 19.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 15 deflections
Yet another one of those awesome d-lineman stories; Tony Brown was nobody, I tells ya, nobody, when he came to Tennessee. He would become the beneficiary of all the attention claimed by Haynesworth and KVB, but when those days were over, he gained a reputation of his own for being a disruptive force. One of those dudes whose success doesn't always show up on the stat sheet, but makes his presence felt all the same.
Should Fairley end up a Titan, is Brown the odd one out, with the younger and more imposing Jones getting the nod in the middle, alongside Derrick Morgan and Jason Babin on the outside? I hope not. But somebody's gotta lose their starting job there.
It's just fortunate that the Titans are known for rotating in the defensive trenches. For that reason, we've gotten to see Dave Ball leap gloriously like a turkey and Sen'Derrick Marks make as much of an impact as a particularly gooey sneeze directed at the opponent.
#1 Albert Haynesworth
2002-2008
Titans Career
271 combined tackles, 24.0 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 18 deflections
All-Time Career
324 combined tackles, 30.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 24 deflections
There's a particularly insipid story on the news at the moment about Justin Bieber, and it's gotten me into such a rage. I wish Bieber was the crumpled up Falcon on the ground, being eyed by a brutal (and possibly peckish) Albert Haynesworth. We all have our moments.
Fat Al was a man of mystery for many years, showing flashes of greatness but seeming likely to be a bust for a big man taken 15th overall in 2002. It looked like the beginning of the end in 2006, when he pulled grounded Andre Gurode's helmet off and then stomped in his face. It was a miserable time to be a Titans fan, and I'm sure that Al's backers were few at the time.
What would happen afterwards was quite shocking. For two straight years (contract years, mind you), Albert was playing like a man possessed. He was public enemy number one on the defensive line, and suddenly a guy you'd have to gameplan for. He quickly shifted from despicable stomper to possibly the best defensive player in the game.
Of course, we saw the other side of that coin as well, in a guy who would get gassed frequently and take plays off. Tragically for the Washington Redskins, that was the man they would meet when they signed him to a ludicrous $100 million contract. He's been a disappointment, resistant to the 3-4 defence he's found himself in and a curmudgeon in the locker room, with a few new legal issues to boot.
It's odd as a Titans fan to see such a thing happen; many of our guys have ruined their careers in a similar fashion, but usually, it's while they're still with the team. From Kenny Britt's myriad of maturity issues to Vince Young walking out on the team, to Pacman Jones, the poster boy for all things disastrous, we've seen it all. In Haynesworth's case though, you may think it malicious, but I for one am glad not to see it happen on our watch.
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