Which is funny in one instance of football, where having a safety recorded against you is the antithesis to that description. I can't think of much that's less safe than having your ball carrier slammed mercilessly to the turf in your own endzone. And you know for sure it's merciless, because everyone on that defence wants to score that elusive safety.
It is much more appropriate in the other instance, of the free and strong safeties. Because often enough, you need them for just that. Safety.
Without them, you're watching 70% of passes whizzing over your head, or running backs breaking through the front seven with nothing standing between the endzone. With them, you can turn the tables and lay the wood, or at least prevent the big gain. Unless you're a Titans fan, in which case you'll often see the former happen, even with them on the field.
We've had a fair few head through the revolving door since 2002. Who makes my list? Be prepared to be shocked. Hold your noses, for we're heading into smelly territory...
We begin with the free safeties. Why? Because they're free, of course!
#2 Lamont Thompson
2003-2006
Titans Career
236 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 11 deflections, 8 interceptions (91 yards, 1 TD)
All-Time Career
259 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 11 deflections, 9 interceptions (95 yards, 1 TD)
Is your mind boggled yet? Are you burning down Tony-shaped effigies? Has seeing the dreadlocked visage of Lamont appropriately filled you with dread?
Allow me to explain, if I possibly can. Also, how is a Tony-shaped effigy different from any other person?
To be frank, Vincent Fuller really should be here in this spot. I mentioned before, I think Fuller is the most under-appreciated and consistent player on the Titans' current defence. I remember the period of three games in 2009 where he was injured. The moment he came back, I said to myself, wow, I never realised how important Fuller is.
He got demoted last year, through no particular fault of his own, and I feel guilty mirroring that demotion on my list. My reason is unfair, but simple.
There was a period in 2004 where Lamont Thompson was my boy. Yes, the same Lamont Thompson who was a second round draft pick the Bengals cut after only one season. Yes, the same Lamont Thompson who was routinely on highlight reels, chasing a defender into the endzone, before throwing his arms into the air in confusion. Indeed, the same Lamont Thompson whose very mention causes chafing amongst the Titans community the likes of which is usually reserved for Pacman Jones, or Nick Harper.
You must realise, these were the fledgling days of my Titans fandom, confusing and prickly, like awkward teenage years. (Come to think of it, they were awkward teenage years. Most appropriate!) Titans coverage was, and still is really, hard to come by, so on the rare occasion where I could catch a glimpse of a Titans game, it weighed in mightily on my impressionable young mind.
That glimpse came in week 5 of the 2004 season, against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Both teams were struggling unexpectedly to open their season, and this Monday night showdown seemed crucial at the time. And though the Titans were sharp in a decisive 48-27 victory, the man who stood out was Lamont Darnell Thompson. 5 tackles, 1 assist, 2 deflections, 2 picks for 31 yards and a forced fumble.
I was sold.
Lamont went onto great things the rest of the season, going to the Pro Bowl and being a crucial member of the Titans' defence. He was rewarded with his efforts with a championship in Super Bowl XXXIX, a commanding 21-61 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
At least, that was the case in my Madden season. If only life were more like that Madden season. If it were, we would have seen championships won by McNair, Mason, Rolle and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.
Alas. Also, I have an inkling that this might be the longest player description of all. This is mighty suspect. In all fairness though, I suppose I don't get many chances to talk about my former Lamont Thompson fandom. A part of me likes to think his legacy lives on in Chris Johnson, primarily because he is also #28 and has dreadlocks.
...Right.
#1 Michael Griffin
2007-present
All-Time Career
314 combined tackles, 2.0 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 37 deflections, 15 interceptions (228 yards, 1 TD)
Will you forgive me now? I hardly forgive myself.
Though he had a massive setback in 2009, Griffin has otherwise been one of our best defensive players, a game-changing safety whose first round selection surprised me back in '07, and has otherwise satisfied me since then.
2010 was a busy year for Griff, who suddenly ascended to a leadership role. And in my book, he did great, forcing fumbles, picking off passes and flying around the field like the Griffin of old. Of miscellaneous credit, he was also the one who tried to stop Vince Young from walking out on his team, chasing Vince out into the parking lot in little more than his jocks. You could say that part of this was due to his Longhorns association, but Bo Scaife shares that link. He wasn't out there, was he?
Griffin has been everything I had hoped for from Lamont Thompson. He can make a difference and turn the tables. He's also got dreadlocks and an awesome surname, which is very important if you want to get a mention on this vaunted list.
About the only thing I don't like is his number. The only repeating numeral I like in football is 99.
You know what? Looking at those facts there, I renounce the claim that this list is in any way 'vaunted'. What a train wreck it has turned out to be.
So let's see if we can stop the bleeding by moving onto strong safeties I like. On the plus side, there are no dreadlocks to be found. Unfortunately however, the name game doth continue. Tarry, rash wanton!
#2 Myron Rolle
2010-present
No NFL statistics. Imaginary statistics pending.
Back in 2005, I was paying attention to the NFL draft for the first time. I read the draft books, I scoured through the list of prospective college players, and I concluded that the popular opinion was the correct one: the Tennessee Titans would draft a cornerback.
And I knew exactly who it was, too. He was a shutdown corner, productive through his college career, and a first round lock.
His name was Antrel Rolle.
Oops. My reasons were quite juvenile. I thought the Miami Hurricanes had a pretty slick-looking uniform, and who could be better in replacing Samari Rolle than a man with the same surname? Perhaps he'd even don the same number, allowing us to stretch the value on our Samari jerseys by another five years or so?
Instead, we went Pacman. He outperformed Antrel as a cornerback in his short Titans span, but failed mightily as a human being. Plus, Antrel would get the last laugh, having a much better overall career at safety.
In the 2010 draft, there was a lot of hype surrounding a kid called Myron Rolle. I was on the bandwagon, and you all know why.
Beyond that though, Myron's another human interest story, the kind I love. I mean, for crying out loud, he earnt an M.Sc. in medical anthropology at Oxford. What's not to like about him? He's also one of the more pleasant Titans to follow on Twitter, his thoughts coming across as much more legible.
Will Myron make the cut and become a productive Titan? Who knows. Robert Johnson seems to be more likely to ascend into an active role, and Rolle might not ever get past the practice squad.
But frankly, if he turns out to be nothing more than a good special teamer, I'll just be happy to have him on the team. He's one of those guys you want to succeed, and you're just glad to have him around. If only Colt Brennan could have played special teams in Tennesee, my world would be complete.
#1 Chris Hope
2006-present
Titans Career
430 combined tackles, 4.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 33 deflections, 15 interceptions (259 yards, 1 TD)
All-Time Career
665 combined tackles, 4.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 38 deflections, 19 interceptions (360 yards, 1 TD)
I bet you were expecting to see Tank Williams here? In actuality, he was originally slated for the slot Myron Rolle occupied, but Tank gave me little more than a few good games and a cool nickname (real name was actually Clevan). I asked myself, who do I actually like more? The answer was Myron.
Anyhow, Chris Hope gets a lot of fingers pointed at him nowadays for being a liability in coverage, and be that as it may, I see it as reasonable wear and tear on a guy who has been nothing short of a thumper for us for five seasons.
And frankly, he was a steal to begin with. He had only been starting for two years in Pittsburgh, so he lacked the wear and tear of a longtime starter, while still possessing all of the know how of his four years of league experience. He came onto the scene in Tennessee with a bang, opening his Titans career in '06 with 121 combined tackles, 5 interceptions for 105 yards and a touchdown.
It's unfortunate to see the fanbase turn on him so quickly as he's just been another poor piece of a flawed Titans machine over the last few seasons, but it's nothing new. Same thing happened to Kerry Collins. Eddie Murphy once expressed his fear of the term 'what have you done for me lately?', and Titans players should feel the same.
Hope's days may be numbered, but I for one certainly appreciated his efforts. Plus, by using the particular picture I did, I managed to sneak in an appearance by Fuller. Sweet.
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