The Titans agreed to terms with long snapper Ken Amato and tendered six restricted free agents. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – At midnight (ET) tonight, the NFL 2010 league calendar and free agency period begin. Prior to that deadline, the Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with LS Ken Amato and tendered contracts to six restricted free agents. Amato has been the Titans long snapper for the last seven seasons and has totaled 40 career special teams stops in 93 games. The following players were tendered contracts as restricted free agents: DE Dave Ball (2nd round tender), DT Tony Brown (1st round), TE Bo Scaife (1st round), LB Stephen Tulloch (1st round), DT Kevin Vickerson (2nd round) and RB LenDale White (2nd round). The Titans can match any offer received by another team or would receive a draft pick for compensation. Additionally, the team agreed to terms with G Eugene Amano, S Donnie Nickey and LB Pago Togafau on contracts prior to the start of free agency. The following Titans will be eligible... (more...)

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Smokies, Class AA minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, today announced single-game tickets for the 2010 season will be going on sale online next Wednesday, March 3, at 10:00 a.m. Fans will first be able to purchase 2010 tickets for any of the Smokies’ 70 home games on the team’s Web site at www.smokiesbaseball.com on the 3rd. Single-game tickets will be available for purchase over-the-phone or in-person at the Smokies Park ticket office starting Wednesday, March 10 at 9:00 a.m. 2010 seat pricing will remain the same as in seasons past. Adult field-level and bleacher-level seats will be $10 and $8, respectively. Field-level and bleacher-level seating for children (12-and-under) and seniors (55+) will be $9 and $7, respectively. Fans will again be able to take advantage of an advanced-sale discount of $1 if they order tickets at least four hours in advance of game time. Season tickets, ticket mini-plans and group... (more...)

Veteran safety Donnie Nickey led the Titans with 17 special teams tackles in 2009. NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on a new contract with veteran safety and special teams ace Donnie Nickey. A seasoned special teams leader and valuable defensive reserve, Nickey has played in 108 career games with seven starts, posting 42 tackles with a sack and a pass defensed on defense, while totaling 84 career special teams stops. “This is my home and I love the organization,” Nickey said. “I wasn’t really looking to go anywhere else, so it just made sense.” Voted a team captain by his teammates in 2009, the Ohio State product has been a durable player over the years having played in 95 consecutive games, including all 16 contests the last five seasons (2005-2009). Last season, Nickey finished first on the team with 17 special teams tackles, leading or tying for the team lead in six games. Nickey finished third on the team in special teams... (more...)

“It’s all in the numbers,” according to Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet), winner of Sunday’s Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway. Johnson was able to hold off a charging Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) during the final laps to claim his 48th career win, matching the number on the side of his car. Johnson is no stranger to entering Gatorade Victory Lane at Auto Club Speedway. In 15 races at Auto Club Speedway, the El Cajon, Calif. native has won five times. The victory moved Johnson into a tie for 12th on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win list with NASCAR pioneer Herb Thomas. The biggest break of the day for Johnson came on lap 225 as he entered pit road in 16th position just prior to the race’s final caution flag. But he was able to exit as the leader, gaining 15 places to take back the lead and ultimately win the race. He led 110 of the 250 total laps during the race. “Today fortune came our way. We hit pit road... (more...)

If you blinked during the final lap of Saturday’s Stater Bros. 300 at Auto Club Speedway you would have missed one of the closest finishes in NASCAR Nationwide Series history. Kyle Busch (No. 18 Z-line Designs Toyota) edged out Greg Biffle (No. 27 Red Man Moist Snuff Ford) by a mere .051 seconds, the 10th slimmest margin of victory in the history of the series. The victory marked Busch’s second consecutive NNS win at Auto Club Speedway and third overall. Busch won with an average speed of 143.886 miles per hour. In his 11 races at Auto Club Speedway Busch has an unprecedented eight Top-10 finishes. “It was exciting for us,” said Busch. Hopefully it was exciting for the fans. What we were feeling in the race car is hopefully what the fans were feeling in the grandstands. What a race!” Placing third was Brad Keselowski (No. 22 American Tire Dodge), who snuck by current NNS points leader Carl Edwards (No. 60 Copart Ford) on the final lap. Fifth-place finisher Joey Logano... (more...)

The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms today with G Eugene Amano on a multi-year contract. “Eugene has come in to his own as a starter for us on a talented line,” said Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt. “His signing gives us some flexibility moving forward in a couple of different areas, so it was good to get this done and feel good that the play this line has shown over the last couple of years will continue.” Entering his seventh season, Amano has become entrenched as a starter with 31 starts over the last two seasons on one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Over the last two years, the offensive line unit ranks second in the league in rushing yards (4,791) and tied with Indianapolis for the fewest sacks allowed (27). Last year, the offensive line paved the way for RB Chris Johnson to become just the sixth player in NFL history to reach the 2,000-yard rushing plateau, and the Titans became the first NFL team to allow 15 or fewer sacks and average more than... (more...)

Titans punter Craig Hentrich announced his retirement today after a 17-year NFL career, including 12 seasons with Tennessee. “It’s very hard in this game to walk away on your own terms and Craig is doing that today,” said Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher. “Craig was a tremendous athlete at the punter position and his versatility and consistency were some of the reasons for our success over his time with us. He wasn’t only a punter, he was a holder, field goal kicker, kickoff guy and a passer. He was a great teammate and an unselfish player. I appreciate what he brought to our teams and wish him and his family the best.” “First off, I want to thank Mr. Adams, Coach Fisher and the whole Titans organization,” said Hentrich. “It is special to be with a team for 12 years and I am very appreciative of that fact.” “I think overall it was a successful career and I wouldn’t trade a second of it. Consistency is what I’ve tried to pride myself on my whole career.... (more...)

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Smokies are looking for the next great act to perform at Smokies Park in 2010, and will be hosting its annual Talent & Anthem Audition at West Town Mall on Saturday, February 27, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event will take place in front of JCPenney inside the mall. No pre-registration is required for the event and admission is free. Similar to last year’s event, the Smokies are going beyond seeking out a new crop of National Anthem singers and are looking for the most “talented” individuals in East Tennessee to be a part of the pre-game festivities. Whether it’s dancing, juggling, an impersonation act or just about any other special talent, the Smokies want to see it at West Town Mall on the 27th. For more information about the event, interested parties can contact the Smokies at (865) 286-2300 or visit the team’s Web site at www.smokiesbaseball.com.   Read More →

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – By the narrowest of margins Minnesota escaped with the coveted 2010 Universal Dance Association national title. In one of the closest competitions in memory Tennessee’s dance team lost their bid to captured a fourth national crown by 1.5 points. Had Tennessee captured the crown it not only would have been their fourth in a row, but it would also have tied Minnesota with the most consecutive titles as well. With the second place finish Tennessee set a mark that no other school has accomplished in competition having won three straight national titles and two second-place finishes, all in the last five years. Tennessee had completed the semi-final round with flying colors as both Tennessee and Minnesota were well out in front of other squads. The third place team was more than 40 points back heading into the finals on Sunday. The semi-final round scores did not carry over to the final round of competition, but it showed the gap between the top two teams... (more...)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –The Tennessee Titans hired Kennedy Pola as running back coach today. Pola joins the Titans after spending the last five seasons as the running back coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his time with the Jaguars both Fred Taylor (2007) and Maurice Jones-Drew (2009) earned Pro Bowl honors and the Jaguars offense totaled the third most rushing yards in the NFL over that time, including four top 10 rushing finishes. This past season, Jones-Drew finished fourth in the NFL in rushing (1,391 yards), fourth in scrimmage yards (1,765) and second in total touchdowns scored (16). “Kennedy is fine coach and I am very much looking forward to working with him to see the contributions that he can add to our staff,” said Titans head coach Jeff Fisher. “He did a great job with the running backs down in Jacksonville and he had an instrumental role in their run game.” Pola has 18 years of coaching experience, including 12 seasons as a college coach and one year with the Cleveland... (more...)