Tag: Brett Kern

Brett Kern bids farewell to Titans, fans in statement after release

After 13 seasons, Brett Kern bids farewell to the Titans and their fans.

It’s the end of an era in Nashville after the Tennessee Titans decided to release punter Brett Kern on Monday, which means rookie punter Ryan Stonehouse has won the starting job.

After being released, Kern issued a statement thanking the team and its fans for 13 great years in Nashville.

“First and foremost, I want to say it has been an honor and a privilege to wear the two toned blue for the past 13 years,” Kern wrote. “From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you enough for your love and support and allowing my family and I to call this beautiful city home. When my wife and I came to Nashville in 2009, our son was eight weeks old. Over the years, all my family has known on Sundays is to cheer for the Titans and No. 6 from section 137, row 4, seats 1-4. They love this place and the fans here just as much as I do.

“As I reflect on my time here, I think about the mountain-top experiences and memories that I will never forget, to the challenges that molded me into becoming a better husband, father, teammate and friend.

“I will never forget watching two running backs rush for 2K, holding a game-winning kick in zero-degree weather, experiencing a playoff run that almost took us to the Super Bowl, going to three Pro Bowls with my family and teammates, jumping out of cardboard boxes in the hallway to scare the rookies, being able to lead Bible studies and chapel or prayer before games, and probably my most favorite, hearing the cheers of Nissan Stadium after pinning a team deep.

“I am most thankful for the amazing people that I have met over the years. From coaches and general managers that have believed in me, to teammates, equipment staff, operation staff, trainers and everyone else that works in the building. You will forever have an impact on my life, and I hope and pray I did the same for you and your families. Thank you for your love, support and loyalty. Love you all!”

General manager Jon Robinson also issued a statement on Kern’s release.

“Brett embodies everything we look for in players for the Tennessee Titans,” Robinson said. “He has been at the top of his game for a long time in this league, has been an outstanding leader for us, and has been an excellent representation of the Titans in our community. I’m blessed to have worked with him, and on behalf of the entire organization, we wish him all the best moving forward.”

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Brett Kern thanks Tennessee Titans after being released

After being released by the Tennessee Titans, punter Brett Kern released an emotional statement on social media thanking the “Titans Family.”

With final roster cuts looming, the Tennessee Titans made the decision to release veteran punter Brett Kern, ending his 13-year run with the organization. In an emotional statement on social media, Kern thanked the “Titans Family” for the “honor and privilege” of the past 13 years.

Kern mentioned a number of moments during his time in Tennessee, such as three Pro Bowls, “watching two running backs rush for 2K,” and the “cheers of Nissan Stadium after pinning a team deep:”

Kern began his career with the Denver Broncos, signing as an undrafted free agent back in 2008. He played part of two seasons in Denver, before joining the Titans after being waived by the Broncos in October of 2009.

Last season, Kern averaged 44.8 yards per punt for the Titans.

In a statement from general manager Jon Robinson, the GM said that Kern “embodies everything we look for in players for the Tennessee Titans.”

Titans Twitter reacts to Brett Kern being released

The Titans releasing Brett Kern was a bittersweet moment for fans.

After an incredible 13-year run as the Tennessee Titans’ punter, Brett Kern will be playing somewhere else in 2022.

According to multiple reports, Kern is being released from the team, which means rookie punter Ryan Stonehouse has won the job.

Kern was expected to prevail in the competition at the outset, but that changed after Stonehouse put together a strong camp and preseason that culminated with his best showing in preseason Week 3.

Kern, who was the longest-tenured Titan before being let go, is now free to sign with any team, and chances are that team will be the Buffalo Bills, as they are in desperate need of a punter.

As you’d expect, the release of Kern created a bittersweet moment.

On one hand, the Titans appear to have a good new punter who could be the answer for the next decade-plus. On the other hand, Kern was arguably the most beloved player on the team and it’s sad to see him go.

Here’s a look at how Titans Twitter reacted.

Tennessee Titans releasing punter Brett Kern

The Titans are reportedly releasing punter Brett Kern.

The Brett Kern era in Tennessee is over, as the Titans have reportedly informed the long-time punter he is being released.

The news comes from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and the move is the Titans’ first ahead of the deadline to trim rosters down to 53 on Tuesday. Schefter also reports that safety Adrian Colbert has been released, as well.

Neither Kern nor Colbert will be subject to waivers and are now free to sign with any team they like. The move to release Kern saves the team $2.2 million on the salary cap.

After being discarded by the Denver Broncos in 2009, the Titans picked Kern up off waivers, kickstarting what was a successful 13-year run as the team’s punter. Kern was one of the best in the sport in that time, also, and was the Titans’ longest-tenured player upon his release.

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However, the Titans explored their options this offseason after a few down years for the veteran, bringing in undrafted free agent Ryan Stonehouse to compete with Kern.

And the rookie answered the bell by displaying his massive leg throughout the offseason. Stonehouse likely wrapped up the job in preseason Week 3, when he showed the one thing missing from his game until that point: touch.

While losing a beloved player like Kern is a tough pill to swallow, the good news is the Titans appear to be set for the long haul with Stonehouse.

As for Kern, we’d put our money on him landing with one of Tennessee’s top competitors in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills, a team that recently became in need of a punter.

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Titans’ Brett Kern praises Ryan Stonehouse, talks possibility of getting cut

Saturday night might have been the last time we see Brett Kern in a Titans uniform.

While preseason games are usually mostly uneventful, there was one thing about the Tennessee Titans’ preseason Week 3 contest that was very notable: it might have been the last time we see punter Brett Kern, who did not play, in a Titans uniform.

After a few down seasons for Kern the past few years, the Titans brought in rookie punter Ryan Stonehouse as an undrafted free agent, and the Colorado State product has, at the very least, given Kern a run for his money.

And, after another impressive showing in the preseason finale on Saturday night, one can certainly make the argument that Stonehouse should win the job over Kern, as he coupled his huge leg with great touch, dropping three punts inside the 20.

“I knew it was different when I first saw [Stonehouse] punt a ball,” Kern said after the game, per Paul Kuharsky. “I knew that [the competition] was going to be a grind. I told him, I’ve been in the league a long time and I’ve seen about three or four people in my entire life hit a ball like he does.

“I knew it was going to be hard, I knew what he was really good at I’m probably not and what I’m really good at he just needs some work on it,: Kern continued. “So it was just kind of back and forth a lot and gave it all I had. We’ll just see what happens.”

As Kern pointed out, he had the advantage with touch and accuracy to pin opponents deep, but Stonehouse made strides in that area on Saturday night. As far as leg strength is concerned, Stonehouse easily has the advantage.

Kern is being realistic about his chances of being cut, but he appreciates his time in Nashville no matter what happens.

“If I am here then I probably overreacted and if I’m not, then I definitely probably underreacted,” he said. “I’m thankful for whatever happens. If I’m here, I’m ready to go I’m ready to roll. If I’m not I am beyond blessed with the years that I have been here, the friendships that I’ve made, the brothers that I have for the rest of my life. I’m sure thankful for that.”

Kern, who would be entering his 14th season with the Titans if he makes the cut, will find out his fate no later than Tuesday at 4 p.m. EDT, the deadline for teams to trim their rosters down to 53.

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Titans training camp preview: Can starting specialists be unseated?

A closer look at the Titans’ specialists ahead of training camp.

In our final installment of Tennessee training camp previews, we take a look at the specialists: kicker, punter and long snapper.

The Titans entered the 2021 campaign with a problem that has become all-too-familiar for the team in recent years: they had an issue at kicker.

After Sam Ficken went down with an injury before the start of the season, the Titans were forced to scramble and ended up signing Michael Badgley, who lasted only one game.

After the Badgley experiment failed, Tennessee handed the reins to Randy Bullock, which proved to be a good move. Bullock went on to stabilize the position, making 83.9 percent of his field goal attempts.

At punter, Brett Kern missed three games due to injury, but when he was on the field he continued his downward trend, as he saw his yards per punt decrease for the second straight year.

Looking ahead to training camp, is there anyone who can unseat Bullock or Kern? Let’s find out.

Titans’ Mike Vrabel: We have to punt better in 2022

Vrabel also expressed confidence in the special teams gunners the Titans have added this offseason.

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Often lost in the sauce of everything that went on with the Tennessee Titans in 2021 was the down year punter Brett Kern had.

Kern, who has always been as good and reliable as they come, missed three games due to injury for the second straight season after not having missed a single contest in any of his first 13 years in the NFL.

More importantly, he posted his worst gross (44.8) and net (40.4) punt yards average since the 2016 campaign, ranking 18th and 15th in those two categories, respectively.

Kern, who accounted for the second-biggest cap hit among punters in the NFL last season, was thought to be a cut candidate in 2022; however, the Titans were able to re-work his deal and lower his cap hit by $1 million.

While down at the owners meetings in Florida this week, head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged that 2021 wasn’t Kern’s best season, and he also stated that Tennessee needs to do a better job punting the football in 2022.

The Titans added a pair of players who have thrived as special teams gunners in the past in running back Trenton Cannon and defensive back A.J. Moore. Cannon could also factor in to the return game, and Moore will double as a reserve safety.

As for Kern, he could be looking at his last season in the two-tone blue. The 36-year-old will be in the final year of his contract in 2022.

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Grading Harold Landry’s contract extension, other recent Titans moves

Grades for the Titans’ re-signing of Harold Landry and other recent moves.

The Tennessee Titans were busy this past week, as the team began making decisions on some of its pending free agents and players who were already under contract for 2022.

The biggest move of the week came in the form of the re-signing of outside linebacker Harold Landry, who netted a five-year, $87.5 million deal from Tennessee.

The Titans re-signed all three of their exclusive rights free agents in wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, defensive lineman Teair Tart, and quarterback Logan Woodside, all of which were expected.

Pending unrestricted free agent and long snapper, Morgan Cox, was brought back as well.

As Tennessee retained some of their own, they also let go of others, like left guard Rodger Saffold, running back Darrynton Evans, swing tackle Kendall Lamm, and outside linebacker Derick Roberson.

Now, let’s take a look at each of the aforementioned moves made by the Titans and assign a grade for each of them.

Note: All contract figures are courtesy of Over the Cap.

Report: Titans, Brett Kern agree to re-worked contract

The GOAT isn’t going anywhere.

There was some thought that the Tennessee Titans might part ways with punter Brett Kern this offseason, but the veteran will indeed be sticking around for another season.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Titans and Kern have agreed to a re-worked deal that will see him make $2.2 million in 2022, as opposed to the $3.75 million he was set to make.

More coming…

Predicting the fate of Titans’ roster cut candidates

A look at seven cut candidates for the Titans and what we predict will happen with each.

Every offseason the Tennessee Titans have tough decisions to make in regards to players under contract for the following season — and that’s especially true with the team hitting the offseason over the salary cap.

According to Over the Cap, the Titans are in the red by $7.8 million, which means Tennessee will have to make cuts and work out restructures with players in order to free up more money.

When looking at the players under contract for 2022, there are a handful who jump out at us as potential cut candidates based on their salary and how they performed in 2021.

One name you won’t see on our list that has been talked about a lot this offseason is quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Cutting him simply isn’t feasible, as the veteran carries a dead cap hit of $57.4 million if cut before June 1, and $38.6 million if cut after June 1.

The only way Tennessee could logically unload that contract is via trade after June 1, in which case Tannehill would carry dead cap hits of $9.6 million the next two years, and $4.6 million in each of the two years following.

With that out of the way, here’s a look at the seven players who have been considered cut candidates at one point or another, and what we think will happen with each.