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If there’s one gripe I personally have when it comes to the Tennessee Titans’ organization, it’s the fact that the team rarely honors the truly great players of the last 24 years.
To be fair, the franchise under Amy Adams-Strunk has done a much better job of honoring the players of the past in the form of homecoming week, 12th Titan, etc.
Yet, for whatever reason, when it comes to adding anybody to the Ring of Honor and retiring their numbers, the team practically refuses to celebrate anyone outside of those who contributed to the early Titans teams.
Obviously, retiring numbers is an entirely different conversation since technically there are only 100 available at the very most.
Therefore, that type of honor should be reserved for the true legends of the franchise, such as Warren Moon, Steve McNair, Eddie George and, eventually, Derrick Henry.
Tennessee’s Ring of Honor has several worthy candidates who continuously get overlooked for whatever reason. Unfortunately, that waiting room may have just grown by one more now that Titans legendary punter Brett Kern officially announced his retirement.
After 15 seasons (13 in Tennessee), the Toledo product was given a worthy send-off earlier this week that included lengthy tributes and his own press conference.
During his peak, Kern was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro who had mastered the ability to direct his kicks wherever he pleased.
On top of being a sniper with his leg, more often than not, he was as clutch as anybody whenever the team needed him to be. Kern even played a large role in going up to New England and ending arguably the greatest dynasty in all of professional sports during the Titans’ 2019 Wild Card win over the Pats.
Brett Kern was incredible for so many years. As long as he was within range, you knew the opposing team was gonna start inside the 10, with half of those punts landing inside the 5.
However, THIS was the greatest/most clutch punt I’ve ever seen in my life.
Thank you, Brett! ⚔️ https://t.co/nOUNTQNcLg— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) June 1, 2023
Logan Ryan may have gotten the final interception, but make no mistake about it, it was Kern’s 10-second punt that pinned the Patriots inside their one-yard line that officially put the final nail in the dynasty’s coffin.
That type of moment, combined with Kern’s laundry list of accomplishments, should be everything he needs to find himself in the Titans’ Ring of Honor.
The real question is, does he deserve it more than former Titans who are also in the aforementioned waiting room, like Chris Johnson, Keith Bulluck, Jevon Kearse, Michael Roos and Taylor Lewan?
In my opinion, all of those players, along with Kern, should at least be in the Ring of Honor, but whether or not they will be remains to be seen.
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