Tennessee Titans starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill is in hot water after his comments yesterday.
He’s got Titans fans in a fury over his comments about Malik Willis, the rookie quarterback Tennessee drafted.
These comments Tannehill made put pressure on himself, and not on Willis.
Why is the starting quarterback needing to step up in the playoffs, and what was said by him?
Tannehill Doesn’t Think It’s His Job To Mentor Willis
During a press conference, Tannehill was explaining to reporters about the quarterback competition between himself and Willis.
“I don’t think it’s my job to mentor him.”
Ryan Tannehill on mentoring Malik Willis 😳 @brgridiron
(via @PaulKuharskyNFL)pic.twitter.com/uyAFhtmoDs
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 3, 2022
While no starting quarterback in the NFL wants to be replaced, there’s an unwritten rule about not publicly talking about it.
Unless your last name is Rodgers or Favre, then you get a free pass.
However, this starting quarterback isn’t getting a free pass because he’s not an elite quarterback.
He’s good, but not elite.
His success in Tennessee came on the back of Derrick Henry, which allowed him to use the play-action pass.
Most of Tannehill’s success would be erased if it weren’t for Henry.
Now, with him not willing to help the rookie quarterback grow, pressure builds on the starting quarterback to win.
However, he could have avoided everything by just being supportive.
Tannehill’s Fear Of Replacement Might Cost Him In Tennessee
In that press conference, people clearly see how the starting quarterback sees the rookie as a threat to his job.
While he says he has no problems with the rookie, his added comments right after suggest otherwise.
It sounds like the situation from Green Bay with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.
These two quarterbacks made it known they didn’t like the rookie drafted to replace them one day.
It’s crazy how much Aaron Rodgers became Brett Favre 2.0. Both won Packer Super Bowls early on, both couldn’t get past an NFC championship after that, both won 3 MVPs, both whined about GB drafting replacements, both became total unlikable weirdos near the end of their careers pic.twitter.com/K4Myk7gPic
— Jonathan Danielson (@JonathanIn2K) November 7, 2021
Having the career stats those two possess is a quarterback’s dream.
However, possessing their personality traits isn’t desirable.
Everyone saw the Favre trade to the New York Jets and how it ended his career in Green Bay.
While the jury is out on Rodgers’ ultimate fate in Green Bay, it’s safe to say Tannehill might be like Favre.
If he doesn’t win the Super Bowl, or at least make the AFC Championship Game, he could be traded.
He Faces A 2022 Season With Fewer Weapons
The starting quarterback heads into 2022 without Julio Jones or A.J. Brown.
He has a banged up Henry, who may not be as dominating in the future.
While Tennessee drafted a replacement for Brown, it’s someone the star quarterback hasn’t worked with.
Tannehill’s comments could also leave their rookie receiver, Treylon Burks, feeling offended by them.
That is because he is a rookie needing mentoring to grow with the Titans franchise.
If he compares himself with Willis and those comments, the 2022 season could end in disaster.
So unless Tannehill has a miracle season, he needs to apologize and work with Willis.
He needs to remember that he, too, was a rookie quarterback in his career.
However, he might not know what it’s like to ride the bench, as he’s been a starting quarterback since day one.
