Fisher Blasts Volek Publicly (1 Viewer)

[enfuego]

from espn sportscenter, it sounds like volek just didn't commit himself and study/work out, whatever else. then lied/made excuses for not doing it.fisher said there's a difference between being a backup and starting qb.

This whole thing is rather obvious to me. Whenever a player is going to take the reigns and become an important starter (quarterback), he'll usually have a meeting with the coach. The coach in a situaiton like this is going to ask the player if he's willing to dedicate himself, work hard, do what it takes, if he's ready, ect, ect, ect, ect.Volek of course told Fisher that he's ready and willing to take the step.There's your "lie" people.

Fisher is being dramtic by saying Volek "lied" to him -

WRONG: Volek claimed he was a decent QB.

 

[cantrell]

Billy Volek: "Coach, I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Mrs. Fisher."

 

[rabidfireweasel]

For those of you thinking Fisher is a great coach:

12 seasons coaching........4 winning seasons.

There.....chew on that for a while.

65-49 in the past 7 years. 1999 13 3 0 2nd AFC Central Won Wild Card Playoffs (Bills)

Won Divisional Playoffs (Colts)

Won Conference Championship (Jaguars)

Lost Super Bowl XXXIV (Rams)

2000 13 3 0 1st AFC Central Lost Divisional Playoffs (Ravens)

2001 7 9 0 4th AFC Central --

2002 11 5 0 1st AFC South Won Divisional Playoffs (Steelers)

Lost AFC Championship (Raiders)

2003 12 4 0 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Patriots)

2004 5 11 0

2005 4 12 0

I hate fair weather fans...I will take the downs of the above record, if I can have the ups of going to the Superbowl and the conference championship a couple times within a couple years timeframe. You must realize that hands down, this is one of the most talented, yet, YOUNG teams in the NFL. With that youth, comes inexperience, and bad plays, and yes, blow-outs.

The current coaching situation with the Titans is somewhat similiar to what Cowher and the Steelers went through in the late 90's: A solid coach with high expectations based on recent past performance, injuries, a mix of aging veterans replaced by rookies injuries caused a couple down seasons and rumors swirled that he should be replaced. It's tremendously short-sighted. (can you imagine what would have happened?)

So, let's have some patience. It's a long, 16 week season. And let the young ones season a bit...Let the team gel a bit. If Fisher can do what Cowher did, start showing improvement, and eventually bring the Lombardi, I am OK with that, aren't you?

This is not, hands down, one of the most talented teams in the league.Also, this will be a losing season, again. When did COwher have 3 losing seasons in a row in the late 90's.

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Great point, you got me there. Volek isn't that good (better than Collins though), but yeah they threw the season away when the ran McNair out.In any case, the Titans are in deep doodoo.

Refusing to pay a semi-aged, always injured QB $10 mm does not equal running McNair out of town. By all accounts, the Titans had already paid McNair in excess of $65mm in hard cash.

 

[Despyzer]

"I never at anytime in my career have gone into such detail (about a trade). But I felt the responsibility, as Billy felt he was thrown under the bus," Fisher said. "Billy threw this organization under the bus, along with a number of his teammates."

"Were you ever thrown under the bus by Mr. Volek?"

The irony is that Fisher did, in fact, throw Volek under the bus. Self-fulfilling prophesy.

Why bother talking about it now. If Volek lied and somehow did throw the organization under the bus he already knows it. Better to keep your mouth shut and take the higher ground...

Nothing can really justify throwing the entire organization under the bus for the whole season by starting Collins.

Is this now the most over-used, hackneyed cliche in sports?

 

[Gr00vus]

Is this now the most over-used, hackneyed cliche in sports?

It's right up there. I don't think it even makes sense - what's implied is deceit, bad faith, falseness or treachery, but getting thrown under a bus is something completely different - that's flat out violence and aggression.

 

[Joe Bryant]

from espn sportscenter, it sounds like volek just didn't commit himself and study/work out, whatever else. then lied/made excuses for not doing it.fisher said there's a difference between being a backup and starting qb.

This whole thing is rather obvious to me. Whenever a player is going to take the reigns and become an important starter (quarterback), he'll usually have a meeting with the coach. The coach in a situaiton like this is going to ask the player if he's willing to dedicate himself, work hard, do what it takes, if he's ready, ect, ect, ect, ect.Volek of course told Fisher that he's ready and willing to take the step.There's your "lie" people.

Fisher is being dramtic by saying Volek "lied" to him - but basically what Volek did was not follow through on his commitment to the team. He was given the opportunity to become the leader of the offense, and obviously he didn't put in the effort that Fisher felt was necessary. You could argue that's as much Fisher's fault as it is Volek's... as the coach you should be evaluating your players constantly during the pre-season. Any sign of a slip or loss of focus by Volek should have been addressed and dealt with. You don't wait until the last week of the pre-season to sign a washed up quarterback with no knowledge of your offence and hand him the reigns.Fisher's hands are as dirty as Volek's on this one. If the team under-performs this year the managament of the organization (and the fans) have every right to call for Fisher's job.

Just for the record Rhino...if Fisher were fired, he would be unemployed for about 5 seconds. In fact there would be coaches that some might think are safe that would be fired instantly if those teams could get jeff Fisher. The guy is one of the most respected coaches and defensive minds in the game. He has done the most with some of the least in the NFL. Tennessee never had a flashy WR, their RB was not flashy, the defense was solid but not that many Pro Bowl players year in and year out...he does a lot with a fairly disruptive front office. It's time for him to go somewhere he can make a real difference and get a team into the Super bowl that has some talent already. I'd like to see him take over a team like Dungy did that underperformed and see where he can take them.

I don't disagree he's in demand. But I'd ask why. Why does this team get to absolutely collapse as it has and Fisher doesn't seem to get one ounce of blame?J

 

[Despyzer]

I don't disagree he's in demand. But I'd ask why. Why does this team get to absolutely collapse as it has and Fisher doesn't seem to get one ounce of blame?J

That's an easy one... Floyd Reese - easily the worst GM in football.Year after year, Reese puts his team in salary-cap hell, overpays for mediocre players, and drafts horribly (particularly in the early rounds). No coach, no matter how talented, could compensate for that.

 

[GoFishTN]

:11:

 

[[scooter]]

:11:

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

:11:

 

[Joe Bryant]

I don't disagree he's in demand. But I'd ask why. Why does this team get to absolutely collapse as it has and Fisher doesn't seem to get one ounce of blame?J

That's an easy one... Floyd Reese - easily the worst GM in football.Year after year, Reese puts his team in salary-cap hell, overpays for mediocre players, and drafts horribly (particularly in the early rounds). No coach, no matter how talented, could compensate for that.

You think Fisher had no hand in the Volek / Collins disaster?J

 

[Assani Fisher]

Without looking at the past, I heard Volek is 3-7 as a starter on the radio today. If I'm not mistaken, didn't he throw for 300+ yards in like 5 games in a row last year when McNair went down?What the heck happened?

10 games, 3,550 yards. 2x TDs to INTs. Career QB rating of 88.2. Now, I'm not saying he is actually a starting qb -- but...those are pretty good numbers...for anyone.

yardage wise, thats the best first 10 games started of a QB's career in the past 20 years. Crazy huh?

 

[fatness]

This sounds like a mystery novel.Fisher will probably end up murdering Volek

And then they'll both lie about it.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I don't disagree he's in demand. But I'd ask why. Why does this team get to absolutely collapse as it has and Fisher doesn't seem to get one ounce of blame?

J

That's an easy one... Floyd Reese - easily the worst GM in football.Year after year, Reese puts his team in salary-cap hell, overpays for mediocre players, and drafts horribly (particularly in the early rounds). No coach, no matter how talented, could compensate for that.

You think Fisher had no hand in the Volek / Collins disaster?J

The Chargers made a strong attempt to sign Collins. He ended up signing with Tennessee instead because his opportunity to play there was better. It is possible (but I have no specific info at all on the matter) that the Titans swayed Collins to sign with Tennessee by telling him he'd start. If Reese made a promise to Collins, Fisher may have had to uphold it against his will.Based on Fisher's press conference this week, however, it seems as though Fisher was willing to allow an honest competition between Volek and Collins for the starting job . . . until Volek went into Fisher's office on the day they signed Collins and demanded to be traded. Apparently, Volek took the Collins signing as a slight, reading into it that he'd lost the starting job. Fisher indicated that Volek was incorrect to read that into it, but once Volek started demanding to be traded, I bet that made the decision to start Collins a lot easier.

Either way, the whole situation is a bit screwy.

 

[Mister CIA]

Clearly, the Titans wanted no part of a Drew Brees type situation on their hands.

It's not that complicated.

 

[TinHat]

I'm seriously wondering if Volek failed a drug test or something...

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Just for the record Rhino...if Fisher were fired, he would be unemployed for about 5 seconds. In fact there would be coaches that some might think are safe that would be fired instantly if those teams could get jeff Fisher. The guy is one of the most respected coaches and defensive minds in the game. He has done the most with some of the least in the NFL. Tennessee never had a flashy WR, their RB was not flashy, the defense was solid but not that many Pro Bowl players year in and year out...he does a lot with a fairly disruptive front office. It's time for him to go somewhere he can make a real difference and get a team into the Super bowl that has some talent already. I'd like to see him take over a team like Dungy did that underperformed and see where he can take them.

I don't disagree he's in demand. But I'd ask why. Why does this team get to absolutely collapse as it has and Fisher doesn't seem to get one ounce of blame?J

Joe I would say this the Titans have had one of if not the worst couple of off seasons of anyone in the league. I piled on them preseason 2 years ago and again last year and were met with all kinds of harsh posts from Titanfans. They did nothing to really address the RB problem they have had for the past 2-3 seasons. Eddie George got old and no one on that roster including your boy Travis Henry is capable right now of handling a large load. Fisher's offense is designed to run run run and throw down to the TEs and occasionally take shots down the field. he got away with it because of a great defense. They lost their DTs the past couple of seasons whether thru FA or injury...they just can't stop anybody really on defense. They lost Rolle at CB and have nothing but young inexperience or inferior talent in their secondary. You can blame the coach but Fisher is not the GM...and that is why he will get so little of the blame. He didn't draft these guys...VY was not his selection...I don't think Pacman was at the top of his list. I would hire Fisher if i were a GM but I would make sure someone had a prominent role as OC to go with him.

 

[[scooter]]

Is Volek a Jeff George in sheep's clothing?

 

[BoltBacker]

I don't disagree he's in demand. But I'd ask why. Why does this team get to absolutely collapse as it has and Fisher doesn't seem to get one ounce of blame?J

IMO the Titans have played poorly the last few seasons because of...1) bad drafting2) contracts structured poorly(the only reason McNair isn't playing while Young learns for a year or two.... as it should be)3) injuries to key players... and Fisher is perceived to have little or no influence on any of those three issues.

 

[gman8343]

You can blame the coach but Fisher is not the GM...and that is why he will get so little of the blame. He didn't draft these guys...VY was not his selection...I don't think Pacman was at the top of his list. I would hire Fisher if i were a GM but I would make sure someone had a prominent role as OC to go with him.

Is it known that Vince Young was not Fischer's selection or is that just speculation?

 

[redman]

I don't disagree he's in demand. But I'd ask why. Why does this team get to absolutely collapse as it has and Fisher doesn't seem to get one ounce of blame?J

IMO the Titans have played poorly the last few seasons because of...1) bad drafting2) contracts structured poorly(the only reason McNair isn't playing while Young learns for a year or two.... as it should be)3) injuries to key players... and Fisher is perceived to have little or no influence on any of those three issues.

Plus, he's got a mullett, and in Tennessee that means something.

 

[RenegadeGM]

The lie:

"No Coach, I don't think that 'stache makes you look one bit like a porn star."

Whatever the case, this must all be a ploy to motivate Matt Mauck.

Nevermind, he passed on joining the active roster.

 

[deep vacuum]

Fisher is going to make a coach-less team VERY HAPPY this offseason

If he can wait 2 years, we'll have an opening in Green Bay.

 

[Da Guru]

I am shocked that this has gone on for 2 pages...who really cares about Volek now?

 

[Yankee23Fan]

So - Volek asked for a trade time and time and time again.

But - he was named the starter for this year.

Then - they sign Kerry Collins

Then - he asks for another trade.

So - now he needs to be dealt with and the staff was unanimous that they had to get rid of him because he demanded a trade time and time and time again.

Ok.

Why name him the starter in the first place?

 

[majstro]

Volek lied to the Titans??? Big deal, he was just trying to fit in. Let's look at some other recent lies in the Titans organization:

"Norm, if you come to Teneessee, you'll be able to coach Matt Leinert" Titans owner KA Adams to Norm Chow in January

"Sure coach, I'll behave" Adam PacMan Jones to Jeff Fisher on a daily basis

"Steve, you can use our weight room anytime" Titans GM Floy Reese to Steve McNair this spring

 

[gman8343]

I am shocked that this has gone on for 2 pages...who really cares about Volek now?

I think it's just as much about the complete the Titans organization has become as it is about some backup QB.

 

[Despyzer]

I don't disagree he's in demand. But I'd ask why. Why does this team get to absolutely collapse as it has and Fisher doesn't seem to get one ounce of blame?J

That's an easy one... Floyd Reese - easily the worst GM in football.Year after year, Reese puts his team in salary-cap hell, overpays for mediocre players, and drafts horribly (particularly in the early rounds). No coach, no matter how talented, could compensate for that.

You think Fisher had no hand in the Volek / Collins disaster?J

You think this particular scenario is the difference between a division contender and a miserable finish? This team was without hope well before this incident.

 

[Ozymandias]

So - Volek asked for a trade time and time and time again. But - he was named the starter for this year.Then - they sign Kerry CollinsThen - he asks for another trade.So - now he needs to be dealt with and the staff was unanimous that they had to get rid of him because he demanded a trade time and time and time again.Ok.Why name him the starter in the first place?

I think the trouble started when they drafted Vince Young. Up until that time, Volek probably saw himself as the successor to McNair, and may even have thought/known that the Titans would not re-sign McNair.When they drafted Young, he saw the writing on the wall. Perhaps he had an attack of "what the hell's the use", and didn't practice/study/train, therefore p'oing Fisher.

 

[twistd]

So Billy said he was thrown under the bus and Fisher replies with no you threw us under the bus? Childish.I think the Titans and Volek made some pretty poor career decisions with him. He chose to re-sign with them when some thought he was a good FA. They wanted him and didn't trade him when he commanded some good value. Looks like neither wound up with much of anything. Good luck starting over Rivers.

Last year there was interest in Volek from the Bears when Grossman went down. The Titans were not interested in trading him, depite the fact that they probably could have gotten a second or a third for him. They seemed set that he was their future starter. But I suppose in light of how they treated McNair I guess this treatment of Volek shouldn't be a surprise.

 

[twistd]

I don't disagree he's in demand. But I'd ask why. Why does this team get to absolutely collapse as it has and Fisher doesn't seem to get one ounce of blame?

J

That's an easy one... Floyd Reese - easily the worst GM in football.Year after year, Reese puts his team in salary-cap hell, overpays for mediocre players, and drafts horribly (particularly in the early rounds). No coach, no matter how talented, could compensate for that.

You think Fisher had no hand in the Volek / Collins disaster?J

The Chargers made a strong attempt to sign Collins. He ended up signing with Tennessee instead because his opportunity to play there was better. It is possible (but I have no specific info at all on the matter) that the Titans swayed Collins to sign with Tennessee by telling him he'd start. If Reese made a promise to Collins, Fisher may have had to uphold it against his will.Based on Fisher's press conference this week, however, it seems as though Fisher was willing to allow an honest competition between Volek and Collins for the starting job . . . until Volek went into Fisher's office on the day they signed Collins and demanded to be traded. Apparently, Volek took the Collins signing as a slight, reading into it that he'd lost the starting job. Fisher indicated that Volek was incorrect to read that into it, but once Volek started demanding to be traded, I bet that made the decision to start Collins a lot easier.

Either way, the whole situation is a bit screwy.

From what I heard on Sirius, Collins took the job in Tennesssee over San Diego simply because Nashville was closer to his home in South Carolina. He just wanted to stay closer to home.

 

[Urinal Mint]

Chris Mortensen said this morning that he'll reveal the lie on Sunday Countdown... for what it's worth. He hinted that it involved him saying he was out of town when he actually wasn't.

My guess is that he was skipping "voluntary" workouts to play Halo with his buddies.

 

[redman]

Chris Mortensen said this morning that he'll reveal the lie on Sunday Countdown... for what it's worth. He hinted that it involved him saying he was out of town when he actually wasn't.

My guess is that he was skipping "voluntary" workouts to play Halo with his buddies Mrs. Fisher.

It's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Fisher was on Mike & Mike this morning on ESPN Radio. I was late to work driving in so I caught it. But I digress.

They asked him about the whole Billy Volek situation - specifically, what was the plan heading into the season at the quarterback position. Fisher told them a little story. He said that back in August, Vince Young was practicing and he hit his hand on a teammate's helmet. They were then concerned about their QB depth with just Matt Mauck on the roster in addition with Young and Volek. He said that "whenever you can upgradde your roster, you do it."

So he called up Kerry Collins, saying that he wanted to bring in some "experience". He then said that Collins was told that there'd be a competition to start, that he was not just coming in for depth.

And then, and here we get to the crux of the matter. he said that Volek didn't "take well to the idea" of competition. He basically said that Volek saw himself as the starter, and when they brought Collins in to "compete", Volek said he wanted to be traded.

Anyway, that's what he said today.

Oh and he didn't mention anything about a "lie".

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20...21chargers.html

Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith would not speak directly to the rift in Tennessee, but in his usual matter-of-fact manner did have a message.

“I don't have any comment about Billy Volek and Coach Fisher,” Smith said. “That's between them. But I will say this, I agree with Coach Fisher in this regard: If a player and agent take a position about constant demands for a trade or contract re-evaluation, and you have had enough, then you do what you can to move them out and find them a new home (and) try to find yourself happy, productive players. They do exist, you know.”

I wish AJ Smith would let the whole Donnie Edwards thing go . . .

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

For all of you "he must have nailed Mrs. Fisher" types: I know, mostly, that you are kidding but unless Fish has remarried in the last year and I didn't hear about it --> there is NO Mrs. Fisher. They divorced 2-3 years ago.

 

[Gr00vus]

there is NO Mrs. Fisher. They divorced 2-3 years ago.

Right around the time Volek had his huge half season, hmmmmmm.......................

 

[Sheriff66]

Nice mustache Magnum, Fisher is a #####...:IhateFisher:

 

[Joe Bryant]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20...21chargers.html

Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith would not speak directly to the rift in Tennessee, but in his usual matter-of-fact manner did have a message.

“I don't have any comment about Billy Volek and Coach Fisher,” Smith said. “That's between them. But I will say this, I agree with Coach Fisher in this regard: If a player and agent take a position about constant demands for a trade or contract re-evaluation, and you have had enough, then you do what you can to move them out and find them a new home (and) try to find yourself happy, productive players. They do exist, you know.”

I wish AJ Smith would let the whole Donnie Edwards thing go . . .

Why does he refuse to drop things like that, MT? The whole thing last year about rubbing Jimmy Sexton's nose in the Philip Rivers thing over and over just seemed stupid.He seems to get off on trying to act tough. I really don't get it as it's a relatively small number of people in the business.

J

 

[Joe Bryant]

I don't disagree he's in demand. But I'd ask why. Why does this team get to absolutely collapse as it has and Fisher doesn't seem to get one ounce of blame?J

That's an easy one... Floyd Reese - easily the worst GM in football.Year after year, Reese puts his team in salary-cap hell, overpays for mediocre players, and drafts horribly (particularly in the early rounds). No coach, no matter how talented, could compensate for that.

You think Fisher had no hand in the Volek / Collins disaster?J

You think this particular scenario is the difference between a division contender and a miserable finish? This team was without hope well before this incident.

May be. But why were they without hope? And how does Fisher just skate without an ounce of blame? That just seems really interesting to me. J

 

[Joe Bryant]

Fisher was on Mike & Mike this morning on ESPN Radio. I was late to work driving in so I caught it. But I digress.

They asked him about the whole Billy Volek situation - specifically, what was the plan heading into the season at the quarterback position. Fisher told them a little story. He said that back in August, Vince Young was practicing and he hit his hand on a teammate's helmet. They were then concerned about their QB depth with just Matt Mauck on the roster in addition with Young and Volek. He said that "whenever you can upgradde your roster, you do it."

So he called up Kerry Collins, saying that he wanted to bring in some "experience". He then said that Collins was told that there'd be a competition to start, that he was not just coming in for depth.

And then, and here we get to the crux of the matter. he said that Volek didn't "take well to the idea" of competition. He basically said that Volek saw himself as the starter, and when they brought Collins in to "compete", Volek said he wanted to be traded.

Anyway, that's what he said today.

Oh and he didn't mention anything about a "lie".

A light bulb went off in August that it might be a good idea to have some QB depth?J

 

[NoFBinLA]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20...21chargers.html

Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith would not speak directly to the rift in Tennessee, but in his usual matter-of-fact manner did have a message.

“I don't have any comment about Billy Volek and Coach Fisher,” Smith said. “That's between them. But I will say this, I agree with Coach Fisher in this regard: If a player and agent take a position about constant demands for a trade or contract re-evaluation, and you have had enough, then you do what you can to move them out and find them a new home (and) try to find yourself happy, productive players. They do exist, you know.”

I wish AJ Smith would let the whole Donnie Edwards thing go . . .

Why does he refuse to drop things like that, MT? The whole thing last year about rubbing Jimmy Sexton's nose in the Philip Rivers thing over and over just seemed stupid.He seems to get off on trying to act tough. I really don't get it as it's a relatively small number of people in the business.

J

Some people feel the need to throw their weight around because they have it (I work in Entertainment and see that ALL the time) -- or maybe he feels if he acts tough, people will give him the upper hand in negotiations from the getgo. 'Oh we have to go into AJ Smith's office. Damn he's tough -- he won't crack. We'll be lucky to get outta there with minimum wage.'Of course that only works for very few people. And I'm betting it makes his job harder not easier in the end. He's no Ari Gold, that's for damned sure.

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Fisher was on Mike & Mike this morning on ESPN Radio. I was late to work driving in so I caught it. But I digress.

They asked him about the whole Billy Volek situation - specifically, what was the plan heading into the season at the quarterback position. Fisher told them a little story. He said that back in August, Vince Young was practicing and he hit his hand on a teammate's helmet. They were then concerned about their QB depth with just Matt Mauck on the roster in addition with Young and Volek. He said that "whenever you can upgradde your roster, you do it."

So he called up Kerry Collins, saying that he wanted to bring in some "experience". He then said that Collins was told that there'd be a competition to start, that he was not just coming in for depth.

And then, and here we get to the crux of the matter. he said that Volek didn't "take well to the idea" of competition. He basically said that Volek saw himself as the starter, and when they brought Collins in to "compete", Volek said he wanted to be traded.

Anyway, that's what he said today.

Oh and he didn't mention anything about a "lie".

A light bulb went off in August that it might be a good idea to have some QB depth?J

Bingo. That is exactly what we've been saying here in Nashville since Collins was brought in and is at the crux of our entire "what is wrong" discussion.

 

[Gr00vus]

May be. But why were they without hope? And how does Fisher just skate without an ounce of blame? That just seems really interesting to me. J

I'll say this - I didn't see any great coaching job out there last week. Granted the talent really isn't there or hasn't developed yet (who's fault is that?), but the whole juggling ALL the skill positions throughout the game was pretty pathetic - honestly it looked like he was just throwing spighetti at the wall and seeing what would stick (it turns out nothing did). Fisher looked as lost on the sidelines as his players did on the field, and that Titans team looked completely unprepared to play on Sunday. The Raiders get blasted two weeks ago and Art Shell gets roasted, the Titans get blasted even worse and not a word about what Fisher's doing? Odd.

 

[LHUCKS]

Fisher is going to make a coach-less team VERY HAPPY this offseason