Fansided

Tennessee Titans release RB Shonn Greene

By Luke Dahlgren

Dec 8, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Shonn Greene (23) runs for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Shonn Greene (23) runs for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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In the two seasons that Shonn Greene played for the Titans, he failed to make much of an impact in the running game.

The odyssey of Shonn Greene in Tennessee is over, and the NFL is now populated with one less version of the name “Sean.”

After a brief and successful four-year stint with the New York Jets as a change-of-pace back, Greene signed with the Tennessee Titans to be a starter. In two seasons with the Titans, Greene failed to crack 400 yards in either year.

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With the Jets, Greene was valuable. Early in his career, Greene was a consistent possession back who had the capability to take advantage of holes in the defensive line to break long carries. With fresh legs as a rookie, he averaged five yards per carry.

As the bell cow, Greene was the definition of below average. He slowed down the offenses for the Titans and the Jets, allowing the defenses to pin their ears back on the pass rush without much worry for getting burned in the running game. The quarterback carousel of Jake Locker, Zach Mettenburger and Ryan Fitzpatrick in Tennessee had no chance.

This opens up an opportunity for Bishop Sankey to take over the full-time duties at running back. Along with Greene, he was a part of the Tennessee Three Yards on Two Carries Committee (or the TTYTCC), but unlike Greene, he has been bailed out by the excuse of being a young back. Certainly a turnaround is possible in year two, but with backup running back and cereal elf Dexter McCluster acting as a utility offensive threat, Sankey will have to deal with the bulk of the carries.

It’s uncertain whether the Titans will put rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota to work right away or if they want to ease him in while Mettenburger starts. It would be much more sound for Mariota’s development to allow him to adjust over time to NFL-level reads, but for Sankey it may be easier to have a dual-threat quarterback ease the load in the running game. Sankey may perform better with Mariota in early.

Greene has no such hope for now. Perhaps he will find some success as a committee back for a team with a good offensive line, but he has likely seen the last of his chances as a starter.

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