With the launch of free agency only 10 days away and no sign of any meaningful discussions between the Titans and linebacker Keith Bulluck, the veteran defender believes that his career will continue elsewhere.
Asked whether he think he has played his last down with the team, Bulluck told Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, “I think so. I think like to stay here for sure, but I think so. It sure seems that way.”
Bulluck is handling the situation with a mature and pragmatic approach. “I have seen guys who have been figureheads here being released,” Bulluck said, likely referring to running back Eddie George, among others. “I prepared myself over the years for this, because I knew at
some point my time would come. My time is here now. . . .
“I have
appreciated this organization for giving me the opportunity — 29 other
teams passed over me. I made the most of my opportunity here, so we’ll
see what happens.”
Part of the problem is that Bulluck tore an ACL in December, and he’s still got plenty of time left in the rehab process. But it sounds as if coach Jeff Fisher is willing to try to find a way to bring Bulluck back, after the knee heals.
“We’d like to try and create some opportunity where Keith can finish his
career with us,” Fisher said recently, per Wyatt. “Regardless of whether
there’s been serious discussions or not, that is the sentiment of the
organization.
“It is complicated, and it is a different
situation. He had a serious knee injury that he is rehabbing and is
working very hard at, so there are other factors there.”
Bulluck realizes that he won’t be signed immediately by any team, and he’s targeting April or May as the time for showing teams what he can do.
So it could be that, once he’s back to 100 percent, the Titans will be interested. It also could be that Bulluck needs to hear what other teams might be offering before taking whatever the Titans are willing to put on the table.
