There’s another veteran offensive lineman on the open market.
The Titans announced that they have released veteran guard/center Eugene Amano, who missed all of last season with a torn triceps. Amano started 60 games for the Titans over the previous four seasons, but his departure doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
Even if Amano weren’t coming off an injury, his $3.9 million salary was going to make it hard for him to stick around for the 2013 season. Amano was not very good in either 2010 or 2011, while Fernando Velasco held up fairly well in the middle of the line as his replacement in 2012. The team drafted Brian Schwenke in the fourth round in April, giving them the backup they needed on the interior and leaving Amano as a man without a team. They may have other intentions with his money, they’ve been linked to John Abraham for a while, although Amano would be gone either way.
It was a strong run in Tennessee for the 2004 seventh-round pick, but it will now have to pick up somewhere else. While no one’s likely to be rushing to give Amano a starting job, his experience will likely garner a look or two from teams looking for some depth in the middle of the offensive line.