Why I’m Okay With Michael Griffin Ceremoniously Retiring As a Titan

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Michael Griffin was one of the best Tennessee Titans of his era. Granted, it wasn’t exactly an era of excellence. Griffin played on some pretty bad teams and in some pretty bad secondaries, no less. But, he also played on the best Titans defense (2008) since the glory days of Super Bowls and AFC Championships. He became one of the leaders of that defense – a guy who was accountable and durable.

There seems to be a sort of recency illusion with Griffin, though. I know he became somewhat of a scapegoat during the end of his tenure in Tennessee. But, while his play admittedly tailed off, people seem to forget just how good he was coming out of the NFL Draft in 2007. This team got nine years out of the guy, and he was never afraid to answer his critics. When he was bad, he admitted to being bad. When he was good, all the credit went to his teammates.

Forget about football, there aren’t too many guys like Michael Griffin in life. Maybe he whiffed on a tackle or two, but he always raised his hand, owned it, and shifted his focus to improvement.

Now, he’s looking at life after football, starting by making sure he retires in two-tone blue.

Courtesy of Kyle Madson at Titans Wire:

Former Titans safety Michael Griffin is finally hanging up his cleats. The 33-year-old signed a one-day contract with Tennessee on Sunday according to the Tennesseean’s Jason Wolf.

The ceremonial signing will allow the 10-year veteran to retire as a Titan. He spent the first nine years of his career in Nashville before playing one season in Carolina. Tennessee made Griffin the No. 19 overall pick in the 2007 draft out of the University of Texas.

A lot of people are kind of scoffing at this move, but I’m more than okay with it. I always liked Griffin. The big question is obviously, “where do we draw the line?” We gonna hold a ceremony for Nate Washington to retire a Titan? Fair question that can’t really be answered objectively. It’s in the eye of the beholder.

But, this is just a fun little thing for the team to do in May. No harm, no foul – and to those poo-poo’ing the ceremony, I’m afraid you may be taking your sports too seriously. But, if you want to start having these sorts of ceremonies for guys like Chris Henry and Lavelle Hawkins and maybe you’ll get me to come around to your side.

But, let’s face it – it’s not like this is the Memphis Grizzlies retiring the number for a dude who is still in the league ON A DIFFERENT TEAM. No, Griff’s retired – he’s out of football, and he had an outstanding career and legacy in Tennessee that saw him go to two Pro Bowls. In his prime, he was as rangy and athletic a play-maker as any safety in the NFL. Quit hating.

Is Griffin one of the top 10 Titans of the Nashville era? I don’t think so…but he’s a fringe guy (I honestly believe that), and that’s saying something. You won’t get any hate for this move from me.

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley

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