AFC South Notes: Colts, Texans, Titans

Colts

• CBS Sports analyst and former agent Joel Corry calls the Colts’ pre-emptive, one-year, $28 million extension for QB Jacoby Brissett the worst extension for a team in 2019.  

Texans

• According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Texans P Bryan Anger‘s contract was refiled and is now worth $8.25 million.
• Anger signed a three-year, $7.5 million extension a few weeks ago. He’ll still receive a $1.25 million signing bonus and $2 million guaranteed including his $750,000 roster bonus in 2020.
• Anger will make a $1.25 million base salary in 2020 and $2.5 million each of the next two years. He also has an annual de-escalator clause. 

Titans

Last offseason was humbling for Titans QB Ryan Tannehill, as the Dolphins cut bait with the former first-round pick and dealt him to Tennessee. Titans GM Jon Robinson made it clear that Tannehill was coming in as the backup but he had a chance to start if things fell into place. 

“It was really hard. Nobody likes to sit on the bench. I wanted to be playing. I wanted to be competing. Everything is different when you’re not in the starting position,” Tannehill said via ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe. “That was a big change for me. There was a lot of biting your tongue and swallowing your pride. It was definitely an adjustment. But I just tried to make the best of the situation I was given, play my role and be a good teammate.”

It took six weeks but when Tannehill entered the lineup, he made the most of his opportunity. He was sensational leading the Titans back from a 2-4 record to a playoff berth, and now has Tennessee one game away from the Super Bowl — which will be in Miami of all places. 

“I’ve definitely thought about it. It would be cool. I realize that’s the next step. It’d be cool to play in that stadium. I know that stadium, obviously, really well,” Tannehill said. “Then, I reel it back in. I don’t go down that road too far. It doesn’t matter what’s next week if we can’t win this week, so let’s win this week.”

Since being benched, Titans QB Marcus Mariota has been a model teammate by all accounts. Mariota didn’t play for the Titans this past week but he played Ravens QB Lamar Jackson on the scout team and helped the Tennessee defense prepare. While he’ll likely try to find another starting job elsewhere this offseason, for now he’s still trying to do everything he can to get the Titans a Super Bowl win. 

“It’s different for me for sure, but I appreciate the fact that I get to be out there with the guys,” Mariota said via Teresa Walker of the Associated Press. “Every single time, every single moment that you’re on the field I never take it for granted.”

• CBS Sports analyst and former agent Joel Corry named Tannehill as the best value acquisition of 2019. 
• Corry also named Mariota as the worst use of a contract year in 2019.