Gesser pleased to sign with Titans

By Teresa M. Walker
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jason Gesser realized in the sixth round of the NFL draft that he wouldn't be selected, so he quickly became an optimist.

The Washington State quarterback agreed to terms as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans, easing his disappointment at not being among 13 quarterbacks drafted over the weekend.

"In the long run, you have to be where you want to be and where there's the best chance of playing," the former Saint Louis School standout said yesterday. "I was really happy with the way things worked out."

Steve McNair, who finished third in the league's MVP voting last season, and Billy Volek had been the only quarterbacks on the Titans roster. Tennessee released veteran backup Neil O'Donnell for salary cap reasons in February.

McNair is a quarterback Gesser has tried to pattern himself after.

"It's going to be cool to be able to sit there and learn from him in person instead of trying to learn from him on TV. He has a real similar style to what I have playing football," Gesser said.

"Seeing how he prepares, how he practices and how he does everything I feel that ... will help me get a lot better."

The 6-foot Gesser shared the Pac-10's offensive player of the year award with Southern California's Carson Palmer, the top pick overall. He was a three-year starter and threw for 8,830 yards with 70 touchdowns and 39 interceptions.

Gesser was projected as a sixth-round pick and rated ahead of six of the quarterbacks drafted. But his stock dropped because of concerns about his right knee and his ability to throw deep.

"You want to have that feeling that somebody wants you and wants to draft you. I think I got a little mark on me because of my injury, and everyone was scared to risk a draft pick on me because of the injury," Gesser said.

Gesser, the grandson of former Green Bay Packers star and Hall of Fame member Joseph "Red" Dunn, said he will be ready for minicamp later this month despite arthroscopic surgery earlier this year.

Both the Titans and the Detroit Lions talked with Gesser during the sixth round, but Tennessee had swapped its selection in that round with New England so it could jump 10 spots in the fifth round to draft Ohio State safety Donnie Nickey.

Titans general manager Floyd Reese called Gesser a productive and talented quarterback who understands the passing game and defenses.

Alabama quarterback Tyler Watts also was among 34 free agents the Titans reached agreements with yesterday, and O'Donnell isn't completely out of the picture.

"It won't affect Neil at all," Reese said of the new free agents. "We'll still visit with him."