Gesser trying to stay No. 3 for Titans
By Teresa M. Walker
Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have league co-MVP Steve McNair as their starting quarterback. Billy Volek, who turned down offers from Atlanta and Buffalo, is his backup.
Associated Press
Who winds up as the third quarterback next season remains to be seen.
Jason Gesser knows that "the No. 3 spot at quarterback is the most vulnerable" position in the NFL.
Honolulu native Jason Gesser is slotted behind McNair and Volek, but must prove he is ready to play. The Titans also signed Robert Kent of Jackson State as a fourth quarterback for camp.
But this position must be earned on the field for a team that started talking of finding a third quarterback the day it signed Volek to a five-year deal in March.
The Titans don't want to find themselves back in the same place as last December when both McNair and Volek were hurt, leaving Gesser as the only healthy quarterback on the roster.
"We had to go ask Neil (O'Donnell) to come back," offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger said yesterday. "You've got to find a No. 3."
Gesser knows his job isn't secure.
"No matter where you're at in the league, the No. 3 spot at quarterback is the most vulnerable. Every year there's going to be a different guy to come in and compete with you. ... I'm going to take care of what I have to take care of, and hopefully, they like it and I'm still here as the No. 3 quarterback," he said.
Gesser, who played at Saint Louis School in Honolulu, won the job as the third quarterback on the Titans' roster last year largely because the Titans needed to free up salary cap space. They cut O'Donnell, bumping up the cheaper Volek to McNair's backup.
When McNair was hobbled with injuries to both legs and Volek was knocked out with a lacerated spleen in a victory over Buffalo on Dec. 14, the Titans didn't turn to the man who shared Pac-10 offensive player of the year honors in 2003 with Carson Palmer.
Instead, they persuaded O'Donnell to come back even though he hadn't played since being cut Aug. 31.
Gesser is getting more work this offseason, especially with McNair not available for practice until this week. But Gesser still shows a tendency to overthrow receivers.
The former Washington State quarterback also hasn't helped himself off the field. On Feb. 15, he was arrested in
Honolulu after allegedly running a red light and failing a sobriety test.
He pleaded innocent in March to a drunken driving charge.
The Titans, who passed on drafting Randy Moss in 1997 because of questions about his character, do not tolerate problem players. Gesser said he met with head coach Jeff Fisher, who told him not to let it happen again.
"That's not the type of person I want to represent in any way," Gesser said.
Gesser has three minicamp sessions starting Tuesday and training camp to show he can be the quarterback the Titans are looking for.
